Was this a good engine and car? There is one that has come up for sale and I know the 81 - 85s are the bomb. How about a car like this? I guess it needs a few things: (Are any of these big ticket items?) The car came from California 3 years ago.

WHAT IT NEEDS

-It has A/C but it blows hot; needs the switch (commnad center) developed a vacum leak, possibly because a servo is blown; it worked fine until that happened;

Has a crack in the dash;

Has golf-size dent in hood; can be fixed easily. Has some minor dents, parking lot scratches as you would expect in a car this old.

Needs turn signal relay, it works intermitently.


--Has original paint, it is presentable and will polish out, but really should be painted to be pristine.

w116 ACC servo=$$$$$$$

but their is a kit to retrofit a different one in.

116's are very rust prone also

The guy also said it gets 35 mpg. He's asking $3000.

He's lying or can't do math.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

35 MPG is B$. But a California car is a treasure. Original paint is a blessing, not a curse to a prospective buyer. $3K is not an unrealistic number, if milage isn't super high. The hood might be a bigger issue than you think because it is aluminum and may be harder to get right. I am prejudiced, but I think the W116 is far classier than the W126. Especially with euro lights and bumpers.

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 (??)

How much is a new servo+installation? What is the realistic gas mileage for a 300SD?

Installation is free - you're going to do it yourself, right? I removed mine when it malfunctioned to re-route heat to the cab in winter.....simple to do.

Not sure on price of a new one, though.

As for MPG, I'd say 25-28.

__________________
79 300SD - $50 out of pocket purchase
03 Dodge Ram 3500 CTD
2003 VW Jetta TDI

unwired makes a digital retrofit kit for the ACC servo and associated amp. i think it's $650 sold by Phil and Co.

a fair price considering the rebuilts go for anywhere from $350-$650 and the unwired kit eliminates the main problem.

$3K seems pricey unless miles are low side of 200K and below, and little or no rust.

__________________
1982 300TD 210K miles ("The Replacement" aka "The Anvil") - SOLD
1979 300SD 245K miles (never ending project)
2007 Pinarello F3:13
1995 Ducati 916 (SOLD, sniff)
1999 Ducati 900SSie (SOLD)

[quote=jshadows;1533439]unwired makes a digital retrofit kit for the ACC servo and associated amp. i think it's $650 sold by Phil and Co.

a fair price considering the rebuilts go for anywhere from $350-$650 and the unwired kit eliminates the main problem.

$3K seems pricey unless miles are low side of 200K and below, and little or no rust.[/quote

It has 165,000 miles and is from California except for the last 3 years here in Florida, so he says... Does the price seem better now?

I looked at one last week with 155k. Paint was badly faded due to UV at this altitude but the interior was pristine, and it ran very well. No rust but a small ding on RR fender. $1500 was the asking price.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

let's put it this way...w116's become more rare every day (seeing as one of mine is going to the junkyard soon). That's fairly low miles and none of the stated problems are unexpected or difficult to fix.

Can always offer less and see what happens.

otherwise bottom line is whether the car is worth $3000 to you. I've got 2 300SD's from 1979 both with in excess of 240K miles on the engine and tranny. One failed due to operator error, the other still runs great though the transmission has something to be desired. Assuming this car has been well maintained it should have at least 75-100K left on it which few cars purchased for $3K can do.

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1982 300TD 210K miles ("The Replacement" aka "The Anvil") - SOLD
1979 300SD 245K miles (never ending project)
2007 Pinarello F3:13
1995 Ducati 916 (SOLD, sniff)
1999 Ducati 900SSie (SOLD)

arg! what stopped you from buying it?

prices seemed to be all over the place on these just a matter of getting lucky. that said, the w116 diesels never seem to sell for that much of premium (if any at all).

__________________
1982 300TD 210K miles ("The Replacement" aka "The Anvil") - SOLD
1979 300SD 245K miles (never ending project)
2007 Pinarello F3:13
1995 Ducati 916 (SOLD, sniff)
1999 Ducati 900SSie (SOLD)

i bought mine for $500. i get 28 mpg through the mountians at about 75 mph. but right now i am getting about 1.2 years to a tank the tranny is being rebuilt and it is being a pita.

__________________
-Trevor

OBK #12
1980 300SD 333,XXX miles - Totaled
1986 Mazda RX-7 212,XXX miles - impounded and auctioned off
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited 33,000- SEGR, Provent, Fumoto

I just bought one for $350. Of course it has a dent in the rear bumper and the body next to that area but it's fixable. There's a small amount of rust. It has 300k but starts first click and runs smooth as can be. The windows need regulators. The axle boots need a replace.

But trust me you won't find a benz with that year and mileage that doesn't need those things done.

Just watch for a while and you can find a better price.

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-E300d '99 350k
-Suburban '93 220k
-TDI Jetta '03 350k
Sold
-F250 '96 7.3
-Dodge Ram 12V
-E320 '95 200k
-E320 Wagon 1994 155k
-300d Turbo '87 187k miles
-E320 1994 200k
-300d Turbo '84 245k (sold to Dan62)
-300d Turbo '84 180k
-300sd '80 300k
-7.3 Powerstroke Diesel 15P Van 500k+ miles
-190d '89 Non Turbo 2.5 5cyl 240k (my first MB)
Tom's Imports of Columbia MO Ruined the IP in changing leaky delivery valve O-Rings - Refused to stand behind his work. Mid-MO MB drivers-AVOID Tom's.

I was looking to replace the 77 300dNA which only has 75k and is in excellent condition with a turbo model. Not interested in the $$ necessary to get the paint right.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13