1983

Mercedes Benz
300SD Turbo Diesel

VIN: WDBCB20A5DB039199

Here’s another desirable, great-running & driving Mercedes diesel we’ve just acquired for our Ebay customers. Per the original window sticker, owner’s manual and warranty booklet, this nice 300SD sold new in the early spring of 1983 at Dave Ostrem Imports with an MSRP of $40,254. It’s been here in snow-free Western Washington State for many years now. A family member of the second owner kept the car after moving to Seattle. He enjoyed road trips and took the Benz cross country several times; check out the cool Mercedes Club grille badge dating back to 1988. Reluctantly, the car was passed on to us a short time ago in hopes of finding the next caretaker. From the moment I laid eyes on this nice sedan, it was obvious that it’s been treated with respect and care over the years. I’ll be sure to include most of the original books and even that window sticker along with the dealer hang tags tucked away in the glovebox when the Mercedes leaves our warehouse. Please feel free to contact me with any questions. My name is Mark and my direct phone number is (206) 914-1173. You’re welcome and encouraged to make an appointment to inspect and test-out this clean car.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION

Ever driven one of these sedans with the powerful 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine? Where else will you find this kind of luxury, vintage style, safety, mechanical reliability AND terrific (27+MPG) fuel economy wrapped up in one great ride? Smooth is the word for sure. Smooth handling in the curves or on the highway. I’ve always considered the W126 chassis cars constructed through the late 80’s as some of the last hand-built, truly high-quality Mercedes and have heard others say the same thing! Take a look at my photos and I’m sure you’ll agree with me what a nice vehicle this is. Climb over, under and throughout and I know you’ll come up smiling! What you see there is the result of a wash and vacuum only. Rust? Please, this car hates rust and you’ll be hard pressed to find anything to worry about here. Yes, western Washington State is famous for rain, but our winter roads are rarely salted. At most we’ll have one or two days of light snow. Everyone panics and just stays home hunkered down with a blanket and book. Climb over, under and all around this car - I know you’ll come up smiling!

Having personally owned dozens of Mercedes over the years, I’ve developed a great appreciation for the classic MB style, mechanical reliability (especially with diesels) and the overall driving experience. THIS BENZ RUNS OUT VERY NICELY. I’VE SPENT ALMOST TWO WEEKS COMMUTING IN IT AND AM CONVINCED YOU’LL BE PROWD TO OWN AND DRIVE IT AS WELL!

CONDITION:

In total, I believe this is a clean, well-cared-for, smoke-free Mercedes. I take pride in the vehicles we sell and feel that you should know as much about the car as possible. Accordingly, here’s a list of the good and also a few small things needing attention: take literally two or three seconds to heat the glow plugs when starting cold and the peppy 3.0L inline five diesel engine starts immediately with only few moments of starter cranking!The automatic transmission shifts through all the gears just as it should and with absolutely no slippage.The car idles, runs and drives like a Mercedes is built to – strong, immediate oil pressure, strong battery and charging system, no overheating, no brake pull. Last week I put on almost 400 miles freeway cruising at 60+ MPH for several hours

The factory original Astral Silver Metallic paint has been resprayed to the original color sometime in the past. I’d say it’s a 9 out of 10. Though I’m no expert, I find no evidence of bodywork or accident repair anywhere. The front fenders, rear quarters, doors and floor pans are all very solid. No other real body flaws to point out, no nicks or rock chips. The factory windshield is still in place with a couple of small, fillable bullseye spots. I’ve never encountered Mercedes alloy wheels that were anything but straight and true. These fit that bill and are wrapped with Goodyear Viva Z-rated touring radials with at least 50% or so tread remaining all around.

Take another good look at my interior shots. The original Blue leather seats (including the rear bench) have held up well with no perceived broken springs; something you’ll often encounter on vintage Benz. Both the speedometer & odometer work well, reading just over 116K miles. The heater blows warm air and the fan functions correctly. It appears the A/C system has been bypassed in the engine compartment, but is complete.

There’s no evidence of any water leakage on the headliner. The power sunroof does not open. Two electric windows are not functioning properly: the passenger front doesn’t respond to the switch, the driver rear moves up and down, but needs to be put back on the base slider. A finicky rheostat forces one to twist the dash light knob a bit to get a good connection. On a positive note, the very decent carpets are all-original and there is NO cigarette odor or evidence! Great interior headliner, too! Like most vintage Benz stereos, the original Becker Grand Prix was updated to a modern Kenwood AM-FM/CD model.
We’re always very happy to work with any shipper you choose, but you’re also welcome to do what many of our past buyers from as far away as Alaska, Arizona, the Midwest, Canada, Florida, New York and even the Mexican Baja have done – fly in here to Seattle (we’ll pick you up at Sea-Tac International just a few miles away) and then start a road trip home the same day. As a respected Ebay seller with many, many satisfied online buyers, I want you to bid with confidence knowing that this Mercedes runs and drives out as it should AND that it is being properly represented to you! Please don’t be upset if I miss a minor flaw or some issue comes up on the car. NO used vehicle is ever perfect.

Please check the photos over closely and call me with any questions BEFORE you place a bid! You’re encouraged to stop by, inspect the Mercedes (or have a professional do it) and take it for a test drive as it is being sold as-is, where-is with a free & clear Washington State title. There are NO title brands for any nasty negatives like salvage history, theft or flood damage to cause you concern! 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 either through EBay’s message system or, as outlined above, call me at 206/914-1173. My name is MARK.

A Few Additional Terms and Conditions:

A nonrefundable $500 deposit is due within 48 hours of the auction’s end. We can accept PAYPAL, but only for the deposit amount because of the high fees they charge. The balance is due by cash or certified funds within seven business days unless prior arrangements have been made with me. 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 do decide to have thecar shipped home, there are numerous vehicle transportcompanies to choose from. We ship vehicles regularly and I'd suggest that you get a transport bid from Dependable Auto Shippers (DAS). They're Ebay's preferred transporter and will give you a fair quote. Call them at (888)817-6203. Give the rep my affiliate number (2362642) and they should be able to pull up all our information for door-to-door or even station-to-station prices.

As an alternative, you might also get bids from the U-Ship.com website you’ll be able to choose a transport broker from multiple offers. The zip code for pick-up would be 98002 (Auburn, Washington). The shipping of the vehicle and company chosen are the responsibility of the BUYER.

The Mercedes can be stored free of charge at my location for up to two weeks after the auction assuming full payment has been received. Following this period storage is $20 per day.