1985 Mercedes 300 Td Station Wagon on 2040-cars

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VIN: WDBAB93C5FF052091 Year: 1985
Make: Mercedes-Benz
Model: 300-Series
Options: Sunroof, CD Player
Drive Type: RWD
Power Options: Air Conditioning, Cruise Control, Power Locks, Power Windows
Mileage: 146,205
Sub Model: TD
Exterior Color: Blue
Warranty: Vehicle does NOT have an existing warranty
Interior Color: Blue
Trim: Standard
Number of Cylinders: 5

Condition: Used: A vehicle is considered used if it has been registered and issued a title. Used vehicles have had at least one previous owner. The condition of the exterior, interior and engine can vary depending on the vehicle's history. See the seller's listing for full details and description of any imperfections. ... 

I am the second owner of this low mileage, classic Mercedes.  The original owner took fantastic care of it and it’s still in great shape.  My goal was to convert this car to run on vegetable oil.  I had already done one conversion and wanted to do this one right.  Time and money ran short and I never finished.  The auction includes all the parts I purchased to complete the conversion, including the V. O. Tech heater/filter, and numerous other bits.

I made a lot of modifications to the car.  If you’re a Mercedes purist, you might feel ill reading the list:

• I started installing WVO/SVO system from V. O. Tech.  Their website is out of action but you can find details here:  http://web.archive.org/web/20110203150751/http://www.votechusa.com/.  I relocated some of the electronics on the left side of the engine compartment to make room for the heater/filter.  The cruise control never worked after this.  At the time this was the best conversion, as it used both electric heat and hot water to get the vegetable oil up to temp very fast.  The diesel fuel runs through the unit and it’s plumbed Greasecar style.  I never hooked up the hot water or power.  I planned to have a custom tank made but never got that far.  I also removed the ashtray and made an instrument panel for the VO system which is not hooked up (the vacuum gauge was hooked up, but the pipe kinked, cracked and let air into the fuel system, so I disconnected it).
• Removed hydraulic SLS (self leveling suspension).  This was a mess to maintain.  The pump failed and leaked hydraulic fluid everywhere.  I rebuilt the pump and it lasted another 8 or 9 months before failing again.  Then I gave up and replaced the whole thing with a kit from www.slsconversion.com.  It’s been fine since then.
• I removed as much of the vacuum system that wasn’t necessary.  There were a lot of things added for the American versions of these cars for emissions control that didn’t help performance.  You can find lots of guides on the internet about this.  The vacuum system works great; the door locks work, even after sitting for more than a month.
• I removed the bulky Mercedes air cleaner and replaced it with something much smaller.  I’ll include the original if you want to put it back.  I also put in a breather system to catch the crankcase blowby.
• I removed the EGR valve – you can see the blockoff plate in the pictures.

The Good:

• Engine runs great.  It has approximately 146,200 miles (may be more as we use it occasionally).  It burns no oil beyond what you’d expect from a diesel engine approaching 30 years of age.  I’ve gotten close to 30mpg on the highway!
• The transmission is perfect… It’s never given me a problem
• The steering is tight
• The body is straight.  But let’s be honest:  This car is almost 30 years old.  The paint has been recently waxed and looks good.  When you get close there are pits, scratches, and door dings that you’d expect on a car of this age.  For a 27 year old car, it’s fine; if you’re looking for a museum addition, keep looking or get ready to paint!
• Third row seat option – sure there’s no padding, but it has seatbelts, and the kids LOVE it!  Just be prepared for some disapproving looks from other parents!  My kids always wanted to ride in the back!
• Roof Rack – Bulletproof chrome-plated factory roof rack option.
• Manual Sunroof - No motor to wear out.  Doesn’t leak.
• Not sure if this belongs in Good or Bad!  The car as a nice Sony CD player in it, which works well.  The antenna was not hooked up so the radio only picks up very strong/close stations.  I used my phone to listen to the radio for years!  I believe the previous owner put in new speakers, but I’m not sure.
• Power windows all work

The Bad:

• The latch for the glovebox is broken.  Previous attempts at using tape have left marks on the dash.
• The dashboard has the typical cracks you’ll see on these cars.  The wood trim is present, but two pieces have fallen off and I didn’t reattach them.
• The plastic on the interior around the doors is warping due to heat and age.  This is happening around the tailgate as well.
• Driver’s seat has some cracks in the MB Tex
• The AC is inoperative.  There are stickers indicating it was converted to R134a, but it does not cool.  The heater works fine.  I believe the monovalve is working fine.
• The battery should be replaced soon.  If it sits for a long time, it needs to be jumped.
• The glow plugs should be replaced.  The light doesn't come on, which is an indication that they’re not working.  It starts fine in warm weather, but complains in the cold!

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I invite you to look at this car and inspect it before bidding.  I’m located in Owings, Maryland 20736, close to Washington DC and can drive it to work in Lanham, Maryland 20706.  I will answer any questions and send pictures of anything you want to see.

I will not end the auction early; if I wanted to do that, you’d see a Buy-It-Now on this auction.  If you have a price in mind, then bid and hope you win.

A winning bid is a legal contract to purchase.  DON’T BID if you are not interested in owning this car.  Don’t bid if you don’t have the money to buy the car.  I will not sign the title over until the full payment for the vehicle has cleared my bank.

This vehicle is sold as-is, where-is.  You will be responsible for retrieving the vehicle once it is paid for.

I will require a non-refundable $500 deposit upon the closing of the auction. The rest of the payment must be made within 5 business days.