I have a 82 300SD in excellent shape but I ran across an 86 SDL also in excellent shape. I already bought his wifes 85 300D!!

I have heard that the SDL is a little more of a maintenance hog and it has the alluminun head and all.

Is the SDL that much more of a problem(it has all these shiney lights and memory seats and bells and whistles calling to me )

Stephen

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85 300D 305K miles WVO(105K so far), Mine
82 300SD 235K miles BIO-D, Wifes
96 F250 SC PSD 4X4 285K MILES BIO-D, Ours
89 BRONCO 182K MILES sold
Finally Compression Ignition Only!

you'll get spoiled... happens to the best of us.
I love(d) the SDL I have/had (delivering tomorrow to new owner)
only sold it because I finally found a 300TD, and I need the wagon for my business. not nearly as lux, but I'm a wagon guy.

I found the 603 very pleasant to work on. no crummy air cleaner brackets breaking/rattling around, and lots of room to reach most everything in the engine bay. Do a search for what to look for, and then go for it! I think this car is the pinacle of the diesel 126. Just don't overheat it and drive it for years! mine just turned 288k miles on the original head, so it is not a fatal flaw on all of 'em.

the car is amazing on the highway. you'll love it. Oh, mine LOVED b100 biodiesel, and I just last week got the SVO veggie oil kit installed. Look for a prior post on that- link to some pics in there too.

Kevin

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Cannondale ST600 XL
Redline Monocog 29er
2011 Mini Cooper Clubman
2005 Honda Element EX

www.djugurba.com
www.waldenwellness.com

I currently have the SDL with 334,000 miles and I love the xtra room, smoother ride, etc......

While the SD is a great car, the SDL is a bit more refined. Just don't let it overheat.

I've posted this before and i'll say it again. I currently have 10 cars(company and personal) that I either maintain or have my mechanic maintain for me. Not once in the last 12 years can I say that I have had a car overheat on me.

I am a stickler for maintenance and I firmly believe that the people who have had problems with the SDL are the cars that have been neglected.

I'm sure someone will say, "yeah but if the SDL overheats you'll crack the head". I say, don't let it overheat.

.02

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Enough about me, how are you doing?

I would seriously consider the potential head problems with any 603 engine. If the head has been replaced, you're OK. If not, there is a significant chance that the head will crack.

Check the casting number, located on the left side of the head behind injectors 2 and 3, before deciding on the car. The number will be 603-016-xx-01. 14 in the xx location is a potentially bad head. Numbers higher than 14 indicate a good revised head.

Wray

I love my SDL, but if you are going to buy one you need to be much more careful than I was. Since I bought mine from a long ways away, we met in the middle. Therefore, when I inspected it, it was hot, which hid most of its problems. The biggest mistake I made was not doing the proper research here before the purchase. Do the proper research to find out what to look for, carefully inspect a cold engine, and enjoy the car.

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Keep everything as simple as possible-but no simpler--Albert Einstein

As was said before make sure it was take care of! SDL's are awsome cars, they really are one of the best W126's! Do a search on some of my posts I described the areas where they rust in one post, and things to look for in another.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

So much for being talked out of it. I am sure that the car has been maintained perfectly, always garaged etc. He has records from a reputable indy and it looks to be spotless. 165K miles with synthetic for tha last 8 years or so.

I know if I get it I won't want to turn it over to my wife.

Thanks,
Stephen

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85 300D 305K miles WVO(105K so far), Mine
82 300SD 235K miles BIO-D, Wifes
96 F250 SC PSD 4X4 285K MILES BIO-D, Ours
89 BRONCO 182K MILES sold
Finally Compression Ignition Only!

Ok buy it! That sounds like a good one!

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

.....and if you don't, pass the details on to me.

If you do, send me info on the SD. At this point, I could go for either car, as long as its been owned by the right person.

Stephen,

Let me cast one more vote - yes! I bought a beautiful 86 300sdl last march. I've put 9,000 miles on it. Just drove about 150 miles today. It's a fantastic car. I bought it to replace my 2001 saab 95 wagon (leased). I always wanted a diesel although I have to admit I never really considered the sdl's. Right now my car has about 139,000. Since I bought it I've had to repair two plastic things on the window regulators (pain in the ass since I didn't know that I could buy just the plastic part) and the shutoff valve - easy. Oil changes every three thousand. Next change I'm going with mobil 1.

Minemapper - aren't you the one that also looked at my car at the dealer in penn state before I bought it? I have to admit that I was worried that I was overpaying but so far I'm thrilled. I'm glad you didn't buy it. I haven't seen one yet as nice as mine although the one Stephan describes sounds great. Didn't you get an Audi?

Dave

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1986 300SDL

Thanks for the replys. I am really happy with my SD and the only thing holding me back is the 1.5K differential that I will have to eat to upgrade.

I am taking the wife to look at the SDL on sunday. If she gives the knod it's a done deal. I would hate to do it and then have her complaining about how she didn't give the OK for the next twenty years or longer that I expect the car to last She said she is OK with taking over my SD and giving up her Bronco but I think the SDL will really seal the deal.

Stephen

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85 300D 305K miles WVO(105K so far), Mine
82 300SD 235K miles BIO-D, Wifes
96 F250 SC PSD 4X4 285K MILES BIO-D, Ours
89 BRONCO 182K MILES sold
Finally Compression Ignition Only!

Yes!

William Rogers..............

Plantman,
You show a lot of common sense which is seriously lacking in America today. I have not had much experience with the 603 engine to this point, but have been following the remarks of failed cyl heads. Why did these engines fail? Was it because of idiot drivers or an unnoticeable sub system failure?

Peter

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Auto Zentral Ltd.

Thanks.

Here is my roster of high mileage cars. No overheats ever:

1993 ISuzu NPR box truck dsl: 298,000 miles
1987 SDL: 334,000
1988 - Camry 140,000 - runs like a new car
1993 E150 Econolone 250,000 owned since new, runs great
2000 Jeep 100,000 miles
1993 E350 135,000
1993 Chevy Astro - 155,000
1988 Chevy G-20 4.3 litre v-6 Has about 375,000 on the body. Swapped out the original engine last year after about 340,000 - WOW.

Please note I live in hot as hell Florida.

The only time in the last 15 years a car overheated on me was once when I lent my sister an old Puegot I had. Great running car. The water pump failed on her. She decided to try and hurry home so I can hear the rattleing noise and steam coming out of the car.

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Enough about me, how are you doing?

Yes, I am, and I've been kicking myself ever since. I picked up an '88 90 Quattro on the cheap instead, and its been nickel and diming me ever since.

Through some strange twist of fate, there are three SDL's for sale within 30 miles of me at the moment, all for around the same money. I'm looking at one today and two tomorrow. Hopefully one of them will be up to snuff.