1987 Mercedes Benz 300D Diesel 4-door 3.0l Arctic White Burgundy Interior

1987 Mercedes-Benz 300-Series

Drive it home! 717.298-7030 Asking $1,250 or Best Offer. Rusty, Trusty 1987 Mercedes Benz 300D, 124 Chassis, 603 6 cylinder Turbo Diesel, Automatic, Arctic White with Burgundy Interior, ~321k miles (I inadvertently broke the odometer by resetting the trip counter while the car was moving), ~317k showing. Over the past year during 4 or 5 800 mile round trips it got ~32mpg freeway driving. This car is located near Lewistown, Pennsylvania, accessible by Air (Harrisburg), Rail & Bus.
I bought this car in about ‘98, it had been a pristine St. Paul Lafayette Club Member’s car with about ~80k on the odometer. I joined a Dr. Booth led Mercedes Diesel Forum & that led to doing a several year project to renew/replace “everything” the experienced listers suggested bumper to bumper. I believe that effort provided me, my family & friends with a very comfortable to drive, reliable car over the past 25 years. Now some of the renewed parts, like the tie rods, are wearing out.
Earlier this year I was considering what it needs now to continue to be a reliable daily driver for a few more years. Rust remediation I’m told is doable plus new tie rods up front, a brake master cylinder, vacuum booster, a rear torsion bar mount (that rusted out) plus a 6 cylinder glow plug relay. I don’t know the “rust cost”, the other parts are a few hundred plus some time.
Before I decided to move ahead I unexpectedly got a Father’s Day gift of a much newer car when one of my offspring bought a new “Mars Guy” car. “Eleanor”, as my family named this car after “Gone in 60 Seconds”, needs a new home.
The car is riding on mid-grade tires with about 10k-15k miles. It’s cleaned up. The functions needed for a daily driver are all working, brakes (pedal is low but certain), lights, turn signals, wiper, windshield & rear window defrost, hazard lights, power steering, heated seats, front power windows, analog clock.
It’s ‘seeping’ ½ qt of Mobil 1 15-50 every 1,000 miles or so from a semi-successful effort to repair an oil cooler hose crimp leak. I think it now needs tie rods, noticed an intermittent “shimmy” on a section of highway near Wilkes Barre & didn’t like it. I did replace the steering damper shock & drag link reducing the effect but not eliminating it.
Over the past couple of years I replaced the front rotors & brake pads. Also replaced the steel brake line from the ABS to the rear splitter & out to each rear wheel with cupro/nickel lines & new fittings, including flex lines. I replaced the serpentine belt, finally using the spare belt I had carried for years. It’s gotten Mobil 1 15-50 oil changes since ‘98. Has about 4k miles on the last change, with oil, air & fuel filters. Fresh anti-freeze & flush about a year ago. Large AGM battery is 4-5 years old.
About a month ago the glow plug relay failed. Looked at used relays on ebay (~ $50) or a new Hella (~ $150) & then noticed I had a couple of 5 cylinder diesel relays in the miscellaneous parts I’ve accumulated box. Did a ‘Get Me Over’ quick fix. Previously it always started easily, down to 0F with a couple 30 second glows, and smoothed out pretty quickly. Now it starts more roughly, takes about 15 seconds to get the cold cylinder to smooth out.
Transmission perhaps shifts a bit more harshly than it always did, or maybe it’s noisier because of the broken torsion bar mount in the rear. It goes into gear promptly, same for D to R and R to D.
Interior now has a couple of dash cracks & shows wear on the driver’s seat. Some sun bleaching on the rear window deck & door felts, less than 1” tear in the headliner, otherwise the interior is pretty darn good. Carpet is good, original use-worn carpet floor mats included.
Still has what I think was the original, unused spare on a mag wheel. You get a couple boxes of miscellaneous parts (thermostats, dozens of vacuum line fittings, monovalve, used tensioner spring, flexible transmission cooler lines, transmission filter & gasket, various nuts, bolts, grommets & more), plus an oil filter, several fuel filters, 2 power steering filters, 3 injector lines, 6 NEW Bosch glow plugs & other spares. Also some pricey diesel fuel additive & a few quarts of Mobil 1 15w50 & ATF & a gallon of ready to use AntiFreeze.
What I can recall now from the ‘98-’01 renewal included Vacuum Pump, Motor Mounts, Radiator Fan & Clutch, Serpentine Belt & Tensioner, Transmission Flex-Lines, Transmission Mount, Front Torsion Bar changed to ‘Sport’, Ball Joints, Tie Rods, Drag Link, Damper Shock, various grommets, rubber mounts, Drive Shaft Rubber Ends & Center Carrier Bearing, Rear Suspension Sub-Frame was pulled out & “everything” replaced, Differential Mounts, Rear Tie Rods & Struts. Door Checks Front to Rear New Steel Fuel & Brake Lines. Sun Roof cleaned & lubricated with Glyte Paste. Around 2006 the radiator was replaced. In about 2010 a steel Transmission Cooler line around the radiator was replaced. Starter was replaced around 2010 or so.
What I know isn’t working includes Windshield Washer, Headlight Wiper Blades, Cruise Control, A/C, Tachometer, Climate Control HVAC, Rear Door Power Windows and/or Switches, Parking Brake, Vacuum Door, Trunk & Fuel Fill Locks, Power Antenna and possibly more. I haven’t maintained the Sunroof & don’t have a garage so I stopped using it just in case. Rear View Mirror is loose, works daytime mode only.
This is an “As Is”, Your Results May Vary, Past Performance Is No Guarantee Of Future Success. I’d be comfortable driving this car anywhere in the lower 48.
If you have questions, please ask, 717.298-7030. The car is located near Lewistown, Pennsylvania. Accessible by Air (Harrisburg), Rail & Bus. Any other delivery options should be discussed in advance. I do expect prompt payment and accept PayPal.