Thanks everone for your comments on the 87 SDL I was looking at. I passed on it and bought a 1979 300 SD 116 like I've wanted for a long time. Only a few rust spots I can find and an excellent interior.
Here is a few pics.. (if they work)

Attached Thumbnails

     

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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

Sweet! How much did you pay?

My #2 dream car (after a 1969 Hemi Roadrunner four speed) is a 116-body 300SD, preferably a '78 (first year of the turbo-diesel and also the year I was born), preferably white with blue interior.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.

Nice find!! You'll love the way the W116 handles and rides. IMHO The finest of the Big Benzes. Do get the Service Manual, while $$, it'll pay for its self 10X. Happy Drives

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2dieseljohn
1979 300sd (283,000+) Road Trips
1983 240D 4-speed (350,000+) Daily Driver
1967 E-TypeS1 in bits and pieces

Yes it will outhandle your '78 w123, surprising well ballanced for a huge car. No matter what you paid for it, you wont loose a nickel. Not alot of w116 300Diesels were imported. Just for a couple of years i think.

That is a bute. I've never seen a nicer 116.

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76 300D 130K "Stella" (Sold )
74 240D 299K (Donated to Highschool For Senior Project WVO)
83 300TDT 290K (My one and only)
Sanford, NC

I've got the 78 300SD. Silver with blue interior.
I love the color of yours! What number is it?

Mine:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=4620558671&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT

I cannot beleive how much I love mine. . .

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Ginny in Denver-ish
78 300SD, 265K (mine)

I always wanted to drive a 115 and 116. I have heard they handle better and have tighter turning radii. Seems strange though that the later more advanced models gave those traits up.

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

I found it on Hemmings.com
Seller was asking $2300
I got it for $1900

Is it just me or have others found it just about impossible to find an ebay deal anymore?
I was looking at a 82 300SD in Illinois last week on ebay with 262000 miles that was in decent condition. It went for $3650. I was wathing a 300D in wisconsin with new paint but a bad vacuum pump, must be towed, and it went over $2500. And a couple months ago an 82 CD bad trans wont go in reverse went for 2900!
I think the guy wanted to make sure it would go to someone that would take care of it like he did. He was the 3rd owner and got it in 99. It was his daily driver, but he washed it every day in the winter, and it shows.
The rust spots are the bottom front corner of one door and the rocker right below. Also some blisters by one tail light. I will fix once I'm done with the restoration of my 85 300D.
From those that have heard about the power and handling of the 116s it's all true. Car pulls like a train right from a stop.
I will update as I drive it more.

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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

Wodnek

Welcome to the small club of W116 owners. Yes, I think the W116 launches from a stop quicker than a W123 turbo, even though they are heavier and seen to turn tighter. I am always afraid that I will shag something on the enormous bumpers- I can't seem to find the time to put my euros on.

Finding a nearly rust free one in WI must have been a challenge- I couldn't do it in FL.

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 (??)

That's an absolutely beautiful car. I think the 116 is one of the nicst mercedes of all time. A 300SD Turbo 116 is one of my dream cars too.

- Peter.

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2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

is REALLY tight. I can turn from the left turn lane and do a U onto a one lane road and not hit the curb. Very nice and tight.
My Outback could also do that but no other car I've owned ('cept the VW Bug) could.

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Ginny in Denver-ish
78 300SD, 265K (mine)

house!!!


it is your car though.

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currently
[1981 300 td tdidi 165500 dark brown/palamino-Brownie-mine-3k miles of ownership
1983 240d 162+++ Anthricite grey w/ henna red interior and hella lights-wifes car-Red

the above two cars are for sale
and can be seen on the cars for sale thread here. pix also available.


240d-144+ Manilla Yellow w/ palmino interior-greasecar kit-Blondie-the college kids car

23" gt 21 speed still on original tires-still got the nubs
21" khs tandem

Love mine too. Even better with Euro lights and bumpers installed...

It also is a 1979 300SD

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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

Hey does the Automatic Climate Control Work on it? I'm running through mine now on a 77 300D and have a great trouble shooting guide if you need it.

yeah it works.....but cost me almost $1,000 in new parts to do it 3 years ago. Needed a rebuilt aluminum body servo, new servo amp, and a aux water pump that was siezed up replaced. Only thing not currently working on the car is the cruise control..but plan to fix that too in the next month.

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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
---------------------
"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