1980 Mercedes-Benz 300-Series

5 cylinder

Automatic

12313012195304

Clear

This is a 1980 Mercedes 300D with a non-turbo 5 cylinder diesel engine and a 4-speed automatic transmission. It has a number of items that could use some attention, but it has been a solid, dependable car for me (I have put a couple of thousand miles on it, using it as a back-up vehicle when my wife had our other car.) I have owned a few of these cars in the past, and what I think is exceptional about this car is how well it starts. I have never owned a Mercedes (or any other diesel vehicle) that starts so well! Even in the cold weather (down to the mid teens) it starts right up without even using the block heater! Here is a list of items that could use attention: At first the electric windows worked, but one by one they quit, and I'm guessing the problem is with the switches. The sunroof shuts and opens if you assist it by pushing with one hand and holding the button with the other. (I'm guessing it just needs lubrication.) It also sags a bit in one corner. The top mast of the antenna is broken off, but it has a nice Sony AM FM cassette radio that gets good reception and works well, but it could use better speakers. The interior needs to be cleaned, but is in overall good shape except for the rip in the driver's seat. The dash is cracked and the body needs new paint. The body is pretty straight with only a few minor dings. The odometer says 160,035, and does seem to work so I think that may be original miles. It drives well down the road and doesn't seem to wander, but it feels like it has more play in the steering than it should have for a car with mileage that low. (Perhaps the previous owner did a lot of city driving.) The engine seems to run well and is solid, but does have a bad rubber gasket on the intake that is supposed to muffle the engine so it makes a muffled "wump, wump" sound that seems to go away when it is running past an idle. It does have a small rusted out area behind the rear driver's-side fender well. The other fender wells and the other side of the car look OK. The rear bumper has a hole drilled in the middle of it for a 2" ball to pull a light trailer. (On most cars this would probably bend the bumper, but this bumper is very heavy and thick, so although it may not be the right way to do it, it does look like it would work fine if you don't pull something very heavy.) There are a few small chips on the driver's side of windshield, but they aren't turning into cracks and may be fine for a long time. Well, that's about it. This is a good car at a great price, and with a little work and some new paint, this would be a really classy, dependable car. You could also leave it as-is and use it as a back-up vehicle like I did. I would keep it, but I have work now that requires a truck and a trailer, so I would like to find a good home for it so it doesn't just sit around. Yes, it does come with a clean title. I will need a $100 deposit paid through PayPal within 24 hours of the auction's close, and the car must be paid for and picked up within 14 days unless prior arrangements are made. If you can not meet these terms, please do not bid. Thanks for viewing this auction!