I'm without a diesel benz right now, I gave the 87 300D to the 16 yr old for a first car.

What does the group think about 79 or 80 SD's I looked at one locally, tranny flares, real clean, no rust and very honest seller, his reserve wasn't met. Another one, no rust available.They are just different and look cool to me.

Have had 123's, 126's, 124's, and have a gas 140 now, just need the smell, I guess.

The W116 300SD is a great car. Be sure to check the usual items on any 25+ year old car...rust, front & rear window seals, seat pads, etc. In my opinion, the look of the W116 is a classic and turns heads.

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• 2001 E320

The 116 300 SD's are Great Cars! Mine is a 79' and it drives better and handles better than my 82 300D, and the styling is the best.

It looks like about a 3 to 4K price range and the cars are pretty clean.

Guess the resale's not great, but who cares.

Rust, Rust, Rust, Rust, every single W116 i've ever looked at had rust, so rust is the biggest problem with them...

I got lucky....got one from Arizona.....no rust anywhere....and no bondo...


Love that car.....but I won't take it out at all in the winter to preserve its rust free body....

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Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
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Section 609 MVAC Certified
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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

You were lucky, I found this nice 1977 Euro 280SE that I wanted really bad, everything was in really good shape, but it had rust, so that sort of killed it for me. I guess I could have tried and patched the rust area though...

I know since I bought this car on ebay, but from a dealer with a lot of positive feedbacks.

Winning bid was $3,200 when I won it.......112,000 miles.

ACC servo was shot..and Cruise control didn't work....but zero rust.

Has 120,000 miles on it now.

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Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
---------------------
Section 609 MVAC Certified
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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

W116 SDs are a lot more fun to drive fast than the W126s. If you can get a rust-free W116 go for it but check it VERY carefully, even if there is no rust you can see on the top side get it on a lift with a flashlight and a poker and check it carefully.

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TXBill



Former owner of a few diesel MB cars
1998 Lexus ES 300 In Chicago We Trust

To me the 116s are the best styled. I really wanted one but couldn't find one in my price range and close enough to pick up. I had to buy a 123. Some day though I will find one though...

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1959 Gravely LI, 1963 Gravely L8, 1973 Gravely C12
1982 380SL
1978 450 SEL 6.9 euro restoration at 63% and climbing
1987 300 D
2005 CDI European Delivery
2006 CDI Handed down to daughter
2007 GL CDI. Wifes

I've owned two, sold one, still have the 2nd. ZERO rust on both. One was a TX car, the current one has lived in Colorado all its life. Unfortunately - it was t-boned by a blond bimbette and while it still runs and drives fine is a wash as far as restoring it goes.
so, I have located another rust free chassis that I am driving to bring back to Denver and swap drivetrain into.


these cars are awesome and handle great. They look (with the correct paint shade [ darker ones seem to look nicer] and euro lights) almost like presidential limos. Only cars to compare are the earlier fintails, 108s and the rover P5s

Easy to work on, road feel is incredible (even compared to current sedans) and they're DIESEL !!!!!

Cant beat the twin wipers

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1982 300SD (214 k, excellent shape) kidmobile running mostly biodiesel, gets 31 mpg hwy with 2.82 rear from a euro 500SEL



1976 115 body 240D 4-speed (traded for Jeep parts) - Engine lives on in my CJ7

Going to take the car to independant this morning and let him look at a few issues with the car. If he approves, I pull the trigger!

1979 300sd, maple yellow, dark bamboo, 130K, $3500

Thanks, everyone for the advice. I looked at a 1980sd in 1980 when I bought my new 300d, couldn't afford the bigger car, but wanted one ever since!

If (when) you get it, cruise it up my way to Deltona when you get a chance...
Rick

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

If I get it, I'll be glad to shoot up your way. The tranny has a flare issue and the guy insists it's a band adjustment. He's giving me grief about no tag or insurance to drive it to ind. shop and says he will do the band adjustment today and I can drive it. That causes me a little concern, but I'll wait and see, I guess.

Thanks, everyone, for the guidance. I bought the car. I took it to a good friend who has a transmission shop and it appears the tranny is bad, rubber/seals hard from sitting a long time. It slips/flares too much and TransX didn't touch it.

He'll rebuild the tranny and I changed engine oil to Mobil 1 15/50 synthetic, replaced fuel filters, added sea foam to clean injectors and she runs great except the tranny. MB tex is clean, much cleaner now. No heat...Monovalve I guess and the project is on!!

Thanks again, y'all.

Roger