So I got a wild hair up my **** and decided I couldn't stand not having a diesel anymore. I ride a harley all the time and had a nice old conversion van with recent trans rebuild and brake work - that got 8mpg so I never used it ... read up here for a while, and decided I wanted to step out a limb and start my old beater diesel car adventure - and away I went.

Sold the van on craigslist monday for $2k to move it quick, test drove a 78 300d in great shape outside but hopeless interior, drivers side window stuck down, transmission not shifting right etc... guy wanted 2200, I offered a 1000 - he said no so I walked away. I didn't like how it rides anyway - I was expecting slow (used to have diesel rabbit) but that thing was pathetic.

So setup another appointment and went this morning to check out an 83 300sd that somebody donated a church. The preacher guy had put about 750 in parts/labor into a year ago fixing it up thinking he could a lot more out of it running good. Outside needs painted, inside leather all good just needs some cleaning. Power seats and windows and sunroof works - even has a cd player hat works. The AC worked so I took that as a good sign. I could see some warning signs from rust, but it really didn't look that bad...

Took a test drive with him, for a car that hadn't been driven in almost a year it seemed to ride great. Brakes felt a little mushy and the brake light was on which worried me. I decided to offer him half what he was asking because of the brake light on - cause I'd need to take it straight to a shop to have the brake system checked and was expecting to sink some money into that right away... thinking calipers probably sticking. He almost turned me down for the $1k offer but then decided to take it to get the money from the engine overhaul last year back out of it... got the work receipt showing lots of filters and hoses and belts and vacuum actuwhatever related stuff that was replaced. Also have 3 more pages of recommended stuff to do - like valve job, and ac refresh, and tires and stuff like that. Glove box had all the original manuals and service records (NJ car, should have looked for that... oh well live and learn).

So I pay and make it 3 miles up the road and start smelling something like burning rubber. Wasn't long in traffic before I saw the smoke coming up from around the front driver's side tire - and about then lost all brakes - I was barely moving anyway and was able to work my way over across lanes and pull in station and stop with the parking break.

AAA to the rescue and dropped off a Firestone service place near home I've used before and know to be good folks. I was heading there anyway - just thought I'd be able to make that 7 mile trip... Had them check it out and give me an everything quote ($1700)... so I went through that to find what it would take to make it safe to drive at a minimum, new master cylinder, all new rotors and calipers and shoes and stuff for the front 2 wheels came in at $900 -- exactly what I had left over in play money from selling the van.

So it begins. I'll be picking it up tomorrow afternoon (again) hopefully - and going back on the weekend to knock out tires (dry rotted) and maybe the back brake work stuff just to get brakes completely out of the way. Probably throw in an oil/fluids change this weekend too... a lot of the rest of the stuff they were quoting is stuff I think I can do myself (valve cover gasket, stuff like that) - I just *hate* working on brakes...

Only real concern I've got is the rust - its showing in the trunk and with up on the lift at the shop I could see some places where the undercoating had been knocked off and rust was bad... ball joints and steering linkages and stuff like that are going to need attention before too long.

3miles... and I'm already hooked and pumping money into this thing... its going to be a long ride haha.
Here is the original craigslist ad that caught my eye:
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/cto/1172256623.html

 

You are a brave man! But I completly understand! Sounds like fun!

I have a new E320 Blue Tech Diesel which I plan to drive to the promised land. I'd like to find out how you are doing.

Thanks!

Charlie in Dallas!

 

Good luck I purchased a 87 300D on E-bay from a salvage yard. He didn't clean it up and was seating in a mud yard so no one else bid on it. All the major stuff was good. Had to clean all of the electric motors and switches so all of the windows work. The car must of been dadys car from PA given to his son to goto college in SC and after school and few repaire slips found in the glove box sold it. Machanicaly it only needed 1- rear link and the diff support bushings, but looked bad in the pic's on E-bay. Having a lot of fun with it not trying to make a show car out of it just a dependable daily driver. Nice thing normal parts are not any more expensive and thats even at the benz dealer. I price check and most of the time prices are the same, and you know your getting quality parts. I injoy working on it and get a kick out of people who think you must be doing well to drive a benz. Hate to tell them they have more in their crappy colbalt then I do in the benz. good luck and fun motoring