1985 300d..driveable?

1215 Views 13 Replies 8 Participants Last post by GogglesPisano764, Mar 31, 2009

groovdrum

Discussion Starter · Mar 28, 2009

i think i finally found a nice 300d.
it runs great, looks good, e.t.c.
i checked it out last weekend and the issues are;

1- torn CV axle boots. left outer torn in half. right ones still whole, but cracked.
2-brakes. low, but not squealing yet
3-needs transmission pan gasket and service. slight leakage.
4-transmission FLARE between 2 and 3. does not flare when shifted manually. other shifts are smooth.
5-oil pan gasket leak. moderate.

my main question is this;
is this car safe to drive in this condition from NYC to VT (350 miles).
the axles were NOT especially noisy. the mechanic down there says i'd be risking real damage to the car driving it in this condition, and wants to charge me $1100 for the work, making the car not such a good deal. i could do the work MUCH cheaper up here. e.t.c.
it is a beautiful car. no rust, clean interior, nice paint, mileage around 220k
what would be a fair price, and is it driveable?
any advice?
thanks.
-gabe

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akimball442

· #2 · Mar 28, 2009

The correct answer is that the car needs to be repaired before you drive it.

The real world answer is that there are a lot of people out there with worse daily drivers...

I drove my 73 450SL from NC to upstate NY after it sat since 1995. Car was basically neglected since about 1990. I changed the oil and replaced the tires and took off. 800 miles. No problems. 75-80MPH.

Car is very reliable.

My 81 300D was meticulously maintained, had current stickers. That had to make it from NYC to upstate NY. 260 miles. Car blew hose and overheated. Repaired hose, and continued trip.

Car is not reliable at all. Multiple problems of every variety.

Used cars are a gamble. It'll probably make the trip just fine. Carry tools, extra fluids and spare parts such as belts and hoses if you can. Stop often and check the fluids.

The one thing you didn't mention was the condition of the tires. That's the most important thing.. don't want a high speed blowout.

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musides

· #3 · Mar 28, 2009

If the mechanic is telling you not to drive it, that tells me that it is either leaking like a sieve (ATF or oil) OR that it has some serious transmission problems. Not sure what your #4 means, but the other issues you've listed are relatively minor. Why exactly did the mechanic say you shouldn't drive it?

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akimball442

· #4 · Mar 28, 2009

NYC labor rates to do nothing are outrageous. The service records that came with my 300D exceed the value of the car 3 times over if the car was mechanically sound. I'm not sure what the P.O. paid to have done down there, but it cost a lot and the car isn't right. I got it at a good enough price that after it is fixed, I'll still be a little bit ahead.

All of the problems that are mentioned in the original post are common DIY repairs on these cars.

If it were me personally, I'd offer $1000 for the car and baby it home, as long as it does not overheat and the tires are good.

These cars can handle TONS of abuse and neglect. As long as it's not full of rust, it can be fixed.

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jkubica

· #5 · Mar 28, 2009

groovdrum said:
i think i finally found a nice 300d.
it runs great, looks good, e.t.c.
i checked it out last weekend and the issues are;

1- torn CV axle boots. left outer torn in half. right ones still whole, but cracked.
2-brakes. low, but not squealing yet
3-needs transmission pan gasket and service. slight leakage.
4-transmission FLARE between 2 and 3. does not flare when shifted manually. other shifts are smooth.
5-oil pan gasket leak. moderate.

my main question is this;
is this car safe to drive in this condition from NYC to VT (350 miles).
the axles were NOT especially noisy. the mechanic down there says i'd be risking real damage to the car driving it in this condition, and wants to charge me $1100 for the work, making the car not such a good deal. i could do the work MUCH cheaper up here. e.t.c.
it is a beautiful car. no rust, clean interior, nice paint, mileage around 220k
what would be a fair price, and is it driveable?
any advice?
thanks.
-gabe

Hi

As Aaron said, if you decide to make the drive, carry extra fluids (including water) and tools. Make the trip at moderate speed and stop often to check things.

With the torn CV boot, I think I would pack it with grease just for insurance - even if isn't being noisy.

When you get home, you will need to replace the CV half axles and not try to reboot them.

Good Luck

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akimball442

· #6 · Mar 28, 2009

jkubica said:
Hi
...With the torn CV boot, I think I would pack it with grease just for insurance - even if isn't being noisy....

That's probably a very good idea.

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Tedd300DT

· #7 · Mar 28, 2009

about 1:
torn boot on the axle is nothing. People drive like that for thousands of miles. Especially on front wheel drive cars they tear more often. People would drive until it starts clicking (just wears out faster because there is no lubrication).

I would just grease it good and drive it home and get it fixed. I bet it has been driven like that for a while anyway. Plus if they have never been replaced which is the case then they will be cracked but not leaking.

2-brakes. low, but not squealing yet
if you are worried that they are very low you can get new pads and your tools and replace them on the spot before the trip. It takes like 30 minutes.

3-needs transmission pan gasket and service. slight leakage.
carry transmission fluid and stop from time to time to check the level of the oil.

4-transmission FLARE between 2 and 3. does not flare when shifted manually. other shifts are smooth.
probably a vacuum issue. I think it flares when there is too much vacuum going to the transmission. You can adjust that later it won't hurt the car.

5-oil pan gasket leak. moderate.
carry engine oil and stop from time to time to check the level.

car will make it I am almost sure

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groovdrum

Discussion Starter · #8 · Mar 29, 2009

thanks!!

all this info is priceless. sounds like the car can make it.
given these issues, what do you all think i should pay for the car?
the body/interior is IMMACULATE, really. AC doesn't work, but everything else does. 220k(give or take/odometer replacement).
owner originally wanted $4000, but i've got them down to $2500..
still too much?
-gabe

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jkubica

· #9 · Mar 29, 2009

groovdrum said:
all this info is priceless. sounds like the car can make it.
given these issues, what do you all think i should pay for the car?
the body/interior is IMMACULATE, really. AC doesn't work, but everything else does. 220k(give or take/odometer replacement).
owner originally wanted $4000, but i've got them down to $2500..
still too much?
-gabe

Hi

As described, $2500 sounds like a fair price to me. Budget for another $2500 in the next year or two getting things ship shape. That is with you doing a lot of the labor.

Before you close the deal, take a look in the air filter to make sure its not oil soaked' Also chack the blowby by removing the oil filler cap while the engine is idleing. Its OK for the cap to dance a little while sitting in the hole loose - but if it blows off the engine is badly worn.

Good Luck,

Joseph

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Tedd300DT

· #10 · Mar 30, 2009 (Edited)

I'd say about 1000-1500 is fair. More than that is too much. It is partly running car not completely running. What the odometer says means nothing. It could be double that. Make sure the engine is in good condition.

For example check this car out. Might be a gasser and not a diesel but looks great:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Merc...887QQitemZ130295139887QQptZUSQ5fCarsQ5fTrucks

he has 2250 buy it now so yeah... 2500 is too much.

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winmutt

· #11 · Mar 30, 2009

I would not drive 350 miles on torn boots without a 120 mile AAA service to back it up.

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akimball442

· #12 · Mar 30, 2009

Oh, it'll be fine. Grease it up and go. People drive these for years that way. Ignorant people, but nevertheless, it happens probably more often than not.

AAA is as good idea anyway for anyone who travels long distances. If in the unlikely event it breaks down, I doubt it's going to be the axles that cause it.

I do agree that the price is outrageous. It better be cosmetically perfect to get $1500, IMO. Until you fix everything, it's just a very old used car. If the rest of the car is neglected, I'm sure there's some scratches and dents somewhere.

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Jake.

· #13 · Mar 31, 2009

Hell NO! Not with brakes prolly bad, and the torn CV axle boots. Those are some major problems that need to be fixed before driven 350 miles. Also, the brakes are VERY important too.

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GogglesPisano764

· #14 · Mar 31, 2009

I like brakes!! I find them quite useful!

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