A puzzle for the group.
 

I continue looking for a new (to me) Mercedes and have bee prowling Craigs List and EBay looking at cars and prices etc. I ran across EBay item 330487807581. Here's the question:

The car is badged as a 300D and, from what I can tell of the pic of the engine compartment the engine is the 5 cylinder diesel. On the other hand, the pictures clearly show a manual transmission, manual climate control and hand crank windows. I thought that all of these manual options were an indication of a 240D and queried the seller. He sent me the VIN number (WDB1231301A048546) which the EPC decoder clearly says is a 300D. I am now confused. I thought that all of the 300D's came with the electric windows, automatic climate control and, especially, automatic transmissions.

Anyone able to help unconfuse an newbie?

- Dreamtym

Mystery solved.
 

Car was originally Sold outside the US where the 300D was available with a manual transmission etc. When the front end was rebuilt at some point, the donor car was for the US market so it isn't obvious, until you see the rear bumper which is still original, that the car is something of a hybrid.

And away she goes
 

Well, it looks like the owner either decided to pull the listing for some reason or someone made him a very good offer. Hope it was the latter and that it was someone who knows what he has.

It's baaaack
 

eBay apparently bounced the listing since the vin wasn't given in the description when they couldn't accept it in their database field.

It's item 33048872533 if anyone is interested in a 300d with manual transmission.