The Mercedes 300D is a good reminder that mileage figures are relative. An unrepaired Jaguar XKE with over 100k on the clock is rare. A 300D that’s traveled the same distance is barely broken in, and other than routine maintenance, may not have ever seen the inside of a shop. Here on eBay is a 1985 Mercedes 300D turbodiesel, bid to $1725 in a no-reserve auction. This is a California car with extra emissions equipment; it is currently garaged in La Jolla. We’ll get the bad news out of the way up front: the seller has listed the car because its transmission will not shift past second gear, and he is not able to repair it. Other than this rather major demerit, the roster of work completed recently is reassuring! Let’s see if this is a good value at the current bid – or not.
A video of the car running is included in the listing – the diesel motor sounds fine to me; anyone hear anything funky? This engine – a 3.0-liter injected in-line five cylinder configured for about 125 hp by 1985 – is the heart of the 300D’s longevity, with examples routinely racking up hundreds of thousands of miles. The transmission is a 722.4 four-speed automatic for the California market, and yes, a rebuilt unit will run somewhere around $2k with shipping. Installation will be at least as much as the part, and then there’s always ‘extras’. My guess is $5k is the absolute bottom end of the bill if this job is farmed out; a talented mechanic willing to refresh the gearbox at home might get away with a kit for far less. Aside from this issue, the car has seen plenty of repairs and maintenance, from new shocks and rebuilt fuel injectors to a new turbocharger and refreshed cooling system. The tires and brake pads are new as well.
The interior is fine, with decent upholstery front and back, and a very nice dash and console. The seller notes that all the power accessories work; the rear window regulators were just replaced, and several actuators that run the accessories are new. The sunroof works well. The stereo has been upgraded with a vintage-looking unit, including a subwoofer installed inside the first aid kit!
As nice as the interior is, the paint work performed after a minor accident doesn’t match the factory panels. The rear fender and lower rear passenger door are a lighter shade of white; the same effect is evident on the driver’s side as well. The bumper rubber is worn and cracked in places. These cars aren’t worth enough to fix those flaws, and with a transmission bill in the offing, I’d focus on that first. There’s no shortage of 300Ds for sale, ranging from mid-four-figures with a few needs to $10k for this tidy Euro version. Later cars with higher output will sell for more, and the market pays for low mileage, but what it won’t pay for is projects – parts and repair costs are simply too steep.
I discovered a new product that would make that black trim over the bumper solid like new black…it’s called Back To Blck, avail. Everywhere…
I love Back to Black. An application doesn’t last forever, but it works very well for a while. Good for targa tops too.
Back when Mercedes really made high-quality vehicles. It’s been a while.
Somebody didn’t do a good job of blending the paint.
A lot of well-to-do farmers out west bought MB diesels. And when they needed work they came to a shop like ours. I tuned a lot of MBs (190s, 220s, 240s and 300s) up over the years. In all honesty they were no better than our good ol’ American-Made iron.
Back in the early 80s, when the API (allegedly) changed its oil spec from ‘SE-CC’ to ‘SE-CD’, MB lost camshafts too. That is, unless you were using the same oil as your behemoth of a farm tractor with its Cummins or Caterpillar, or John Deere engine; MB camshafts were spared. MBs also tended to loosen the crankshaft pulley/balancer, which allowed the timing sprocket to oscillate back and forth, carving an ever wider keyway in the crankshaft snout.
Transmissions, we just pulled and got rebuilt components from an MB distributor in the Seattle region (if memory serves me correctly). Yes, the transmission will be a challenge but I’ve seen some good ol’ American ones break the bank too.
The turbo diesels were interesting. They had a combination boost control/altitude compensator to keep from blowing out a bit of black smoke out the tailpipe during acceleration. They had lots of bottom end to launch yourself at a green light. Trouble was, after your turbo started to build some boost, the ADA/LDA kind of went into Reverse and actually cut the fuel back, which would cause the driver to bite a chunk out of the steering wheel halfway through the intersection when the car suddenly slowed. I would modify them so they just keep allowing more fuel as boost was gained (like it should be). Of course I wouldn’t gain many friends from the EPA and even less from CARB but they can deal with their own dental bills…
These are slow anyway. Just leave it in second!
No, they are not slow; the turbocharged 300 D does quite well merging and cruising on the freeway. The non tubro version, not so much. I have 342K on my 85 and use it as the errands runner and daily driver, It has great visibility and a lot of folks like the looks.
Slap an LS and GM trans in it!! Someone had to say it.
nuttin like it. Buy if seeking durability.
I’m known as ‘wagonman’ locally this (W123 or 300TD with the OM617) and
this might be my ultimate personal car. Justa check on personality I guess.
“…These cars aren’t worth enough to fix those flaws, …” I’d say no, do them after the transm.
Mine wouldn’t shift out of second after flooring it entering an interstate highway. Drove it wound up on back roads 100 miles home. Was quite depressed until I discovered that the kick-down switch was stuck in the down position. Cleaned and lubed it. Happy Benz owner again.
SOLD for $3,555.