1991 Mercedes-Benz 300-Series

Sedan

5 - Cyl.

Automatic

WDBEB28D8MB362248

Clear

Diesel

For your consideration, on offer today is a beautiful 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D 2.5 Turbo which we are offering on behalf of a client of ours. Showing a mere 106,147 miles, this example is finished in Impala Metallic with a Parchment MB-Tex interior. It is in lovely condition throughout and our client is the vehicle’s second owner. The original owner was a client of the MB shop where I cut my teeth way back when, and it brought back memories when I found my name in the car’s service booklet after having signed off on a service! This car was sold new here in Cincinnati by Tri County Motors, and was collected at the factory through the European Delivery program. Every bit of original documentation accompanies this car. Everything from the original order sheet, price list, etc…to the German insurance and registration paperwork which was issued when the car was delivered at the Untertuerkheim factory, to all service history from new until present. The car has always been maintained by the same local MB specialist and we have recently completed some remedial work on it to bring it to absolutely top condition. Before I get into the description of the car, let me take a moment to introduce myself and my company. MB Classic Sports Car is an independent Mercedes-Benz service and restoration company, dedicated to maintaining what we feel to be the finest automobiles on Earth. Our service capabilities extend from supercharged 500Ks of the 1930s to today’s technologically advanced model range. We are equipped with SDS and an array of factory tooling and service information which would rival any main dealer, and a collective 35+ years of experience of our staff means that each car receives second-to-none attention to detail. It is very rarely that we offer an automobile for sale or offer our brokerage services unless we feel that the vehicle in question is of exceptional quality or is historically significant, and while the 300D is not quite in the ranks of a 300SL Gullwing, our example is possibly the most completely documented specimen on offer in the world today. Please read on for a full description of this fine automobile, and if you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to contact me on (513) 519-7302 Monday-Friday 10AM-7PM and Saturdays from noon to 4PM. As any of you looking at this car are aware, the W124 is considered by many to be the last truly ‘engineered’ E-Class. With its stout, S-Class-like build quality coupled with brilliant underpinnings, the W124 was praised by nearly every automotive journalist upon its introduction in late 1985 and even though the end of its run in 1995, owners around the world were still taking delivery of record numbers of these cars, as with 1996 came the beginning of the end with the intro of the “Kia by comparison” W210 chassis cars. The 300D 2.5, powered by the sprightly yet efficient turbocharged OM602 aluminum engine was the final iteration of a Turbodiesel in the W124, and in fact, for many years until the OM606 turbo engine appeared in the ’98-’99 E300 diesels. If you look at what the market has to offer today, most likely you’ll find plenty of run-down old wrecks with 250,000+ miles on them and having little or no service history and shabby cosmetics to boot. This example, by contrast, is by far one of the finest preserved examples I have ever seen and it’s very clear that both of its owners were very tedious in regard to this car’s upkeep throughout the years. EXTERIOR: The exterior, as mentioned, is finished in DB-441 Impala Metallic and is in lovely condition throughout. Sighting down the sides of the bodywork reveals no flaws other than a couple of small scrapes on the left rear corner underneath the tail lamp from a parking lot mishap a few years back. The front and rear bumpers are in good condition, although with a few minor flaws (on the rear, at the left corner, underneath the scratches in the paintwork and at the left front some scratches on the bottom edge of the chin spoiler). Note that the left front headlamp lens has a crack in it, which occurred recently from a stone that was thrown up from the road. The headlamp doors are in fair condition, so our client has elected to replace them which will be done before the new owner takes delivery. All side cladding is in excellent condition and there is absolutely no rust on or anywhere underneath this vehicle. That is something its present owner is fanatical about, and one glance at the undercarriage proves this! All exterior brightwork is present and in excellent condition and all glass is original and free of chips and scratches. Additionally, all body fittings (doors, hood, trunk and bumpers) have the original VIN decals on them, confirming originality. INTERIOR: The interior, finished in Parchment MB-Tex, is in excellent condition and still smells brand new. The seats are firm and supportive yet extremely comfortable, the wool carpets and overmats are in excellent, unmarked condition along with the door panels, headliner, rear hat shelf carpeting and fascia panel. There are no cracks in the dash, the zebrano trim is in nice condition, however some slight spider webbing of the lacquer is noted around the gear selector. All switches function with that unmistakable Mercedes precision and all of the car’s comfort systems function flawlessly. ENGINE: The OM602 inline five cylinder is in excellent condition and fires readily, hot or cold. The turbocharger is healthy and provides strong boost for what can still be considered impressive performance for a diesel, and as an aside, it still returns 35+mpg on the interstate. The engine has seen timely services throughout its life, with synthetic oil that is changed every 3,500 miles (yes, it’s documented!). Additionally, the glow plugs have recently all been replaced along with the delivery valve seals in the injection pump. Needless to say, this car runs absolutely beautifully. TRANSMISSION: The transmission is in excellent condition and executes all ratio changes crisply and concisely. The shift linkage bushings have been replaced recently along with the governor gear and vacuum converter. The fluid and filter have been changed at the factory specified 30,000 mile intervals and the front flex disc has recently been replaced. SUSPENSION: The suspension system is tight and free of any untoward noises or issues otherwise. The right lower ball joint has recently been replaced and the alignment checked. The car tracks down the road straight and true, and still offers the same exceptional ride quality as new. BRAKES/TIRES: The tires are relatively new Michelins and show minimal but even treadwear. The rotors and pads have been replaced within the past year and still have plenty of life remaining and pull the car down evenly with no vibrations or other issues to report. EXHAUST: The entire exhaust system has been replaced with a factory system within the past two years. All rubber isolators are in fine condition and no issues to report otherwise. CLIMATE CONTROL: Often the most maligned system in an old Mercedes, the climate control operates perfectly in this example. A common problem in the W124 cars as they age is the evaporator core beginning to leak. On this car, the evap has been done (documented) and the A/C converted from R-12 to R-134a, and it functions properly, delivering nicely chilled air at all fascia-level vents. The heat functions properly as well along with all air direction functions of the system. OTHER ELECTRICAL: The windscreen wiper motor has been replaced along with a new battery within the past year. All instruments, interior and exterior lamps, warning systems, comfort and convenience systems (seats, windows, central locking and sunroof) and hi-fi operate properly. I will note that the cruise control amplifier is beginning to act somewhat intermittent, therefore we would advise replacement of this unit if the cruise control is a feature that you use frequently. The amplifiers generally suffer from disuse, and our client had mentioned to me that he hardly ever uses the cruise control hence it was a repair he decided not to effect. PROVENANCE: As previously stated, this car is possibly the best documented example on offer anywhere. All of the original handbooks are present, along with all European delivery documentation, shipping bills of lading, insurance coverage docs, correspondence from MBNA and of course the all-important service history from day one. Additionally, you will note various recordings of fuel economy in the paperwork. Both master keys, the round valet key and the spare “flat” key are all present and accounted for along with various period accessories and paint touch up stick- still in its original wrapping. SUMMARY: To find another 300D 2.5 in this sort of overall condition and with the provenance will surely not be an easy task today. These cars are known throughout the world to serve their owners faithfully for hundreds of thousands of miles. With the low mileage on this example, there is much more service to be had from this car, and with proper care and maintenance, should last for years to come. These cars of course offer an unmatched level of safety and security and with their frugal appetite for fuel, make them an excellent choice for new drivers. Our reserve is set quite fairly and in-line with the rest of the market. For the same money, think about what your other options are; Civic, Corolla, Kia, etc…and all of a sudden, the Mercedes seems like an absolute bargain. We are pleased to be able to offer this car, and will happily discuss it in-depth with any prospective purchaser. TERMS: A deposit in the amount of $500.00 is due no later than three days after auction end. Remainder of balance due no later than seven days after auction end. All monies to be paid using certified check or federal wire transfer only. Do note that upon completion of the auction, we will turn communication over to our client so that you may handle payment directly with them. This vehicle is being sold as-is with no warranties expressed or implied herein. The clear Ohio title and vehicle will only be released to the new owner upon confirmation of all funds by our client’s bank. We welcome and encourage pre-purchase inspections, however please note that is done at your expense. There are two Mercedes independents and two Mercedes dealers here in Cincinnati from which to choose, or alternatively, you may have the mechanic of your choice handle it. Please have all inspections performed prior to bidding on the vehicle. Please note, mileage may be slightly higher upon completion of auction. SHIPPING: Shipping is the responsibility of the buyer. We will of course assist in any way possible to make this as hassle free of a transaction as possible. We highly recommend Exotic Car Transport out of Florida, as they have always offered us exceptional service. Again, thank you for taking the time to look at this car. If there are any questions which I have not addressed here, please feel free to contact me directly on (513) 519-7302. Good luck in the bidding! Aaron. On Apr-26-10 at 08:23:17 PDT, seller added the following information: **Regarding the Autocheck report; The noted accident damage occurred when our client was passing through a construction zone and had debris blown up onto the hood of the car, causing some rock chips in the paintwork. He filed a report with the Ohio State Highway Patrol and turned the claim over to the construction company's insurance. They paid for the hood to be re-sprayed by a local high end restoration shop (owner has all documents showing this). You are welcome to have any service shop or body shop inspect the car and you will see that there is absolutely no sign of damage beyond that, and that the repairs were carried out to a high standard (the shop who re-sprayed the hood restores vintage Ferraris and Lamborghinis on a regular basis). Additionally, you are welcome to speak directly with the owner of the shop who carried out the work, as we are happy to provide you with their contact details upon request. As for the "vehicle disabled" notation, we are not sure where that stemmed from. The only thing our client said could have caused that would have been when he had to have the vehicle recovered and taken to have the transmission governor gear replaced, and the towing was done through his insurance company. Again, all original VIN decals are present on all of the exterior attachment parts (bumpers, doors, hood, trunk) and replacement parts do not carry those decals, which can be confirmed by any Mercedes-Benz dealer.