1980 Mercedes 300D - CLEAN, GREAT DRIVING DIESEL; READY FOR A FUN ROAD TRIP HOME

1980

Mercedes Benz
300D Diesel Sedan

VIN: 12313012198760

If you’ve followed my Ebay vehicle auctions the past ten or eleven years you’ve noticed we get a fair number of great vintage Benz sedans on a regular basis. This one was purchased new here in Seattle at Phil Smart Mercedes back on August 29, 1980 and has always been local to the area. That’s important because it means the car was NEVER exposed to corrosive road salt because we get no snow in western Washington state. Alternately, because our other seasons are also mild, the paint and interior haven’t been sunbaked to death either.

After spending just a few minutes behind the wheel I was sold on this 300D as a daily driver or a perfect road trip vehicle. Look over my photos, the level of respect and care given this vehicle will be very obvious.

Many of the original factory manuals are included. All will arrive stored in their plastic cover and locked away in the glove compartment. Please feel free to email, text or call me with any questions. My direct phone number is 206/914-1173 and my name is Mark Thompson. You’re welcome and encouraged to stop by my Auburn, WA warehouse to inspect the car and take it out on the road.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION

Ever driven one of these 300D mid-sized Mercedes with the bullet-proof 3.0 liter straight six diesel engine? What a treat! Smooth is the word for sure. Smooth handling in the curves or on the highway. Comfort, style, and versatility all in one classic ride. I’ve always considered these W123 cars constructed through the mid-eighties as the last hand-built, truly high-quality Mercedes and have heard others say the same thing! Take a look at the photos and I’m sure you’ll agree with me. What you see is the result of a wash and vacuum only. “Time capsule” really is a great way to describe this Benz. It’s obviously been allowed to spend a majority of its life garaged because the overall condition is truly better than most any other 36-year-old daily driver you’re likely to encounter. Rust? Please, this Mercedes HATES rust and I haven’t found any here to worry about. Climb over, under and around this sedan, I know you’ll come up smiling!! As a respected Ebay seller with several hundred satisfied Ebay vehicle customers, I want you to bid with confidence knowing that this is a great car AND that it is being properly represented.
CONDITION:

In brief, this is a clean, well-cared-for, smoke-free Mercedes. I take pride in the vehicles we sell, feeling that you should know as much about them as possible before bidding. Accordingly, here’s a list of the good and also small things possibly to be sorted out: Hop in, turn the key, let the glow plugs heat for about seven or eight seconds and the engine starts immediately!The automatic transmission shifts crisply through all gears, just as it should. I feel the car idles, runs and drives as intended – immediate strong, steady oil pressure, a good battery and properly functioning charging system. When warm, the engine temperature is maintained at the midway mark on the dash gauge, no matter whether it’s been idling in traffic or plying the freeway for hours. There is NO excessive tailpipe smoke or blow-by. I’ve driven the 300D daily over the past two weeks, cruised at 60 MPH on a six hour trip to and from Portland, Oregon and also used it for my 30 mile round trip work commute. The fuel system is completely stock and has NEVER been exposed to component-destroying biodiesel or a goofy homemade conversion. The factory chocolate brown paint is in exceptionally good condition (having had one re-spray to the original color) and holds quite a shine. I find NO fading clearcoat, rust spots, paint nicks, thin spots or any rock chips. The fenders, doors, rear quarters and floor pans are all solid. The windshield has no cracks or chips. All four factory wheels are straight and true. They’re wrapped with Michelin Radials each with at least 60+% remaining tread.

Take another good look at the interior photos. The tan MB-Tex upholstery is exceptionally good with the pictures giving an accurate view of condition. Hop in and feel comfortable sitting on these seats for hours. No visible shrinkage or wear-through spots on any of the vinyl front or back. The original carpets are fully protected by Mercedes fabric floor mats. All the dash gauges are as bright and true as the day the car left the factory. The push button heater and fan system work but I get no response from the fan. While complete, I’d assume the A/C system will need to gone through to be functional. It’s quite rare to find a vintage Benz with a working factory stereo. The Becker Europa found here is fine and blasts out great sound on both AM and FM channels (I don’t have any cassettes to check out that function). The large sunroof fully opens and closes. I always help ease strain on the electric motor and cables when closing a sunroof on a W123 model by pulling it forward while operating the switch. There’s a slight dip on the passenger side when closed, but no visual leakage. You’ll find the jack and spare in the trunk as pictured. All four windows open & close when activated from the console switches.

I’m always very happy to work with any shipper you choose, 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 (I’ll pick you up at Sea-Tac International just a few miles away) and then start a late spring road trip home. Please don’t be upset if I’ve missed a minor flaw or a small amount ends up needing to be spent fixing a problem I’m unaware of. No used car is ever perfect! Having said that, I would not hesitate to drive this Mercedes long distance immediately.

Please check the photos over closely and call me with any questions BEFORE you place a bid! Because of the amount of money involved with a vehicle purchase, we reserve the right to cancel your bid if you have any negative feedback. I also ask that potential bidders with a feedback rating of ten or fewer transactions on Ebay contact me before placing a bid. Finally, we reserve the right to end the auction early if the Mercedes is no longer for sale or an acceptable offer has been agreed to before the end of the auction period. Please feel free to contact me directly thru Ebay’s system or, as outlined above, call or text me at 206/914-1173 anytime. My name is MARK THOMPSON.

A Few Additional Terms and Conditions:

A nonrefundable $500 deposit is due within 24 hours of the auction’s conclusion. The balance is due by cash or certified funds within seven business days unless prior arrangements have been made with me. I can accept PAYPAL, but if you plan to pay any more than the deposit through them I’ll first need to invoice you and ask that you cover the 3.5% fee charged. 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 decide to have theMercedes transported home, there are scores of companies to choose from. I ship vehicles regularly and suggest that you get a transport bid from Dependable Auto Shippers (DAS) at (888) 817-6203. They're EBay’s preferred transporter and will give you a fair quote. Call my designated rep, Brad Simon, at (908/290-1575) and give him my affiliate number (2362642) so he can pull up all our information for a station-to-station or even door-to-door quote.

As an alternative, you might also get bids from the U-Ship.com website. You’ll be able to choose a transport broker from multiple offers. The zip code for pick-up would be 98002 (Auburn, Washington). The shipping of the vehicle and company chosen are the responsibility of the BUYER.

On May-09-16 at 13:21:37 PDT, seller added the following information:

Note to Bidders: I will be unavailable forload-out of theMercedes (or to pick you up at the airport if flying in to Seattle) between 5/13 to 5/20. I'll keep the car stored indoors at out Auburn warehouse if needed during this period. Thanks! --Mark