1984 Mercedes 300SD - CLEAN, NICE TURBODIESEL, READY FOR IT'S NEXT CARETAKER !

1984

Mercedes Benz
300SD Turbo Diesel

VIN: WDBCB20A5EA087373

Here’s another desirable, great-running & driving Mercedes diesel we’ve just acquired for our Ebay customers. Per the previous owner and the title papers, this nice 300SD sold new in late 1984 for $39,400 at a Northern California Benz dealership. It's been here in snow-free Western Washington State for many years now as a family member of the original owner kept the car after moving to our state capital, Olympia. Reluctantly, it was passed on to us a short time ago in hopes of finding the next caretaker. From the moment I laid eyes on this nice sedan, it was obvious that it’s been treated with respect and care over the years. Please feel free to call or text me with any questions. My name is Mark and my direct number is (206) 914-1173. You’re encouraged to make an appointment to inspect and test-out this clean car.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION

Ever driven one of these sedans with the powerful 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine? Where else will you find this kind of luxury, vintage style, safety, mechanical reliability AND terrific (27+MPG) fuel economy wrapped up in one great ride? Smooth is the word for sure. Smooth handling in the curves or on the highway. I’ve always considered the W126 chassis cars constructed through the late 80’s as some of the last hand-built, truly high-quality Mercedes and have heard others say the same thing! Look at my twenty-plus posted photos; I’m sure you’ll agree what a nice vehicle this is. Climb over, under and throughout and I know you’ll come up smiling! What you see in the posted photos is the result of a wash and vacuum only. Rust? Please, this car hates rust and you’ll be hard pressed to find anything to worry about here. Yes, western Washington State is famous for rain, but our winter roads are rarely salted. At most we’ll have one or two days of light snow. Everyone panics and just stays home hunkered down with a blanket and book. Climb over, under and all around this car - I know you’ll come up smiling!

Having personally owned dozens of Mercedes over the years, I’ve developed a great appreciation for the classic MB style, mechanical reliability (especially with diesels) and the overall driving experience. THIS BENZ RUNS OUT VERY NICELY. I’VE SPENT ALMOST TWO WEEKS COMMUTING IN IT AND AM CONVINCED YOU’LL BE PROWD TO OWN AND DRIVE IT AS WELL!

CONDITION:

In total, this is a clean, well-cared-for car. I take pride in the vehicles we sell and feel that you should know as much about the them as possible. Accordingly, here’s a list of the good and also a few small "needs attention" items: take eight or nine seconds to heat the glow plugs (even when starting cold) and the peppy 3.0L inline five diesel engine starts immediately with only few moments of starter cranking!The automatic transmission shifts through all the gears just as it should and with absolutely no slippage.The car idles, runs and drives like a Mercedes is built to – strong, immediate oil pressure (look at the photo of the instrument cluster; I held the RPM’s at 1K and the oil gauge appropriately pins right at the top of the range), strong battery and charging system, no overheating, no brake pull . Last week I added several hundred miles freeway cruising on the way to and from Bellingham.

The factory light canary yellow paint has been resprayed to the original color sometime in the past. I’d say it’s a 9 out of 10 with just some lacquer-checking on one front fender (you've gotta look close to see it). Both front fenders, the rear quarters, doors and floor pans are all very solid. No other real body flaws to point out. AutoCheck reports no history of accidents either. There are no windshield cracks or chips. I’ve never encountered Mercedes alloy wheels that were anything but straight and true. These fit that bill and are wrapped with decent touring radials all having at least 50% or so remaining tread.

Take another good look at my interior pics. The original tan vinyl-tex seats (including the rear bench) hold your bum securely without any perceived broken springs as you’ll often encounter on 1980's Benz. The seat adjustment switch keeps the drivers backrest in a position comfortable to me, but requires patience to move it (forward/backward, up/down & tilt are all fine). After checking the speedometer, it appears to function accurately however the same can’t be said for the odo; neither the trip or the main counter turn at all. You'll get all the warm air ever needed from the heater and the fan functions correctly. To me, the A/C system appears complete but will likely require upgrading to modern refrigerant.

There’s no evidence of any water leakage on the headliner. The power sunroof opens and closes just as it should by activating the dash switch. Two electric windows are a bit fickle: the passenger front likely needs a new switch and the driver’s front moves up and down, but wants to stick an inch or two from the top, so I’ve gotten in the habit of pulling it up that last little bit by hand. On a positive note, the very decent carpets are all-original and the interior headliner is great, too! Like most vintage Benz stereos, the factory Becker "Grand Prix" was updated to a more modern Alpine AM-FM/CD sometime in the past.
We’re always very happy to work with any shipper you choose, but you’re also welcome to do what many of my past 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 road trip home the same day. As a respected Ebay seller with many satisfied online buyers, I want you to bid with confidence knowing this Mercedes runs and drives out as it should AND that it is being properly represented! Please don’t be upset if I miss a minor flaw or some issue comes up on the car. NO used vehicle is ever perfect.

Please check the photos over closely and contact me with any questions BEFORE you place a bid! You’re encouraged to stop by, inspect the car (or have a professional do it) and take it for a test drive as it is being sold as-is, where-is with a free & clear Washington State title. There are NO title brands for any nasty negatives like salvage history, theft or flood damage to cause you concern! Because of the amount of money involved with a vehicle purchase, I reserve the right to cancel your bid 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 bids either through EBay’s message system or, as outlined above, call or text me at206/914-1173. My name isMARK.

A Few Additional Terms and Conditions:

The entire purchase is due by cash (in person only) or certified funds within seven business days unless prior arrangements have been made with me. 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. We ship cars and trucks regularly and I'd suggest that you get a shipping bid from the transporters listed here on the Ebay site by pressing the “Shipping” tab in my listing. I do have a local company many of my past buyers have used for delivery all over the country and I’d be happy to get a COD bid from them after the auction is completed. 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.