1985 Mercedes 300D Turbodiesel - Clean, Low-mileage Driver. This is the one!

1985
Mercedes Benz
300D Turbodiesel Sedan
Only 96,000 original miles
Factory Owner's Manual Included
VIN: WDBAB33C8FA257446


If you’ve had a chance to follow my Ebay listings over the past fifteen years you know I’ve been able to offer vintage Mercedes to many buyers the world over. Here’s a great running & driving turbodiesel sedan from my personal collection I’m able to now offer Ebay bidders. This nice Benz sold new in sunny North Carolina in early 1986. While on a trip to Raleigh back in 2015 I heard this long-term, two-owner car was coming to market shortly and bee-lined to the retired gentleman’s home just a day before heading back here to Seattle. From the moment I first laid eyes on this exceptional car, it was pretty obvious that respect and care had been given over the years. A week later the 300D was on the way to my warehouse. Over the past six years it’s served as an occasional summer cruiser. During the off months, my mechanic started, tuned and kept the vehicle updated. Reluctantly, I've had to admit it’s time to part with several of my personal classics that really deserve more road time than I can give.
If you’re in the market for a great European daily driver, you’ve got to ask yourself, “Where else will I find this kind of luxury, vintage style, safety, mechanical reliability AND terrific (25+MPG) fuel economy wrapped up in one nice ride?” Please feel free to contact me with questions or to make an offer. My name is Mark and my direct number is 206/914-1173. You’re welcome and encouraged to inspect this outstanding boulevard cruiser here at my Auburn, WA warehouse. Just call or text me to make an appointment.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION
Ever spent an afternoon driving a classic Mercedes with the uber-dependable 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine? Smooth is the word, for sure! Smooth handling on the curves and straight-aways. The W123 chassis vehicles constructed from the late-70’s through the mid-1980’s have always been a favorite of mine (and many consider this vintage to be the last hand-built, truly high-quality Benz). Take a look at the posted photos and I’m sure you’ll agree (all were taken on 12/18/2021). What you see is the result of a wash and vacuum only. It’s obviously been allowed to spend these many decades garaged because the overall condition is very good. Climb over, under and throughout; I know you’ll come up smiling! Rust? Please, this car hates rust and you WON’T find a thing to worry about here. Yes, the Puget Sound region is famous for rain, but our winter roads are never salted. If at all, we’ll see a day or two of light snow. Everyone panics and stays home (even before COVID forced it on us). Having personally owned many of these Benz over the years, I’ve developed a great appreciation for their style, mechanical reliability, and overall driving experience. I’m convinced you’ll be proud to own and drive this one as well.
CONDITION:
As outlined, this is a clean, low-mileage, well-cared-for Mercedes. I take pride in my vehicles offered here and feel you should know as much about them as possible. Accordingly, here’s a list of the good and also any small things needing attention: take a few seconds to heat the glow plugs when starting cold and the peppy 3.0L inline five diesel engine fires right up EVERY time! Absolutely no excessive smoke at startup (warm or cold) or while waiting at a stoplight. The automatic transmission shifts strongly through all the gears and just as it should. The car idles, runs, and drives like a Mercedes is built to - immediate, strong oil pressure, good battery and charging system, no overheating and no brake pull to either side. After deciding to sell, I wanted to spend a few more days in the car and have added almost 300 miles over the past few weeks including freeway cruising at 60 MPH. Having the turbocharged motor really makes an acceleration difference over other non-equipt diesel Benz! I wouldn't hesitate to drive long-distance in this car.
The Oxford White paint has been redone to the factory color a few years prior to my ownership and is in excellent overall condition. There are no front-end rock chips, paint scratches or flaking clearcoat. Though never claiming to be a body-and-fender expert, I’ve found no evidence of any accidents, nor are any listed on the included AutoCheck history report. Good chrome and exterior trim all around, too, though it could always do with a polishing. The wheel arches, doors, floor pans and fenders all appear solid; in fact, the entire undercarriage is in good condition for a 36-year-old car! Don't know why but the rear tailpipe section's been removed and has been that way through my entire ownership. It seems to have no effect on performance or exhaust noise level so I'd just leave it that way. The factory jack and spare are in the trunk well. All four factory alloy wheels are straight and true. They’re wrapped with older, decent 195/70R14 radials with at least 50-70% tread remaining.
Take another good look at the interior pics. Hop in and feel comfortable sitting on these firm seats for hours. The original factory MB-Tex upholstery is in great overall shape front and back; no holes or wear-through spots as you’ll often find. The original dash pad is excellent. There are no cracks or chips in the factory windshield. It’s pretty rare to come across one of these cars with a factory Becker AM-FM radio still in place (much less actually working). You’ll likely want an upgrade as this one is pretty finicky. While the fan system blows just fine, the A/C will need to be looked over to be functional. Everything else under the hood appears stock and present. I’ve been assured the odometer reflects true miles at under 100K. Both it and the speedo work accurately. There’s no shrinkage, holes or water stains on the headliner and you can see from the photos the factory carpets are still nice, though the right rear passenger section is missing (the floormat is still in place). All four power windows are working. I always appreciate a power sunroof and this one opens and closes using the dash switch. From years of experience with other Benz, I always ease motor strain when closing by helping pull the sunroof forward.
Please check the 24 photos over closely and call me with any questions BEFORE you place a bid! You’re encouraged to stop by, inspect the car at my Auburn, WA warehouse and take it for a test drive. As a respected Ebay seller with many satisfied online vehicle buyers, I want you to bid with confidence knowing that this Mercedes runs and drives well AND that it is properly represented to you! Please don’t be upset if I miss a minor flaw or some small issue comes up as NO used vehicle is ever perfect. As always, it’s being sold “as-is, where-is” with a clean, free & clear Washington State title.
Because of the amount of money involved with a vehicle purchase, I reserve the right to cancel your bid if you have any negative feedback. I also ask that potential bidders with a feedback rating of five or fewer transactions on Ebay contact me before placing their bid. Please feel free to contact me directly through eBay’s message system or, as outlined above, call me at 206/914-1173 anytime. My name is MARK.


A Few Additional Terms and Conditions:
A $500 deposit (paid to Ebay) is required within 24 hours of the auction’s end. The balance of the purchase price is due by cash (in-person only), a wire transfer or other certified funds within seven days of the auction closing. I can accept credit/debit cards for the balance but will first need to send an invoice from our card processor and will include the 3.25% fee charged by them. Please remember you are bidding to buy, and I fully expect the winning bidder to fulfill their Ebay contract! You’re not bidding to hold or then come inspect and test-drive the vehicle later -- You’re more than welcome to do this before the auction ends.
If you decide to have the Mercedes shipped home, there are many vehicle transport transporters to choose from. While the company chosen is ultimately the BUYER's resposibility, I ship vehicles regularly and have access to the nationwide Central Dispatch System. I can check to see what typical delivery costs have been to your area recently and we can then post a transport offer for the car at a fair price. Usually, a shipper is lined up within a few days. You’ll pay the shipper COD when they arrive with the vehicle. No upfront deposit or other hassles.
The Benz can be stored free of charge at my location for up to fourteen days after the auction ends assuming full payment has been received. After that period storage is $20 per day.

Also published at eBay.com