1983 Mercedes-Benz 300TD Wagon, Rare Euro Export Model with Sunroof, Best Offer

1983 Mercedes-Benz 300-Series

VIN is WDB1231931F001085

Up for auction is a European export version diesel wagon, an exceptionally good-looking car in champagne gold with an all-black interior. The bumpers and headlights make this design look much sleeker than the US models. It’s powered by the 5-cylinder turbocharged engine that delivers good response and fuel economy. It has a well-designed sunroof, leather front seats, power front windows, alloy wheels and many other special features. It cost around $40,000 new and is 4916 pounds of luxury automobile, which is still apparent when you drive this car. It’s still a diesel station wagon though, and both the idle and the ride are characteristically rough.

I'm the third owner of this car and had it for 27 years and 170,000 miles. I bought it from the owner of the Nesco® roaster factory, who I did photography for at the time. It’s in great original condition considering its age and 220k miles, but it has multi-numerous minor flaws. It was used on long commutes to adjunct teaching jobs and photo assignments and spent much time in urban parking ramps where it was bumped and bruised. Twice these dents resulted in insurance claims where two of the fenders were re-sprayed, the rest of the paint is factory. The hood paint is a bit chalky from engine heat and a touch-up on the corner. There’s currently a dent in the back-left corner of the car currently that didn’t seem worth the deductible to fix. In addition, the most major thing wrong with the exterior is rusting/dents in the area of front left fender where the jack socket broke off many years ago. Otherwise, it was never driven in winter and is very solid with a small area of rust at the far bottom of the left rear fender and a repaired area on the tailgate. This damage seems to follow where water drains off the car. With some minor bodywork and a fresh paintjob this car would look very slick.

The interior is in good shape with the worst flaw being a poorly-repaired melt on the back-right seat cushion where it appears a warm Nesco® roaster may have been set. Front seats are leather, rear vinyl. The driver’s door handle is askew but working. The inside handle for the hatch is missing. One of the cargo cover hooks is missing. The door panels have the typical puckering Mercedes are prone to have. There are little dings and nicks here and there.

Mechanically it’s in good shape. It’s the car I put the most miles on ever and the only one that I’ve ever owned that has never been on a tow truck! No guarantee that this can continue however, as it’s now 37 years old, and I racked-up most of these miles in its younger days. I’ve changed the oil every 5000 miles and replaced the timing chain at about 180k as a preventative measure. The transmission fluid was changed and the bands adjusted along with other routine maintenance. It has Michelin tires with nearly no wear, a brand-new battery, and a fresh oil change. It should be ready to go, but keep in mind it’s age and miles.

It has an air conditioning compressor and no other air conditioning parts. There was likely a plan to add air by a previous owner that only got that far. The rear air cleaner mount needs to be replaced. There is a spot on the center of the windshield where it appears a stone chip was repaired and the epoxy has deteriorated. The vacuum door locks are sluggish but work, at this point it would make sense to convert to an aftermarket remote electric setup. I never was fond of the primitive cruise control. Power windows (front only in this car) work, heated seats work, as does the power antenna. It features a period Pioneer cassette player that sounds alright, with a pull-out feature to avoid theft in the pre-car alarm era.

The gauges and big clock all work now, and that’s been an ordeal. The odometer gave out at 212,764 and I’m estimating I drove it about 7000 miles before the speedometer quit working too. Two junkyard instrument clusters failed to provide a working speedometer or dash light rheostat, so both were replaced with new, and the mileage now reads a bit over 500. Extra gauges are included along with a few other spares; a new starter, starter lock-out switch, some minor miscellania andthree NOS Fram filters, which are much heftier than the Mann brand.

This is a really nice car that I no longer need as I now live one block from campus!

This is a no-reserve auction so bid to win!

No Warranty here expressed or implied. This is strictly an ‘as-is’ item. I did my best to express what I feel are the major flaws/problems with this car but am surely forgetting things and others may find more issues. Shipping is the buyer’s responsibility. My schedule is flexible and I’m experienced dealing with transport companies.

Here’s a couple videos;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f8iR2JeyJ8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em0Pg3k2T7Q

See 66 high-resolution images here;https://www.flickr.com/photos/shimonlindemann/albums/72157714978663326