[Screwdriver]

Hi There!

Thought I'd say hello and share a bit about my pride n joy! (Pictures attached)

CAR:

RHD UK Registered 1984 300D Automatic Sedan with MB Tex Tan Interior, Golden Beige Exterior, Self Leveling suspension, Electric Fan, Oil Sump guard, Sunroof and Air Conditioning. Remarkably, the car has no rust anywhere despite having spent all its life here in the UK

Since purchase, I've ordered the following OEM Genuine parts:

1) Door Scraper Seals
2) Hood Insulation
3) Sunroof Scraper Seals
4) Replacement Leather Steering Wheel (off a W126)

Other treatments include

a) Waxoyl the rust prone areas in the hopes that she will stay the way she is.
b) Auto Rx treatment mixed with the engine oil to clean the motor's internals.
c) Stanadyne diesel fuel additive to clean the fuel system.

HISTORY:

When I asked the previous owner about the history of the car, I was told that it was originally special ordered in 1984 for the President of India, Mira Gandhi before she died.

I didn't understand who he was referring to as India never had a President named Mira Gandhi . . .and then it clicked. The car was ordered for the Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi who was assassinated in 1984, just after the car was built. The administration cancelled the order and it never left Europe for India, going instead to the 1st owner, who cared for it for next 20 years.

When you look at the date of registration and the unique factory options that would better equip the car for India, the story matches up. I even wrote a letter to the car's 2nd owner, the 1st owners mechanic, who corroborated the exact same story.

QUESTIONS:

1) Outside of the usual oil/ filter change, are there any other parts I need to change on the car given its age, condition and relatively unknown service history? Any treatments recommended? Sunroof service perhaps?

2) Would Mercedes Benz be able to furnish any proof to also corroborate the car's history? e.g. a purchase order from India ?

 

[Nutz 4 Benz]

Nice indeed!

 

[Screwdriver]

Follow up

Thought I'd follow up with the following updates and pictures. (Any advice is more than welcome)

I decided to take the car to AutoMerc in North London. They are very expensive but have a decent reputation. As such, I'm addressing the following with them given their expertise with vintage Benz cars:

1) Replace Front suspension arm ball joints and realign wheels
2) Replace a corroded copper brake pipe + bleed and renew brake fluid
3) Rear window not working (repair or replace motor)
4) Repair Speedometer Wobble - first by lubricating the wire or replacing it
5) Replace left and right rear anti-roll bar link rods
6) Replace rear exhaust silencer with mountings with OEM supplier
7) Inspect loose air filter housing + replace air filter
8) Replace Power steering fluid + filter


I've been quote over 1300 quid for all 8 items. Once these are done, the car will need the following:

1) Waxoyl treatment
2) New tires (I've been quote 300 quid for a set of Michelin's installed and balanced by AA)
3) Installation of the Hood Insulation
4) Repair of the A/C compressor ( clutch currently seized - Automerc wants to me to convert to R134a but Im looking for an R24 specialist )


Any suggestions/ garage recommendations are welcome

 

[Noah Way]

Nice. Too bad the steering wheel is on the wrong side.

 

[Earl.Allen]

1) Replace Front suspension arm ball joints and realign wheels
2) Replace a corroded copper brake pipe + bleed and renew brake fluid
3) Rear window not working (repair or replace motor)
4) Repair Speedometer Wobble - first by lubricating the wire or replacing it
5) Replace left and right rear anti-roll bar link rods
6) Replace rear exhaust silencer with mountings with OEM supplier
7) Inspect loose air filter housing + replace air filter
8) Replace Power steering fluid + filter

I've been quote over 1300 quid for all 8 items.

Nice car! Isn't that approximately $1,900 US dollars? Mechanics sure are expensive in your part of the world. I guess with the front suspension and the brake systems, it's better to be safe than sorry.

 

[Screwdriver]

:crying

Very expensive indeed. I didn't want to take any chances with the suspension ball joints (given that a press is involved) and with the brake line.

There are so many more things to do with the car but independent garages only prioritize larger jobs so I'll have to find another way in the UK.

 

[Screwdriver]

Updates

1) Replaced Front suspension arm ball joints and realigned wheels
2) Replaced a corroded copper brake pipe + bled and renewed brake fluid
3) Replaced left and right rear anti-roll bar link rods
4) Replaced air filter housing mounts + air filter
5) Replaced Power steering fluid + filter
6) Replaced all 4 Tyres with Michelin Energy Saver +

The car runs even smother now with a crisper steering response, better ride and more confident braking.

Pending items include fixing the speedometer wobble, sourcing an original Mercedes rear exhaust, replacing the AC clutch and recharge with a R12 gas equivalent and gluing the OEM insulation onto the hood.

 

[Screwdriver]

!!

I just ordered a new rear exhaust from Mercedes. £80 shipped from Germany! I can't believe how reasonable it was and that they still supply it!!

 

[Euro W123]

I can run the vin in the EPC and tell you where the car was ordered from. If it was ordered from India or has a diplomatic sales order code that could provide good evidence for the story.

 

[Screwdriver]

Awesome!

PM Sent!

 

[Euro W123]

Attached is the data card

Sales designation: 300D
Order number: 0 4 825 00269
the 4 means it was Ordered in 1984
825 means the car was ordered in India
It was the 269th car ordered in India in 1984

Paint code 473 - Champagne Metallic
Interior code 154 - Dattel (Date in German) MB Tex and listed as Light Brown in english in the global non US/Canadian market brochures. Sometimes called Palomino in the US market.

Engine number - 617912 22 158652
Transmission number - 722405 02 080433

365 - Removal costs for code 668 which is 10 liters of fuel and mode of packing VE II (relates to shipping car for export over ocean)
366 - Unknown code
410 - Electric Sliding roof (sunroof)
420 - Automatic transmission floor shift
467 - Central locking system and instruments with English lettering (MPH speedo)
486 - Self-Leveling suspension and undershields (skid plates)
505 - Outside rear view mirror, Left, Electrically adjustable (R.H.D.)
512 - Radio Becker Europa Cassette Vollstereo LMKU Typ 664
531 - Automatic Antenna
542 - Lockable glove compartment
570 - Folding armrest front
586 - Behr air conditioner, and electric window lifters (front and rear doors)
592 - Green heat insulating glass all round, Rear window laminated safety glass and heated. Windshield tinted strip
613 - Asymmetrical head lamps for Left Hand Traffic
674 - High capacity battery, tropical version
812 - Rear speakers
835 - Coir mats (Coco floor mats)

Lamps: Bosch

This is all the info that was available to me in the EPC. There are a few more things you can find out by asking the Mercedes classic center for the complete data card for your car like the exact delivery date, what brand tires it came with, and what that unknown code is. Its interesting that it was ordered in India but says to remove the costs to prep the car for ocean shipment. Sounds like when it was ordered or after it was ordered they didn't want Mercedes to ship the car to India.

 

[Screwdriver]

Woohoo!

Like the previous owners said, the shipment to India was cancelled because Prime Minister Gandhi was assassinated. Its lived in the UK ever since!

Unbelievable. Can't thank you enough Daniel!

 

[Screwdriver]

Update

As an update, I went ahead and purchased the following relatively inexpensive items from Mercedessource.com

I like Kent - he has a real eye for detail and preventative maintenance, which is my no.1 criterion for evaluating a technician.

1) Plastic Radiator Neck Reinforcement Kit
2) W123 Stainless Steel Battery Hold Down Clamp Replacements
3) Acrylic - Werks Polish for paint and chrome
4) Miracle Paint Rust Proofing for the new OEM Battery Tray I managed to procure

 

[cooljjay]

Mercedessource.com is a rip off....I wish I would stop hearing these "great" things about him...though of course I am really indeep with these cars and not just following next years "fads"....

I personally doubt the repairs were that expensive over there....its just that the US dollars isn't worth the paper its made from..

Nice car but I would like to see more euro features then just SLS, Skid Plates and opposite steering wheel.

If you could find hard evidence it was ordered for that person it may have value there or india...but to me I see no added value in a kinda generic model.

 

[Screwdriver]

Stateside, air-conditioning is common but it is a rarity in the UK where the cool climate make anything other than a heater redundant. That this car has one as makes it ultra rare given that most AC cars were LHD. Add in the plates and the SLS and you've got a real gem. That's without Prime Minister Gandhi factored in.

Mercedessource may be expensive but Kent sells hard to find products and preventative kits - for someone who wants OEM or better in the UK, hard to find a comparable source.

 

[cooljjay]

Mercedessource may be a rip off but Kent sells hard to find products and for someone who wants OEM or better in the UK, hard to find a comparable source.

Lies in the Uk you should have many many better mercedes places to order...here are a few that I have used and are 100% better then Msource...he sells junk uro parts and usually times three the original value...he does make some what ok tools but a lot are cheap harbor freight quality.

Pelican Parts.com - Parts, Accessories and Technical Information for all Mercedes-Benz Automobiles.
forum plus parts VERY helpful via phone

Mercedes-Benz Parts - Shop Genuine Mercedes Parts Online at Mercedes-Benz of South Atlanta
Atlanta dealer with great diagrams those found on the EPC

Other good sources

https://www.fcpeuro.com/

Auto Parts at AutohausAZ - OEM Auto Parts - Discount Replacement Parts, Resources and Car Care Tips
Local to me

Mercedes Parts - Mercedes Benz Parts - Mercedes Parts And Accessories
Offers free catalog with diagrams!

 

[Screwdriver]

A quick update on the car.

1) The new MB exhaust is in (pic attached). The car is much quieter now as a result and for so cheap (never buy that aftermarket crap)

2) Noise reduction probably had something to do with the OEM hood pad/ insulation I had installed as well.

3) Replaced the transmission/ torque converter fluid/ filter. No more jerky gear changes. Made a HUGE difference to shift quality.

4) New window and sunroof side scraper seals are in

5) New Michelin Energy 195/70 R 14 tires are incredible and have contributed to a 0.5 kmpl overall increase in fuel efficiency in London urban driving.

Next up, I'll replace the old mounts with new OEM engine and transmission mounts (Expensive as hell but hopefully a once in a decade installation) and replacing the front and rear sunroof seals and the track felts while greasing the track and miracle painting the rusty sunroof frame. Also going to miracle paint the new OEM battery tray before putting that in as well. Probably change the differential oil as well.

Aside from reinforcing the OEM Behr radiator's plastic neck (using Mercedes source's kit), replacing the coolant and changing the oil and fuel filters after a diesel purge, there remains nothing else to be done to the car.

That's the beauty of Mercedes diesels. Careful, diligent restoration with OEM parts upfront typically equates to a relatively stress free, pleasurable ownership experience once the work is done.

 

[Whatdidyousaytome?]

Hi There!

Thought I'd say hello and share a bit about my pride n joy! (Pictures attached)

CAR:

RHD UK Registered 1984 300D Automatic Sedan with MB Tex Tan Interior, Golden Beige Exterior, Self Leveling suspension, Electric Fan, Oil Sump guard, Sunroof and Air Conditioning. Remarkably, the car has no rust anywhere despite having spent all its life here in the UK

Since purchase, I've ordered the following OEM Genuine parts:

1) Door Scraper Seals
2) Hood Insulation
3) Sunroof Scraper Seals
4) Replacement Leather Steering Wheel (off a W126)

Other treatments include

a) Waxoyl the rust prone areas in the hopes that she will stay the way she is.
b) Auto Rx treatment mixed with the engine oil to clean the motor's internals.
c) Stanadyne diesel fuel additive to clean the fuel system.

HISTORY:

When I asked the previous owner about the history of the car, I was told that it was originally special ordered in 1984 for the President of India, Mira Gandhi before she died.

I didn't understand who he was referring to as India never had a President named Mira Gandhi . . .and then it clicked. The car was ordered for the Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi who was assassinated in 1984, just after the car was built. The administration cancelled the order and it never left Europe for India, going instead to the 1st owner, who cared for it for next 20 years.

When you look at the date of registration and the unique factory options that would better equip the car for India, the story matches up. I even wrote a letter to the car's 2nd owner, the 1st owners mechanic, who corroborated the exact same story.

QUESTIONS:

1) Outside of the usual oil/ filter change, are there any other parts I need to change on the car given its age, condition and relatively unknown service history? Any treatments recommended? Sunroof service perhaps?

2) Would Mercedes Benz be able to furnish any proof to also corroborate the car's history? e.g. a purchase order from India ?

Really nice car!
Btw, it was Indira Gandhi (not Mira) who was the President of India until her assassination in 1984.

 

[Screwdriver]

Thanks for that bit of trivia Whatdidyousaytome!

A couple more updates:

- All 3 mounts (2 engine and 1 transmission) were replaced with new OEM factory mounts freshly ordered from Mercedes Germany. The old mounts were also OEM and looked like they had been on the car for at least a decade. The car feels a lot tighter, firm and even more solid.

- The battery was replaced with an OEM Mercedes Battery. I was tempted to go aftermarket but the cost difference was marginal and there's something really nice about seeing the Mercedes logo in the corner of the engine bay.

- Finally swapped the steering wheel out. I'll post a picture shortly.

 

[Screwdriver]

Today, I took the W123 to an R24 gas AC Specialist - Intocool. Best decision I could have made!

Despite being unused for a decade, all it took was greasing up the stuck AC clutch, filling the car with R24 gas and lo and behold, the A/C worked like new again. Temperature at the grill went down to 5 degrees.

Pressure test confirmed that there were no leaks anywhere. Needless to say, I remain in awe. After 10 years of not being used, I expected to have to rebuild/ replace a lot . Didn't expect to walk away with an bill for just gas and an hours labour.

I ran the A/C on full blast during the 90 minute drive back to London to pressurize the system. Even with my coat on, I was shivering....but felt warm n fuzzy on the inside.

Pics of the grill temperature on its way down + replacement OEM factory leather wrapped steering wheel are attached