SF 86 mercedes diesel 300 sdl - $200 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 11-07-2005, 06:39 AM

Great parts car or project in campbell
86 mercedes diesel 300 sdl - $200 (campbell)
http://www.craigslist.org//car/108915806.html
too bad about the paint see pictures It is a great parts car for the right person the price is right
Dave S

dieseldiehard · #2 11-07-2005, 11:35 AM

Hey Dave,
I wish you wouldn't post these cheapo car deals, remember the last time you posted one for an '87 300D turbo $400 near Santa Cruz? I'm still working on that one!
This SDL isn't very tempting because I already know where there's one locally with a dead engine. The vacuum pump let go and the engine is junk, this is pretty common I suppose due to the cracked head syndrome.
Someone could replace the engine with a 617 5 cyl model and come up with a running car cheaper than fixing the 603 motor

#3 11-07-2005, 12:58 PM

But if I don’t post them tempting someone like your self into buying them I end up buying them angering my wife, son ( he then has to park on the street) neighbors and city code enforcement officials. However, by posting them I get to live vicariously through others.
Have you found a head for the chepo car you bought from my post? I have been keeping an eye out for one but the few I have come across have had there engines pulled within hours of being put in the yard.
If I get to one, first I will pull the head and if you do not still need one it will be an easy eBay sale, I only have to pay a whopping $79 for a head.
We are leaving at 6am Wednesday for a full day of junkyard hunting and will cover 16 yards if I don’t die from exhaustion first I am getting old so I will probably spring for a cheap hotel in Sacramento instead of falling asleep on the road home.
How is your car coming along? If you are not happy with it, I will do the honorable thing and buy it from you for the price you paid.
PS you must have missed my last post it was 15K for a 1979 300sd me and another board member both looked at it but they failed to mention the engine was bad with only 40K miles on the car.
DHS

Pete Burton · #4 11-07-2005, 01:02 PM

If I found something like that on the right coast I would grab it.

Hatterasguy · #5 11-07-2005, 06:02 PM

If that thing was closer to me it would be mine!

dieseldiehard · #6 11-07-2005, 06:19 PM

Yes, lots of interested parties here on the ShopForum, Dave, but none of them close by. Somebody will snag it I'm sure.
Well, my car is worth over $3500 now and its still not running, I lost a radiator fluid line (the one that goes across the side of the radiator down to the flex hose at the bottom) because someone thought the old radiator was scrap and took it before that pipe was removed

so I'm another $40 into the car. I can't blame the shop where its stored. I am paying the top mechanic there to install new rings and the cylinder head and haven't had to pay rent (yet)!

The job is 99% finished except for a mistake I made in trying to install a 120 Amp alternator

The engine looks great just haven't started it yet, I'm a little chicken too

When its running do you want to ride in her? Do you have a cell fone in case we get stranded somewhere up on 280?

Tell you what, if you find a head its probably worth $79 even if its cracked. There are some shops that claim they can repair a cracked #14 head. Me? I'm not about to prove or disprove that claim. I paid good money for a head off a running engine. I know where there are three (3) dead engines from 300SDL's. You would think with all that someone could get one running engine, but the work is just too much for me. BTDT.

greasybenz · #7 11-07-2005, 06:53 PM

the sdls were real crappy diesels. the 5cyl were a hell of alot more reliable. how many people on this forum is from the SF bay area?

Hatterasguy · #8 11-07-2005, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greasybenz

the sdls were real crappy diesels. the 5cyl were a hell of alot more reliable. how many people on this forum is from the SF bay area?

This info is based on what now? Crappy diesels really...

greasybenz · #9 11-07-2005, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

This info is based on what now? Crappy diesels really...

well if you talk to the guys on the greasecar forum the sdls were made to be lighter so alot of parts were changed to aluminum and that caused rods to bend and aluminum heads would break and eventually engine failure on the cars. You'd be lucky if the car last more than 150,000 miles before it needs major repair.

quote:
"

That engine is a hogged-out 300 motor, the worst 350 SDL's were built between the late eighties and discountinued in 1995.

I pity those who bought brand new 1994 and 1995 S-Class S350 cars for about $100,000.

Famous for bending connecting rods, which leads to cylinder bores getting oval, then loss of compression, burning oil, and eventually catastrophic engine failure.

Worst engine to come out of MB in recent history. "

Hatterasguy · #10 11-07-2005, 07:17 PM

Hmm now sit back and listen grasshopper!

I will tell you a tale about several 603's...

Their were two 603's the 3L version and the 3.5.

Anyway the 3L 603 was made in limited numbers from 1986-87 and put in the W126 and W124. It is a great engine that has proven to be extremly durable. 150k is a joke it is not uncommen to find examples well north of 200k that don't burn a drop of oil.

Now MB decided to bore that engine out to get more low end power. The 3.5L 603 is born. This engine ran from 1990-95 and was used in the W126 and W140. They do bend their connecting rods and this has been discussed in depth on this forum. So far no cause has been determind. However MB updated the connecting rods so if you get one with updated rods you should be ok.

In 1986 the W126 got many updateds, the 300SDL/420SEL/560SEL were very similer cars except for a few driveline and suspension differences. MB created the SDL in 1986.

Ra_ · #11 11-07-2005, 07:19 PM

Greasybenz... that's a generalization of the situation. (edited to say: Hatteras, we posted at the same time)

To be more specific...
The 300 SDL's changed to 6 cyl, with an aluminum head.
It has not been much of a problem, except in cars that are allowed to get too hot.
There was also another component near the turbo, called the trap oxidizer,
which caused a problem and which was replaced by MB, for free,
in the great majority of the SDLs.

These cars are magnificent and most of the owners really love them.
Some believe that they represent the epitome of MB design and construction,
especially since Chrysler soon began polluting the company,
along with the decision by MB, to try and compete with Lexus, etc.

The next incarnation of the SDL was the 350 SDL.
This car sullied the reputation of the SDL.
The motor had the problems that you spoke of,
although some people have fixed even those.

The 300 SDL is huge, regal, powerful, quiet and still economical.
I'm in love.

engatwork · #12 11-07-2005, 07:37 PM

I think the 617 all cast iron engine is one of the best MB engines built BUT on the same hand I think one of the best cars they built were the W126's. I hold the 350 SDL in high regard IF the engine has been updated.

I talked to the Cap'n today and discussed an issue a friend of his was having with the glow plugs on one. Seems the owner of the car comes from a family with very deep pockets and she chooses to drive a '91 350SDL. She had the dealer in$tall a new engine in it last year and in talking with the Cap'n the car has less than 150k miles on it (don't remember the exact reading).

DslBnz · #13 11-07-2005, 11:06 PM

I SWEAR that the idea stronger rods will help the engine last is a total misconception. I want to see other 350's with the later engines with 200K + miles on them. Mine was replaced in the summer of '95.

Heck, mine had gone by the wayside. 2 engines. MB covered the first replacement via their old fashioned goodwill. When Mercedes was Mercedes.

When a 350 decides it's time to go, it lets you know it. It rocks side to side in the bay like a mountain gorilla being tortured and chained to the motor mounts, the oil does not pour out the back unless you push it. Then, you worry about the neighbors calling the FD.

However, the symptoms for getting there are VERY deceptive. Causing you to think there is something wrong with YOUR head(or turbo seals). The 350 can be sucking back 300 miles to a qt, and you will only see a few puffs of oil come out the tail pipe once in awhile. The engine will idle quietly(although there might be a subdued nailing sound). This thing TRICKS you.

One day, you are driving up I93 and POOOOOF!!! The car starts blowing dark blue smoke like nobody's business, power is poor, and the idle nearly chucks you out of your seat. The car can barely start even in warm weather(though it still fires on one crank, it takes about 6 - 8 turnovers before it fires in 70 degree weather).

Hit Man X · #14 11-07-2005, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greasybenz

well if you talk to the guys on the greasecar forum the sdls were made to be lighter so alot of parts were changed to aluminum and that caused rods to bend and aluminum heads would break and eventually engine failure on the cars. You'd be lucky if the car last more than 150,000 miles before it needs major repair.

quote:
"

That engine is a hogged-out 300 motor, the worst 350 SDL's were built between the late eighties and discountinued in 1995.

I pity those who bought brand new 1994 and 1995 S-Class S350 cars for about $100,000.

Famous for bending connecting rods, which leads to cylinder bores getting oval, then loss of compression, burning oil, and eventually catastrophic engine failure.

Worst engine to come out of MB in recent history. "

HAHAHA. SDL lighter? My car is a beast. Has 213K on it still runs fine, ran it up to 90mph a few days ago like nothing. But they break at 150K, sure. It's far better on the freeway than the SD. 300SDL is far different than the 350SDL. It's not known why the rods bend yet.

For $200 I'd snatch that up tomorrow morning at 8am but I'm in Texas. I have a cat here that paints for ~$600-800 depending on how the month is for him, that's wetsanded with clearcoat. Now I have $1000 into a smooth looking car. I have a complete 603 I can drop in now or pickup another for $1500. So for $2500 have a cherry... but I'm sure it'll need $1000 more in other crap.