1984 Mercedes 300D Turbodiesel - CLEAN, GREAT-DRIVING BOULAVARD CRUISER

1984

Mercedes Benz
300D Turbodiesel

Original Factory Books Included

VIN: WDBAB33A6EA161232

Here’s another great running & driving vintage Mercedes we’ve acquired recently for our Ebay bidders. This nice 300D Turbodiesel sold new here in Seattle at Phil Smart Mercedes (one of the first Benz dealers in the country) on June 30, 1984. The original owner is one of the west’s most famous and prolific property developers, responsible for a number of the city’s tallest skyscrapers. His purchase details are outlined in the factory books pictured here with the listing.

The car has spent its entire life driving our salt-free Pacific Northwest roads. From the moment I first laid eyes on this clean sedan, it was pretty obvious that respect and care have been given over the years. Reluctantly, and only as the result of a job-changing move, the present owner turned the Mercedes over to find the next caretaker. I’ve got to tell you, having driven it almost every day for the past few weeks, what a treat! Where else can you find this kind of luxury, vintage style, safety, mechanical reliability AND terrific (25+MPG) fuel economy wrapped up in one nice ride? Please don't hesitateto 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 stop in, inspect and drive this excellentboulevard cruiser here at my Auburn warehouse. I'm always happy to make time to meet with an inspection service if distance is an issue for a bidder. All the photos included here were taken on 09/07/2020.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION

Ever driven one of these sedans with the uber-dependable 3.0-liter OM617 diesel engine? The mid-size W123 chassis Mercedes constructed from the middle-70’s through the late 1980’s have always been a favorite of mine (and many consider them some of the last hand-built, truly high-quality Benz). Take a look at the photos and I am sure you’ll agree. What you see here is the result of a wash and vacuum. It’s obviously been allowed to spend these many decades garaged because the overall condition is very good. 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 region is famous for rain, but our winter roads are never salted. We only have one or two days of light snow, if at all. 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 this vintage diesel as well.

CONDITION:

Again, this is a clean, well-cared-for sedan. I take pride in the vehicles offered here and feel you should know as much about them as possible. Accordingly, here’s a list of the good and also any minor things needing attention: take five or six seconds to heat the glow plugs when starting cold and the peppy 3.0L five-cylinder 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.I’ve put on almost 300 miles over the past few weeks including freeway cruising at 60 MPH.

The medium blue metallic paint has been redone to the factory original color sometime in the last few years and is in excellent overall condition. There is NO flaking clearcoat, paint scratches or 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 36-year-old vehicle! No other real body flaws to point out. The jack, spare and tire wrench are stored in the trunk well.

All four factory wheels are straight and true. They’re wrapped with decent 205/70R14 touring radials with at least 75-80% tread remaining. Take another good look at the interior pics. Hop in and feel comfortable sitting on these firm buckets for hours as the springs and Mercedes MB-Tex upholstery are in great overall shape! The rear bench hasn’t suffered the fate of most other vintage W123 models and has excellent original MB-Tex on both the base and back rest as well. The next caretaker will find the un-opened factory first aid kit still there in its package shelf case.

While the fan system blows just fine, the A/C will need to be looked over to become functional. Everything else under the hood appears stock and present. I don't know if the odometer is reflecting true miles, however both it and the speedo work perfectly. I can’t say the same for the tach though. 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 flaw to point to is the sunroof is sticky and doesn’t always want to open. All four power windows operate fine. It's pretty rare to come across a vintage Mercedes with its factory Becker "Grand Prix" stereo still in place (much less actually working). Reception could be better here because the power antennae isn't going up.

Please check the photos over closely and call me with any questions BEFORE you place a bid! You’re encouraged to stop by, inspect the car at my Auburn, WA warehouse and take it for a test drive. As a respected 19-yearEbay 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 accurately 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. As always, it is being sold “as-is, where-is” with a clean, free & clear Washington State title. 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 here contact me before placing their bid. Please do so through eBay’s message system or, as outlined above, call me at 206/914-1173 anytime during the auction. 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 (SQUARE) and will include the 3.25% fee charged by them. 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 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 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 fourteen days after the auction ends assuming full payment has been received. After that period storage is $20 per day.