have chance to buy 1985 mercedes turbo diesel

[emarsh]

model 300 D turbo I read here that these cars just keep running. This one has 220k miles with a perfect body and nice leather interior and sunroof. It does however need front end work, the tires are wearing badly, needs more than an alignment. It runs great, auto trans, and has maintenance records, the fellow used delo motor oil. I can get it for $2500, plus he will throw in a rebuilt injector pump and supposely good spare transmission. What do you think? He did say that the heat & air sometimes does not work?

 

[Motorhead]

I own two turbo MBZs and yes they are good cars. The one that you are looking at is high mileage. The engines should run pretty good for atleast 300,000 (+). At hot idle, take off the oil cap on the valve cover and see how much blow-by it has. They will have some but if they are healthy, it won't be much. The frontends can get expensive. It probabaly needs lower ball joints and tie rod ends. The top ball joints aren't cheap. They also have a torsion rod that can need to be re-fit with new rubber bushings.

The cliamate control systems can also be a nightmare and lots of $$ when they don't work properly. The heater has a valve mounted on the firewall that is re-buildable and that usually fixes the heater. The A/C is a R12system and we all know that freon is getting hard to get.

The '85 can have a "cat" of such on it if it is a Calif model and it is H. P. de-rated because of it.

$2500. 00 is ok price but you would be further ahead to find one for a thousand more with less problems and fewer miles. You would be way money ahead.

Look for a '84 to '82, they don't have the Cat on them and are virtually the same. Chris

 

[willyslover]

look for the 5 cylinder models... I think that 84 was the last year for them... . much better motor

and yes the comfort control system can be a PIA as well as the air conditioner system [compressor is the main culprit... 5 in 4years here and at a grand each trip they are not a pleasure to deal with]. . you can convert to the newer refrigerants, not hard to do and get away from the r12 issue.

my old 5 cylinder '84 was agreat car... gave it to my sister at 250k. . running and looking great ... at least another 200 left in it IF well taken care of.

 

[BCFAST]

Sold the mother-in-law's 85 TD about a year ago... plenty of troubles: vacuum leaks galore, a/c is junk (American, of course!), power window problems, water leak problems, electrical troubles, etc. This was NOT a beater... it was a very pretty and straight unmolested car that was garage-kept. If you just gotta have a diesel car, Im afraid VW is your only viable choice ( and a really NICE choice at that!). I would advise against the aging MB. My experience (including my own 83 300SD) is that as these cars age, they become bottomless money pits.

 

[illflem]

Originally posted by willyslover

and yes the comfort control system can be a PIA ...

My '82 MB service manual section for the climate system is larger than the entire Dodge service manual. You really don't want to work on it.

 

[JGarcia]

Not a good cold weather vehicle!!