1978 Mercedes 300D

Buttercup is a 1978 Mercedes-Benz 300D NA in Maple Yellow with Bamboo interior. This car has been very well loved and very well maintained. It will come with every service document related to the car from the day it came off the lot in 1978, including the original sales contract. This car is a joy to drive and is very reliable -- we have driven it on several 1,000+ mile trips around California with absolutely no issues. 26 mpg!

Exterior:
Original Maple Yellow paint is in very good condition with few blemishes. There are a normal amount of dings here and there, but no major paint issues. The car was rear-ended some time ago and there is a small dent in the trunk lid and a wrinkle to the left of the license plate. The original owner never bothered to have it fixed since it happened 15 years ago.

Interior:

The interior is immaculate. All original wood trim is uncracked and undamaged. All seats are original MB-Tex with exception of half of the driver’s seat which was partially recovered. All seats and armrests are untorn and uncracked. All instrument cluster lights have been replaced, and all instruments work except for the clock. The dash has some cracks, but a dash mat is included. The headliner is sagging a little and needs new retaining clips but is otherwise in good shape and has no stains. The door panels are clean with minimal wrinkles. The seat upholstery is pulling away at the top of the knee-kick on the backside, but it just needs to be re-tucked. It never bothered us enough to do it. All power windows work. An original Mercedes-Benz hazard triangle hangs in the trunk.

Mechanical:

Within the past 2,500 miles it has had a lot of servicing: The front tie rods, idler arm, drag link, and steering damper have been replaced. The engine vacuum pump has been replaced. The brake booster has been replaced and the brake system has been flushed. The transmission has been serviced including a filter and fluid change. The oil and oil filter has been changed. Both fuel filters have been changed. Within 1,000 miles the valves were adjusted, a diesel purge has been done, and both rear end links were replaced. Within 100 miles, all 5 glow plugs have been replaced.

The vacuum system has no apparent leaks. Central locking works well, and the engine shuts off immediately when you turn the key off. The climate control system works reliably. The defroster is very good in the cold mornings and the air conditioning works and blows cold enough to maintain comfortable cabin temperature, but could use a recharge in the near future.

Documentation:

Every known record related to this vehicle will be included from the original purchase contract from Mercedes Benz in 1978, to dealership service records, to handwritten notes by the original owner about the neighbor lending a jump-start -- it’s all there.

Odds and ends:

The odometer reading is only an estimate. It had been stuck for some time before we got ahold of it, fixed it, and wound it forward based on the previous owner’s driving habits and documentation provided. It currently sits in the neighborhood of 402,000 miles.

Recent Service:

* Front tie rods replaced

* Idler arm replaced

* Drag link replaced

* Steering damper replaced

* Rear end links replaced

* Engine vacuum pump replaced

* Brake booster replacedca

* Brake system flushed

* Transmission fluid and filter replaced

* Oil filter and fluid replaced

* Fuel filters replaced

* New Injectors

* New Fuel Pump
* New Fuel Primer Pump

* Diesel purge

* Valve adjustment

* New glow plugs