I was looking at these cars and thinking that I might actually consider getting one of these if I can find one I like. I found an '83 300DT thats in OUTSTANDING condition and only $3k. I know these cars are built like tanks and seem to last for an eternity.

I am asking for opinions on them from anyone here who has owned them or knows anything significant about them. Thanks.

I know two people that have made them into greasel cars. They like them a lot. They are weird, because in the inside, they are way ahead of their time.

Yeah, thats actually what I was hoping to maybe do is convert it to use cooking grease and all that if i can.

Would you guys still accept me if I owned a Benz?

Apparently you didn't learn from my BMW ordeal.

i was going to post that

get yourself a Diesel Jetta least if something breaks its not going to cause you to take out a second mortgage...

I think you need to take a look at sources. General maintenance items are VERY expensive for VW'*. 80'* benzs are about bang on with a bonneville (I'm comparing rotors, pads, fuel filters, air filters, oil filters, alternators, etc).

EDIT because of crummy spelling...

yeah, an 80s benz is not an 80s bimmer. WAYYYYYYYYY different. Nothing is super expensive and you can get most everything at local parts stores.

My dad has owned 12 mercedes diesels since he bought one new in the late 70s. He currently ows an 81 300d and an 85 turbo 300d. Both have serious problems, the 81 needs a new trans badly, the 85 has issues with the valves, It needs most of the internals in the motor replaced due to issues with the improperly adjusted valves causing damage.


the 81 has 200,000 miles, the 85 has 300,000

currently my dad has invested a total of $6000 into the 81 including the cost of the car and it is worth maybe $2000...85 has had about $4000 invested, its worth around $2000 as well.

Both need to be repainted and have rust spots or fading on the paint.

the vaccum system is the BIGGEST problems with both cars as well, both have vaccum leaks.

The vaccum controls the door locks, shifting of the transmission, etc, so since the door lock does not work, the transmission starting failing and burnt up clutches because it could not shift correctly over time. This is all because one of the hundreds of plastic vaccum lines is broken or loose, but he cannot find the leak. Neither can 4 different shops so far.

both are money pits, my dad only buys them because they are "easy to work on" however both have problems which he cannot fix by himself in his garage.


Avoid them unless you get one for $500 or something.

With all due respect Hans, those cars 25 and 21 years old. I don't care what kind of car it is, the vaccum hoses will all be cracked and if those are original transmissions going bad, they are doing quite well as well. But your point still stands, because of the AGE, they are some what expensive to keep.