WOW I thought an '85 was a 126.125, the first year for the 603 motor. No? I was sure of it, kind of tied in to the whole crap-oxidizer campaign (85 to 87). It's really a 126.120???

Gilly

Hello Gilly.
 

The 1985 300SD was a W126 with OM617.
One of our local to me members has a 49 state and California 1985 300SD’s, both have OM617.
Every time I begin to think I know what went into which where and when, someone asks a question or proves there where exceptions.
I am getting a headache just thinking about it.
Have a great day.

Interior cleaning
 

This actually belongs in the detailing section but, here goes.

Get the biggest badest shop vac you can. If you can splurge rent a hot water carpet extractor. Sears sells a carpet kit for a Shop Vac about $30.00
that turns it into a makeshift carpet extractor. Other wise a spray bottle can be used to apply carpet cleaning solution. Find a janatorial supply house in the phone book. Get some professional carpet cleaner. http://www.chemspecworld.com/default.asp is one of the tried and true companys. Usually a traffic lane cleaner is a good choice. Make sure the product you choose matches your extractor, i.e. hot or cold water application. Chemspec makes a great leather cleaner/ conditioner. The supply house should also carry a very fine brass wire brush for clening really dirty leather. For head liner and vinyl I like to use Krazy Clean a boat cleaning product http://www.mdramazon.com/10.htm If you have mold, smoke or other funky odors, check with the sales guy at the supply house.

To really do a great job you should pull front and back seats. A bunch of old towels from a thrift store, paper towels, rubber dental picks, windex, goggles, rubber gloves, bucket of water, etc.....

Not much technical experiance needed for detail work, just time and patience.
Should save you about 100.00 to 200.00 bucks if you do the work youself.
Good Luck

Confusing is right! No info shows the 617 version in production 10/80 thru 8/85, and the 603 version from 2/85 thru 9/87. So if someone says they have an 85 300SDL, how do you know without knowing the vin or chassis number (or looking?)

Gilly

Oooo, something I just noticed (tricky!) is that the 126.120 (with the 617 motor) is only listed as a 300SD Turbodiesel, not an SDL (that's the 126.120). The 603 engined car, the 300SDL Turbo is ONLY listed as the long chassis, this is the 126.125.
The 350SDL Turbo is listed both long and short chassis.

Gilly

The use of the 617 in the short wheel base W126 continued until 85. I think the 85's use a different (read more $$$) trans and a different rear end gear ratio.

The SDL's are 86-87 only. Maybe in Europe the early 603's were used in 85.

So much to do! I will get right on the filters and fluids, that much seems like it wont be to hard.

Brake pads were replaced no less than a month ago, so Im ok there. It does have ABS and airbags, though Im not so sure the airbags would deploy in the case of an accident. The car is safe to drive, just gonna do my maintenance work before I go and buy the wheels.

Airbag???
 

I do not recall ever seeing an airbag in a 1985 W126 300SD, though the SDL may have had them, the 1986 did have them.

I was not aware either, that there were any airbag equiped MB's in '85.

Unless I am dreaming, I distinctly remember an airbag. Let me see If I can grab a picture. Its too cold to be doing this!

EDIT: Told you it was too cold. Went to open the door, it was frozen shut. About 2 inches of snow and slush today while I was at VMI. There IS an airbag though.

Is it OEM?
 

What is your date of manufacture on driver door post?

Every time I begin to think I know what went into which where and when, someone asks a question or proves there where exceptions.
I am getting a headache again just thinking about it.
Have a great day.

That ones gonna have to wait till morning, but I will check for you then.

I got my 300SD (w126) last year when I was 17. If you ever get bored and don't want to spend dollars on parts...hit up the DIY page and look for ALDA adjustment and Banjo Bolt cleaning process. Can bring LIFE back to a plugged car.
I brought mine home, LIMPING mind you...no boost enrichment so it was QUITE slow. Took the better part of 8 times at starting it before it fired over. (go optima batteries!)
Its amazing how far this car has come...I need front seats too! lol

Congratulations..the average age on this forum crawls slowly down ;)

I believe the airbag was an option in '85. My owners manual talks about them as an option.
How common were the heated seats?

-Ben

Air bags were an option in 1985, a rare one too.