SOLD! $18,500 ~ New home, Manhattan, New York
1982 MERCEDES-BENZ 300D Turbo Diesel
Model W123 Sedan
54,000 Original Miles Since New!
Anthracite Gray Metallic with Black MB-Tex
No Rust, Garage Kept, One Family Owned Since New
CA and AZ Car with Complete Maintenance Records…
FOR AN ADDITIONAL 68 HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTOS Click Here!
Description: Anthracite Gray Metallic exterior (MB paint code 172) with Black MB-Tex vinyl upholstery, 5-Cylinder, 3.0 liter, pre-chamber fuel-injection, 125 horsepower, turbo charged diesel, single overhead cam, 4-speed automatic transmission, power assisted 11″ diameter 4-wheel disc brakes, 4-wheel fully independent suspension, power sunroof, A/C and heat automatic climate control, 6-point central locking system (including doors, trunk, and fuel door), power steering, cruise control, original Becker Europa AM/FM cassette stereo with 4 wide range speakers and adjustable height power antenna, electrically heated rear windshield, quartz chronometer, tachometer, 3-way adjustable driver front bucket seats, parcel nets on front seat backrests, 14” light alloy wheels, front and rear center folding arm rest, front center cargo tray, halogen head lamps, halogen amber fog lamps, factory light tinted glass, 2-speed windshield wiper with 5-second interval mist control, real zebrano wood dash trim and console, 4 retracting 3-point inertia reel safety belts, 120 standard safety features (including unitized steel construction with over 4,700 weld points), Berber wool loop carpet, driver accessible rear dome light switch, headlamp turn-off warning device, optional right and left side controlled parking light illumination, full spare and tool kit, road-side trunk reflector, first-aid kit, 17.2 gallon fuel tank, 28 plus MPG, Owner’s Manual, Mercedes-Benz dealership stamped Maintenance Booklet, comprehensive maintenance records since new, along with other original Mercedes-Benz literature. The original purchase price in 1982 including factory options was $31,227.
Exterior Condition: The Anthracite Gray metallic paint is in excellent condition, with a clear and deep shine, and is 100% rust free. There are a few very minor blemishes but the overall impression is excellent. The polished aluminum trim, which wraps all of the exterior glass and also runs along the roof rails is brilliant, without scratches or fading, the latter being a telltale indicator that the car has always been garage kept. Both the front and rear bumpers are in excellent condition without any scratches in the chrome, and the rubber body sleeves and bumper guards are excellent. The original belt molding body trim, which lines all of the doors, fenders, quarter panels and trunk, is near perfect, with absolutely no fading or scratches. The factory 14” Bundt style light alloy wheels are in excellent condition, and were recently refinished in the correct factory Mercedes-Benz silver, and have 3 coats of clear. The high quality Michelin tires are excellent with 75% of their tread remaining. The spare tire has never been used, and the original factory tool kit and jack are like-new (see photos 54 & 55). The trunk compartment is excellent, and appears to have rarely been used. Era correct pinstripe is flawless. The original door seals, trunk seal, glass seals, rubber weather-stripping, etc., are excellent, and the original factory glass is excellent as well. The original chrome grill is excellent. The original headlamp housings are excellent, as are the side markers and tail lights, and all of the emblems are bright, shiny and excellent. The original factory signature window sticker, interior stickers, interior door jam specification plate, dealership inspection signature sticker, core support stickers, emission specification stickers, coolant warning stickers, etc. are all excellent.
Note: THE UNDERCARRIAGE, FUEL DOOR OPENING, FUEL LINES, ETC. STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL RUST PROTECTIVE COSMOLINE WAX UNDERCOATING (see photos), AND THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO RUST ANYWHERE ON THE VEHICLE. This coating is a wax like material which the factory spread on top of its already 30 pounds of plasticized vinyl (i.e. a think blanket of rust protection on the underbelly and hidden cavities of the body).
Interior Condition: The interior to this sedan is absolutely stunning! The Black MB-Tex vinyl upholstery is in perfect, like new condition. There are no rips, no tears, no fading, no diminished support in the padding, no pleats that have shifted beneath the stitching, and virtually no wear whatsoever. The parcel nets on the front seat backrests are snug against the seats. The original Berber wool loop carpet still has the factory sheen, which you only find on low mileage examples, and it is excellent, without any stains, fading, unraveling, and virtually no wear at all. The real zebrano wood dash and console trim are excellent, with a clear, deep and durable shine. The headliner looks excellent, as do the sun visors. The door panels and map pockets are excellent without any cracks or scuffs. The original unopened first-aid kit appears to have never been used. The instrument cluster is stunningly bright, without any faded needles or aging. The accessory switches, knobs, buttons, turn signal lever, cruise control lever, etc. are all in excellent condition without any faded symbols, and they are all in proper working order. The steering wheel is firm to the grip without any twisting or slack. The roadside trunk reflector and original tool kit, jack, etc. are all in excellent condition.
Note: Validation to being garage kept and having very low original miles is evident in that there are absolutely no cracks in the dash; the exterior polished aluminum trim has absolutely no fading; the original rubber windshield gaskets, original rubber door weather-stripping, bumper sleeves, etc. are near perfect; the original carpet still has its factory sheen; the original brake pedal pad shows virtually no wear, which is consistent with 54,000 miles. Many of these items are unusually flawless given Southern California’s sun drenched weather.
Mechanical Condition: This sedan runs absolutely excellent and has been exceptionally well maintained since new. Its durable and fuel efficient 3.0 liter, 5-cylinder turbo charged diesel motor is smooth and strong, and it gets an average of 28 plus MPG. Cold starts are instantaneous, which is validation to its low miles, and the motor, chassis and engine compartment are exceptionally clean and dry. The transmission shifts sure, timely, and proper. Independent suspension is solid and comfortable, and the steering is tight and responsive. Recently, the car received its scheduled maintenance service, new front and rear brake pads, valve adjustment, many new front end components, new fuel filters, air filter, A/C service, new mono-valve, new fuel injector loop hoses, 45k service, which included flushing all of the vehicle’s fluids, etc. Currently, there are no pending maintenance issues.
Note: This car would be a perfect candidate for any alternative fuels, such as biodiesel, straight vegetable oil (SVO), waste vegetable oil (WVO), etc.
Accessories Condition: All power windows function fast and excellent. Central locking works fast and proper, and one key fits front doors, trunk, and glove compartment (3 original keys included; master, spare and valet key). Cruise control sets and holds properly. Air conditioning/heater/defroster all work efficient, strong and excellent, and blow from the proper vents respectively. Becker Europa AM/FM cassette stereo works excellent, along with adjustable height power antenna. Instrument cluster gauges work excellent, including; odometer, tachometer, tripometer, rheostat illumination switch, oil pressure gauge, temperature gauge, fuel gauge, etc. Seats adjust smooth and proper. Glove box compartment opens/closes/locks properly. Headlights work excellent, along with high beams, fog lights, brake lights, parking lights (side markers), reverse lights, both dome lights, turn signals, trunk light, license plate lights, glove compartment light, accessory switch illumination lights, instrument cluster lights, etc.
History: This car was purchased in April of 1982 by Mr. J. Banks, an engineer from Pasadena, CA. He and his wife drove the car very sparingly over the course of 22 years, and he maintained it with the utmost specificity, which can be validated through the records. According to the Granddaughter of the Banks’ (who inherited the car in February of 2004) her grandparents mainly used the car as a “Sunday Driver”. When she and her husband acquired the car in 2004 it had a mere 36,000 original miles, which is recorded on the AZ Certificate of Title; AZ is where they live. They used the car (1 of 3 cars they own) as transportation to and from work, a daily distance of only several miles round trip since they worked so close to home. I purchased the car from them, and have lovingly restored it back to its showroom-like condition.
Note: I had the original blue and yellow California license plates restored, but unfortunately, since the car left the state of CA in 2004 they will no longer honor the original plates, which is only sad news to those living in CA.
Below is a list of only some of the scheduled maintenance and lubrication services the car has received, which are either stamped in the Mercedes-Benz Maintenance Booklet or in receipt form from the business which provided the service. I have many more documents than those listed below;
• 07/22/82 865 miles Jim Marino Imports, Alhambra, CA
• 09/02/83 4,662 miles Jim Marino Imports, Alhambra, CA
• 09/19/84 8,149 miles Jim Marino Imports, Alhambra, CA
• 08/29/85 11,687 miles Jim Marino Imports, Alhambra, CA
• 07/10/86 14,292 miles Jim Marino Imports, Alhambra, CA
• 04/20/87 18,296 miles Jim Marino Imports, Alhambra, CA
• 07/05/88 20,707 miles Jim Marino Imports, Alhambra, CA
• 10/18/89 22,871 miles Jim Marino Imports, Alhambra, CA
• 10/24/91 25,774 miles Winston Tires, Pasadena, CA
• 06/12/92 26,637 miles Rusnak Mercedes-Benz, Pasadena, CA
• 12/03/93 28,635 miles Ken Barnes, San Marino, CA
• 10/11/94 29,563 miles Huntington Unocal, San Marino, CA
• 05/12/97 31,403 miles Huntington Unocal, San Marino, CA
• 10/31/03 35,160 miles Professional Center, Pasadena, CA
• 07/14/04 38,442 miles Auto Europa, Phoenix, AZ
• 08/12/05 42,851 miles Auto Europa, Phoenix, AZ
• 08/31/06 46,484 miles Auto Europa, Phoenix, AZ
• 06/08/07 50,360 miles Auto Europa, Phoenix, AZ
• 12/17/08 53,119 miles Auto Europa, Phoenix, AZ
Currently it is parked safely in my garage here in Los Angeles, California awaiting its new home. *Further historical information upon request.
Price: $18,500