This 1984 Mercedes-Benz 300D 5-Speed was originally sold in Germany with “Authorities Sales” noted as the order location per the datacard. In 1985 it was exported from Germany and registered in San Francisco where it remained with the same owner until being acquired by the selling dealer in August of 2022. Finished in Silver Blue Metallic (930) over a Blue Fabric (092) interior, power comes from a 3.0L 5-cylinder diesel paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. Features include a painted mechanical sunroof, climate control with air conditioning, a Blaupunkt Hamburg radio, and power windows. Ten years of comprehensive service records are included with the car and shown in the gallery below with the most recent documented service consisting of a complete inspection, new fluids and filters, new rear axles, and an A/C service. This W123 shows 161k miles and is offered by the selling dealer with factory literature, the original tool roll, ten years of detailed records, and a clean California title.
The car is finished in Silver Blue Metallic (930) and features chrome-accented European-spec bumpers and trim, North-American glass headlamps, a mechanical sunroof, and an electrically adjustable passenger-side mirror. A third brake light has been previously added to the car mounted in the rear window and the body remains free from any corrosion. The seller reports the front fender bolts, hood bolts, door hinge bolts, and trunk lid hinge bolts to be completely undisturbed and original. Detailed photos of the exterior and exterior features can be seen in the gallery below.
Factory 14″ wheels wear paint-matched hubcaps in Silver Blue Metallic (930). New tires shown are Falkens measuring 195/70 at all four corners with 2021 date codes displayed. In September 2022 the car received new rear axles and new front brake pads with sensors. According to the accompanying service records, the front shocks and rear struts were replaced 7k miles ago along with new front upper control arm bushings. The original tool roll remains in it's protective plastic sleeve alongside a spare located in the trunk.
The cabin features seats upholstered in Blue Fabric (092) with matching blue door panels, carpets, and dashboard. Wood veneer spans the dashboard with textured black paneling around the window controls, shift knob, and auxiliary switch panel. Features are noted to be fully functional including air conditioning and heat, central vacuum locks, the integrated clock, a Blaupunkt Hamburg SQM 23 radio, all external lamps, all interior courtesy lamps, and all four power windows. The driver seat shows light wear in the center seat bottom with the factory pattern still visible.
Instrumentation includes a 105-mph speedometer, a 6k-rpm tachometer, and an analog clock. Additional auxiliary gauges include coolant temperature, oil pressure, and fuel level which all function properly. The seller notes the low fuel level indicator light does not illuminate. The six-digit odometer shows 161k miles.
The naturally aspirated 3.0-liter OM617.912 diesel inline-five was factory rated at 87 horsepower and 127 lb-ft of torque and sends power to the rear wheels via a 5-speed manual transmission. The air conditioning has been converted to R134 and functions as intended. The most recent documented service in September 2022 included new rear axles, new front brake pads with sensors, new fuel sending unit, new engine mount, new transmission mount, and an oil & filter service along with a transmission and differential fluid flush. Notably, the clutch and pressure plate were replaced 26k miles ago. Ten years of comprehensive service records are included with the car and shown in the gallery below
This W123 shows 161k miles and is offered with factory literature, the original tool roll, ten years of detailed records, and a clean California title.
A video has been inlcuded by the seller showing various functions and features.
Open Transit:
Enclosed Transit:
The winning bidder will receive an email with the quote and option to proceed with shipping.
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21 Comments
@SamSl Thanks for the note. I sold the car the day after the auction ended for $15k. You can find my inventory at mercedesheritage.com. Regards, Roy
@mbherritage is this car still available for sale?
WOW!
Thanks to all for the comments and bidding. Takes a bit more to own this rare 123 diesel. I don't expect to find another one.
Well- I guess this one didn’t quite make reserve. Good auction towards the end. Hope someone makes a deal with the seller and takes this home. Beautiful car.
$12,500 bid placed by @merchabit
$12,250 bid placed by @CGentry
$12,000 bid placed by @merchabit
$11,750 bid placed by @CGentry
$11,500 bid placed by @merchabit
$11,000 bid placed by @CGentry
$10,635 bid placed by @merchabit
$10,385 bid placed by @CGentry
$10,135 bid placed by @merchabit
A lot to love on this one. Silver over Blue is fantastic but three pedals makes it perfectly analog. Good luck to bidders and seller on this!
$9,885 bid placed by @CGentry
@fiatspider I would say yes, anytime an odometer comes out of a car and is modified/changed etc. we would have to consider the mileage to be TMU. And I meant the new MPH odometer with zero mileage on it potentially would have been advanced to register the mileage equivalent to the KM showing on the discarded Euro odometer.
$9,635 bid placed by @merchabit
@ mbheritage- in reponse to your comment -- """the prevailing practice when converting a 'grey market' car at that time was to advance the mileage on the new MPH speedometer """ Firstly going from KMS to miles would need a fallback and not an advancing -- and in conclusion this car is really "true mileage unknown" correct?
@clonski I tried to run a CarFax when I acquired the car but it was not in the database.
@fiatspider Thanks for the note. Your comments regarding the specification of the car are self-evident to the community. To my knowledge the prevailing practice when converting a 'grey market' car at that time was to advance the mileage on the new MPH speedometer head to reflect the KM on the car at the time of conversion. Contrary to MB Market's comment in the first paragraph, the car was in fact imported in 1984 as per the 'asterisk year' on the CA title of 1984. Comparing the build date of approx 01/84 with its first registration date in CA of 05/14/84 we can conclude the car had negligible use before being sold to my client. That said, you are correct in noting there can be vagarities with mileage on gray market cars. Hope this helps.
Is a Carfax report available for the vehicle? I’ve noticed other European market vehicles on the site with Carfax reports.
Hello ,,I see this car is a euro spec'd car, sold in europe and then imported to NA, it is a non turbo has Dual HVAC controls - euro bumpers - etc - To note those euro bumpers would not have been legal in USA in 1984 as also the euro lights were not and this car has had its front headlights replaced as well. Yet the cluster is in miles so it has to have been replaced also by a MPH cluster , europe cars do not come with MPH clusters , What is the real mileage of this diesel and how can that be authenticated ? Thanks
Additional photos have been added to the gallery showing paint meter readings around the entire car.
@clonski A new radiator was installed subsequent to the comments of high temps (11/06/09 @123,906 miles). Temps today are normal. I will upload images of paint depth readings which will reveal minor paint repairs over the years. As noted in the photo essay, hood, door, front fender, deck lid bolts never disturbed. I don't have compression readings.
Some of the service records list overheating concerns from the original owner. Does the car still reach high temps on extended drives? The service records also mention a hubcap repair from a previous collision. Any signs of repair to any body panels?, Has a compression test of the engine been completed?
$9,385 bid placed by @a551518
Observations on this cool 300D’s gearbox: Intermittent low speed rumble only while idling along in 1st or 2nd gear. And balky 1st – 2nd upshift only after first start of the day with cold gearbox. We’ve chased both with new axles and differential/transmission fluid changes with some improvement. So, some gearbox wear after 161k miles. Will load a driving video tomorrow.
$7,250 bid placed by @mikelabno
This one will be worth the money
Stunning spec! Probably the best spec W123 sedan I’ve seen in a long time.
$7,000 bid placed by @Okie67
$6,500 bid placed by @mikelabno
$6,250 bid placed by @Okie67
This is the one to have.
As a owner of three Euro W123's - a) Euro 280E b) Euro 300D 4 speed manual and c) Euro 300TD Wagon 5 speed, I am still interested in this :)
$6,000 bid placed by @sjg507
$5,750 bid placed by @Okie67
$5,250 bid placed by @sjg507
$5,000 bid placed by @Alt767Gelt
Wow. This one will be interesting to watch. Every 123 diesel enthusiasts dream machine. I’ll get things going.