1979 Mercedes 300 TD "The Deep Fried Diesel"

1979 Mercedes 300 TD -- w123 wagon

This cockroach of a car just keeps on running, no matter what you feed it. I've fed it diesel, biodiesel, and a generous mix of centrifuge filtered WVO for the 40,000 miles I've owned it, and the engine is doing great. The wagon's got a few imperfections inside and out, but the body is straight. The pictures should convey it's overall condition and beauty. I would like to see it go into the hands of someone who knows about these cars, and can give it the TLC those like it deserve. I can drive it somewhere in or close to the San Francisco Bay Area, otherwise you'll need to arrange shipping b/c I don't know anything about shipping vehicles, but am willing to facilitate.

Things to know about the car:

1. The neutral safety switch that connects to the transmission needs to be connected in order for reverse lights to function, and it is currently possible to start the car when its in gear.

2. Water can sometimes collect on the floor of the back seats when it has been raining. Not certain of why, but purchased a kit to install new sunroof seals. There has not been any noticeable water during rains this season. A few drain holes were cleared toward the end of last winter, so the problem might be fixed, but I think there may be one drain hole near the passenger side rear of sunroof that needs to be cleared.

3. Driver’s side and passenger side door seals could be replaced. This might have been how water could enter the vehicle. It would probably be a little quieter if the door seals were replaced.

4. The fuel injector on the 3rd cylinder looks wet, it may be leaky or may just need new hose. Otherwise, the fuel injectors have been upgraded with Monark nozzles.

5. The driver’s side taillight housing has been cracked for years, but lights have been functioning properly.

6. There is a slow leak in the radiator system, so it is good to top off the radiator with water or a mixture of water and antifreeze every few weeks to make sure the engine stays cool. Right now there is mostly water in the radiator, so the car should not be taken somewhere where the temperatures are below freezing without putting in antifreeze.

7. It is always a good idea to turn the car off if it is not moving in case the water in the radiator is low because the engine could overheat if the car sits idling for too long (though it has never overheated).

8. There are some bushings that need to be replaced in the shifter lever for it to feel tighter and to be able to shift into the L gear.

9. There are 2 dents near the windshield from a time when I was test driving it after a filter change and neglected to completely close the hood, so the hood ended up flying open, smashing the windshield, and making the dents. That was many years ago. I replaced the windshield the next day, and the hood and hinges shortly after, and have not forgotten to close the hood since.

10. The vacuum pod in the driver’s door should be replaced because there appears to be a slow leak there that keeps the vacuum system from holding vacuum for more than a few minutes. The vacuum is restored when the car is running. The doors should all unlock within a minute of the car starting. Vacuum controls the locks and the engine cutoff, so if the vacuum system fails it will be necessary to push the STOP lever on the engine head to turn stop the motor running.

11.The engine has been converted to be able to run on a mix of vegetable oil and diesel. There is a flat plate heat-exchanger that uses hot water from the radiator to heat fuel coming from the tank, so there are some valves that can be adjusted to control that system. The car runs like a champ on practically any concentration of WVO as an additive.

12.The springs have torn through front seat MB TEX

13.The windshield switch seems to only function in full speed

14.Muffler hanger doughnuts need to be replaced and adjusted

15. AS is