1987 Mercedes-Benz 300TD Turbodiesel Station Wagon Estate W124 S124 1 of 1500

1987 Mercedes-Benz 300-Series Additional Info:

***For those of you who may have seen my listing about two weeks ago, I had to end the auction due to issues with parts and mechanic scheduling, small revisions have been made to reflect this***

Up for auction is my 1987 Mercedes-Benz 300TD station wagon, finished in Smoke Silver over Palomino MB-Tex interior, just turned 295,000 miles. For those in the know – yes this is the one-year-only W124 series station wagon (technically the S124) offered with the inline-6 OM603 turbodiesel engine in the US. It is said that fewer than 1,500 of these wagons were imported to North America.

Two original owners in the same family (daughter sold to father) prior to my purchase, always garaged. Service records going back to 1997 at 135,000 miles. Over $27,000 in receipts (actual costs, not adjusted for inflation) – including the dash-out replacement of climate control vacuum pods and virtually all other AC parts, recent rear suspension accumulators, new tires with only 4,000 miles on them. Fitted with the OM603 turbodiesel engine, 4-speed automatic transmission, the usual creature comforts (automatic climate control, power accessories, cruise control, sunroof) and the rear-facing third row seat. This car does NOT have the optional cargo cover, but it does include the roof rack cross bars.

The car was sold new in October 1987 at MB of Oakland (California); the original owner sold the car to her father in July 1991 in Jacksonville, Florida with approximately 62,000 miles. The second owner passed away in 2010, but his widow continued to drive the car, and had it serviced regularly until I purchased it in August 2024. The family was unable to locate any service records prior to 1997; however, the hard copies of all records since then are in a binder, as well as compiled into a spreadsheet. The car has been serviced by the same mechanic since 1997 at two different shops; I met with him, and he assured me this car performs as it should. I drove 1,000 miles home from Florida to east Texas without any issues.

My timing for this purchase has unfortunately been bad – once I had the car back in Texas, my local independent MB mechanic informed me that he’s retiring. The next-closest one (recommended by the parts manager at the MB dealer) is also retiring soon. This will leave me in a “service desert” in which I’d have to seek out another mechanic in either Dallas or Houston, about 3 hours away, which isn’t advantageous especially since I’ve been using it as my daily driver. I had both mechanics inspect the vehicle, and their only recommendations were to replace the coolant hoses and vacuum lines, but there are a few other issues I chose to address:

• · Cooling system – upper and lower coolant hoses, fan clutch, water pump, thermostat, coolant tank cap; flush and refill with Zerex G05 MB/HD Diesel coolant (light yellow per spec)
• · Vacuum system – New Pierburg upgraded vacuum pump, hard vacuum lines, and associated fittings
• · Climate control system – Programa remanufactured ACC head unit, new heater control valve and cabin temp sensor
• · Intake manifold gaskets; manifold was cleaned to remove soot buildup
• · New Continental serpentine belt; belt tensioner pulley, lever and shock
• · New timing chain, tensioner and guides (2 of 3)
• · Oil, fuel and air filters; oil changed using Shell Rotella 5W40 per spec
• · Bosch wiper blades
• · Replaced all fuses with new Flosser units from Germany

Known issues (will attempt to correct prior to sale, status below):

• · Right rear window was disconnected by second owner – unsure of fault, assume it’s either in the wiring coming from the B-pillar, or a window regulator – new regulator is on order and should be installed prior to sale
• · Both power headrests not working, new parts on order
• · New hood pad to be installed (incorrect size was shipped)
• · Power radio antenna not working (aftermarket radio installed)
• · Driver’s seat springs, horsehair pad and foam blocks arrived, waiting to be installed
• · Third brake light housing and passenger vanity mirror cover cracked
• · Lower rear bumper cracked – trying to arrange for a replacement but shipping is a challenge – dealers can still order new ones from Germany

The car is in remarkable condition overall (apologies for the snapshot quality photos), but being that this is a 37-year-old car, it does have some minor cosmetic issues – for instance, the clearcoat is thin along the edge of the hood on the left fender; there are a few minor dings along the roof (presumably from loading cargo on the rack); the driver’s seat does have a few hairline cracks in the vinyl; vinyl trim on the map pockets is starting to peel away, etc.

There is one minor accident showing on Carfax from 2004 (owner did not recall details as it happened when her late husband was driving) and another damage report in 2014 (right side, appears the front door has been painted).

I feel that this would be a great opportunity for a MB collector who has the skills and resources to maintain and restore this car – unfortunately I’m lacking in both – as previously mentioned, this area is extremely difficult to find mechanics with the knowledge of these older cars. I purchased the vehicle for a modest price, have invested in several parts and labor to ensure it’s safe and reliable. I have set the reserve weighing overall condition, service history, recent service and rarity against its age and minor issues. Hagerty shows the potential value of this car at around $29k in #2 Excellent condition and even $13k in #3 Good condition (the car is registered as a classic and insured by them) so with the right amount of TLC someone will have a fine and valuable classic to enjoy as either a daily driver or a weekender. She’s got great bones! I’ve named her Berta, in honor of the wife of MB co-founder Carl Benz…she was an automotive pioneer in her own right. Vehicle also includes factory tool kit, first aid kit and owner’s manual. Clear Texas title in my name.

The car is in Palestine, Texas; the nearest major city (and airport) is Tyler, Texas – beyond that, Dallas (about 2.5 hours) and Houston (3 hours). I would encourage you to either inspect the car in person or have a mechanic of your choice (and your own expense) do so. I can arrange to meet with buyers at the airport. Nearest shipping port (if buyer is overseas) is Houston. Please contact me with any questions you may have prior to bidding. Vehicle is sold as-is, where-is with no warranty expressed or implied. Buyer is responsible for any shipping costs, vehicle taxes and registration fees in their home area. $500 deposit required at auction close, with remaining balance within 7 days by cash, bank wire or certified funds. Thanks for looking!