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#1
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1979 300 SD - To Buy or Not
I am looking to purchase a 1979 300 SD Turbo, as a possible "daily driver".
The one concern I have is that the current owner says it "uses - not leaks" 1 qt/200 miles, when driving at highway speeds. Virtually no oil usage when driven around town. Rust free - interior is beat. Windows are non-functional, climate control needs attention. 343k miles. New/rebuilt tranny 20k ago. $1500/accepting offers. Anybody want to give their opinion?
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That's All I Got Joshua Coder Green Isle, MN ------------------ 1980 300SD Turbo In a 1974 Ford SuperCab Pickup 1964 Parts Car |
#2
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There's no oil separator on that engine. The valve cover is vented directly into the intake just in front of the turbo. I'd suspect that what is happening is that at sustained high speeds a lot of oil is being sucked out of the crankcase and into the intake. If that is the problem, you could retrofit a separator of some kind or just put in oil.
But, that's a lot of miles.
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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 |
#3
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The price seems high, and the oil consumption could be something simple or bad. See if how easily you can start it on a cold day with a cold engine.
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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 |
#4
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Couple of years ago I bought a 79 SD for 650 and it didn't use oil but leaked it. I am dissapointed in the body, it is a rust bucket. Rust holds most things together but what a strong engine!!
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1977 300D Lost coolant while someone else was driving 1983 300D Can't run without oil 1985 300SD (gone but not forgotten) 1990 300TE 4matic Sold 1991 Yamaha Venture 1975 Kawsaki 250 triple 1974 Honda 200CL 1951 8N Ford 2008 Wildfire 650C |
#5
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That's a lot for some many things wrong.
Climate Control could be as much as $800 (parts alone) to fix and you need heat where you are. Windows, that's your choice, if you're the only one in it, then maybe only the driver window needs repaired. What about sunroof? That's always nice to have if the windows don't work. Finding a new interior for a 116 could be next to impossible, but I have a decent backseat in black if you need one. Or you could just sheepskin the whole thing. As for the oil, I'm learning that it couls be easy or it could be $$$$. Does it have a block heater? Does it start easy? Blowby? Good luck!
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Ginny in Denver-ish 78 300SD, 265K (mine) |
#6
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Quote:
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That's All I Got Joshua Coder Green Isle, MN ------------------ 1980 300SD Turbo In a 1974 Ford SuperCab Pickup 1964 Parts Car |
#7
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rust free in MN? Really?
343K is too many miles IMO. If you buy it for somewhat long term use, better be looking for a backup engine, too.
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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 (??) |
#8
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Quote:
The mileage and price are what I remember but don't remember reading anything about these problems. |
#9
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My 1981 300D is just the opposite. It uses a fair bit of oil in daily driving which involves ten miles to work and back. The valve seals are worn. However, I have driven long distance at interstate speeds and the oil consuption is nil by comparision. Obviously, the old valve seals perform better on a warm engine than a cold engine.
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Current: 1985 300D aka Miss Margaret 1991 300SE aka Alarice 1995 SL320 aka Samantha 1997 K1500 Silverado Past: 1999 E300 ex-wife got it and let her son ruin it 1984 190 2.3 ex-wife got it and let her son destroy a great car 1985 300D (CA version) aka Maybelline lost to deer at high speed. 1981 300D aka Madeline (went to salvage at near 400k) rusty, yet best car I ever drove Wishlist: McFarlan TV6 (only a few privately owned) ReVere with Rochester engine 1917 Premier (only one left) |
#10
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Quote:
The other information was gathered from communication with the seller. He did say it was slow through the mountains, which I thought interesting - we don't have many mountains here in MN.
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That's All I Got Joshua Coder Green Isle, MN ------------------ 1980 300SD Turbo In a 1974 Ford SuperCab Pickup 1964 Parts Car |
#11
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I am in southeast Wisconsin and have a decent Parchment interior if you decide to get it. The 116 is a great driver.
Agree that the oil is comming out the top and just getting burned, no idea how to fix though.
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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 |
#12
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Quote:
I think it was in the first ad that the plates were more obvious. I showed it to my girlfriend who really, really liked it. She grew up in Las Vegas and instantly said, those are Nevada plates. That does seem like a lot of oil being used. The car does look like it is in great shape. (from the pics at least) If you could get it for closer to $1000 or under you may be able to come out ahead in the end (after fixing things). If I was in the market for another one I would definitely go look at it. But I'm in the Twin Cities so it would be a shorter trip for me! |
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