“This is an absolutely beautiful Mercedes Diesel 2-door coupe” so opines the seller of this 1982 300 CD two-door hardtop. Oh yeah, it’s a looker, these two-door models possess some of Mercedes’ finest styling cues. The “D” part of the model name? That’s another matter but let’s not allow that facet to get in the way just yet. Mitchell G. found this 84K mile example for us, it’s residing in Morris County, New Jersey and is available, here on craigslist for $22,000 or a fair offer.
Offered for eleven model years, the Mercedes W123, the platform underpinning our coupe, was pretty successful with over 2.6 M produced. The two-door version accounted for just about 100K copies and that’s likely the reason that they are seldom seen. The original silver finish of our subject car presents beautifully, and though it’s not said, I would imagine that this one is a garage dweller. The seller doesn’t state his length of ownership but I’d say this Benz has avoided New Jersey winters – and weather in general. It’s good to see that the black rubber bumper fillers are still black and not faded, cracked, and gray.
The dark blue leatherette interior is as Tuetonic as ever – in a strictly Mecedes-Benz way. I have scanned it looking for signs of wear, cracks, splits, etc., and noticed none. The VDO gauges are just perfect, they’re large, clear, legible, and all business. This is an A/C-equipped car (it works!) and it’s safe to say that the entire inside environment needs no attention.
Now for the matter of that “D” in the model designation. What we have here is a 120 HP, 3.0 liter, in-line, six five-cylinder, diesel engine, working its way via a four-speed automatic transmission. The seller claims, “Runs like a brand new car. I have records on the car’s history and all documentation of work done since I have owned it. Highly reliable and is an absolute pleasure to drive“. He further adds that the 84K genuine mile recording is “nothing” for a diesel powerplant. And while I do agree with that, I’m on the fence over how well that diesel engine will perform acceleration-wise. I’ve not owned one of these, but I have garnered many comments that aren’t always too enthusiastic as far as the straight-line performance of diesel-powered Mercedes goes. Please, informed readers, let us know what you think.
I could see this 300 CD being an immediate hit if it ditched the “D” but maybe that’s not really a holdback. Regardless, this is a beautiful and finely engineered automobile that appears to have been properly maintained and appropriately stored. Next owner? Probably right around the corner, D or not, right?
For starters it’s a 5 cylinder Turbodiesel that puts out 123hp. Not a bad price if it’s been taken care of with all records. 0-60 times measured with a calendar, but will cruise all day at 80mph.
Top speed:
(It’s a Turbo Diesel)
174 km/h / 108 mph
0-60 mph (s): 14.0
0-100 km/h (s): 14.8 .
I had a 1983 Turbo Diesel 300SD. One of the best cars I have ever owned. They were all handbuilt back then. I put 150k on the car and replace normal wear and tear items except for the power antenna and glow plugs.
Okay, here goes. This car is right up my breeze way! My ex used to be the office manager at the local Merc/Benz, Volvo, Porsche etc, etc dealer in town. She used to bring something different home every so often. So not to bore, let me put in a sentence or two. Maintenance is not cheap on any model MB. Acceleration on this model is–well shall I say medium. Quality is much more than you first think. It grows on you. I’ll try to paint a picture. You remember those balsa wood airplanes that some of us played with, ones with the rubber bands you would wind up and let go? Kinda think of this model like that. But, the difference is that the rubber band just keeps on unwinding. This model, if it has had the care and maintenance that is claimed, will go half a million miles. IF, it continues to receive the scheduled maintenance and care plus common sense driving. This is the two couples cruiser for a weekend jont to a casino and golf course. They have some class. Nice to drive also. Pretty car and I get a good feeling about it. It’ll make someone else happy!
I think you’re giving this car an extra cylinder credit. It should be the 5 cylinder turbo diesel (the one to have) the later diesel six had a few issues. Anyway, back to the car itself which presents beautifully hopefully no lawyers in love recreated the Jackson Brown album cover with this Tuetonic Tart.
I’m falling out of my chair giggling !
Stop it! Funny picture you just burned into my noggin.
Fixed, thx.
JO
Beautiful looking 300CD to bad it didn’t have “T” before the D! If you like a slow cruise this is for you. And yes proper maintenance of the engine transmission and outside the vehicle wash and wax this will last almost forever. I remember we were in Greece me and the wife back in 1990 and they use a four-door Mercedes-Benz diesel. The one we were in had over 300,000 miles it just keeps going. Even the Greek taxi driver said as long as you maintain it won’t let you down . Good luck to the next owner. 🐻🇺🇸
In Mercedes nomenclature, the “T” would indicate a wagon, for Touring. This one does have the turbodiesel, indicated by the badge saying so on the right end of the trunklid.
Just Gorgeous. I don’t care what the 0-60 is!!
I used to own one same color combo. The interior wears like iron, the acceleration is glacial but it will cruise all day at 80and return 28mpg. The maintenance is not cheap and the weak link is the electronic modules for climate control, cruise control, etc. The best description I can think of for these cars is competent. They do everything well with little fuss.
If, as everyone has said, it’s been properly maintained it will go forever. I rode in one that had 826 k miles on it and it was like new. The thing is, especially if it was driven in nj in the winter, the frames rot so have that checked by a Benz specialist or a reputable dealer.
IIRC, this was a time when MB still had a great reputation as a well made car, but was becoming a status symbol again so they were getting stolen more frequently than many other cars.
The parts guys and girls helped fix that by ordering an abundance of model emblems with the “D” for customers to affix in a usually successful effort to deter would be thieves as said low life thieves thought the MB 240/300/380 was a diesel model..
I had the four door version not long ago. Bought it from a friend for cheap cause it had over 300,000 miles but it ran great and would get 25 mph around town with the air on! Everything on that car was made to last. We won’t talk about o to 60. I lived at one end of town and I was lucky to hit 70 by the time I got to the other end of town two miles away. Wish I still had it.
My first MB was a ’59 180A, bought at age 14 for $95 (I was a weird kid) Had a 300D in the early 90’s- bought it to impress the girl I was dating and she married me! That said, it rivaled VW buses and early Ford Falcons for glacial slowness. This is a backroads car, not a merge with traffic on I-95 car. We later got an ’87 420SEL sedan that had the same build quality but also performance. Then an early 90’s 300 that stalled right after takeoff, dangerously, and soured me on Mercedes forever. Never bought another German car until 3 days ago, an Audi A5.
Guys: I’m not an MB person. What about parts for this car? It’s over 40 years old. I know the engine and trans can be bullet proof but there are other parts to the car that can wear out and are “unobtanium”.
Rich, you make a valid point. A few years ago, we were trying to replace one of the front hood springs for the wife’s 86 Volvo DL. Solid car, looked like new, didn’t use oil. But some parts, like those springs were only available from junkyards. Hopefully that has changed.
I hear you! I wonder if the parts selection at junk yards in Sweden would be better than junk yards in the US? LOL.
I owned a ‘76 300 D. The only car I’ve owned that could deliver on it’s maximum speed comfortably.
When up and running it tracked like a train on rails.
It was also very good in the snow what with the virtually even weight distribution.
Careful doing research. Back in the day I googled Mercedes 300D and up came a 300 lb woman with D cups , named – Mercedes.
It has all been said. These things looked great but didn’t move very quickly, so either swap out the engine for another diesel at great cost, or learn to enjoy driving slowly.
The third alternative is to turn it into an electromod — I am not sure if that is a word yet or not, but it should be.
I didn’t know that they made a 300 without the turbo. I had a 240D, 4cyl. no turbo, talk about slow, it would get up to freeway speed in a mile or more, I got a speeding ticket in Death Valley, probably going down hill, yes those rangers have speed traps and you have to pay the fine to them.
With the right and proper service this car will still be on the road when all of the stuff that’s being sold today is dead and gone. Hell maybe you could trade it in on a flying car.
Nice!
The CD and the TD Wagon are my most favorites during that time frame. Both look and drive perfect. The CD would get my attention first
You can take a nap between first and second gear in these things. Love it tho.