1985 Mercedes-benz 300d Sedan, Runs Great, Florida Car From New, No Reserve! on 2040-cars
Tallahassee, Florida, United States
Vehicle Title:Clear
Engine:3.0L Overhead Cam Diesel
Fuel Type:Diesel
For Sale By:Private Seller
Transmission:4 spd Automatic
Model: 300-Series
Trim: 300D
Options: Sunroof
Power Options: Air Conditioning, Cruise Control, Power Locks, Power Windows
Drive Type: Rear Wheel Drive
Mileage: 216,780
Exterior Color: Yellow
Disability Equipped: No
Interior Color: Tan
Warranty: Vehicle does NOT have an existing warranty
Number of Cylinders: 5
Number of Doors: 4
Hello, and thank you for taking a look at our ad. Up for auction is our 1985 Mercedes-Benz 300D sedan that my wife and I used for driving along the canopy roads on our Sunday photography excursions to small towns and local points of interest throughout the Florida panhandle and Southern Georgia. This car has treated us us wonderfully and has been completely reliable - from owning it its apparent that these are very well made cars and I can see why they last forever with proper care and maintenance. The only reason we're selling it is because we have a baby on the way, so a third car, and a toy at that, isn't necessary.
I bought this car about a year ago and brought it home, and my wife named her Buttercup, for obvious reasons. It needed some work when I bought it, so I replaced the starter, the battery, and had Ray Gordon Brake Service replace all four brake calipers and re-surface the rotors. Not being an expert (or even an amateur) at diesel service, I took Buttercup to Shiver's Diesel Service to get a tune up, and she runs like a champ! Some of the steering components were worn, so we had those replaced at Tuffy's, and I replaced all four shock absorbers. I have receipts for all work done. New parts are cheap and plentiful (laughably so, actually - you'd be surprised). She's been a fun tinker car and has served our purpose perfectly as a sunny day runabout. Right now there are approximately 216,780 miles on the car, which will go up from time to time.
Details are as follows:
-Engine runs great - starts and shuts off easily on cold days and warm, pulls like a champ, and smokes very little for a diesel. All fuel filters have been changed within the past year, as has the oil and oil filter. From what the dipstick tells me, it uses almost no oil (I've never had to add any), but the valve cover gasket does leak at the back. I have a new gasket to replace it, but frankly the thought of messing with all the throttle linkage makes me wary. The leak isn't bad, but I thought it should be mentioned.
-4-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly, downshifts cleanly for passing, and doesn't slip.
-This car was sold new in Florida, and seems to have been a Florida car all its life, so there is almost no rust at all.
-Service records indicate that for the first 81,000 miles of its life (Until December 1996), the car was regularly serviced and lubed at the local Mercedes dealer. Between then and now the only records I have are from what I have done within the past year.
-Interior is clean with no funny smells, although there are a couple of stains on the carpeting. Seats are firm and supportive like they are supposed to be, and show very little wear. There is a small split in the driver's side seatback, but it isn't torn. I'm not sure what you'd call it, but the picture shows what I mean.
-All interior and exterior lights work.
-Sunroof works
-Cruise control does not work.
-All gauges work, including the clock, which keeps perfect time.
-Both front power windows work, and rear driver's side window works. Rear passenger side window does not work.
-Radio works, but the tape player doesn't. Radio is probably original, and has issues with the radio station display. The power antenna works perfectly.
-Heat works, A/C does not. I was told it needs a compressor when I bought it, but haven't gotten around to getting it looked at yet.
-Tires seem good. No real wear since we bought the car, so I think they'll last for some time yet. The spare doesn't hold air, looks like it was plugged at one point, so it should probably be replaced.
-Brakes work perfectly, which considering they're new, they should : )
-This car is a joy to drive. The power steering works great, the controls, switches and shifter feel tight and solid. The doors close with a solid WHUMP. There are no rattles while driving. The seats are comfortable for all-day motoring. Steering is typical older Mercedes - feels loose on center, but steers fine. Occasional vibrations at highway speeds make me think the tires need balancing or a wheel bearing adjusted/replaced. I bought a wheel bearing kit just in case, but haven't had a chance to check anything due to baby preparations taking up most of my free time.
Things I'd do if I were to keep the car (and you may want to consider):
-Replace the sunroof seal. It leaks. We keep the car covered and only used it for sunny day drives. If you want to use it as all-weather daily transportation, you'll need to replace it.
-Fix the air conditioner.
-Check that occasional vibration
-Sometimes at idle when the car is warm, the engine shakes. The motor mounts are good (or it would do it all the time), so I'd replace the little $45 engine shocks to see if that would sort that out.
-The window tint is somewhat tatty. I'd replace it or remove it altogether after getting the A/C fixed.
So, that's about it. To sum up this car: it's a reliable, well-made used car that needs a couple of things sorted out if you wanted to use it as an all-weather everyday driver. To us it was a toy that I also tinkered with from time to time to bring it back to its former glory. It served that purpose perfectly. Frankly, I'd keep it if I knew I'd have the time to finish it, but with my daughter coming, as well as my other hobbies, it's time to let go. Finish the work, keep up with her service, and she'll easily last another 217,000 miles.
This is a no reserve auction. If you'd like the car place the bid for what you are willing (and able, please!) to pay. If you have any questions, or would like to inspect the car or have your mechanic do so, please contact me and I'll be happy to accommodate you. I'd drive it anywhere, but as you would understand, there is no warranty of any kind. I took the photos last weekend, and they represent the car well. Please make a good-faith deposit of $400 via Paypal upon winning the auction, the rest can be paid when you pick up the car, or within 7 days if you need more time to get here, unless we make other arrangements before you bid.
Thank you for taking a look, and have fun out there!
Jared
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