1982 Mercedes-Benz 300-Series

300TD Wagon

OM617.952 5 cylinder turbo diesel

Automatic

WDBAB93AXCN011200

Clear

Diesel

Due to life circumstances, and as much as it pains me, I would like to sell my 1982 Mercedes 300TD turbo-diesel wagon in hopes it reaches the right buyer. Ever since I got it, I have spared no money or effort to bring this car to tip-top condition, despite already being a low-mile, very well preserved example of the W123 estate. I am extremely confident you will be satisfied with the way this car looks, runs and drives. THE STORY I bought this car from a contractor in October 2010 with 59,890 miles. This man had bought it from the original owner's family, who had garaged it for most of its life. Six months (and many thousands of dollars later), it was mechanically up to my standards and I decided to drive it across the United States for twenty days, meeting members of the Mercedes-Benz community. For this endeavor I had the rear bumper changed to the rare European style, with a factory Mercedes hitch to tow a teardrop trailer. On this trip I also swapped the front bumper for a matching European one, a little bit shorter and more pleasant to the eye. Once the trip was over I settled in Woodside, California, where I maintained the car religiously through Burlingame Motors, a shop specializing in Mercedes 300SL restorations, very knowledgeable on these old cars. Half a year later, I relocated to Wichita (Kansas), where I am selling this car from. MECHANICAL Driveline: this car's engine is original (83k) and comes with all-new Bosch injectors, Bosch glowplugs, new engine shocks, new motor mounts and a fresh valve service. It has excellent compression, zero blow-by and zero smoke. Unlike most Mercedes diesels, it doesn't shake at idle and it has plenty of power. The transmission shifts smoothly, confidently and at the right shifting points. There are zero leaks in the engine or the transmission. The alternator was replaced with a new unit in mid-2011. Front suspension and steering: every single wear-and-tear element has been replaced in the front suspension (shocks, ball joints, tie rods, control arms, steering damper, drag links...), all with German-made OEM components and with the correspondent wheel alignment. There is zero play in the steering and the car drives straight as an arrow. Rear end: the differential is a 3.07 ratio and has been fully rebuilt a little over three-thousand miles ago; the axle-shafts were replaced with new ones at the same time. The hydraulic self-leveling suspension works correctly and has a top load of 500kgs (1,102lbs). The hydraulic valve and rotary pump have both been rebuilt to perform at their best. Vacuum system: there are no leaks in the vacuum system. Transmission and power brakes work perfectly, as does the vacuum lock system (all four doors, rear hatch and fuel door). Cooling system: the car runs at the correct operating temperature of 85°C. Radiator and hoses have been replaced with new ones. New oil cooler and oil lines for it. Braking system: all four brakes have been redone at 67k with painted+rebuilt calipers, new pads, new discs and new lines, all of them made in Germany by ATE. For better stopping power and reliability, I ordered first-generation Mercedes W126 front calipers and ventilated discs instead of the older W123 design. Wheel bearings were also replaced in the process. Exhaust system: the previous owner replaced the exhaust system, which –along with the rest of the undercarriage– is rust-free. Air conditioning: the AC system was rebuilt with a new R34 compressor and dryer. It is not as cold as the original R12 but it is far more environmentally friendly. Automatic climate control: the unit works perfectly at all fan speeds and adapts quickly to the selected temperature on the dial. The heater does its job very well. Cruise control: the actuator was replaced for a newer one, and the computer (amplifier) was rebuilt by Programa. There is no fluctuation or doubt, it works very well. Wipers and washers: all three wipers working correctly at all speeds with Bosch blades. Wiper stalk was faded, so I replaced with new. Front and rear washers work accordingly. Windows and tailgate: all four power windows work correctly. Both tailgate struts have been replaced and lift up the tailgate firmly. Headlights and taillights: replaced with European Bosch factory units for better visibility. No cracks anywhere. Replacement European reverse light and rare NOS rear fog light. Doors and sunroof: all doors open, close and lock solidly and without trouble. Manual sunroof opens and closes well. Stereo: replaced old unit with a rebuilt factory Becker 1480 with an MP3 auxiliary input in between the window switches. Original Hirschmann antenna works excellent. Wheels/tires: untouched original spare. Four new factory MB "bundt" wheels with four matching, 0-mile tires on them. I used the previous set for my beater 300TD. Windshield and sealing: replaced with a new one in early 2011, and a factory Mercedes seal all around. All windows and sunroof have no leaks whatsoever. COSMETIC Seats: despite the vinyl (MB-Tex) being in immaculate shape all around, I had the driver's seat rebuilt with new pads and upgraded Mercedes seat springs. The second-row seat was changed to a factory design that would allow for headrests, for the sake safety and comfort. The car comes equipped with an aftermarket vinyl 3rd-row seat for the kids. Chrome trim: normal Mercedes-Benz anodized oxidation; front and rear European bumpers in good shape with brand new retaining brackets. Dashboard: this blue, crack-free dashboard was sourced from a mint Euro 240D, and is still soft. It comes with a dummy idle knob –cosmetic only-. Wood strips are in great shape. Console: wood is in good shape. Console panel had cracks, so it was refinished by Heritage Woodworks to brand-new condition. All window buttons were replaced with new. Undercarriage: the undercarriage has always been pressure-washed thoroughly and shows no rust or damage of any kind. Floorboards are solid. Body: no rust, period. When I got the car there was some corrosion at the spare wheel well and the rear fender lips, so I had my bodyman take care of that with new sheet metal. A little over a year later, I had a bodyshop in Kansas pull out some shopping cart dings, fix a couple dents, repair some damage and repaint the whole car. The result is stunning and should last you many years if treated with respect. Frame: there absolutely zero frame damage and all jacking points are clean and have their factory covers. Impact rubber/chrome trim: mostly good and original, but there is some damage to rear three pieces. I will include a spare set in great shape that I did not have the time to install. Wheels: original Mercedes "baroque" or "bundt" wheels bought new, not refinished. GOODIES Console center box: Never an option in the W123, I ordered a mint W124 center box to be retro-fitted under the driver's armrest. It's an excellent, factory-looking cup-holder. European "Oris" factory tow hitch: sourced from a European 280TE, I had all the assembly sandblasted and coated with SEM rust-proof paint before installation. Manuals: it comes with everything it sold with in 1982, from the Service Manual to the Worldwide dealership map, from the User's guide to the Becker Q-tip. Factory skid plate: a rare option from Mercedes-Benz, it protects the lower oil pan. I bought it in late 2010 and –luckily- have never put it to the test. European first-aid kit: a relic that has never been opened, but still useful in case of an emergency. All manuals and signage is written in German. European safety triangle: a factory accessory that the United States never bothered to require on road vehicles. It is in excellent shape. Cargo cover: a expensive option back in 1982, I bought a NOS one ($600) and had it installed with the correspondent hardware. Factory chrome crossbars: they mount perpendicular to the roof rack if you need to secure any cargo on top. Factory floormats: never used, blue in color. I also include an all-weather Mercedes set for those rainy days. If you purchase this car at the buy-it-now price, it will be delivered to you with a fresh oil change, transmission flush and the rear trim pieces installed. DISCLOSURES This car is 30 years old and will have some wear items that will distinguish it from a new car. The door cards show some normal vinyl wrinkling, as all W123's of this age do. As it was said, the anodized aluminum has some light weather oxidation, and three of the impact strips have some damage –a good set is included. This car shows an accident in its history by one of the previous owners, but after inspecting the car with multiple mechanics and bodymen, we have not found the integrity of the frame or the body to be compromised in any way. Any sign of damage has been restored to factory standards by the previous owner, and retouched to like-new during my ownership. Besides that, there is some surface oxidation in the tow chain links and the tip of the exhaust that should come off with some light sanding, but never had the chance to restore. IN SHORT... In short, this listing is for a very well preserved automobile that has been rebuilt or reconditioned in its majority. It is ready for many solid miles of trouble-free driving to any destination in North America. I have spent close to $20,000 in labor alone, and, even though I have no intention on getting all of that back, I am asking for a reasonable retail price. Antique Mercedes are costly to restore to like-new condition; my advice is to simply buy the best example money can afford to start with, instead of restoring a project from the ground up. This is that chance to get a near-mint, sub-100k W123 wagon where all the big work –short of rebuilding the engine– has been done, a car that will take you anywhere with the same reliability and confidence as the day it rolled out of the showroom. CONDITIONS, SHIPPING AND PAYMENT As it states above, there will be a non-refundable $500 deposit due at the end of the auction. Lookers and joy bidders, please abstain, as these practices only waste time. For national shipping, check through Uship or Montaway Auto Transport, they are both competent and affordable choices. Full payment will be delivered to my agent in Wichita upon the transfer of ownership via cash (in person) or bank transfer. Any ownership or maintenance questions I will be happy to answer via personal message. All international buyers, please contact me first before bidding.