1985 Mercedes-Benz 300d European for sale in Santa Ana, CA

Listed at $17,900 USD.

1985 Mercedes-Benz 300TD European Diesel Wagon; 142K Miles; Extensive Maintenance $17,900 OBO — Irvine/Calabasas, CA Selling my 1985 Mercedes-Benz 300TD European-market diesel wagon. Approximately 142,7XX miles and still driven regularly. Clean California title in my name. This is the European-import, naturally aspirated OM617 five-cylinder diesel with an automatic transmission. Unlike the US-market turbo models, this engine has a simpler configuration without EGR equipment. As a 1985 diesel, it is exempt from California Smog Check requirement. The car runs strong, shifts smoothly, and has no known major issues. The OM617 also shows very little visible blow-by during the oil-cap test. With the engine idling and the oil cap resting loosely on the filler opening, the cap barely moves. Video available. I change the oil every 3,000 miles using Shell Rotella. Last August, I completed a roughly 7,000-mile summer road trip meandering along the South from California to Florida and back. I've put approximately 13,000 miles on the car during my ownership. Condition: The car is beautiful inside and out. I'd personally rate the interior and exterior around 8.5–9/10 for their age. It isn't a showroom restoration, but it's an exceptionally clean example of a classic Mercedes diesel wagon. The European-market interior is a particular highlight, with distinctive cloth accents on the seats and door panels. The upholstery is remarkably well-preserved, the dashboard presents nicely, and the white exterior looks great with the European headlights, roof rack, and original-style wheels. Power front windows and manual crank rear windows. Even the original Mercedes emergency equipment is still present, including the factory jack, warning triangle in its designated mounting location, and first-aid kit. No known body or structural rust. Normal cosmetic wear consistent with a 41-year-old vehicle. Extensive Recent Maintenance: I've completed a significant amount of mechanical work myself, using OEM, German, or European-sourced parts. Receipts are available for all parts. Recent work includes: - Tires - Alignment - Valve adjustment - Engine air filter - Battery - Alternator - Drive belts - Fuel filters - Accelerator linkage bushing - Motor mounts - Transmission mount - Transmission cooler lines - Radiator, radiator cap, and hoses - Thermostat - Driveshaft center bearing and support - Complete upper control arm assemblies - Lower control arm bushings - Guide rod bushings - Tie rods - Steering damper - Differential oil service - Original Mercedes CV axles professionally rebuilt by J&J Axle Supply in Santa Ana Most of this was done in preparation for the "Grand Roadtrip" I've spent at least $1,500 on parts alone. A shop quoted approximately $6,000 for the equivalent work, which I completed myself. The car also has upgraded speakers and a JVC head unit. Known Issues / Full Disclosure: It's an older Mercedes, and there are a few things worth mentioning - Factory air conditioning is currently inoperative - never attempted to investigate or address. -Replacement hood insulation liner included but not installed. The old liner needs to be scraped off and the surface prepped before installing the new one. I have the replacement ready to go, but never got around to the tedious removal and installation process. - Windshield washer spray is weak. - Vacuum supply to the door-lock actuators has been T'd off, so central locking system is currently inoperable - Small windshield chip acquired in Albuquerque last summer. It was treated immediately and has not spread. - Full-size spare tire needs replacement. The original tire dry-rotted and came apart. - Dashboard clock operates but runs slowly. - Interior rear hatch handle is broken. - Rear door lock striker show some wear and require a firm close than usual to latch securely - Passenger-side front door has a quirky locking mechanism. It unlocks normally, but pulling the exterior handle causes it to lock again. Essentially, it has an accidental auto-lock feature! The mechanism could use adjustment or repair. - After extended idling, the brake pedal can occasionally require approximately 3–4 inches of additional travel. Would likely benefit from bleeding air from the brake lines, and probably new pads and/or disks while you're in there. (Disk brakes both front and rear, pretty nice!) I've tried to be as transparent as possible about the car's condition. Most of these are just little personality quirks that come with owning a 41-year-old Mercedes, but I wanted to share everything I know so there are no surprises for the next owner. Reason for Selling: This is actually a difficult car for me to sell. It's been a fantastic wagon, and I genuinely got a little sad and reconsidered selling it while cleaning it up for these photos. But it's my first automatic in 16 years, and I've realized how much I miss driving a manual transmission. I'd love to see it go to someone who appreciates these old Mercedes wagons and will continue taking care of it. $17,900 OBO Clean California title in my name. Available to show in either Irvine or Calabasas, depending on the day. Test drives with proof of funds and a valid driver's license. Final transaction to be completed at my bank for both parties' safety and peace of mind. Serious inquiries welcome. Happy to provide additional photos, parts receipts, and details about the maintenance performed.