Finally, my first diesel! I've only been wanting one for twenty or thirty years. I managed to pick up a 1987 MB 300D in very good condition, about 120k miles, $2k, tan on tan. Although I am newly registered on this forum, it was very helpful when researching this car before buying it. I had wanted a Cummins for many years and always admired the 80s Mercs but it has never been reasonable for me to spend the kind of money people want for a used Dodge. This 300D came up and at this price I could actually afford to have it! It's been sitting in a garage, driven only intermittently for the past twenty years, and not at all for the last two or so. Yesterday I went in and gave it a visual once over, definitely in need of some cleaning and rodent removal but nothing leaking and it started right up. Pictures and updates to follow, although slowly due work schedule.

 

Ok, I cranked her over, the battery didn't even need charging. She started right up, no smoke to speak of, noisy clatter, but she runs. I didn't want to warm her up or run her too long yet. I still need to clean out all the rodent carcasses but I wanted to roller forward a foot and see if there were any fluid leaks under pressure. So far so good!