I might have bought a $300 Mercedes

We drove our 1966 Mercedes 230S to a 4th of July party, and a neighbor walked up and said "nice Mercedes, I've got one I'll pretty much give you!"

So, we went to look at it. It didn't run, it had 4 flat tires, and it wasn't exactly pretty. I handed the guy $300 for it, and we dragged it home. It's a 1984 300SD. Turbo diesel, baby!

I bought a $100 battery for it, checked the oil, aired up the tires, and it fired right up! In fact, I just put 50 miles on it!

What do you all think? I'm planning on driving it back and forth to school (after I fix a few more things).

Check the timing chain stretch(good idea to replace it and the guides on age alone), and the sway bar ends for rust. Congrats, you now have an example of the best mass produced car ever built.

Edit, also check the oil cooler hoses, if they leak, its only a matter of time before they blow as I recall when I looked at getting one.

I certainly approve, I have been driving one for over 2 years now and it has been great. One thing that is very important to check (preferably before you drive it again) is the resistor for the heater blower is under the brake booster, and it is almost certainly under a big pile of leaves, which will quickly turn into a fire if you turn the blower on at other than high speed. Being that its an 80s mercedes it is also highly likely that the entire climate control system is dead, but it doesnt hurt to be safe. Take a look at the upper ball joints too, they are pretty cheap and likely badly need replacing.

Tom Suddard wrote: In fact, I just put 50 miles on it!

50 miles in a row? You are a more patient man than I.

Nice!

Straight Vegie Oil. Do It.

(And Nice Score.)

Nice snag! I wish I could find an old panzer-mobile like that for cheap that works. I'd rock one as a DD.

If those are anything like their W123 predecessors, it should run until the rest of it crumbles into the ground. I had a coworker 10 years ago that had a W123 diesel and it had well over 500k on it and it started up every day. He ended up selling it, and I bet it's still out there.

Dr. Hess wrote: Straight Vegie Oil. Do It. (And Nice Score.)

Yeah, somebody on this board has been doing that for 100,000 miles

So, one day a client of mine starts talking about the mint 1983 Mercedes 300 turbo Diesel, no rust, runs perfect with like 80,000 kmi.

When he sees how excited I am to hear about it, he tells me "if I knew you liked them I'd have given it to you" (instead of giving it to the guy who painted his summer home on the Vinyard!)

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr... Good find!

No more Model A?

You know I really hate you...

Straight line drags against the Model A?

JohnRW1621 wrote: Straight line drags against the Model A?

Dead heat

+1, would totally rock :)

Model A is still here and still taking me to work every day. It's been in the shop all weekend, I'm trying to find the source of its "death wobble."

I still say the 300 superdiesel was the slowest car ever built, 0-10mph. With you being well removed from the rust belt and cold air, it should be a fine ride.

Nice ride!!!

I think it's brilliant!!!

I think a veggie oil conversion would make a great article.

I know Dr Boost has done a great job of do documenting his experience, but would also be cool to see a GRM take on it.

z31maniac wrote: I think a veggie oil conversion would make a great article. I know Dr Boost has done a great job of do documenting his experience, but would also be cool to see a GRM take on it.

This. GRM talked about Randy's converted car, but it would be nice to have details on how to do a conversion.

Streetwiseguy wrote: I still say the 300 superdiesel was the slowest car ever built, 0-10mph. With you being well removed from the rust belt and cold air, it should be a fine ride.

I don't think mine is really that slow... Yeah, its far from being a fast car, but in normal driving its fine. The only time when its obviously lacking power is going up steep hills, otherwise it is capable of accelerating faster than the average person choses to and exceeding the speed limit under almost any conditions.

Seems like a waste of $300. Should we expect more terrible project car articles?

A WVO conversion isn't in the cards; I doubt this one will really be in the magazine.

Yeah although interesting I'm not sure a WVO conversion in a 300D fits in in any way with the editorial content expected in a hardcore sports car magazine.

Now a WVO conversion to a 6.2l diesel burban tow pig would have a place.

subrew wrote: Seems like a waste of $300. Should we expect more terrible project car articles?

Tell us what you really think!