1982 Mercedes Benz 300d Turbo Diesel, 136,500 Original Miles, 3 Owners From New on 2040-cars

1982 Mercedes Benz 300D Turbo Diesel, 136,500 Original Miles, 3 Owners From New, Perfect Running Condition  

VIN #WDBAB33A8CB006141

This 1982 Mercedes 300D Turbo Diesel is fantastic original example of one of the most iconic Mercedes ever produced and represents an era of cars that will never be seen again…

The condition of this car is totally original and very well presented.  The car shows very few signs of age and has 136,500 miles on the odometer.  I am the third owner from new and have an amazing amount of original paperwork and documentation for this car going back to when it was new, including the warranty card and all service books and manuals, etc.  

This car still retains every option available on an American specification car at the time, including:

-electric siding roof (sunroof)

-air conditioning

-Becker Radio Mexico Cassette, full stereo 

-tempomat (cruise control)

-revolution counter

-automatic antennae

-green heat insulated glass all around

-heated rear window pane

-high capacity battery

-lockable glove compartment

-alloy wheels

-interior trim, MB-Tex

-central locking system and instruments with english lettering

-front folding armrest and right front seat with seat height adjustment

-automatic climate control and electric window lifters (front and rear doors)

 

BODY:

This 300 wears the factory correct and original black paint, which is in very nice original condition, with no cracking, fading, or checking evident.  Even though it is 30 year old paint, as far as I can tell, all of the body panels are ripple, dent, and rust free and don’t appear to have had any sort of body or accident damage.  It does have some slight imperfections in various spots, but for a 30 year old car, the paint and condition of the body is amazing. 

The glass and seals are in excellent condition and there are no leaks evident. 

The sunroof also works perfectly and does not leak.   

The body trim, including the chrome, aluminum, and rubber, is in very good condition.  It’s not perfect, but it’s very nice considering the age of the car.  No trim has been replaced, nor has it needed to be, on the car.  It has all been polished, preserved and cared for properly over the years.

 

INTERIOR:

The interior is trimmed in the correct saddle/palomino/beige MB Text interior.  The seating areas are in nice condition, with no rips or tears, as are the door panels and dashboard.  The wood trim is in good condition and not in need of repair, and while not perfect, has a nice patina. The carpet is also original and in very presentable condition.  

All of the accessories, including the climate control, stereo system (non-factory installed), are in perfect working order.  I also have the original Becker Mexico radio/tape deck, which I believe still works.  It is not installed in the car, but will be included in the sale.  The new owner can easily install it in the car whenever he or she chooses. 

Please note that the air conditioning works perfectly and was just recharged, so it blows ice cold.

All of the windows power up and down and work perfectly.  The trunk is in very nice condition, the trunk covering is in excellent condition with no rips, tears, or missing pieces, and the spare tire, wheel, jack, and tools are all accounted for and in very nice condition.   

 

UNDERCARRIAGE:

The underside of the car is in line with a well- cared for car.  Again, it is very solid and very well preserved, with no evidence of any accident damage.

 

ENGINE and ENGINE COMPARTMENT:

The powerplant in this Mercedes is the original 3-liter inline 5-cylinder diesel engine.  It is completely original and as you can see from the photos, very well preserved.  All aspects of the motor are in perfect working order, and the compression ratio is exactly where it should be. 

The engine bay is completely original, with all components in operational condition.  Every detail of the engine compartment is “Mercedes Correct” and well preserved.  There is some minor wear to certain painted surfaces due to age, but overall, it is very presentable. 

All engine and drivetrain maintenance is up to date, including the following services:

-oil and filter change

-air filter replacement  

-throttle linkage replacement

-installation of in-line and mounted fuel filters

-engine coolant  

-installation v-drive belts

-lubrication of entire chassis 

-valve cover gasket installation

 

TRANSMISSION:

While the engines in these 300Ds seem to last forever and never have any issues (136,500 miles is considered a low mileage car), the transmission is the common Achilles heel.

The transmission in this car was just rebuilt.  Every aspect of the transmission was re-conditioned or replaced and re-installed.  It now shifts as new.  And it is still the original transmission to the car.  The warranty, which is transferable, is 1 year. 

TIRES, WHEELS, and BRAKES:

The tires are in almost new condition and do not show any notable wear.  They and are the correct and original size for the 300D.

The wheels are the original M-B alloy wheels, and are in good condition with minimal wear evident.  All of the center caps have a sharp M-B three pointed star and are original and also in very nice condition. 

The entire braking system has been gone through to ensure every part works as it should.  All rotors, pads, and seals have been replaced and brake fluid flushed. 

 

OVERALL DRIVING IMPRESSIONS:

This 300D Turbo Diesel runs and drives as should – It’s barely broken in!  The 5-cylinder diesel powerplant runs and accelerates smoothly and very quickly and the 4-speed transmission with overdrive shifts as it should. 

The car drives around town and on the open road with no squeaks, creaks, or rattles.  It has had all of the necessary service recently performed including oil-change, tune up, installation of new battery, and transmission and differential service.  It needs absolutely nothing to drive, show, and enjoy.  All of the mechanical aspects of the car work as they should. 

PLEASE NOTE:

This 300D Turbo Diesel still retains all of its original or N.O.S. components!  This means the engine, transmission, rear end, etc. are original or correct to the car.  All of the numbers, markings, etc., are correct.  THIS 300 HAS NEVER BEEN MODIFIED IN ANY WAY!  It is an original and very special car that, as evidenced by the low mileage and condition, has been driven very sparingly and properly cared for during the last 30 years…

If you’ve never driven a Mercedes of this period and you’re not looking for a hot rod, you are in for a treat with this one! 

If you are serious about purchasing this vehicle, I encourage you to come, take a look, and drive it.  I can also provide you with additional photos of any specific part you have questions about.

You or your mechanic are also welcome to put the car on a lift and perform any drivetrain inspection you wish, including a compression check.    

TERMS:  $500 DEPOSIT WITHIN 48 HOURS OF AUCTION CLOSE.  BALANCE OF AUCTION AMOUNT MUST BE PAID BY CASH IN PERSON, BANK TO BANK TRANSFER, OR CERTIFIED FUNDS (WITH VERIFICATION) ONLY WITHIN 7 DAYS OF AUCTION CLOSE.  SORRY, NO C.O.D. AND NO PAYPAL. 

The description of this vehicle is written to the best of my knowledge.  However, I am by no means an expert on vintage Mercedes automobiles.  Please don’t hesitate to ask for more photos and, if possible, come and look in person before the auction ends.  ALL SALES ARE FINAL!  If you have any questions, please contact me before the auction ends.

This vehicle is being sold as is, where is with no warranty, expressed, written or implied unless there is a warranty in effect from the factory.  The seller shall not be responsible for the correct description, authenticity, genuineness, or defects herein, and makes no warranty in connection therewith.  No allowance or set aside will be made on account of any incorrectness, imperfection, defect or damage.  Any descriptions or representations are for identification purposes only and are not to be construed as a warranty of any type.  It is the responsibility of the buyer to have thoroughly inspected the vehicle and to have satisfied himself or herself as to the condition and value and to bid based upon that judgement solely.  The seller shall and will make every reasonable effort to disclose any known defects associated with this vehicle at the buyer's request PRIOR to the close of sale.  Seller assumes no responsibility for any statements regardless of any oral statements about the vehicle. 

Please remember that your bid constitutes a legally binding contract to purchase this item.  If you require an inspection, have it done prior to bidding.  I strongly encourage all bidders to inspect the vehicle personally or enlist the services of a professional inspector prior to placing a bid.  After the sale, inspections are not recognized as a contingency to completing your obligation to your winning bid.  If there are any questions regarding the above terms, please e-mail prior to bidding.

If you have any questions, please contact me.  If you live close to Chicago, I encourage you to come and inspect the car in person!

In an effort to protect the eBay user information and to help ensure the authenticity of correspondence between sellers and bidders, eBay’s new listing format does NOT display any bidder information.  Nevertheless, I STRONGLY encourage bidders to contact me directly to answer questions or to verify correspondence.  Seller reserves the right to not accept bids or sell the vehicle to anyone with a zero or negative eBay feedback rating.

Please do not waste my time or yours bidding on an item you do not intend to pay for.  If you bid on this part and win, you are expected to pay for the part and pick it up in a timely manner!

I welcome ALL international bidders and am happy to assist with making shipping arrangements.  I can also arrange crating for shipment on my end for a nominal extra charge.  If you are an international buyer, I understand it can take some time to arrange shipping, so I do not mind keeping the motorcycle for a longer period of time until pick up.  Please contact me before the sale ends, if possible, to discuss the specifics.

Thanks for your interest!

For more on the Mercedes 300D Turbo Diesel, read on…

W123 is the internal chassis-designation Mercedes-Benz used for their executive line of cars, manufactured between 1975 and 1986.

The W123 models surpassed their predecessor, the W114 and W115 models, as the most successful Mercedes, selling 6.7 million cars before replacement by the W124 after 1985. The additional range of smaller Mercedes-Benz W201 models were introduced in 1982.

Model history:

Mercedes-Benz C123 (Euro-spec)

Mercedes-Benz W123 saloon (Euro-spec)

Mercedes-Benz W123 sedan (US)

Mercedes-Benz 280TE estate

Mercedes-Benz 300CD Turbodiesel coupe (US-version)

Mercedes-Benz introduced the W123 four-door versions in January, 1976. While there were some technical similarities to their predecessors, the new models were larger in wheelbase and exterior dimensions. The styling was also updated, although stylistic links with the W115 were maintained. Initially, all models except 280/280E featured quad unequal-size round headlights and the latter large rectangular units. When facelifted, these units became standard across the range.

All W115 engines were carried over, with the 3 litre 5-cylinder diesel model being renamed from "240D 3.0" to "300D" (as it had already been called before in North American markets). The only new engine was the 250's 2525 cc inline-six (Type M123, a short-stroke version of the 2.8 litre six Type M110) that replaced the old 2496 cc Type M114 six.

In the spring of 1976, a coup'e version was introduced on a shorter wheelbase than the saloon (2,710 mm (106.7 in) versus 2,795 mm (110.0 in)) for the saloon. This W123C/CE was available as a 230C (later 230CE) and as a 280C/CE in most markets; in North America there were additional 300CD versions with naturally aspirated, later turbocharged 3 litre diesel engines.

It is a tribute to the car's instant popularity – and possibly to the caution built into the production schedules – that nine months after its introduction, a black market had developed in Germany for Mercedes-Benz W123s available for immediate delivery. Customers willing to order new cars from their local authorized dealer for the recommended list price faced waiting times in excess of twelve months. Models that were barely used and were available almost immediately commanded a premium over the new price of around DM 5,000.

From August, 1977, long-wheelbase versions (3,425 mm (134.8 in)) were produced. These were available as 7/8 seater saloons with works bodies or as a chassis with complete front body clip, the latter serving as the base for ambulance and hearse bodies by external suppliers like Binz or Miesen. These "Lang" versions could be ordered as 240D, 300D and 250 models.

At the Frankfurt Auto Show in September, 1977 the W123T estate was introduced; the T in the model designation stood for "Touring and Transport". All engines derivative except "200TD" were available in the range. T production began in March, 1978 in Mercedes' Bremen factory.

In early 1979, the diesel models power output was increased; power rose from 55 PS (40 kW; 54 hp) to 60 PS (44 kW; 59 hp) in the 200D, from 65 PS (48 kW; 64 hp) to 72 PS (53 kW; 71 hp) in the 240D and from 80 PS (59 kW; 79 hp) to 88 PS (65 kW; 87 hp) in the 300D; at the same time, the 220D went out of production.

The first Mercedes turbo diesel production W123 appeared in September, 1979. This was the 300 TD Turbodiesel, available with automatic transmission only. In most markets, the turbocharged 5-cylinder 3 litre diesel engine (Type OM617) was offered only in the T body style, while in North America it was also available in saloon and coup'e guises.

June 1980 saw the introduction of new 4-cylinder petrol engines (Type M102). A new 2 litre four with shorter stroke replaced the old M115, a fuel-injected 2.3 litre version of this engine (in 230E/TE/CE) the old carbureted 230. Both engines were more powerful than their predecessors.

In 1980/81 the carbureted 280 versions went out of production; the fuel-injected 280E continued to be offered.

In September, 1982, all models received a mild facelift. The rectangular headlights, previously fitted only to the 280/280E, were standardized across the board, as was power steering. Since February, 1982, an optional 5-speed manual transmission was available in all models (except 300 TD).

W123 production ended in January, 1986 with 63 T-models rolling out. Most popular single models were the 240D (455,000 built), the 230E (442,000 built) and the 200D (378,000 built).

W123 introduced innovations including ABS (optional from August, 1980), a retractable steering column and an airbag for the driver (optional from 1982).

Available options included MB-Tex (Mercedes-Benz Texturized Punctured Vinyl) upholstery, velour, or leather, interior wood trim, passenger side exterior mirror (standard on T models), 5-speed manual transmission (European market only), 4-speed automatic transmission (standard in turbodiesel models), power windows with rear-seat switch cut-outs, vacuum powered central locking, rear-facing extra seats (station wagon only), Standheizung (prestart timer controlled engine heating), self -locking differential, sun roof, air conditioning, climate control, "Alpine" horn (selectable quieter horn), headlamp wipers (European market only), Tempomat (cruise control), power steering (standard after 1982/08), seat heating, catalytic converter (available from 1984 for California only, from fall (autumn) 1984 also in Germany for the 230E of which one thousand were built).

Power (vacuum servo) assisted disc brakes were standard on all W123s.

The North American W123s differ from the European W123s due to United States Department of Transportation requirements.

Notable exterior differences included:

-Larger bumpers

-Round, sealed-beam headlights/fog lamps. Early cars were delivered with clear fog lamps through to model year 1979, later units with yellow

-Location of ID-tag on A-pillar

-Emission control devices

Dimensions and Weights:

Wheelbase: 2795 mm

Front/rear track   1488 / 1446 mm

Length:  4848 mm

Width:   1786 mm

Height:   1438 mm

Turning circle diameter:  11.29 m

Kerb weight:  1625 kg

by Guideline:  DIN 70020 (ready to drive, including fuel, spare wheel and tool kit)

Gross weight:  2080 kg

Gross axle weight:  front, 1005 kg

Gross axle weight:  rear, 1075 kg

Payload:  455 kg

Engine:

Combustion principle:  Four-stroke Diesel (with indirect injection and exhaust turbocharger)

Configuration front, longitudinal; vertical

Engine type:  OM 617 D 30 A / 617.952

Number of cylinders / arrangement: 5 / in line

Bore x Stroke: 90.9 x 92.4 mm

Total displacement:  2998 cc

Compression ratio:  21.5

Crankshaft bearings:  6

Rated output: 121 hp / 89 kW at 4350 rpm;~from 10.1982: 125 hp / 92 kW at 4350 rpm

Rated torque: 230 Nm at 2400 rpm; from 10.1982: 250 Nm at 2400 rpm

Number of valves / arrangement:  1 intake, 1 exhaust / overhead

Valve operation:  overhead camshaft

Camshaft drive:  double roller chain

Fuel system:  indirect injection, mechanically controlled; Bosch 5-plunger injection pump / exhaust-gas turbocharger

Cooling:  water cooling / pump; 12 l water

Lubrication:  pressure circulation lubrication / 8.6 l oil

Electric system:  12 V

Battery:  88 Ah / in the engine compartment

Generator:  three-phase AC / 770 W

Starter:  electrical / 2.3 kW

Ignition:  compression ignition

Fuel tank:  position / capacity       above the rear axle / 80 l

Fuel supply:  piston pump as part of the injection pump

 

Chassis and Drivetrain: 

Frame design: steel unit body

Front-wheel suspension: double wishbone-front axle with torsion bar stabilizer

Rear-wheel suspension, semi-trailing arm axle (hydropneumatic level control optional)

Front springs:   coil springs, supplementary rubber suspension, torsion bar stabilizer

Rear springs:  coil springs, supplementary rubber suspension, torsion bar stabilizer

Shock absorber front/rear:  telescopic shock absorbers

Steering:  recirculating-ball power steering

Steering ratio: 16.55:1 / 3.2 turns lock-to-lock

Brake system (foot brake):  hydraulic dual-circuit brake system with vacuum booster, antilock system optional; four-wheel disc brakes

Parking brake (hand brake):   mechanical (foot-operated), acting on rear wheels

Diameter of brake discs and/or brake drums brake discs front / rear:  278 / 279 mm

Wheels: sheet-steel wheels (light-alloy wheels optional)

Wheel rims       6 J x 14 H 2

Tires     195/70 SR 14 90 S

Driven wheels: rear wheels

Drivetrain:  divided cardan shaft

Transmission and Performance:

Gearing: 4-speed automatic transmission

available as standard

Shifting: steering-column selector or central floor selector lever

Clutch:  hydraulic torque converter

Transmission type:  planetary gear

Gear ratios:  I: 3.68; II: 2.41; III: 1.44; IV: 1.0; R: 5.14

Final drive ratio:  3.07; from 10.1984: 2.88

Maximum speed:  165 km/h; from 10.1984: 170 km/h

Acceleration 0-100 km/h:  14.0 s

Comments:  acceleration by shifting through from 0 - 100 km/h (2 occupants)

 

References:

Oswald, Werner (2001). Deutsche Autos 1945–1990, vol.3. Stuttgart: Motorbuch Verlag. p. 99. ISBN 3-613-02131-5.

"Autotest: Mercedes-Benz 200". Autocar 149 (nbr 4271): Pages 26–31. 16 September 1978.

Oswald, Werner (2001). Deutsche Autos 1945–1990, vol.3. Stuttgart: Motorbuch Verlag. pp. 96–111. ISBN 3-613-02131-5.

"Sterntaler: Mercedes-Wagen zu Schwarzmarktpreisen".

Auto Motor u. Sport Heft 18 1976: Seite 8–9. date 1 September 1976.

Mike Covello: Standard Catalog of Imported Cars 1946–2002. Krause Publications, Iola 2002, ISBN 0-87341-605-8, p. 539-43.