W126 Roll Call
 

I'm sure this roll call has been done many times just wanted to keep it up. Got a 1986 300 SDL, with 165k. Great car runs smooth. :D

300SD 156K miles.....Will Run soon :D

1987 300SDL - 165K - 2nd Owner at 162K
Metalic Grey with Burgandy Leather
Looking for other members in the Central New York area...........

I rebuilt the 617 @300K

'85 300SD 286k (daily driver)
'86 300SDL 312k (being rebuilt, inside and out)

1986 300 SDL 225,000 - all is good ;)
http://www.hpengineering.com/Cars/hpcars/mbenz1.jpg

1986 300 SDL. 161K. Runs great. Currently working on passenger side power winbdow. :)

I own a 1985 300SD with 175K, but it's currently sitting at Dependable Auto Shippers waiting for a ride heading West.

While I wait my daily driver is a '02 Jetta TDI wagon, I also have 2 diesel tractors to play with :)

Kevin

Blue Belle 84 300SD, 320K+ (odometer needs repair)

Daily driver. Not perfect, but slowly and surely aquiring an "aged patina". :D

1985 300SD 196,000 miles. Will be running soon, (hopefully, Engine swap)

Say hello to the ladies...
 

1982 300SD, 175,000 miles, gave $500 and she operates wonderfully!
1985 300SD, 162,000 miles, gave $3,200 and she operates wonderfully!

Kevin

Here is mine
 

I have a 1985 300SD which is in tip top shape, except for the occasional hick-up. She is my daily driver, and I love every mile of it. Currently at 300, 000.

Mine is an '84 model with around 87k miles:).

1987 300SDL with 239k miles on it, I am currently fixing everything. :D

84 300SD with around 198K now

w126
 

1990 350 SDL 153,000 miles. Rods and piston still within confines of engine block. I assume that is their correct position. :)
Andre Weiser

1986 300 Sdl
 

Do we have any pics of your 126's. Here is a few pics of mine. :D

1982 300sd
 

115k runs great, daily driver. Now I'm not saying that everything works, but the important things do. I just bought it a couple of months ago, I feel as it earns it's keep things will get fixed.

The SDL has 109K (maybe???)
The SD has 180K

Both are the same exterior color (metallic grey). They look like twins on a quick pass.

Ol Gray
 

1985 300 SD 287K
Solid, Solid engine
Shiney Happy Exterior
The Light Gray MB-Tex interior needs some attention, but I am having a difficult time locating springs and pads.

Love it - :D

I'm about $6K into it by now after doing some engine work left for me by the PO. But that is over the course of 4+ years.

82 300sd turbo'd got it back in May. 220 miles, just did it's third oil change. new shocks front & back, left to fix for now, a/c, cruz, and locking mechanizim in passenger back door. also change to a cd player that plays mp3 format for those long trips. :D

chip

w126
 

83 300sd, daily driver, 245k, my kids call it "Big Blue" steve

'87, 300SDL 238, 100 Miles. Overall very good shape. Only 2 things currently not working. Cruise control and ACC recirc switch. Oh, and the drivers side visor clip is broken.

Although I did think I sensed a transmission flare earlier today :confused:

1981 300SD "Beige" with 266k miles on it...running decently...fresh manifold gasket...recent oil pan concavity operation...awaiting new primer pump...

I want a black one soo bad...but I guess that is just my dark pretty car fetish..
yeah they are hot..
but isn't that the point? :-D
anyone wanna trade?

1983 300 SD 311,000 miles and everything works.

1984 300SD, Anthracite Gray with Gray interior. 255,800 miles and happily motoring every day.

'82 SD with 316k and '86 SDL with 271k.

Tom

'82 300SD, Gold, 148K, runs excellent, daily driver, 25+mpg around town.

87 300 Sdl
 

needs rust repair
still gets 27 mpg after 314,000 miles.
i loved the look on the dealers face when i asked them to do the trap replacement on my 290k car. they wanted to charge me 600 for the rest of the exhaust but i said no as i wanted larger mandrel bent exhaustand a less restrictive muffler.
he agreed to just replace the trap and the down pipe if i had it towed off his lot. I guess he didnt want to make too much noise flying out of his stealership.
i used AAA and had it towed to a gas station up the street and drove another 20 miles back home with no exhaust in back of the cat.
sounded like a big rig :D
got home and removed the cat and put 2.5 inch flowmaster exhaust system all the way back. sounds great not too loud and seems to be spooling the turbo up qucker now

300sdl
 

I have a 1987 300SDL with 170,000. Currently rebuilding head. Ran great.

1981 300SD, over 200k miles, good running car, has a little blow-by and the tranny needs new seals, and it needs the interior to be redone, it needs a new paint job, and the a/c needs a little work on it, but overall, it's a good strong car.
-Joe

I need to do the exhaust on the SDL sometime soon. Some questions:

1) I presume that you keep the factory downpipe with the flex coupling built in.

2) What tubing did you use to go from the downpipe to the muffler? Was this commercially available? Who bent it properly?

3) I presume that you eliminated the center muffler, just forward of the rear axle and just to the driver's side of the vehicle.

4) What are the details of the flowmaster muffler? What is the expected life of this component?

5) What's the cost for the system from the back end of the downpipe to the end of the system?

6) You mention a cat on the system. I cannot seem to find any evidence of a cat on this one. That is, unless I am calling the cat the center muffler. It is awful small for a muffler and awful big for a cat. As mentioned above, it lives just forward of the rear axle on the driver's side.

I'm weighing a complete stainless steel system from Timevalve for $650. or so. But, this is a bit pricey and I was looking for alternatives.

Thanks.

major service
 

Just had a Major Service done on my 86' 300 SDL. My pocket book is thin but my car feels good. $617.20 worth of service, Oil, belts, wipers, fluids, air filters, fuel filters, fuel injection clips, and remove brake fluid resivor and flush system. ABS system checked secure main harnes. Check front wheel speed sensors. Replace rear turn signal bulb. 5.5 hours of labor at $75.00 an hour. Shew wee.... :confused:

I know exactly how you feel. I reside in both camps. The one camp being those that use an indy for certain work. I had the indy do a bit of work when I brought the SDL from Florida up to New York. Spend about $700. on tie rods, alignment, rear axle fluid replace, motor mounts, injection timing check, road test and evaluate, balance all four tires, and front pads.

I definitely needed to do the tie rods, alignment, and balance of the tires.
The remaining items I could have deferred.

I get the same Shew wee feeling when I have to pay the bill for these services. So, now, I generally reside in the opposite camp. I do most everything else myself now that I have it home.

With the help of this forum, which is invaluable, you might consider the same. None of the aforementioned items seems out of typical capability. However, I have no knowledge of the specifics of the ABS. This might be the exception.

It sure beats that shew wee feeling, that is for sure.

Have two...
A 1981 300sd with 144,xxx miles, smokes like a pig, looks like hell and it's very difficult to start in cold. It also burns and/or leaks a quart of oil every 750 miles. Once its going it runs great.

The second one is a 1988 300SEL car looks great and runs great. Does'nt burn or leak a drop of oil. Love this car

Shew... Weee it's good to be flexible!
 

Brian, I try to do some work myself. My father has a Transmission and Auto shop in East Texas which is about 3.5 hours from here in Austin. I drive up often and with the benefits of a family owned Auto Repair shop. I use his facilities to do some of the work. I just recently replaced both upper control arms, lower ball joints and drag link. This all ran me around $ 400.00 out of pocket for parts. My labor was cheap it was $0.00. In all i've pumped in about $3000. into my 300 SDL in the last 3 years that I've owned it. :cool:

I have a 1983 300SD.
just finished with the climate control repair, valve adjustments, vacumm pump rebuild , a new brake booster and nozzles change.
The wallet took quite a hit
Now everything is running fine and smooth.
The only thing left to do before the winter is hiting is a skid plate and new winter tire.
But is a fun car to drive :D

You're doing fantastic. I'll be crossing the $3K mark in the next two weeks when I get rid of the FR380's and put Michelin HydroEdge on it. This is after only eight months. Most of it was as received and I'm still working my way through it.

Hattie is over $5K in the same time frame.

$5k thats chump change! :D I have had two expensive weeks one $1,600 week in May and I just had another $1k week a few months ago. I just dropped $420 at the dealer Friday and now my trans is demanding attention.

It's only money, I can always make more. :D

Boy, you are way up there. I have to take a look at the complete list one of these days. :(

Hattie should be patient
 

Brian, Yeah Hattie's working hard on his car. He doesn't need to sell it, i'm sure he's just going through a low. We all have those expeierences from time to time. I figure if i'm going to own a MB and an SDL at that, i've got to keep it going. The best way to have a great running car is to take care of it. That's what I'm going to do. I have alot to do. Next on my list is my Climate Control, which is a problem for most. Head gasket. Most likely the blower motor is going to play out soon. I can drive for about 2 hours and I can hear what sounds like a bird whistleing under the dash on the passenger side. I have a problem with A/C flowing out the middle vents. I have a problem with the heater not coming on for about 25 miles, just as i'm pulling into work or getting home from work, does it come on.lol. :confused: New Hood Pad. That Hood Pad has been gone for 3 years that i've had it. Does anyone know the significance of the Hood Pad? :confused: I want a new dash or good used one. I just don't like those dash pads, they come off and warp. I hear New Dashes run anywhere from $800.-$1000. Does anyone know where I can get a good or new Dash? I have a palomino interior. I think the lower part of the dash is more cream color though. When I leave for work in the mornings and pull out of the driveway my transmission slips a bit, probably needs a vacuum regulator or clutches. So Hattie thinks he's got problems. I've got a few, but i'm in love with my car. It's almost like marriage, you gotta work at it.

Yeah I'll have to crunch the numbers and post them, I must be over the $6k mark by now.

A newer W210 or Japanese car is looking better every day. :(

Hattie how much did u buy your SDL for? Do you have a picture of your MB? Wow! You've pumped nearly $6k into your car and your still having major problems? What's the future hold in needed repairs?

From what I have projected for the next 2 years or so: I only paid $2,500 for it $2,950 with dealers fees and tax.

The trans cant go that much longer- $1,500.
Driveshaft $?
Water pump+ dieing fan $300
Windsheild $300
If I want the car to look less dented and chipped up say at least $3k to get some rust and major dents fixed.
New head lights $200
Door seals at least 2 maybe 3 $80 each give or take.
Engine shock mount kits $100
Diff mount+ flex discs $250
Shocks all leaking $225
CV joint boots are cracking $?
Need a new bumper cover $200 maybe?
Drivers seat is starting to tear $?

ect, ect, ect...

I'm thinking to get my SDL in the kind of condition I want probably about $13k give or take! :eek:

Hattie, I see you took off the part off your sig line that said "after you replace ...........what else can go wrong". I guess you are learning, huh?

Bummer. Mine is still doing good. No major new problems. On trip to NC this weekend the Cruise Control actually worked for 90 minutes! Could not believe it. Previous record was about 6 minutes. It let me set, resume, accel, decel and work again after tapping brake (that's resume, isn't it?). Bad part is we had to stop and I know it would not work like that again. I was right.

Here's our two cars, a 1982 300SD with 218,270 on it, and a 1983 300SD with 252,464 on it.

Repairs on 1982: Trans seals, oil changes, fuel filters, glow plugs/relay, tires, water pump/coolant flush, timing chain, steering idler arm, valve adjustment, some light bulbs, oil cap (lol), alignment (potholes have since done away with that, sigh), and various paint/rust treatments and such items. Total thrown into the pit: about 4k so far

Repairs on 1983: Cosmetics stuff (had rust to deal with), some extra oil and trans fluid (were a little low), and cleaning products. No actual repairs have been needed yet. Most were done prior to the cars purchase 4 months ago. Total thrown into shallow hole: about $400

pic of the '82(mine):

http://www.tglmarketinginc.com/pics/i-1_B_L.jpeg

pic of the '83(dads):

http://www.tglmarketinginc.com/pics/.../83tractor.JPG

Again, after putting another 800 miles on mine over the weekend, it is then nicest $13000 car on the road. Do it!

yeah! I'm in this thread
 

'85 SD that's seen me for thirty miles down the turnpike and home. Milage unknown as OD no workie. Needs paint, seats and a drivers door panel- but the indies got one for me. . Got a stack of records 2 inches thick. Just spend the whole day detailing "3". The others are "1 of the two" and "2 of the two". (two china blue TD's). Degreased the engine, and shop vac'ed the leaves out of the leave collector space. Even thought it needs paint I used two compounds and then Nufinish. Clear coat is toast in places, but at least it beads water! Changed the two fuel filters. Euro headlamps soon to be installed, and the Rotella is in the trunk. Needs a air filter. Flawless sunroof operation. New windshield looks great. New diehard the day I bought it from the PO. Two new Michelin Harmony and two MVX4's with near full tread, and a nice spare. Soon to emory the bundts and use the Wurth. Came with two tool kits and a 12 volt vaccuum. A/C needs charging, gotta get floor mats. Dealer rebuilt tranny installed. May go up for sale as I'm buying a house.... but just couldn't turn down the car at the price I got it for. :rolleyes:

1983 300sd just purchased 10-22. Silver w/ black interior that is in great shape. 149k miles. needs ac fix.

Your right what else can I get for $13k that can compare to an SDL?

At least once something is fixed it tends to stay that way.

Alan I just decided I needed to change my sig, my friend W140 S600 gave me the cool Patton quote.