Description:

Hey Guys,

Its time for my 1987 300TDT to hit the road. We bought it in 2008 from the seller in Oregon with 222,000 miles and shipped it to the east coast. Then, a pristine "two" owner car- (two owners in the same family since new) the car came to me with all records since new including a log of all fuel fill-ups, original sales invoice, window sticker, maintenance records and all owners manuals. It was purchased new in Washington state and spent all its life in WA and OR.

I purchased the car as a family hauler as I refused to go the minivan route. She served reliably and tirelessly getting our kids getting through middle and high schools, and then through college. The car then served as the "first car" for both kids for a couple years each. She has been ridden hard and put away wet. Now showing 297,000 on the odometer (which stopped working in mid 2017)...I have also kept all fuel and maintenance records since I bought it. Since the odometer stopped working, it has used 976.48 gallons of diesel fuel which using my approximate average of 24.5 MPG, this yields another 23,923 miles- so I estimate the car actually has about 320,996 total miles.

I have spent well over $15,000 in documented maintenance and parts since I purchased the car- most parts purchased over the years from the Mercedes Classic Center. Some major repairs since my purchase in 2008 include: many sets of tires and brake rotors and pads, rear calipers, all glow plugs and glow relay, center and rear mufflers, rebuilt transmission and new torque converter- (about 45,000 miles on new trans now), serpentine belt, tensioner, underhood A/C compressor lines, receiver dryer, condenser, vacuum pump, water pump and thermostat, heater electric coolant circulation valve, front and rear crank seals, all motor and trans mounts, shifter bushings, driveshaft center support and bearing, aux radiator fan, and countless other smaller things.

The kids now have their own cars and have moved away. For hauling duties, the wife bought a new Subaru.


All that said, I have many other cars, and the 300TD has fully served its useful life with me and I'm ready to move her on. I figure she's still worth $2,000 as a tax donation, but would rather see her go to somebody on the forum to fix her up and put more miles on her rather than to an auction and being parted out.

She's not a basket case, but needs plenty of work. Served daily driver duties up to last October and has been in indoor storage ever since. She starts, runs, drives and stops no problem. Engine starts right up in hot or cold weather- a very, very smooth running engine with good power. Original #14 head- never overheated. Very little smoke. Rear hydropneumatic suspension works fine with no leaks. Owner replaced the accumulator spheres before I bought it. Has the optional third seat with all headrests, but not the crossmembers for the roof rack. Four virtually new Michelin X-Ice snow tires on aftermarket 8-hole 7.5X16 wheels from Tire Rack currently mounted. Will also come with a second set of four factory 15" wheels with old tires.


Here are all the current outstanding issues I can think of:


-Significant rust through at the top of the right front wheel well at the strut mount- (none on left side), variable amounts of rust at three jack points- front left being the worst, left rear showing none. (No rust on bottoms of doors, and no other body or frame rust of significance I can see)

-Paint dull all over, many small chips, a few small dents on the left front fender, clear coat peeling on right doors and rear quarter which look to have been repainted by prior owner-(Carfax shows no accidents) Windshield pretty peppered with tiny chips.

-A/C blows cold, heat blows hot- but very little actual airflow through vents- vacuum controller valve for vent switching probably bad under the dash.
-Parking brake pedal return spring bad- parking brake light on unless you tap the pedal back up after releasing it.

-Needs front pads and probably rotors (passed PA inspection which is good thru Oct 2020.)
-Valve cover gasket leaking at front, fuel pump leaking at delivery valves- fuel system bleeds pressure down if parked uphill.

-Non-original radio and CD changer inoperative.
-Some play/wandering in suspension while driving- I had mechanic check front suspension which checked out fine. I now think it may be some play in the bushings in the rear control arms.
-Rear hatch auto-latching only works some of the time and the window rubber gasket seeps some water into rear well during heavy rains.

-Front seat bottom original MB-Tex covers cracking, dash cracked, rear seat perfect.

-Third seat bottom loose, some tabs broken. Handles on third seat floor covers loose.


Probably not worth spending a lot of money for shipping across the country...local buyer would probably be best. I am in eastern PA just across the river from Trenton, NJ.

Looking for quick sale- registration expires at the end of Feb and I dont want to renew it!...First $2,000 takes her...PM me if you are interested.


J.G.


Here's a link for pictures of the car:

https://s977.photobucket.com/user/Mi...20300TDT/story