Major rust problem.
Rear bumper fell off (on one side.)
Heating/air-conditioning control unit had to be replaced. -- a thousand bucks!!
Burned a fair amount of oil.
Muffler system had to be replaced. -- a thousand bucks!!
Rubber fuel line sprung a leak.
Had rust coming out all over on the body shortly after I bought it -- thankfully, it has a body built like a tank...
Overall ran not too bad, but was terrible at starting in the winter. In spite of using the glow plugs, I still had to fire up the hibachi under the engine on numerous occasions.
Took a while to get used to the slow acceleration...
All parts were very expensive. IE: The price one has to pay for sitting on luxurious chairs in the fancy dealership's waiting room...
The rear bumper, made out of cast aluminum, was terrible. Any salt on the highway eats this aluminum, thus one side of the bumper fell off. bolted it back on by riveting a power saw bar to the inside of the bumper.
A lovely vehicle to drive, and very comfortable.
Try to get the European bumpers. They are made of chromed steel and looks much nicer. I don't know if they are easy to find in the USA though...
But aren't American 300D Mercedes bumpers like 10 times the size as European bumpers and much safer.
Yes, European Mercedes don't really have bumpers.
I own a 76 300d, and you got absolutely raped on the repair prices. A muf shouldn't cost more than $300, and pipes can be fabricated for less than a hundred bucks...
Don't know about the heat/ac stuff, but you shoulda gotten one from a junkyard...
Also don't go to a dealership to get parts, go to http://www.autohausaz.com/search/cart.aspx or the fastlane products on http://www.mercedesshop.com/shopforum/index.php3
The above link is an EXCELLENT resource for older mercedes.
Good luck, and don't be afraid to get your hands dirty, theyre so simple... They lose their "holyness" by the time you've taken the valve cover off, and your sitting on the fendercover trying to get the darn injector pump out (please for the love of all that's wholy, do NOT let your sister fill it with RUG)
~Nate.
I just went to "Parts Plus" in Mineola TX and priced a compressor for the A/C (1976 300D) and it was 167.00.
What is fair price to pay for a 1976 300d in excellent physical condition, but the motor was taken out and sitting in the trunk? The motor did work, but not well.
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