Find or Sell Used Cars, Trucks, and SUVs in USA

1983 Mercedes Benz 300td Turbo Diesel Wagon Runs Drives Stops on 2040-cars

Year:1983 Mileage:293420
Location:

Lyons, Colorado, United States

Lyons, Colorado, United States
Advertising:

Some more photos will be available here:

I've owned and driven this car for 8 years. It has been a very reliable utility vehicle. 

The car starts reliably (needs to be plugged-in when it is very cold here), drives strong and brakes work. The transmission has not been a problem for me and continues to work well. It may need some band adjustment or some vacuum system maintenance to shift as smooth as intended. Some of the shifts are a little bit stiff but my guess is that this causes less wear on the bands than slow, smooth shifts. My opinion is that it is a comfortable riding car and feels solid to drive. 

The car is old and worn. The basic necessities for safe driving are in order. The lights work (headlights, brake, turn signals, etc) as well as wipers, windshield washer. The tires are an average-grade Michelin. They are 7 1/2 years old and have about 20,000 miles. I'd guess that the tread is about 50%. 

Heater motor has failed. It is very easy to replace. There is voltage to the motor. It probably needs brushes or else replace the whole thing with a good used motor here on eBay for about $50. Otherwise, heat works but, as is typical, no air from the center dash vents. AC needs a charge and probably a slow leak fixed and then it may work. I charged it myself a few years ago and it worked for one season.

There are very slow leaks of some of the fluids. I have to top up about twice a year the brake and power-steering fluids. It needs about 1/2 to 1 quart of engine oil between changes.I haven't ever found the transmission or hydraulic suspension fluids to be low. 

The most important mechanical problem at this time is that the motor mounts are shot. The vibration inside the car is strong and annoying at idle. When driving or revving the engine just a little, it smooths-out and feels normal. But, I think this really needs to be fixed. A shop in Boulder quoted $315. I've decided I'm not going to invest any more into this car. The buyer may chose to do the job himself for pretty low cost parts. 

There is a MB dealer service sticker indicating that the odometer was replaced at 29,653 miles (it's barely legible but I've always just remembered it was about 30,000 so I add that much to the indicated mileage). Today it reads 263,767 so I believe the actual mileage is 293,420. I cannot guarantee this. 

I do have extensive or perhaps complete service records back to 100,174 miles. I bought the car from the original owner but she only had records from after her divorce (1993). I typed-up all of those records into a spreadsheet so that I could more easily access the history. I can email you that spreadsheet if you like.

The only major mechanical work that I know was done is that the transmission was replaced at 101,777 miles. And, the timing chain was replaced. The rest of the records are for routing maintenance  (oil changes, fluids etc) or periodic/miscellaneous (belts, hoses, periodic brakes, tires, grease bearings). 

The rear hydraulic suspension works. The rear shocks were replaced quite a while ago ('99 and 2000) at about 200k miles. My understanding is that there is a check-valve to hold the pressure in the shocks when the engine is off. Sometimes the rear sags after a few hours after shutting-off the engine. This hasn't happened lately (maybe temperature dependent). Still, it pumps right up and works when you start the engine and  seems to not leak hydraulic fluid. 

I have periodically run the car on 20% and 100% bio-diesel when I can get it in Boulder. Otherwise, I run regular diesel. It can get 28 MPG in the summer if you're careful not to accelerate briskly (turbo will pull strong and consume more fuel). 

Power locks DO work including the rear hatch and I think the fuel door too. It's a vacuum-powered system so you can only lock and then unlock a few times after shutting off the engine. The vacuum does diminish after a while and so it won't unlock the other doors if left for several days.

Driver window and rear passenger-side window currently do not operate. They were intermittent in the past and I changed some of the switches at some point to improve but eventually the stopped altogether. I think the problem is wiring or maybe the motors. Windshield leaks a very little bit during strong rain. Sunroof opens an closes fine and I don't detect any leaking.

Someone welded a piece of Harley Davidson tailpipe into this car's exhaust pipe to repair a break.

Obviously there are many cosmetic flaws, rust (including some holes at the the rear wheel arches and perhaps elsewhere), missing trim, scratches, dings and small dents, etc. 

Please study the photos and ask any questions. I'm glad to have to come see the car in Lyons, CO drive and inspect. If you want it shipped, I can deliver to a local shipper if you make all the arrangements. 

I intend to keep the roof rack. 

The left tail light lens has been replaced (some photos show it broken). One reverse light is broken. The other works. 

thanks

Auto Services in Colorado

Ultra Bond Windshield Repair & Replacement ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, Glass-Auto, Plate, Window, Etc, Windshield Repair
Address: Maher
Phone: (970) 256-0200

Phil Long Toyota ★★★★★

New Car Dealers, Used Car Dealers, Automobile Parts & Supplies
Address: 3019 Toupal Dr, Jansen
Phone: (719) 845-2080

Perkins Used Car Sales ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, New Car Dealers, Used Car Dealers
Address: 1205 Motor City Dr, Cascade
Phone: (719) 475-2330

Motor Tech ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, Automobile Parts & Supplies, Automobile Inspection Stations & Services
Address: 6599 S Broadway, Gateway
Phone: (303) 795-9513

Michael`s Auto Body, Inc ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, Automobile Body Repairing & Painting, Dent Removal
Address: 15250 E 33rd Pl Ste E, Columbine-Valley
Phone: (303) 500-8641

Knowles Trim Shop ★★★★★

Automobile Parts & Supplies, Automobile Restoration-Antique & Classic, Automobile Customizing
Address: 2109 E Boulder St, Colorado-Spgs
Phone: (719) 630-7114

Auto blog

Mercedes-Benz Concept IAA is a modern silver aero

Mon, Sep 14 2015

While we English-speaking folk call it the Frankfurt Motor Show, our German friends call this week's bi-annual confab the Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung, or IAA. At first glance, then, you might think Mercedes-Benz named its Frankfurt concept, the Concept IAA, after the show it'd debut at. But, the Concept IAA isn't named for the show. It's actually an abbreviation for Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile, and it's very aerodynamic indeed. This four-door coupe can transform, while moving, from its sedan-like design mode to an ultra-sleek, gas-powered fish of a car. This aerodynamic mode has a drag coefficent of just 0.19. That's sleeker than a Tesla Model S, and it ties the rating of the General Motors EV1 electric car. In fact, it's very nearly as aerodynamic as the Volkswagen XL1. The IAA can transform automatically at 80 kilometers per hour (about 50 miles per hour) or via the press of a button. When it enters an aerodynamic mode, eight segments at the back of the car extend out, adding over 15 inches to the overall vehicle length, effectively extending its already tear-dropped-shaped tail. And that's just the most visible aero aid. At the front of the car, flaps in the bumper extend out nearly an inch, while there's a smaller extender in the back bumper. These serve to keep air away from the wheel arches, where turbulence can become an issue. Of course, Mercedes has thought of this, too, fitting "Active Rims" that "alter their cupping from 55 mm to zero," whatever that means. There's even an active aero aid inside the front bumper, where a louver extends backward by 2.3 inches to smooth out the air traveling underneath the car. Outside of its super-slippery mode, the IAA is a relatively handsome four-door coupe, featuring the kind of plunging roofline that wouldn't look out of place on the company's pioneering CLS-Class. The interior is certainly worthy of the CLS, too. It's home to gorgeous white leather and touch-based controls, and in general, looks very luxurious. Mercedes' dogged pursuit of aerodynamics does not mean that the Concept IAA is some gutless ecomobile. Under the skin is a gas-powered, plug-in hybrid system that produces up to 279 horsepower and allows the sleek sedan to hit 155 mph. Its all-electric range is based, of course, on what mode its body is in. It's most impressive in aero mode, where it will cover 41 miles on a single charge. Switch over to design mode, and that figure drops slightly to 38.5 miles.

Ferrari, Mercedes selling cars with faulty Takata airbags

Thu, Jul 21 2016

According to the US Senate, a small group of automakers are still selling new cars with faulty Takata airbags. Automotive News reports that Ferrari's entire lineup and various Mercedes-Benz vehicles come with faulty airbags and are subject to being recalled by the end of 2018. US Senator Bill Nelson, (D-FL), claims the affected Ferrari models include: the 2016 to 2017 FF, California T, F12 Berlinetta, F12 TdF, 488 GTB, 488 Spider, and GTC4 Lusso. Mercedes-Benz is also in the mix with the 2016 Sprinter and 2016 to 2017 E-Class Coupe and Convertible. Automotive News reports that both Ferrari and Mercedes-Benz will require its dealers to notify buyers of a recall in the vehicles' future. The National Highway traffic Safety Administration claims the vehicles are legal to be sold, as the airbags are safe until exposed to high humidity for a significant period of time. With the majority of Ferrari drivers storing their vehicles in temperature-controlled garages, this shouldn't be troubling news. What is troubling, however, is that seven out of 17 automakers that Senator Nelson contacted admitted to putting defective Takata airbags into its new cars. Volkswagen, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, and Toyota are a few automakers that still use Takata's faulty airbags. All have agreed to notify buyers of future recalls. Related Video: News Source: Automotive News-sub.req.Image Credit: Copyright 2015 Lorenzo Marcinno / AOL Government/Legal Recalls Ferrari Mercedes-Benz ferrari ff ferrari f12 berlinetta ferrari 488 gtb ferrari california t ferrari f12 tdf ferrari 488 spider ferrari gtc4 lusso

Mercedes, Renault-Nissan to work together on truck project

Wed, Apr 8 2015

Just a few weeks ago, Mercedes-Benz barged into the automotive world with news of a pickup as a mysterious but enticing future model from the German brand. Rumors of a possible collaboration with Nissan followed, but Renault-Nissan Alliance CEO Carlos Ghosn refused to give any clear details. That speculation is now over, because the automakers made their truck partnership official. This new information reveals that the Mercedes truck won't be a full in-house creation from Daimler. For example, the pickup will share some of its underpinnings with the latest Nissan NP300 Navara. The German company's engineers, however, will work to change the design to their liking. Also, as in the rendering, Mercedes will use a double-cab body for the model. "Thanks to our well-established partnership with the Renault-Nissan Alliance, we are able to drastically reduce the time and cost to enter this key segment." Daimler Chairman Dr. Dieter Zetsche said in the company's release. Nissan will play a further major role in the project by helping Renault develop a pickup based on the Navara as well. By 2020, all three trucks will be built together in Cordoba, Argentina, for Latin American markets and in Barcelona, Spain, for other parts of the world. Mercedes will target both regular customers and commercial buyers with its truck. While still not officially slated for North America, there's a chance that the Mercedes truck might be sold here. The US arm of the company reportedly has until the end of the year to decide to offer it with some added luxury-oriented upgrades compared to the rest of the world. Daimler & Renault-Nissan Alliance expand cooperation to 1-ton pickup trucks April 07, 2015 Daimler & Renault-Nissan Alliance expand cooperation to 1-ton pickup trucks Nissan and Daimler to jointly develop midsize pickup truck Mercedes-Benz pickup to share some of the architecture with the all-new Nissan NP300 Mercedes-Benz vehicle to be engineered and designed by Daimler to meet specific needs of its customers Mercedes-Benz pickup will target Europe, Australia, South Africa and Latin America Pickup trucks to be built in Barcelona, Spain, and Cordoba, Argentina Latest milestone in the five-year strategic cooperation between Daimler and the Renault-Nissan Alliance STUTTGART/PARIS/YOKOHAMA –The Renault-Nissan Alliance and Daimler AG will expand their five-year strategic cooperation into the pickup truck segment.