1984 Mercedes-Benz

300D Turbo Sedan

Automatic

WDBAB33AXEA045175

Clear

Diesel

This auction is for a very nice 1984 Mercedes 300D turbodiesel sedan. It is all original, including paint. It was a one-owner car when I purchased it, and has always been stored under cover, so that it is in very good condition. It has 168,000 miles (and yes, the odometer works). The car has lived in Tucson AZ for over 25 years and has absolutely no rust. Let me repeat that, because some ads for Mercedes from this era claim "no rust" when there are in fact small bits of rust around the battery compartment, wheelwells, underbody, hood hinges, etc. Rust is a killer of these cars. This car has NO RUST, being stored indoors in a dry garage in Tucson, Arizona for most of its life. The engine is also in very good condition. It starts immediately and runs smoothly, with good oil pressure and correct engine temperatures even on a 100 degree day with the air conditioning on. The 300D Turbo is the most powerful of the W123 chassis Mercedes sold in the world, with a 5-cylinder 3.0 liter diesel engine, so it accelerates and drives very well. It has automatic transmission, power door locks, power windows, power disc brakes, electric sunroof, power antenna, and original Becker radio/cassette deck. All of these items work as intended. The Mercedes 300D Turbo is one of the most economical and reliable cars from this era of Mercedes. The ride is superb, quiet, and comfortable. The diesel engine purrs as it runs, reminding you that this is one of the most long-lived engines ever built. It is not unusual for them to run to 300,000 miles or more. FULL PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE ON MY FLICKR ALBUM: http://www.flickr.com/photos/airstreamlife/sets/72157626127534023/show/ The car is completely reliable and ready to go on a long roadtrip, thanks to many new parts and meticulous maintenance, including: New Michelin tires and new spare (note: the whitewall tires in the photos have been replaced by the blackwall Michelins) New upper control arm bushings, tie rod and ball joint boots New Bilstein front shocks Transmission completely removed & re-sealed, plus new pan Remanufactured Bosch alternator & voltage regulator New air filter mount Recent tune-up and valve adjustment Recent new AC compressor, Bosch radiator, hoses, etc. Recent half-shaft on rear axle Recent disc brakes ... and many other minor repairs. Where available, only Mercedes Benz OEM parts were used. As a result of all this maintenance, everything works, except the cruise control and center vents (see notes below). Everyone who rides in this car says, "This is a NICE car!" and wants to drive it. The ride is excellent, comfortable, and fun. It cruises very nicely at 75 MPH on the wide-open western highways. I would not hesitate to take it across the country or use it as a daily driver. There are a few small issues. First off, I'm sorry to say that there is a new dent on the front left fender due to a dog head-butting the car last week. I have an estimate from a professional body shop for repair at about $800. The dent is shallow, cosmetic, and can be ignored if you don't want to deal with it. The paint is still mostly intact around the dent, as you can see in the photos. The rest of the car's paint is in good condition. There is a small blemish on the hood, and minor chips on the front door edges which you can touch up if you want. The paint is not perfect but very good for being 27 years old. It was recently detailed and has nice gloss. (2) There is a small chip in the wood on the climate control panel. This can be replaced with a used piece, easily purchased on eBay if you want the interior wood to be perfect. (3) The transmission has the typical "firm" shift from First to Second gear only when cold. Once warmed up it shifts very well and smoothly in all gears. "Kick-down" feature works properly. (4) Cruise control does not work and has not been diagnosed at this time, so I can't state the cause. (5) The vacuum-operated door locks will lock automatically as designed, but there is a leak in the locking mechanism which causes them to have to be unlocked manually. (6) The rear windows have some "shudder" as they go up and down, but they do operate fully. (7) The dash vent control system is stuck in Defrost mode. This means air blows through the two outboard dash vents and the defrost vent. The air conditioning and heat do work in this mode. (8) The visor mirror/light assemblies have been removed, but a replacement pair of mirror/light assemblies is included with the sale and can be readily installed by a do-it-yourselfer with just some hot glue. Instructions on how to do this will be included with the vehicle. All other systems including A/C, heat, sunroof, lights, all power systems, gauges, etc., work as designed. Wood trim is in very good shape except for the minor chip noted and depicted in the photos. All of the seats are in very good condition, with only a small scrape in the driver's seat (visible in photos) which does not go all the way through the fabric. As with most of these cars, the plastic First Aid Kit cover has cracked and been repaired with tape on the underside. The original First Aid Kit is still in the car. The dashboard has one very small crack by the right speaker, about 1" long, and otherwise is perfect. 56 ADDITIONAL PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/airstreamlife/sets/72157626127534023/show/ This car has never been run on veggie oil, although it can be converted if you want. I would not convert such a nice car, personally. If you want to run an alternative to "dino diesel," I recommend using biodiesel, which requires no conversion, cuts pollutants, is non-toxic, and biodegradable. The car turned in 24 MPG on biodiesel in mixed driving recently. A full set of biodiesel compatible fuel hoses and gaskets is included with the sale. This Mercedes comes with some important extras: -- custom-made car cover of "Noah" fabric (value $200) -- complete Viton flexible fuel hose kit (for long-term biodiesel use) (value $100) -- two extra primary fuel filters, one secondary fuel filter, and one oil filter -- front seat spring repair kit (broken seat springs are a common issue on these Mercedes W123 chassis) (value $50) -- new front windshield gasket / seal (value $40) -- spare fuses -- spare interior light bulbs -- replacement visor vanity mirrors/light assemblies (value $50) Just the "extras" alone are worth over $400! This vehicle is being advertised locally and is subject to prior sale. If you really want it, I suggest using the "Buy It Now" feature. It is the buyer's responsibility to ensure that this vehicle meets their expectations prior to bidding. I will not refund deposits because you changed your mind. A deposit of at least $500 must be made within 24 hours of auction end, and full payment within 7 days. Transportation from Tucson, AZ is your responsibility. If you need a ride from the Tucson airport to get the car, I will pick you up. Please feel free to ask any questions you have! This fine car deserves an owner who appreciates it, so I do want to help you make your decision as much as I can.