1985 Mercedes-Benz
300D TurboDiesel (W123)
The car:
A very good Mercedes-Benz 300D Turbo Diesel, original and unmolested classic. A Florida car from day one, it has not been in salty/snow roads.
This is a 300D with 1:2.88 Differential, which is very desirable, due to a very confortable highway speed at lower RPM. The best differential for the US Market.
Look at This YouTube video of a 5 minute ride in my 300D/85, so you can see start, idle, acceleration, transmission shifting, ride quality, etc. and judge for yourself.
The valuation:
I attached Hagerty’s valuation report on the car. I honestly believe the car is a bit better than a 3, for its originality and operating condition, but I am sticking to the 3, so the market value is at least $5,700. I am including with this listing some parts for more than $800, for a total of $6,500.
Shipping:
I am willing to help the new owner of this 300D/85, by coordinating with the driver of the company you selected, so the car can be transported to other state or country.
Why it is for sale:
I love
Mercedes-Benz. This is my 9th Mercedes, all from 1965 to 1992. After
someone ‘stole’ my beautiful one-owner W123 1981 Wagon two years ago (not
stolen: I sold it once I finished doing all I could do at home and a gentleman
fell in love with it, making me “an offer I couldn’t refuse”), I decided that
my passion for W123 needed another Turbo Diesel, so I purchased this 1985
sedan, in good shape for the age and mileage.
I took care of some details on this nice sedan, but I
purchased at the same time two other old Mercedes (not a good idea!). My job
requires me to travel a lot more now, and I have not been working diligently
enough on my old cars (4 now). I need to open space and focus on one car at a
time. I purchased a lot of parts for this W123, but have not installed most of
them, so it is time to let this one go to someone who will pay attention to
this noble and unbeatable car.
My listing:
I
have been an eBay member forever (16+ years) and never had negative or even
neutral feedback, just 5 stars positive feedback. This is not a perfect car. Please look at the detailed description. If you need more photos, I only uploaded the 24 photos eBay enabled. My description is as accurate as possible, so you can choose if this car is
what you are looking for.
The details:
·
Exterior
o
(+) All original factory paint, untouched (DB
681 Manila Beige), except for the trunk lid’s paint. Beautiful lines, door
gaps, etc.
o
(+) No visible rust, surface rust or any visible
indication of rust under the paint (bubbles, etc.).
o
(+) Beautiful and near perfect tail lights &
lenses. No signs of cracks, damage, etc.
o
(+) Very Good headlights. Headlight doors are
original and with some little mini-cracks both sides. All lights working perfectly.
o
(+) Radiator grill is in great shape, as well as
the star.
o
(+) Air intake rubber front attachment is like
new. Very hard to find a car with rubber in this condition.
o
(+) Battery tray in like-new condition. No rust.
o
(+) Clean engine bay and operating water drains. No signs of
rust there.
o
(-) Rear left bumper was pushed by other car in
a parking lot. Bumper itself is not bended or damaged, but the slow-speed
collision system in this 300D absorbed the minor impact and is retracted about two
inches (see pictures). No damages to the bodywork, paint, tail light, etc.
o
(-) Trunk lid had a dent. The dent is fixed, but
the trunk's paint work is horrible and not professional. It is dull and I didn’t allow the
shop to put even clear coat on such a bad job. It needs to be painted in DB681
Manila Beige.
o
(-) Small scratch in driver’s front fender (see specific detail in a photo), at
the front left wheel arch. It is minor but noticeable
o
(-) Although the car has all original/factory
paint (except for the trunk lid), it has a number of little chips on the paint.
o
(-) Windshield has to small chips, probably from
small stones. Both chips are contained and very small. Please see the pictures.
·
Interior
o
(+) Complete original Palomino interior. Only a
small tear on the driver’s side (back rest, left side). Nothing else.
o
(+) All new vacuum actuators in all doors and
trunk. I didn’t change the actuator for the gas-tank door.
o
(+) All original floor mats with correct
channeled insulation. Very good shape. All carpet interior could use a shampoo,
but there are no damaged areas.
o
(+) All switches and controls work: sunroof,
rear reading light, emergency/parking lights, defrost, etc.
o
(+) Combination switch works perfectly. Two step
turn signals, wipers, high beam, etc. Strong and positive feedback.
o
(+) Original correct Becker radio-cassette with
fully operational memories, LCD display, and four speakers. The antenna is not
the original Hirschman
o
(+) A/C Control Unit working fine, for heat and
cold.
o
(+) A/C blows cold, even for South Florida summer.
Once I experienced an all-hot air issue, that seams to be the related to
Monovalve’s diaphragm. This might need attention soon.
o
(-) Two cuts on the headliner: One over the
passenger’s head, where the headliner meets the sunroof and another small cut over
the rear passenger middle seat.
o
(-) Woodgrain in A/C control unit is not
completely glued to the metal plate that supports it. I did clean-up both parts
and put gentle pressure for 2 weeks, but the wood is a little concave at the
edges and it does not sit perfectly on the metal plate. No a functional problem,
but it is not perfect.
o
(-) Wood finish on the center console is
damaged. The protective clear coat was removed, but the wood veneer under the
protective coat was scratched. Professional help or a new-used one on ebay
(aprox $50) will fix the problem.
o
(-) Missing seat net on the driver’s seat back
rest. Available also on eBay, although a bit harder requiring more patience.
o
(-) The radio antenna is not original. It is a
manual fixed antenna, not the original retractable Hirschman.
o
(-) Driver’s door weatherstrip has a small
missing part, which generates wind-noise at 50+ MPH. Both front door rubber
weatherstrips are included with the car.
o
(+) It has a new ignition switch, not done
properly (with the matching original key), so you have one key to start the
engine and another for the doors. No issues at all with locking mechanism or
steering wheel lock. Ignition switch works perfect.
o (-) There is a stain (looks like paint) in this 300D's trunk carpet. Please see the pictures.
·
Mechanics
o
(+) Very strong engine. I drove from Tallahassee
to Ft. Lauderdale (470+ Miles) in one single drive without a problem or
inconvenient at all, at highway speeds up to 75 MPH.
o
(+) Engine starts immediately, even when not
used for weeks. Just let the glow plugs get ready and starts at first crank and
fast.
o
(+) Never had an issue with the starter. Fully
reliable and fast thus far.
o
(+) Engine stops immediately too once you turn
the ignition switch counter clockwise. No hesitation.
o
(+) No noticeable differential noise or any noticeable
indication of wear there.
o
(+) Automatic transmission shifts fine, with no
significant delay (less than 1 second) between parking, reverse, neutral and
drive. Fluid is quite clear and red-transparent as expected on a well-maintained
car.
o
(-) I believe it has the original transmission
so it might have all 220,000 miles on it. It feels a bit slow upshifting
between 2nd and 3rd. I had no issues with slipping, long
delays or anything like it so far. It has a small fluid leak and I had to add
fluid twice (I check fluid levels every time I drive it).
o
(+) Brakes were overhauled by previous owner and
work perfectly, including new rotors and pads. Not shaking or trembling when
braking at all.
o
(+) Cooling: all hoses and radiator seam to have
been changed recently. Both hoses as flexible and look like new rubber and I
have not experienced leaks or even a minimum overheating while driving the car.
o
(+) Suspension: all shocks seam to work just
fine. No bouncing or noises.
o
(-) Steering has a little play, like 1 ½ inches
total. This model has steering play as a feature, but this is more than spec. I
think it might be tie-rods, so I ordered all new and just didn’t have time to
replace them (you get them with the car). No pulling or vibration at all.
o
(+) Tires: all new, identical tires. All correct
and original alloy wheels, including the spare tire wheel, as expected.
o
(+) Original MB tool set in original cloth
wrapping. MB tools inside.
o
(+) Stable engine on idle, but anyway I ordered
MB engine mounts and transmission mount, and you will get them with the car.
o
(-) Oil leak from oil-cooler’s high pressure
hose. It seams to be at the rubber part of the hose itself and not at the
oil-cooler.
o
(-) Oil leak from the turbo area. Very common on
this model. Although the turbo itself works great (it pulls strong and solid),
I included a turbo overhaul kit from mercedessource.com, including instructions
to fix the seals and replace impeller and compressor, bearings, etc.
o
(-) Engine bay: there is not hood-pad installed,
but I purchased an original Meyle hoodpad. It is included with the car.
o
(-) Windshield washer reservoir: it has a leak.
I ordered and installed a new rubber ring, and cleaned nicely the reservoir,
but it still leaks. At this point I don’t know if there is an issue with the little
pump or with my installation of the ring.
·
Parts included:
o
$30 - Radiator hoses (123 501 0082 & 123 501
1882)
o
$250 – Turbo overhaul kit, with impeller, shaft
& compressor wheel
o
$60 – Hood pad
o
$150 – tie rod & drag link kit (2x 123 330
1803 & 123 460 1505)
o
$90 – Front door seals (2x 123 720 1678)
o
$120 – engine & transmission mounts (2x 123
241 3013 & 123 240 2518)
o
$80 - Drive shaft flex disk (126 410 0215)
o
$30 - Drive shaft center bearing mount &
bearing (123 410 1081 & 6006.2RSR.C3)