W124 Bio Diesel Project car or daily driver. Solid drivetrain!

1982 Mercedes-Benz 300-Series 300SD

For sale is a great W124 Mercedes Benz 300SD Bio Diesel Project car or daily driver. I purchased this car for the excellent drive train and realized later that is was a collectible car that is sought after for Bio Diesel projects. I am not one to ruin a great piece of German engineering so I decided to put it for sale in it current condition rather than pull the engine and use it on our farm.
This car was the daily driver of a local school teacher who moved out of state and bought a car better suited for her growing family. She had just invested $700 in Mntce into it just before deciding to sell it. She had a new battery installed, low plugs tested, luids changed and a few other items taken care of. The car needs a few cosmetic and interior repairs and she did not have the extra finances to invest into this beauty so she passed it along. The car is a three owner vehicle and spent the majority of its life in the rust free state of Arizona.
Here are a few known repair needs:
Front windshield has a crack (insurance may replace for free)
Rear glass needs a new gasket (she attempted to use caulking to stop a leak)
Window leak affected the rear window shelf which needs recovering
I believe all of the window switches now work
The paint is faded
Two small dents as seen in photos
gear shift arm needs to be tightened (.75/c plastic spacer)
glove box does not latch
AC vent baffles need to be replaced (controls air flow direction (2@$25 each))
Other condition issue for being a 30+ year old car
Know Perks:
New Air Filter
New Fuel Filter
New Glow Plugs
Fairly New Battery
Tires are in decent shape
Many small items on the car have been repaired while in my care (Headlight Rheostat, indow switches, ilters etc)
Starts right up without hesitation and seems to run great.
PLEASE know that I am not a mechanic, ar guy or salesman. I am only offering this car for sale because it deserves to be on the road not an engineless shell (I intended to pull the engine and let the body sit) withering away in the back woods of KY. I know this car has some cosmetic issues and will require your work but I also know its a great base for a project and would not take much to get it in good condition. The biggest issues I see are listed above but that does not mean I found everything or am aware of everything. I will do my best to answer questions or take more pictures while the auction is in session but please don't expect to show up at pickup and expect to negotiate. The most glaring flaw as I see it is the rear glass gasket and her use of sealant. Once that is fixed (local windshield tech quoted $140 for a new gasket installed) I believe it will begin a dramatic transformation. I am just an E-mail away. What questions can I answer for you?

On Sep-23-15 at 06:34:26 PDT, eller added the following information:

Update due to numerous emailed questions. I had stated that the car originated from Arizona but the car fax showed the car being in New Mexico until 2010 then South Carolina and on to Kentucky. I also stated that it was a three owner car but I failed to count myself as an owner so it is actually a four owner car.
A question was posed about the dash board warning lights. I started the car this morning (fired right up with zero cranking) and the dash does not show any warning lights on after the car has been started and it idles great with no knocking. The headlights work great (so yes it can be driven to Tenn. after purchase) Glow plug light illuminates and de-illuminates as it should before and after the car is started.
A question was also asked about the interior needing TLC and its the typical issues with a 30+ year old car with over 250k miles on it. Dashboard is sun cracked and the lacquer finish on the wood work has crazing. Carpet needs cleaning, oor cards are not in the best shape and the seam on the leather arm rest needs to be restitched also the elastic organizer that is on the back of both seats has been stretched and hangs lose rather than hugging the seat.
When I purchased the car the windows would not roll down. After I decided to not pull the engine I purchased new window switches and from the drivers seat the two rear windows roll down and the drivers window rolls down but not the passenger window. I purchased the new window switch for the passenger side but received a drivers side (with the window lock feature) so the passenger side switch still needs to be replaced.
I was also asked about oil consumption and transmission shifting. I have not driven the car much so I am not intimate with the fine points of the everyday operation. The prior owner did not mention oil leaks (I also did not ask) but there is a funnel under the hood and an oil jug in the trunk. I do not have oil spots on my driveway but I would assume a car of this age is going to have a leaky seal or two. As far as the shifting the car did shift hard when I accelerated onto the freeway on ramp. I researched this and found that this is a very common occurrence in the vintage Mercedes Benz 300SD and a transmission and converter fluid change normally fixes this issue. If you are reading this listing chances are you know more about these cars than I ever will so please ask more great questions or request additional pictures and I will be more than happy to answer them for you. I want the lucky buyer to be as informed as possible before pickup.
One more note - After realizing this car was very desirable and collectible my focus went from pulling the motor for a farm project to fixing it up to give to my 15 year old son as his first car (hence the new parts, indow switches, ilters, low plugs etc). Unfortunately teen boys lack the appreciation or vision for a fine piece of German engineering so the next option was to offer it to someone who does.

On Sep-23-15 at 07:01:26 PDT, eller added the following information:

Note on payment - Cash (no checks) at pickup is the preferred method of payment but paypal may be accepted if you have a feedback rating over 50 and the buyer supplies company or personal information that can be verified. I have been a private seller on Ebay for over 12 years so am cautious of scams, raudulent buyers and new buyer accounts with zero feedback (as most good sellers are). If you intend to have this car shipped you must contact me before the auction closes and have everything verified before it leaves my location. Anything other than a cash transaction will delay the shipment of this vehicle until all financing or payment options have been vetted. If you are not a cash buyer please contact me before the auction closes so we can discuss details. Thanks so much for your understanding.

On Sep-23-15 at 11:22:28 PDT, eller added the following information:

More follow up to E-Mails:
I took the car for a drive this afternoon and had it washed. The transmission shifted smoothly through all the gears and only had a hard shift if you really got on the accelerator and then got off quickly. From what I read that is pretty common (please feel free to google it). The car idles beautifully and the temperature gauge was right where it is supposed to be. Blinkers work, eadlights work and brakes are very responsive. Power drivers seat works fine but its missing the cosmetic buttons. Thanks for all the great questions. Keep them coming!

• Condition: Used
• Make: Mercedes-Benz
• Model: 300-Series
• SubModel: 300SD
• Type: Sedan
• Trim: 300SD Turbodiesel
• Year: 1982
• Mileage: 256,075
• VIN: wdbcb20a0cb027119
• Color: Black
• Engine size: 3L I5 10V
• Number of cylinders: 5
• Power options: Air Conditioning, Power Locks, Power Windows, Power Seats
• Fuel: Diesel
• Transmission: Automatic
• Drive type: RWD
• Interior color: Tan
• Options: Leather Seats
• Vehicle Title: Clear
Want to buy? Contact seller!