I have some photos I took the day after the engine blew if anyone want to host them. It didn't look like I just insert the photo into the message.

Please give him the contact data for them.

Truth is, both Gainesville and West Palm are quite a hike from Tampa. I have to assume Tampa has some great MB mechanics. The one I have is a great mechanic, according to my referral source and another MB mechanic. I think his quote was so high because he is already overflowing with work and he probably does not care all that much if he does the work or not.

That being said, I would certainly not mind being provided with more referrals. Especially, if they are in Tampa.

Thanks all

Photobucket.com can host the photos for you. Its free and easy to use.

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

Buying another SDL blindly, with 90K on it, would be a mistake to make one car. I'd like to see pictures of the car and interior to root you on to getting the thing running like it should.

Did you get it away from that shop/mechanic that diagnosed the car from looking at it?

Take care, it sounds like you've got a great heirloom......your Grandfather and Grandmother were wise people to buy and hang onto a fine car like an SDL, for all those years.

Here is a rundown of the condition of my current (broken) 1986 300 SDL:

1) Never in a major accident
2) Body in good condition - several large dings, but that's it
3) I thought very well maintained untill now
4) Garaged for first 14 years, baked in the sun the last 7
5) Needs paint job badly
6) Leather seats in great condition
7) Seat springs, in dire need of repair (painful on the back on trips)
8) Dash cracked pretty bad
9) Passenger seat controller needs repair/replace (all switches work except getting the seat to raise from laying flat to 90 degree angle)
10) Carpet in good condition
11) All exterior light covers in good clear condition
12) All windows work
13) Power door locks work
14) Cruise control does not work
15) Antena does not work
16) Original stero works
17) Relatively new after market A/C
18) Brand new Michelin tires
19) Leather on all door panels cracked
20) Superficial (my guess) ripped undercarriage from ill informed tow truck operator who did know the eye ring was in the bumper

So, to get everything in working order I think it would cost:

1) Replace engine with rebuilt (will not do "used") $8k + $1.5K
2) Paint (a decent one) $2K
3) New dash (complete guess - if you can still buy one) $1K
4) Fix door panels (guess - if possible at all) $3K
5) Seat repair (guess) $1.5k

Everyone in my family is telling me to get rid of the car, but I am very attached to it. The truth is that my biggest concern is not necessarily the money, it is finding the right parts and finding someone who is capable of doing the work properly AND in Tampa. Well, the $16k is pretty significant too.

I am tempted to park it for six months to recover from the new house we just bought and get a temporary vehicle. Not sure what I'm going to do at this point.

As soon as I get it back at the homestead, I'll take some photos of the exterior and interior.

Sounds like it needs a lot of work.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

for that kind of money...... you could buy two or three nice sdl's......save your cash and use this car as a parts car......just my two cents.....good luck

It really depend what it's worth to you. If you really want to preserve the car spend the $15-20K and do it. If you decide it's not really worth that much, sell it and move on. It's not just a financial decision.

I was going to say that it sounds like a pretty typical SDL.

$16K might buy more regret than sentiment. Speaking from experience, good luck getting your investment back through an insurance claim if it gets stolen or totalled... even with a stack or receipts. It won't be worth the sum of the parts.

Sixto
87 300D

Thats how I see it, people spend millions on muscle cars for sentimental reasons, so whats a few grand on a MB.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Yeah, beat! Very few good examples left sadly. I'd love to see one of those mint ebay cars that go for $8k, I'd like to see how mint they actualy are. I doubt most of them are that nice.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

If it were me and I had my grandfathers car I would keep it until could afford to rebuild it. Maynot be the best use of $$, but it sure would be cool to drive it and then pass it on to the next generation.

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1980 300TD-T (82 Turbo and Trans) 159,000 Miles "Jackie-O"
1983 300SD 272,000 Miles "Aristotle"
1987 Jeep Wagoneer Limited - keeps the MB's off the ice and out of the snow
1994 BMW 530it

Why are you so opposed to using a "used" engine? It does not sound like this car is perfect, and therefore does not make sense to drop $9K on a rebuilt engine. When you bought the car the engine was "used" and if you use the same sense you used when selecting the car when looking for an engine then there is no reason why the used engine will not last a few hundred thousand miles.

By all means keep the old block to rebuild if you ever have the time/energy/cash/whatever, but it's not like these cars have any more value with matching numbers.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

Lets first get a few good photos of the engine and car so when can really pass some good judgment on the car.

__________________
DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012