1985 Mercedes 300D Turbodiesel - BEST OF THE VINTAGE DIESELS, DRIVE ANYWHERE!

1985

Mercedes Benz
300D Turbodiesel Sedan

VIN: WDBAB33C3FA255409

Here’s another great running & driving vintage Mercedes we’ve acquired recently for our Ebay buyers. This nice 300D sold new in sunny Walnut Creek, California before arriving here in the Pacific Northwest to begin driving our snow & salt-free roads many years ago. From the moment I first laid eyes on this clean sedan, it’s obvious that respect and care have been given over the years. Reluctantly, the Benz was turned over to us to find its next long-term caretaker and I’ve got to tell you, having driven it virtually every day for the past month, what a treat! Where else will you find this kind of luxury, vintage style, safety, mechanical reliability AND terrific (25+MPG) fuel economy wrapped up in one gorgeous ride? Please feel free to contact me with questions or to make an offer. My name is Mark and my direct phone number is 206/914-1173. You’re welcome and encouraged to make an appointment to inspect and drive this outstanding boulevard cruiser here at my Auburn warehouse. Along with the free-and-clear clean title, I'll be sending the next caretaker the original factory books plus over 18 years of complete, original owner service records you can see pictured above (They total over $10,000 of service work and parts).

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION

Ever driven one of these cars with the uber-dependable turbocharged 3.0-liter diesel engine? The W123 chassis Mercedes constructed during the late 70’s & 80’s have always been a favorite of mine and are some of the last hand-built, truly high-quality Benz. Take a look at the posted photos and I’m sure you’ll agree what a find this is. What you see is the result of a wash and vacuum only. It’s obviously been allowed to spend these many decades garaged because the overall exterior condition is superior. Climb over, under and throughout and I know you’ll come up smiling! Rust? Please, this Benz hates rust and you WON’T find a thing to worry about here. Yes, the Puget Sound area is famous for rain, but our winter roads are never salted. We only have one or two days of light snow each year. Everyone panics and stays home. Climb over, under and all around this car - I know you’ll come up smiling!!
Having personally owned many Mercedes over the years, I’ve developed a great appreciation for their style, mechanical reliability, and overall driving experience. I’m convinced you’ll be proud to own and drive it as well.

CONDITION:

In total, this is a clean, well-cared-for, smoke-free Benz. I take pride in the vehicles I’m able to offer on Ebay and feel that you should know as much about them as possible. Accordingly, here’s a list of the good and also any small things needing attention: take five or six seconds to heat the glow plugs when starting cold and the peppy 3.0L inline five diesel engine fires right up every time!The automatic transmission shifts strongly and just as it should.The car idles, runs, and drives like a Mercedes is built to – immediate, strong oil pressure, good battery and charging system, no overheating and no brake pull to either side or alignment issues!The turbocharger spools up, creating rapid acceleration as needed. I’ve now put on several hundred miles over the last three weeks including freeway cruising at 60 MPH. There’s no excessive amount of diesel exhaust, even after a long idle.

The silver-blue metallic paint has been redone to the factory original color and is in excellent overall condition. There is no flaking clearcoat, scratches or any rock chips. Though I’m not an expert, I’ve not found any evidence of accidents or body repair. Good chrome and exterior trim all around, too! The front fenders, doors, rear quarters, and floor pans all appear solid; in fact, the entire undercarriage is in great condition for a 35-year-old car! No other real body flaws to point out. The jack, lug wrench & spare are stowed in the trunk well.

All four factory wheels are straight and true. They’re wrapped with excellent 195/70R14 touring radials with at least 70-75% tread remaining. Take another good look at the interior pics. Hop in and feel comfortable sitting on these firm bucket seats for hours as the springs and Mercedes MB-Tex upholstery are in far better than average shape! Same goes for the rear bench cushions.It’s pretty rare to come across any vintage Benz with a stock Becker “Gran Prix” AM-FM radio still in place (much less actually working).The receiver here works fine but a new antennae mast is needed. Youwill find the un-opened factory first aid kit still there in its package shelf case.

While the fan system blows warm & cool just fine, the A/C will need servicing to blow colder. Everything else under the hood appears stock and present. I believe the odometer DOESN'T reflect true miles, though both it and the speedo work perfectly. There’s no evidence of any water leakage on the headliner and you can see from the photos how nice the factory carpets are. About the only other flaws to point out are the tachometer is intermittant and the sunroof is sticky, likely needing lubrication and/or cable adjustment. All four power windows work great as does the vacuum lock system. I have the missing wood trim piece that surrounds the heater controls on order and it'll be included in the sale, hopefully installed before the car leaves my warehouse.

I’m always very happy to work with any shipper, but you’re also welcome to do what many of my previous buyers from as far away as Alaska, Arizona, the Midwest, Canada, Florida, New York and even the Mexican Baja have done – fly in here to Seattle (We’ll pick you up at Sea-Tac International just a few miles away) and then start a spring road trip home the same day. I wouldn’t hesitate to drive cross-country in this car! As a respected Ebay seller with many satisfied online buyers, I want you to bid with confidence knowing that this Benz runs and drives well AND that it is being properly represented to you.Please don’t be upset if I miss a minor flaw or some small issue comes up on the car as NO used vehicle is perfect.

Please check the photos over closely and call me with any questions BEFORE you place a bid! You’re encouraged to stop by, check over the car and take it for a test drive. If a professional inspection is set up, I'll schedule time to meet with your inspector at my warehouse. Because of the amount of money involved with a vehicle purchase, I reserve the right to cancel bids if you have any negative feedback. I also ask that potential bidders with a feedback rating of five or fewer transactions on Ebay contact me before placing their bid. Please feel free to contact me directly thru eBay’s system or, as outlined above, call me at 206/914-1173 anytime. My name is MARK.

A Few Additional Terms and Conditions:

The entire purchase price is due by cash (in-person only), a wire transfer or other certified funds within seven days of the auction closing. I can accept credit/debit cards but will need to first send an invoice from our card processor and ask that the 3.25% fee charged by them be added. Please remember you are bidding to buy, and I fully expect the winning bidder to fulfill their Ebay contract! You’re not bidding to hold or then come inspect and test-drive the vehicle later -- You’re more than welcome to do this before the auction ends.

If you do decide to have the Mercedes shipped home, there are numerous vehicle transportcompanies to choose from. While delivery and the company chosen are the responsibility of the BUYER, I ship vehicles regularly and have access to the nationwide Central Dispatch system. I can quickly check to see what typical delivery costs have been to your area recently and we can then post a transport offer for the car at a fair price. Usually, a shipper is lined up within just a few days. You’ll pay the transporter COD when they arrive with the vehicle. No upfront deposit or other hassles.

TheBenz can be stored free of charge at my location for up to two weeks after the auction ends assuming full payment has been received. After that period storage is $20 per day.