1983 Mercedes-Benz 300SD Turbodiesel Sedan - A True California Beauty, Low Miles

A True California Beauty. 1983 Mercedes-Benz 300SD Turbodiesel Sedan With Original Blue Plates – Always a California Car! Comprehensive Maintenance with Thoughtful Upgrades We have owned this beautiful Mercedes for two years and have thoroughly enjoyed its beauty and comfort. as well as the sense of security afforded by its unparalleled road-safe body structure. Some of these legendary Diesel engines have clocked more than 1. 00. 00 Km. and this car is in that class. Originally purchased and owned exclusively in climate-friendly California. this 1983 Mercedes-Benz 300SD four-door sedan is superbly maintained and ready to serve its new owner with years of trouble-free operation because all mechanical repairs required in vehicles of similar vintage are now complete. The exterior is refinished in the original metallic silver color using today’s premium PPG waterborne basecoat/clearcoat 2-stage system. No alternative fuels have been used. and no fuel system or other conversions that might lead to engine damage have been made. This car is completely stock and factory original. except for the addition of an awesome concert hall-quality sound system. an accessory sunroof wind deflector. and chrome-plated matching front and rear 3-D raised lettered “Mercedes-Benz” license plate frames. Read further to discover what makes this California Beauty a one-of-a-kind treasure. Meticulous Maintenance Schedule with All Required Mechanical Repairs Completed As the documentation confirms. the original owner. Dr. Herjit Sud. purchased the car from a Mercedes dealership near his home in Stockton. California. on December 15. 1982. Dr. Sud later sold his beloved Mercedes to a German machinist named Max who kept the car at his home in Belmont. California. We became the proud third owners in 2013. and have kept the car at our home in Santa Clara. California. We have faithfully replaced the engine oil and filter at factory-recommended intervals or even more frequently. using premium Castrol GTX Diesel 15W-40 motor oil. As a result the vehicle starts. runs. drives. steers. and stops fantastically. Like us. the previous owner was a perfectionist. He installed a factory-rebuilt transmission and commissioned the PPG paint job shortly before we bought the car. The transmission shifts correctly. with no slippage whatsoever. and it changes gears with the firm shifting typical of this superbly engineered model. Max also installed a new genuine “Bosch” battery. replaced the power steering pump. hood insulation pad. and cooling water hoses. and installed four new Michelin X Radial P195/70R14 tires with nitrogen inflation. The Michelin tires look virtually new. with plenty of tread. Because of meticulous maintenance over the years. engine-oil consumption is absolutely minimal. with no need to add oil between changes. Air conditioner. heater. lights. wipers. power windows. power antenna. power sunroof. power mirror. and other features (except for the dash clock) are in working order. All required repairs and maintenance tasks are current and up to date. Each of the chassis. suspension. and engine parts that wear or deteriorate with normal usage over time has been replaced with the appropriate first-quality OEM part. including: Lower ball joints; upper control arms with upper ball joints; Bendix front brake calipers upgraded to ATE brand calipers; front and rear brake rotors; front and rear brake pads; front and rear brake flexible hoses; rear sway bar links; suspension guide rod bushings; upper control arm bushings; front wheel hub grease seals; front wheel bearings and bearing races replaced as needed with Timken brand replacement bearings (all re-packed with fresh grease); complete ANSA exhaust system including rubber hangers. seal rings. and copper flange nuts; engine mounts; gear oil in differential; rack damper pin on injection pump; left-front door check strap; all new 1. 2 watt console and fiber-optic switch light bulbs; A/C system evacuated and converted to new R134-A refrigerant with new fittings and Esther-type compressor oil; vacuum pump for power door locks and trunk lock; right-front door lock diaphragm; driver’s door seat switch (new plug-in style connectors soldiered to harness); ignition lock cylinder (keyed as original); steering lock assembly; ignition switch; vacuum shut-off switch at ignition lock; warning buzzer switch; all new bulbs in main instrument cluster; five Bosch diesel fuel injection nozzles with heat shields; aluminum seal ring at main fuel filter mounting bolt; injector fuel return hoses and end cap; front windshield (the original had a few chips. so we had it replaced at the local dealer-recommended auto glass shop); white and blue enameled grill badge; hood star and spring base; Bosch wiper blades; intake manifold gasket; complete turbocharger rebuild with high-performance kit from goposhop. com (kit includes upgraded 360-degree thrust bearing and step-gap piston ring); turbocharger gaskets and oil drain seals; lower oil pan gasket; 2/3 way vacuum valves on top of valve cover and multi-pin vacuum connector; power steering filter and fluid; power steering return hose; air cleaner bracket; rubber air cleaner mounts; o-rings on oil return tube from air cleaner to oil pan; front crankshaft seal (with new dowel pins and all new mounting bolts); water pump/fan belt. compressor belt. and power steering belts; engine coolant; coolant expansion tank vent hose and clamps; silicon turbo boost pressure hose; steering damper; o-rings on air cleaner breather; rubber breather hoses; rubber seal at turbo intake boot; fan clutch to water pump bolts; rubber parking brake foot pedal pad; genuine Bosch battery; transmission service with new filter. pan gasket. and Valvoline Dexron II Mercon fluid; air filter; fuel main filter; fuel pre-filter; four Michelin tires; radiator and hoses; fuel shut-off valve at the injection pump; power steering pump; hood insulation pad; engine valve adjustment with new valve cover gasket; brake fluid changed and system flushed using genuine “ATE Blue” brand German brake fluid; and much. much more . . . . When the odometer reached 248. 05 miles on December 18. 2014. a major 30. 00-mile scheduled factory-recommended maintenance service was performed. This comprehensive service work included the following: Transmission filter and fluid change with new pan gasket and new copper and aluminum crush washers installed on the pan drain plug and torque converter drain plug (all plugs and bolts were tightened back to factory specifications). and the system was re-filled again with fresh Valvoline Dexron II Mercon fluid; engine valves were adjusted with cold engine. to factory specifications. and a new valve cover gasket was installed; engine oil and filter change (re-filled again with Castrol GTX Diesel 15W-40 motor oil); new rubber o-rings installed on oil filter canister center stem; new fuel main filter; new fuel pre-filter; air cleaner mounts; and the breather tube to lower pan was re-sealed. The cooling system and brake system were also flushed and re-filled. Particulars About the 300SD Model. and the Dreaded Trap Oxidized Recall The OM617 engine family is a straight-5 Diesel automobile engine from Mercedes-Benz used in the 1970s and 1980s. A direct development from the straight-4 OM616. It was first fitted to the W115 series in 1974. The OM617 is considered to be one of the most reliable engines ever produced. often reaching over 1. 00. 00 Km without being rebuilt—a key reason for the popularity of Mercedes with the luxury-car market in North America in the 1980s. Although this particular car hasn’t been converted. the engine is also a popular contemporary choice for alternative fuels. mainly straight or waste vegetable oil and biodiesel—though it’s important to remember that the consumption of these fuel alternatives can cause engine damage over time if not processed properly before use. The OM617. 951 was introduced in 1979 and displaced 2998 cc. using a 90. 9 mm bore and 92. 4 mm stroke. An upgraded . 950. it was employed in the 1981 through 1985 300SD Turbo model. Power originally was 121 hp / 89 kW @ 4350 rpm. torque 230 nm @ 2400 rpm; from October 1982 onward. 125 hp / 92 kW @ 4350 rpm and torque 250 nm @ 2400 rpm. IMPORTANT NOTE: In 1985 the California version of the 300 Turbo models was built using a different exhaust system and trap oxidizer filter in order to meet tightened California emission standards. The result was expensive to maintain and repair. had less horsepower. and was later recalled. So for the new owner. it is significant to note that this 1983 California version of the vehicle has the standard exhaust system. without the dreaded trap oxidizer issue that occurred with later models. The car is extremely fuel-efficient for a vehicle of its weight and size. providing driver and passengers protection in the case of a collision comparable to even larger cars. The 300SD model (W126 chassis) is revered throughout the Mercedes-Benz community as the last of the best stately Diesel sedans. Unfortunately. the age of the great Mercedes Diesel that achieved such status is now past. because newer models are smaller. lighter. and lack the meticulous craftsmanship and quality of production materials used for this car. The 300SD W126 model has a much longer average lifespan than later Mercedes-Benz diesel models. Mercedes-Benz Diesel Engine History—The Legendary Long-Lived. Frugal Fuel Miser Vintage Mercedes-Benz Diesel engines have a deserved reputation as the longest-lasting automotive engines ever built. As noted. MB Diesels from an era when durability and honesty were valued are still reported to clock millions of miles for their owners and are going strong—virtually indestructible engines built to last. For those who are unfamiliar with these legendary engines. please note that they are also exceptionally fuel-efficient. a remarkable feature for a vehicle this heavy. safe. and strong. Equally important. the engines are relatively easy to work on because they are simple and straightforward compared with today's over-engineered. electronically controlled engines—designed to fail frequently and create repeat business for car dealerships. The routine maintenance required to keep these engines running strong is minimal. with no conventional tune-ups needed. Why? Because there are no spark plugs to replace; no ignition points. no distributor. no distributor cap. no rotor. no wires. no ignition timing to adjust. Oil changes are a breeze. with the filter canister easily accessible from the top of the engine. saving you from having to crawl underneath the car or pay a repair shop to maintain it in top form. It's best to adjust the valve clearance every 30. 00 miles with the engine cold and to replace the engine oil and filter every 3. 00 miles (the maintenance booklet specifies longer intervals)—though you can change the oil more frequently if you are a perfectionist like this beauty’s past and present owners. It's also important to replace the fuel main filter and pre-filter at each 30. 00-mile service. More good news: there are no grease fittings on the front suspension. drive shaft. or rear axle. so under-chassis lubrication is also unnecessary. Transmission fluid and filter are replaced every 30. 00 miles as well. and the gear oil in the rear axle should be checked periodically and replaced every three years or so. along with the brake fluid. The odometer on this car works perfectly and currently reads 251. 78 miles. This means that it has been driven an average of just 7. 61 miles per year of its pampered life. well below the national average of 12. 00 miles annually. We keep an attractive black leather notebook with matching pen in the glove compartment that contains a precise record of mileage. service dates. repairs. and periodic maintenance. The original 300SD owner’s manual. original owner’s official dealer-issued ID imprint plate. factory data card (build sheet). an assortment of factory booklets. other delivery documentation. service receipts and repair records. etc. . are contained in the original storage pouch in the glove compartment. The jack. lug wrench. factory tool kit. spare wheel and full-size spare tire—another unusual feature of this vintage vehicle—are also included in the trunk. The original factory-cut keys are included (we recommend keeping these in the house). as well as two new copies of the master key for everyday use. We even filled the fuel tank with Diesel fuel for the proud purchaser to drive away with a confident smile. A 1. 00-Watt. 4-Channel. Blaupunkt Helsinki Stereo Audio System Compatible with iPhone. iPod. iTunes. and Other Modern Digital Music Devices The current owner is a musician who plays a vintage pipe organ for Sunday services in Los Gatos and enjoys concert hall-quality music while driving to and from church. In 2014 a professionally designed audio system was installed to meet his exacting standards of sonic depth and presence. The system is built around the new Blaupunkt Helsinki 220BT receiver. a perfect fit in the car’s center console. replacing the car’s original Becker Grand Prix radio and cassette player. The new receiver features Bluetooth remote control. with Bluetooth connection to compatible cell phones and a front USB socket for playing your favorite MP3 music files. plus a mini-plug socket for your iPhone so you can take advantage of your iTunes library. as well as conventional CDs. with concert hall-quality playback. The unit also has many more futuristic features that you can learn more about in the Blaupunkt documentation that is included in this sale. The ultra-powerful audio system incorporates a 1. 00-watt. 4-channel power amplifier that is cleverly and completely hidden behind a custom-made panel in the right side of the trunk compartment. The panel is upholstered to match the car’s navy blue interior color scheme. The amplifier takes up very little trunk space; while easily accessible. the hardware and wires are out of view when the trunk is opened. except for a handy control knob mounted to the panel that facilitates boosting your bass signal when you want to really “feel” your music. Left and right side genuine "Undercover II" brand bass/midrange/treble cabinets are placed on the rear floor. tucked against the drive shaft tunnel. leaving ample room for rear passengers’ feet. Ultra-thin high-range tweeters have been mounted flat and unobtrusively on the right and lefts sides of the rear deck. directly over the factory-original rear speakers. similar in appearance to the car’s originals and so compact that they are barely noticeable. No holes were cut or drilled in the rear deck to install them. and they are held in place with removable double-sided tape. making it easy to remove the system if desired. All music device output signals are channeled through the 1. 00-watt. four-channel amplifier and four speakers. while utilizing the beautiful Blaupunkt head unit for volume. bass. and treble control. Although extremely sophisticated. the system is easy to use. with the amplifier switched on and off automatically when the receiver/head unit is operated. So enjoy your own personal music library via virtually any modern playback device. with concert-hall fidelity rarely found in any car. Or switch on the AM/FM radio and watch the vehicle’s factory-original power antenna go up as you tune in to your favorite station. Appropriately for Silicon Valley. the new sound system is a work of careful planning and ingenuity. combining sleek. futuristic appearance with symphonic clarity at a decibel level one would expect in only the most expensive luxury cars or the most expertly installed audio upgrades. The factory-original Becker Grand Prix radio was retained and is included with the sale. Body. Paint. and Interior This concert-hall on wheels has been a dependable daily-driver car for the past two years. earning compliments from envious onlookers and VIP passengers (the owner is also an author). The PPG basecoat/clear coat paint job is just over two years old and still looks great. As you’d expect. there are a couple of very minor flaws in the paint resulting from daily use. but no noticeable dents or dings on the body panels. In short. while the paint. body. chrome. and exterior aren’t totally perfect. they do look amazing for a 32 year-old automobile. Inside. we re-dyed the blue leather seats and replaced the rear seat bottom-cushion and rear headrest covers with factory-original pattern covers manufactured by German Auto Tops. Inc. (Los Angeles) because the leather was beginning to show its age. As you can see in the photographs. we also had several cracks in the leather seats repaired. While presentable. they’re not perfect. so we’re including in the sale a brand new set of arm rest and front seat custom-made synthetic navy blue covers (still in the box and not pictured). The dashboard looks flawless because we installed a premium “DashTop” brand blue dash cover over the factory-original dashboard. The top of the door panels and wood veneer are also starting to show small flaws. but overall. the interior of this car. like the exterior. looks amazing for its age. The plush velour carpets are in great condition and have been freshly shampooed. Also included are a full set of removable protective factory-issued carpeted floor mats that shield the carpeting underneath. We removed them for the photographs so you could see the superb condition of the original factory velour carpeting. The rear removable mats have the letters “300SD” woven in white against a blue background—attractive and appropriate to the vehicle. The interior and exterior have been carefully detailed. Terms of Sale We are selling this California beauty because we have three other Mercedes-Benz vehicles at our historic home in Santa Clara and it’s time to downsize. The California title is valid and clear. and State Farm auto insurance for the replacement value is in place. We recommend that you purchase your own insurance prior to shipping or taking delivery of the car. We reserve the right to end the auction early if the automobile sells locally. However. international buyers are welcome and encouraged. and we will deliver the vehicle to the Port of San Francisco—a distance of 40 miles—if desired. For a buyer traveling to the area to take personal delivery. we will meet you with the vehicle at San Francisco International Airport or San Jose International Airport. A $1. 00 deposit is required via PayPal or via certified check within 48 hours of auction close. with the balance to be paid in cash. certified check. or wire transfer within seven days following the close of auction. All funds must be paid in full in $USD. and certified checks or wire transfers must be verified. cleared. and funded by the issuing bank prior to release of the signed title and the vehicle. The cost of shipping. if applicable. is the responsibility of the buyer. If you are shipping the vehicle rather than taking personal delivery. we will Express Mail the signed title to you after all funds have cleared. and we will assist you with arrangements for domestic or international shipping. The vehicle is being sold as-is. where-is. and without warranty. The buyer assumes all safety and financial risk in its purchase and use. This sale is final. Thank You for Looking Bid with confidence. We have included with the photographs a screenshot of the current NADA market value; the reserve price is set well below the “High Retail” NADA suggested price. So take advantage of this extraordinary value: a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire one of the most reliable and desirable cars ever built—a classic California Beauty with a high-tech Silicon Valley sound system that has spent its entire life in the Golden State. as evidenced by its historic. original-issued California blue license plates. Given the legendary reliability of the OM617 five-cylinder Mercedes-Benz Diesel engine. this could be the last car you will ever need to buy. And if you’re a California resident. remember: there is no state smog test required for Diesel automobiles. Wherever you may live. however. we invite your email questions and comments and will respond promptly. Good luck and happy bidding!