1983 Mercedes-Benz

300 SD Sedan

3.0L 5 Cylinder Diesel Fuel

Automatic

wdbcb20axdb034421

Diesel

Up for sale is my 1983 Mercedes Benz 300 SD. I purchased it in March of 2010 from a dealer in Houston Texas with slightly over 106k miles. It currently has 110,489 nmiles on it. I am selling it because like most of my vehicles, I just don't drive it enough. It has been garage kept it's whole life and it shows, both inside and out. I have detailed service records with mileage records reading dating back to 1989 that total in excess of $10,000. It has to be one of the nicest original cars left. It's always been run on diesel fuel and driven by older adult owners. Here is a detailed description. Exterior Body No rust ever. Always a Florida and South Texas car. No rust repaired or starting, no bubbles or any of the common Mercedes corrosion problems. Floors, jack points, trunk, door bottoms, fenders and quarters around lenses are perfect. The exterior color is called Light Ivory..its actually a cream color. I believe all the paint is original with the exception of an area on the right rear passenger door between the lower molding and the rub strip. There is no overspray, fisheyes or blemishes that indicate paint work. The paint is still glossy and thick. It has minor chips, light scratches and swirls that are consistent with 29 year old paint, but still very nice. The weatherstripping on the doors, windows and body is soft and pliable, including the window glass run channels. The glass is all smooth and clear. The windshield is original and has two small rock chips about 2-3 millimeters - no cracks. Also there is a very light haze at the top of the windshield wiper arc - not from bad wipers, but rather just being an old original windshield. You can barely see it and it is not the drivers line of sight. All exterior lights work and the lens are clear. All aluminum trim is bright and blemish-free as is the chrome on the bumpers, door handles and body. This car has never been in an accident, the body panels line up perfectly and the doors shut like a vault. It's not perfect, but I would say the wear on this car is consitent with that of 5 or 6 year old car. The lower moldings do have some light scratches and scuffs, as do the painted portions of the bumpers. Electrical/HVAC/Vacuum Systems Every electrical accessory works on this car. Power antenna works, cruise controls works, clock works, tach works, radio/CD works (after market JVC unit), speedometer, odometer, trip odometer work. All 4 power windows go up and down. All interior lights work on the doors and the headliner. Wipers work, turn signals and flashers work. All guages work. Oil pressure gauge shows 1.2-1.6 bars at hot idle. Temp guage always stays around 80C regardless of whether you are stopped or moving even on 90 degree summer days. Horn works, sunroof opens and closes. Both power seats work in all functions. The dash lights work, but I think one of the bulbs is burned out on the left side because it is dimmer. The high beams, low beams, fog lights,turn signals, stop light and brake lights work. The heat and A/C work correctly in this car. The climate control works correctly too. If you run the A/C on high you will get too cold. It was converted to R134A in 1996. The air also comes out of the appropriate vents. The heat is hot. The vacuum system in this car is 100% functional. It will hold vacuum for weeks. All 4 doors lock and unlock correctly and so do the gas door and trunk. Engine/Driveline/Mechanical The engine starts, runs and shuts off correctly. The oil pressure is good - stays @ 3 bars at 1100 RPM when at operating temprature. I does not leak any oil and it doesn't use any oil. I changed the oil at 106k and it's now at 110k - oil is still on full mark with no oil added. I had the oil cooler lines, several gaskets and the power steering pump replaces last year. The engine operates smoothly with no misses It doesn't leak or use coolant - the coolant level is always the same in the semi-transparent tank. This car can sit for weeks and it starts the first time. When I got this car the transmission would occassionally "flare" between 2nd and 3rd gears. It is a common problem. I took it to Werners Garage in Fort Wayne (working on Mercedes Benz since 1972). They adjusted the modulator pressure and the linkage and it hasn't been a problem since. I drove this car 320 miles yesterday to central Michigan and back and it functioned fine. I never thought the automatics in these old diesels were consistant in quality with the rest of the car and neither do most people that own them or work on them. It's not a reliablity issue, just a rudimentary design and clunky when cold - better when warmed up and driven a few miles. The CV joints and rear end operate correctly, they don't leak and the boots are intact. If you don;t drive it several times a week it will leave a small drip on the garage floor that appears to be from the transmission pan gasket. It doesnt leak if driven often. I put new 15 inch tires and wheels on this car because I thought it was too plain looking with original aluminum "Bundt" wheels. The wheels are a good quality set purchased from Adsitco in Muncie, Indiana.I have the original wheels and they go with the car. They are perfect condition. The brake pads on all 4 wheels are 60% or more. No pulsation or pull. Also this car drives straight down the road - no pulls, vibrations etc. The exhaust is original and in good condition the jack ,spare and tool kit are in the trunk. Interior This has always been a garage kept car. As such it has no UV or heat damage. There are no cracks in the dash. The door panels retain their original pigment and aren't chalky or dry. The seats are firm and pliable. The headliner is in good condition. The carpet is nice, but does show some minor wear and a few small stains along the center console,.The Zebrano wood is in good condition as is the steering wheel, the cluster lens and center armrest. The previous owner added fold down cup holders on the drivers and passengers front doors. They work, but I never use them. The trunk is clean and so is the carpet in it. This car does not have any water leaks - if it sits outside in a rain storm (which is rare) it doesn't get wet inside or in the trunk. Here are the only flaws in the interior: a piece of wood on left rear door is cracked and missing, there are two small blemishes in the pleat of the rear seat on left hand side that are about the size of pencil erasers, the Zebrano wood shift console applique has raised about 1/4" towards the dash. It is intact and attached, but raised nonetheless. Otherwise it is exceptional inside. The sun visor flip down mirrors are in good condition and the lights work, but the one on the right has to be in a certain spot for the light to come on. The lighter and ashtrays are unused and it has no indications of being a smokers car. Summary It is a nice car. I have the title here at my house. I also have all the original books and service records that go with the car. There are two keys, but I believe one is a valet. The title is clear and obviously in my name. It reads exempt on miles, but the service records substantiate the miles, as does the condition of the car. The reserve is reasonable. It is not for sale elsewhere. I will not end the auction early, so please do not ask. I want to be paid within 4 days of the auctions end - NO checks. No trades...I have too many vehicles already. Wire transfer or bring cash and drive it home. If you are not serious about owning this car please do not bid. If you do not have the funds on hand right now to pay for this car, don't bid. If you have never owned a diesel Mercedes, do some homework...its not like driving a mid 80s Sedan Deville. It will run 85 mph all day long and get 27-29 mpg doing it, but you will not win any races getting there. US buyers only. The winning bidder needs to contact me within 24 hours after auctions end for payment and pickup arrangements. Less than 10 Ebay feedback please call first. Call with any questions please - Pete 260-310-4207.I am not near a computer most of the week and I live in another century technologically so its best to call..I rarely see emails. Thanks