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Adoni
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Sacramento, CA
Vehicle(s): '00 G500, '15 C300 4Matic, '06 L322 G4
Posts: 1283
| Caught the diesel bug again...
When I was a kid we had a 300SD Turbodiesel ('81). By the time I was in HS, early to mid '90's, the car was uncool to drive, so I had a 4runner. However, when I went to college, parents told me no car. After my knee surgery, I needed a car to go to PT, parents grudgingly offered the 300SD. I learned to love that car and drove it for a few years. I then sold the car to a friend and bought a ML320. That car saved my friends life and over the past 5-6 years, I've really started to miss it. My brother and I both agree, the problem was the car was in the grey area between newer car and classic. Now that I'm older, I have a deep desire to reconnect with my diesel roots. For example, if MB offers the G320CDI, I'll be at the front of the line, cash in hand. In the meanwhile, I've fallen in love with the 300CD TD. Can anyone give me advice on what to look for and not to look for? Known problems, specific years that were better than others. This is definitely a car I could see forcing my ML into hibernation, but never the G. I appreciate all your help and advice.
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BenzDieselTuner
Date registered: Dec 1899
Location:
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| RE: Caught the diesel bug again...
the 123 Coupe Diesel Turbo is basicly the identical car as a 300D, just it has 2 doors, and a shorter wheelbase......
i wouldnt trade mine for the world......  |
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Nutz
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location:
Vehicle(s):
Posts: 2026
| RE: Caught the diesel bug again...
BenzDieselTuner - 3/30/2007 7:24 PM the 123 Coupe Diesel Turbo is basicly the identical car as a 300D, just it has 2 doors, and a shorter wheelbase.... Yep,identical  |
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123Guy
Date registered: Dec 1899
Location:
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| RE: Caught the diesel bug again...
Yep, you'll love the 300CD - I drove a 79 from new, until I bought my 84 new - same as the 300D - When I needed a front clip I bought an 85 sedan parts car and the body shop used the entire front end. But from the firewall back, almost nothing (other than the drive line) is the same. |
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jdc1244
Date registered: Dec 1899
Location:
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| RE: Caught the diesel bug again...
The most important thing to check is compression, this should be done during the ppi. It should be put on a lift to check for rust and front end problems.
Like all Mercedes of this era there are no good or bad years, DB was the master of consistent quality in those days. The only difference would be the 85 models with the transmission vacuum amp and the 2.88 diff for better highway cruising.
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Dieselburns
Expert
Date registered: May 2006
Location: New York, Long Island
Vehicle(s): 78' MB 300D 87 Chief Cherokee
Posts: 2251
| RE: Caught the diesel bug again...
Right... |
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Adoni
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Sacramento, CA
Vehicle(s): '00 G500, '15 C300 4Matic, '06 L322 G4
Posts: 1283
| Re: Caught the diesel bug again...
After buying my 280 GE and owning the 300SD I'm pretty good about what to look for. So hopefully I'll find a good example. What's a fair price for a good example? |
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jdc1244
Date registered: Dec 1899
Location:
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| RE: Caught the diesel bug again...
A ‘good example’ CD is going to be pricey; less then 200,000 miles with books and records, be prepared to pay anywhere from $5500 to $6500 – I’ve seen them as high as $7-8000.
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DesertStar
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: San Diego, CA USA
Vehicle(s): 85-280GE/95-G320/08-G500
Posts: 2156
| RE: Caught the diesel bug again...
I have/had both the W126 300SD and the W123 300D. I sold my 300D to get a 280GE. I love the W126 for freeway cruising on my 60 mile commute, but the W123 was tops when it came to darting around in the city. Fuel ecomomy was surpirsingly the same at 28mpg on a bad day. I sold her on Ebay awhile ago for 6k. I miss my W123.
Mike
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BenzDieselTuner
Date registered: Dec 1899
Location:
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| Re: Caught the diesel bug again...
its a shame you had to sell her, but i see your driveway at the time would have been too small to fit a G in as well.......
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DesertStar
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: San Diego, CA USA
Vehicle(s): 85-280GE/95-G320/08-G500
Posts: 2156
| RE: Caught the diesel bug again...
You are quite right...I take a lot of photos of my progress on my different projects. I had this one of which was the day I first bought it. It is now in a good home in Washington now by which is was "born" into the states.
Mike
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Ed Mclass
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Vehicle(s): 1958 180a, 2010 GLK, 2000 G 500, 2005 SLK 350
Posts: 1215
| Re: Caught the diesel bug again...
Very low production numbers 1977-1981 non-turbo total 7,502 units. The 1981-1985 Turbo 8,007 units. Rated at 27 mpg. city and 33 mpg highway. Cost new in 1982 was $33,750 East Coast. I've always admired the lines, classic even today. |
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TheDon
Date registered: Dec 1899
Location:
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| Re: Caught the diesel bug again...
If you find one for 5500$ you better make sure everything in it works, cruise, AC, no rust, sun roof, antenna.. everything!
I paid 2500$ for my 300D .. the AC doesnt work, sunroof does.. Cruise would be nice( I have money to fix it now.. yay and the ac soon) . and fadded roof paint
nice examples can be found for under 5k ... but rember a cheap mercedes is an expensive mercedes |
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Boneheaddoctor
W123 Host
Date registered: Jun 2006
Location: Hells half acre (Northern VA)
Vehicle(s): '79 300SD, '83 300D, '75 Harley-Davidson Chopper
Posts: 310
| Re: Caught the diesel bug again...
I bought my '83 300D with 142,000 miles no rust, and a few minor problems for $2,800 cash. This after it failed to meet reserve price on Ebay for $3,200. What problems did it have? A/C didn't work...only needed a recharge. Bought it in winter so found out later. Temp gauge didn't work. Needed a sending unit. Temp was intermittent. Needed a Monovalve repair kit. Tach didn't work. Needed a tach amp. Radio didn't work. Replaced it with a far better after market radio as well as the speakers. Had a couple pieces of wood trim missing or damaged. Got replacements on Ebay. grease boots split on lower ball joints and tie rods showing wear., Thrust rod bushings seized. Rebuilt the entire front end. Antenna had issues due to corrosion. Replaced mast. Car had no power which was why the owner was selling it after only a few months of ownership. Noticed this when I test drove it. But it started instantly and ran smooth. Used that as a big bargaining point saying its hard to know whats wrong. Offered $2,800 cash in hand and had him drive it to my house. 15 minutes after he left I had it running strong. Was an excellent bargain in my mind as I have had to make very few repairs in the time I've owned it. I have had to replace the calipers since as I had had one seize on me and toast a rotor. Used that opportunity to do 4 new rotors and pads as well. |
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