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It Might be Time to Sell
I think it is time for me to part with my 1987 300SDL. After over $5000 in restoration, I am ready to say uncle. Several months after replacing the entire top half of the engine (-22 head and all) I began to notice excessive blow-by and oil entering the vacuum tube at the intake manifold. I added a filter to the vacuum line and lived with an oil consumption of about one quart per 500 miles. The car runs very well under these conditions, as my acceleration and mileage is good (22 mpg city, 25 mpg highway). Lately, I have been experiencing interment white smoke. Occasionally, I get no smoke at all. After combing the forums, I believe the car needs two things. First the excessive blow-by indicates that a lower engine rebuild is in order. Second, the white smoke is due to a fuel delivery issue and everything has been replaced except for the IP. I suspect the IP is the problem because at around the same time an oil leak appeared around the L7 sensor on the top of the IP.
Other than those problems the car runs great. The transmission is perfect, the AC cold, and the interior very nice. I really like the car, but I no longer have the time or money to finish the restoration. So I am thinking of selling. Within the last 12 months, I’ve replaced the following parts on this car with new OEM parts. Part Mileage Front Grill 167000 Head Light Frames R&L 167000 Right Rear Door Stop 169000 Trunk Seal 167000 Radiator 173800 Water Pump 165000 Thermostat 171900 All Fuses 167000 Head -22 170000 Head gasket Kit 170000 Valves and Guides 170000 Glow Plugs 170000 Lifters 170000 Timing Chain 150000 Cam Shaft 170000 Upper Guide Rail 150000 Chain Tensioner 170000 Prechambers 170000 Fan Belt 168000 Belt Tensioner 170000 Belt Shock Absorber 170000 Air Filter 167000 Head Bolts 170000 Engine Mounts R&L 167000 Engine Mount Struts R&L 167000 Exhaust System 165000 #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Fuel Lines 169000 Injectors 170000 Clear Fuel Lines (Two) 170000 Fuel Filter (Two) 177000 Monovalve 166000 Aux. Water Pump 170000 Shift Linkage Bushing - Rear 170000 Modulator Valve Cap 170000 Trap Oxidizer 165000 Turbine 165000 Vacuum Control Valve 167000 Vacuum lines - Engine bay 167000 Over Boost Protection Valve 167000 Vacuum Pump 170000 Washer Pump 170000 Washer Pressure Valve 167000 Washer Hose - Engine Bay 170000 Aux Fan Switch at Thermostat171900 Temperature Sensor 172000 Seat Belt Warning Buzzer 176500 Left Tie Rod Assembly 177000 Currently the car has 177,000 miles on the odometer. As you can see almost all these parts were replaced within the last 10,000 miles. The exterior is rust and dent free, but the clear coat is pealing in several places. Also, the sun roof cable let go the other day so the sun roof only pops up and down for the moment. So the question is--what would be a fair asking price for the car? Would I get more if I simply traded it in for a new car? I am also thinking of trying ebay. Any suggestions? |
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My guess is that your SDL is worth less it's market value, the amount of money needed to make it right!
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busy--
wouldn't that almost make it free to potential buyers? i think an 18 year old car(even a $60k MB) is expected to have some problems (the paint, sunroof) even with a moderate asking price; however, this engine wont come cheap! Where is the car located? have you thought more about the asking price and/or sale?
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http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...Untitled-1.jpg |
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That's really a sad story, Hal. I added up that list, in my mind, and came up with $9K worth of parts. This does not include the "turbine". If you meant another turbocharger, then the cost goes up again.
The time and effort you have done to return it to factory condition is immeasurable. I know this from personal experience with this one and I've not done half of what you have done. You are in a quandry. If you disclose the issue with the oil consumption (as you probably will), then it becomes a mechanics special. Nobody but a good mechanic will take it on to determine what the issue is. Anybody else will have to assume that an engine change is in order. So, if the vehicle is worth $7K, if everything is in perfect operating condition, what would someone pay for it if they had to replace an engine? Unfortunately, if I were to do it myself, I would need to budget $3K for this task. So, this immediately puts the value at about $4K. I would think that it will be difficult to sell it at $4K because it will take a very knowledgable buyer to see all the new parts and the value, and then have the knowledge and the skills to obtain and change the engine. It's really a sad story. Good luck with whatever you decide. |
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damn that list is enough to scare you away form buying MB!!
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#6
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Quote:
Hattie is in the exact same ballpark with his. They get to a point when most of the mechanical components need renewal. Some of those items were replaced before they actually failed, I'm quite sure. This is necessary to improve the reliability, performance, and looks of the vehicle. |
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"damn that list is enough to scare you away form buying MB!!"
It is exactly 30 years that I am driving MB, the single lesson that I have learned so far is that "M" of Mercedes stands for Maintenance . I owned two S class MB's, the last one was 300SD 81, this car pretty much brought me down to my knees. The SD was truely a beauty parked in my drveway but it had so many problems that just left me speechless. Transmisson was rebuilt 7 times and still not working right, endless vacuum problems, sunroof and rear windshield leaking, AC controls pretty much nonfunctional, the front end needed total rebuild and anywhere that I parked this car, black oil all over the pavement. I sold the car for $650, and what a relieeeeeeeeeeeeeef. Vahe 240D 77/350K |
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Thanks for everyones reply. I decided to put it up on ebay with a reserve of $2500. I plan on disclosing all the issues and will look for an informed buyer. If it doesn't sell for that price I may part it out myself.
If any forum member is interested, please let me know. I'll let it go to a forum member for $2000. I'll release the ebay ad on Tuesday. I live about 30 miles north of Atlanta, GA. P.S. I wish I had a parts car like this when I first purchased my SDL. Just the -22 head and all its stuffings add up to way more than $2000. Hal Scripka 1987 300 SDL 178000 1984 190D 308,000 |
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I think some just take a fat wallet/time and others don't... |
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These are not Honda's some people sugar coat things but it comes down to this: If you are afraid to drop a few bucks on a car do not buy a high end car of any make. MB, Jag, BMW, Rolls ect. This list is actually pretty common for an SDL of this age.
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1999 SL500 1969 280SE 2023 Ram 1500 2007 Tiara 3200 Last edited by Hatterasguy; 08-18-2005 at 10:09 PM. |
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#13
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Hal,
Have you tried running this with SVO ? MAybe with a blend of 80WVO/20RUG could help.
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1992 300SD, 290K miles. |
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Hal,
Do you still have the vehicle? I checked eBay since just reading this thread and did not find it listed. Steve
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Steve '87 300TD - 132K - Soon 4-Sale '84 300D Turbo - 122K - Driving '77 VW Type II - 77K - Restored '08 250EX Ninja English Bulldog (Brier) - My best friend. Passed away 12/02/04 while in my arms. |
#15
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Man! Sorry to hear of your situation. Every aspect of it stinks. Since you're only asking for $2,000, is there a possibility that you could just store the vehicle till whenever you can get the sufficient funds to complete the restoration? Imagine after all the work you've done, if you could just push a little more with just a few thousands, maybe $4K more at the most, you can get the car in excellent shape. I currently have $4,700 into my 1995 S350. It was supposed to be fully repaired by now, however I hit a deer while driving my 300SD and so all my funds that were allocated for that project had to be used to repair my 300SD. Right now the car will have to wait until I have enough money to repair it. I wish you can do the same with your 300SDL. Looks like you've done way too much to give it up at this point.
Well as Brian said, good luck with whatever you decide.
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1999 Mercedes-Benz S600, 103K miles - garage queen 1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL, 89K miles - daily driver 2007 Hyundai Sonata Limited, 31K - daily driver |
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