Need Advice on Options for Future of My 300SDL - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ccooper · #1 01-17-2008, 12:14 PM

I'm doing an analysis for the future of my beloved 300SDL, and I would appreciate any input you all have. In fact, I'm sure other SDL owners have, or will be facing similar issues. I'll start with the current condition, the options I see, then my questions.

Current Condition
Here is what is so about the car. It's an '86 with 250,000 miles. I have done a significant amount of work to it, such as painting it, adding the interior from a 560sel, front end rebuild, new battery, alternator, four brake rotors, electrical upgrades, and so forth. As a result, all non-engine components are in good condition. Also, needless to say, it had the trap oxidizer removed as part of the recall campaign.

I have the original "14" head on it with signs it is cracked, including hard coolant lines in the morning, coolant consumption, and oil blow-by. The coolant consumption is erratic, and sometimes when I start the car, I'll get the white smoke and the characteristic sweet smell, which soon goes away. There is no oil in the coolant recovery tank, and my oil consumption has always been about 1 qt every 3,000 miles.

My transmission has a failing seal that my indie tells me is in a location that requires its removal. He advised me to keep checking the transmission fluid level and suggested waiting for the time when the transmission goes out, then just replacing the whole thing. IOW, his feeling is given the work required, the seal is not worth replacing.

Miscellaneous issues. The hydraulic lifters need to be replaced, and I have glow plugs dying, each covered with oil when I pull them out. This may be due to the excessive blow-by mentioned above. I have reamed the sockets with the $pecial tool. The A/C compressor died a horrible death, and the cruise control is non-functional.

Biggest issue of all: my wife wants me to sell the car and get a used Toyota Corolla.

That has the same appeal and feeling as being castrated.

My Scenarios
Here are a couple of scenarios I see. I could sell the car, although to do it with integrity I would need to disclose the issue with the head and A/C, and seeing the average asking price is $5,000 leads me to believe I wouldn't get more than $1,000.

Purchase another SDL, and maybe salvage some stuff from my car. Of course, I would want one that has a "17"+ head on it, with everything in operating condition. Asking prices for these are around $7,000. IOW, purchasing something where the issues I'm facing have been addressed or resolved.

Get the head replaced. I'd be looking at >$3,000 p/l which may or may not include necessary items such as new preglow chambers, lifters, etc. Also, it is not a rebuild and therefore the longevity of the rest of the engine is a question mark. It almost seems better to go with a short block rebuilt engine.

Get a long block rebuilt engine, possibly a 3.5 liter. This option costs about as much as purchasing a decent used SDL, but resolves all my engine issues, plus it could predictably give me another 200K + miles of service. I'm still in the hole for a new compressor, as well as the cruise control issues. If I got the 3.5 liter, I would also benefit from the extra torque.

Questions
So here are my questions, assuming I want to stick with the (an) SDL.

How much longer do I have before the cracked head becomes something I really have to address?

Would I be best advised to ditch my car and purchase another SDL?

If I opt for a rebuild, is it worth the money to go with a long block? Would it be worth my while to spend the extra $1,000 for a 3.5 liter?

How much more life can I expect from my transmission? I'm assuming a used SDL, even with engine issues resolved, will still be facing this issue.

The real money question. No matter how I slice or dice it, getting my (an) SDL to top condition will be about $7,00-$10,000, about the same cost as the Corolla. If I get all of these things done, can I look my wife in the eye and tell her my car will be just as reliable as the Corolla?

I really appreciate any input or insight. As we all know, our cars are more of an emotional issue than a practical one, and my kneejerk reaction is that I want to keep my car, no matter what dammit! However, even my dad, who owns a money pit, err ... boat is saying it's time for me to throw in the towel. So making an informed decision is what I need to do.

Thank you,

Casey

vstech · #2 01-17-2008, 12:21 PM

you need to drive the car down here to NC, and get a NICE - 150K miles car, or +300K plus car that has already had the motor repaired.
YOU DO NOT WANT A 350... rod bender, head gasket, cylinder walls, all inferior to the 300, and not really repairable, no sleeves in the block.
I will gladly give you $1K for the car.
and I will help you find a nice driver to take back to CA with you.

TX76513 · #3 01-17-2008, 01:26 PM

I also own an SDL and ultimately one day will probably be faced with the same situation you are in. Unless economics go south on me it's my intention to drop a crate motor in her when that time comes. Like yourself over the last six years I have made a considerable investment in her but the last few years managed to stay ahead of the game. The biggest expense she had last year was a vacuum pump so cost of ownership of a flagship car greatly outweighs a car note.

.02

Mismost · #4 01-17-2008, 01:27 PM

Casey, here's the way I see it. You posted on the Internet, so you may get 50 replies/opinions, heck you may get 1000. So say 50 to 1000 opinions and none of them will have anything invested!

YOU HAVE ONE WIFE! And I bet you have a whole lot more invested in her than in that MB. Make the wife happy. It is that simple. You drive a car until it craps out, yours may be crapped out. You gotta live with that woman!

I'm on my 3rd wife. We do not have enough bandwidth for me to tell you how much that cost! Trust me, it is cheaper to keep her...the wife, not the car.

(besides, with the money you'll save on gas and parts with the Corolla, maybe you can keep the MB and just tinker on the week ends. Compromise is a good thing.)

Skippy · #5 01-17-2008, 01:34 PM

If you weren't married, I'd have an entirely different set of advice for you, but since you are-what he said:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mismost

Casey, here's the way I see it. You posted on the Internet, so you may get 50 replies/opinions, heck you may get 1000. So say 50 to 1000 opinions and none of them will have anything invested!

YOU HAVE ONE WIFE! And I bet you have a whole lot more invested in her than in that MB. Make the wife happy. It is that simple. You drive a car until it craps out, yours may be crapped out. You gotta live with that woman!

I'm on my 3rd wife. We do not have enough bandwidth for me to tell you how much that cost! Trust me, it is cheaper to keep her...the wife, not the car.

(besides, with the money you'll save on gas and parts with the Corolla, maybe you can keep the MB and just tinker on the week ends. Compromise is a good thing.)

Hatterasguy · #6 01-17-2008, 02:14 PM

The tranmission sounds like the front seal, thats not that big of a deal. I did mine myself but got an estimate of $400 to have a shop do it. At 250k miles if you have the money I'd get a rebuilt trans for $1,300 and pay them to swap that.

As for the head I'd figure $3k for that. I don't see why you would want to rebuild the engine the bottom end is probably fine. If coolant starts mixing with the oil you will wipe the bearings out real quick, but other than that I don't see the bottom end failing. For a good rebuild your looking at about $8k-$10k. For the head I'd just call up Metric and see what they can do for you.

I see two large repairs that could cost up to $5k, but not all at once you can let the trans leak for years. As long as it doesn't get worse, put some trans X in it.

These are very expensive cars to own, and now that they are older they require large cash infusions to keep in good shape. You have to decide if its worth it to you. Naturaly if you cannot do your own work a newer car makes a lot of sense. If you don't have to pay a shop you can cut your costs by 50%-80%. The payment on a newer car of $300ish a month can be eaten up with ease by an old MB if you take it to a shop for everything. Then you have to factor in your time and the hassle factor.

I don't think getting another W126 is a much better option, any other one you get is going to need work. The trans leak is commen, and the head issue is commen as well. You would just be swapping the devil you know for one you don't. I have been very disapointed with the used W126's I have seen for sale lately. The best ones I regard as just drivers that you can run into the ground for 2-3 years, and the rest are rolling parts cars. I suspect finding a really good keeper would be quite challanging.

Toyota makes very reliable cars, if you want a newer MB I'd look at a late 90's S320 or a 2000-02 E320/430. If you spend about $20k you have a lot of options.

ccooper · #7 01-17-2008, 07:04 PM

Thank you all for your responses. Writing the post has given me a lot of clarity.

As mismost pointed out, I have only one wife, and in the big scheme of things, she is far more important than some car. I get so wrapped up in my "second wife" that I forget one is flesh and blood with feelings while the other is steel and aluminum and really should never have been or be a second wife.

I long ago realized that driving an old Mercedes is a labor of love and not a sound economic investment. A lot of why I've justified keeping my car is because I do most of my own work, and because thanks to this forum, I've learned how to deal with many of the nuances. It's a hobby for me, and an expensive one, just like golf.

My solution right now is to get another car and be able to defer repairs on the SDL. My mechanic told me of all the evils of having coolant of any sort circulating in my engine, as hatterasguy also mentioned. My father's house sits on 6 acres of land, and he's offered a spot for me to put the car, and where I can do work on it as I have time. As far as the expense of keeping it, tags are $68/year and I carry liability only on it.

Both my wife and my father suggested they want me to drive something reliable, and my finances dictate it must be something cheap. My wife has an '03 Toyota Highlander with 80K miles on it. So far, the only recall was for a chintzy child lock, and the only issue we've had was an issue ultimately related to a loose accelerator cable that I fixed (guess where I got the expertise

) So from that point of view, the Corolla makes sense, although being 6'4", room is limited.

I would like to continue driving a diesel, especially since I've become a real proponent of Biodiesel. Ironically, I just secured a reliable supply yesterday and now have a 55 gallon drum of it in front of my house. It seems a year 2000+ Volkswagen Passat or Jetta would get me there, and I like the crazy mileage they get. I also notice a lot of members of this forum have them, at least from looking at the signature lines. The catch is the used diesels fetch premium money. Can any of you weigh in on whether this is a viable alternative, or if I'm going down another primrose path.

One important thing I did resolve for myself is not going down the path of buying another W126, as hatterasguy suggested not to. The point about dealing with the devil you know vs. the one you don't know sums it up. If I take the SDL away from being a daily driver, that gives me the freedom to replace the head myself, and do it in whatever time I need. Ultimately, purchasing a reliable daily driver allows me to have the satisfaction of doing the work myself, which is much of my emotional attachment to the car anyway. And no, I wouldn't be as daft as to try to lower a rebuilt engine myself.

I hope this posting is of value to other readers. We have our cars because we love them, and oftentimes they would have to force the keys out of our cold, clammy dead hands. But they are also a hobby and should not take precedence over loved ones, or other responsibilities, such as jobs. Thank you again for lending me your ears.

Casey

rick surgent · #8 01-17-2008, 07:14 PM

for my 2 cents, great choice. I had a 99 jetta tdi and I must say it was a favorite. I do all my own MB work and really can only tolerate them as daily drivers by owning 2, as 1 usually requires some type of attention.

TylerH860 · #9 01-17-2008, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTUpower

w123 diesels are much cheaper in the long run than w126 diesels. If you really want a MB diesel buy a $3000 w123 diesel and put the w126 in your dad's yard. From time to time w126 diesels come to the yard and people can get parts. Perhaps one day you can get a 17+ head.

2nd the motion. You can part out your car if you have a place to store it.

A W123 may be slower and less luxurious, but at least you would be away from a Toyota. Its pretty easy to find a nice one with less than 200k for under $4,000.

Now, how does one go about explaining to a wife that the answer is an even OLDER Mercedes?

ccooper · #10 01-17-2008, 08:47 PM

Just wanted to put something in about me and W123s. I had a 240D for nine years and added many miles on it. My brother is driving it now with issues here and there, although at 370,000 miles, there is no engine or tranny replacement in sight. So I do take the point about a W123 being more reliable. Driving the SDL has really spoiled me (I can go more than 50 up the Grapevine?)

However, the real reason IS my wife. In her mind, all Mercedes Diesels are unreliable and junk on wheels. Her experiences with my cars only solidified that feeling. After all, NEW cars don't require such extravagant things as new batteries, brakes, &c. Since I work from home and she commutes, she would want to use the commuter car rather than the Highlander (which gets a measly 20MPG). So the chances are slim and nil of her even entertaining the idea to agree to consider the possibility of having a W123 be one of the vehicles we consider purchasing. You get my drift.

As far as plans to have my SDL sit in the field on cinder blocks to be parted out, that won't happen either. I will get it restored to its former glory, but like the poem says, one bite at a time. It has been very satisfying to do the work, although very time and money consuming as well.

The issue that broke the camel's back was my starter motor dying this morning, which prevented me from seeing my dad to do work with him. That in turn was caused my my stubbornness in trying to start the engine with dead glowplugs (more in another post - it was quite educational). Of course, I have one on order from Phil, which should arrive tomorrow and will take about 1/2 hour for me to install. But the point is that's evidence the car is unreliable. As is my recent education relative to the perils of having coolant circulate through cracks in the head.

Now if I were single, I would keep the SDL at my house and have the W123 as backup. I only sold the 240D to my brother because my wife only wanted one clunker in front of the house. Unfortunately, if I keep the SDL as the daily driver, my wish could be fulfilled...

TylerH860 · #11 01-17-2008, 09:14 PM

Well, in that case, may I suggest one of these.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1998-LEXUS-ES300-ES-300-ONE-OWNER-LEATHER-ROOF-79K-MLS_W0QQitemZ170185604928QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item170185604928

Toyota reliablity meets timeless looking lines and decent luxury. Many of my friends have had these at one point or another. One recently sold a 97 green one with 170k for $5,000.

If your used to being spoiled, this car is perfect for you.

ccooper · #12 01-17-2008, 09:42 PM

At first I thought you were being sarcastic and I would see a '92 Tercel pop up or worse, some sort of American car. A used Lexus is an excellent idea - I'd need to find one in CA, but that shouldn't be a problem. There's another problem, though. Somehow the Japanese just figured out a way to have things just work and there are few forums such as this for Lexus.

The dangerous part is I see potential for "upgrades." Gotta have the height adjustable projector lights. Heated seats, anyone? Maybe an autodimming mirror. Hmmm.

TylerH860 · #13 01-17-2008, 10:04 PM

yeah, it looks like you have a few options in your area.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/searchresults.jsp?num_records=25&search_lang=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&search_type=both&distance=100&address=92694&marketZipError=false&style_flag=1&make=LEXUS&model=ES300&make2=&start_year=1981&end_year=2001&min_price=&max_price=9000&transmission=&engine=&drive=&doors=&fuel=&max_mileage=100000&color=&keywords_display=&sort_type=priceASC&body_code=0&certified=&advanced=y&default_sort=priceASC&awsp=false&keywordsrep=&keywordsfyc=&systime=

My pick of the litter.
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=234215254&dealer_id=61549375&car_year=1998&num_records=25&model=ES300&systime=&make2=&start_year=1981&engine=&keywordsrep=&keywordsfyc=&certified=&fuel=&body_code=0&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=100&marketZipError=false&search_lang=&make=LEXUS&color=&keywords_display=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceASC&max_mileage=100000&style_flag=1&sort_type=mileageASC&address=92694&advanced=y&end_year=2001&transmission=&doors=&max_price=9000&cardist=39

or

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=234561717&dealer_id=100006738&car_year=1999&num_records=25&model=ES300&systime=&make2=&start_year=1981&engine=&keywordsrep=&keywordsfyc=&certified=&fuel=&body_code=0&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=100&marketZipError=false&search_lang=&make=LEXUS&color=&keywords_display=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceASC&max_mileage=100000&style_flag=1&sort_type=mileageASC&address=92694&advanced=y&end_year=2001&transmission=&doors=&max_price=9000&cardist=45

Hatterasguy · #14 01-18-2008, 11:55 AM

I wouldn't own one of these as my only car, having a second car is a must. Get something newer that will run so you will have time to fix the SDL. I only drive mine 6-9 months of the year, the rest is spent working on it/giving it a break.

Lexus or Arcura's are great cars, I really like the new TL.

What about an Accord? 1998 is kind of old for those, and I don't think the paying a premium for some crappy wood and leather is worth much, IMHO. The V6 isn't going to do much better than the Highlander mileage wise and it probably needs premium fuel. A 4cy Accord or Camry is hard to beat. Also if you can live with the style a Buick would make an excellent choice.