Used Car of the Day: 1983 Mercedes-Benz 300D

by Tim Healey

Published: September 11th, 2023

used car of the day 1983 mercedes benz 300d

Today's UCOTD ad copy is sparse, so we don't know much about this car, but we do know that diesel Mercedes from the '80s are cool.

Here's what we do know, or at least what the seller claims -- the car has 151,000 miles, is a rust-free California car, and that it runs and drives.

Beyond that, you'll have to contact the seller. Only if we don't first.

Click here to check it out -- or at least to check out the pics.

[Images: Seller]

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Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

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6 of 38 comments

2ACL on Sep 12, 2023

Cheap Benzes are never cheap. But unlike some of the past UCOTD Mercedes, this is an investment-grade model because it stands for things that still resonate with people. Yes, it has a wheezy engine, but even the big gas six isn't that quick by modern standards. And this iteration of the E wasn't trying to masquerade as a sports car anyway.

1 Reply
- See 3 previous
- 28-Cars-Later on Sep 13, 2023
  
  Not an expert on diesels but I wonder could one add a turbo to this and make it more livable?
  
  1
- 2ACL on Sep 13, 2023
  
  The OM617 (3.0 I5 diesel) was available with factory turbocharging, and I believe that engine is in this car because the naturally aspirated version was discontinued in North America after 1980/81. But with ~120 horsepower at the crank, it still doesn't have much top end. When new, these did 0-60 mph ~14 seconds.
  Did a cursory run through the internet to see if the engine can take more power. It can, but the gains are modest. ~150 horsepower is doable with tuning on stock components. ~200 is achievable if you upgrade the turbo and fuel system. Past that, you start running into drivetrain limitations. At ~300, your rods are on borrowed time.
  
  2
- 28-Cars-Later on Sep 15, 2023
  
  @ 2ACL
  
  Thank you for the detailed information. I'm not sure what the price tag is on 200bhp, but to me that would be the sweet spot failing that at least 150bhp would be serviceable. The final gas Volvo 240 I think was a bhp of 130bhp in factory turbo and was 114bhp N/A, and while slow once you get the AW70 into 3rd gear its a surprisingly competent driver - just don't think you can stoplight race it.
  
  1
- Glennbk on Sep 16, 2023
  
  This is the kind of car you have to love for its basic mission. Get you from point A to B, decent fuel economy and designed to be driven like a taxi. Fix the woodwork, the radio and any reasonable maintenance then enjoy the car to 1,000,000 miles.
  
  1
Pianoboy57 on Sep 12, 2023

I've always thought the MB diesel wagon was the best car ever. If i were going to choose a hobby car, this would be it

1 Reply
- Jeff on Sep 12, 2023
  
  Bill on Curious Cars did a review of a diesel Mercedes about this vintage a few years ago. The car had 341k miles and it was an original owner car and despite its miles and age it was still in very good shape.
  The Best Car Ever Built? Why We're Restoring This Classic Mercedes-Benz 300TD Wagon With 341K Miles
  
  1

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