Hey all - We currently own two MB's (83 300 Turbo Diesel and an 87 190E 2.6) and we are looking at buying another one. To do this we are going to need to sell our 190E but it's just too small for the four of us with another child on the way.

The guy that owns the Mercedes repair shop locally is a die hard enthusiast and literally won't sell you one unless he thinks you deserve the 3 pointed star.

Long story short he has a car on his lot that another customer of his parked there to sell it. It's black on black 1986 300SDL Turbo with 239,000 miles on the working odometer. The carfax report shows the original owner replaced the engine at 100,000 miles - no information as to why but he did. The guy was a doctor. The person selling it rebuilt the tranny when it started leaking approximately 160,00 miles. The body is flawless, the interior is flawless. The sunroof doesn't always close and the A/C has a small leak in the line somewhere. The tires are brand new. He was asking $4,500 for it. He's agreed to sell her for $3,800. So having never owned or experienced an 86 300SDL Turbo W126 I'd love some reviews. Sounds like a good deal so far, I trust the mechanic but I figured the more feedback the better.

Thanks

I'm not really a W126 expert but from what I heard, just make sure that the AC leak is not coming from a bad evaporator, some W126's are known for that.....otherwise, it's a great deal!

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'85 300D Turbo - CA Version

Black on black? Agree on a price with working AC or at least agree on a ballpark. If you can get that far, pay for a prepurchase inspection by a qualified tech. The inspection findings should tell you how much you should expect to spend in the next year to 5 years, what has to be done immediately and what can be deferred. Specific to that car, what's the condition of the front suspension. Does it need $2000 in front end work or was that already done? Does it pass the cooling system residual pressure test? Any other indications of a cracked cylinder head? Hopefully the replacement engine has a newer head casting. Oil consumption? Oil leaks?

With respect to 85chedeng300D, that's a reasonable price with working AC. Not much more than $2500 without working AC.

3 kids? Put personal preference and taste aside and get a minivan!

Sixto
87 300D

Dude a mini-van... ouch. That really hurt. Besides less room in my car means less trips in my car

black/black.not condusive to high temp/humidity areas.and a bad evap could run you a couple grand to repair.and i'd be worried about the front suspension too with that many miles.could be another 1200-1500.

Wait a little while and you'll be able to pick up a Honda Odyssey in diesel! I've been lobbying this with my parents for a while to replace the old Volvo doggiewagon which is eventually going to get expensive and not worth it anymore...

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Dale

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g1...MG_2277sig.jpg

1990 300D 2.5 Turbo -155k
2000 E430 - 103k
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ecodiesel 4x4 - 11k
2014 VW Passat TDI SE - 7k Bro's Diesel
2006 E320 CDI - 128k Pop's Benz

Pre-glow - A moment of silence in honor of Rudolph Diesel

Just be sure the head isn't cracked, search 603 head on this forum.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

One of the best cars every made by anyone, fantastic machine. Buy it, sounds nice.

They tend to need some front end work at that mileage, ball joints and such, but not a big deal.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Someone on the forum was looking for a 300SDL black on black. My daily driver, Coda, just turned 200K miles this summer and the AC isn't GREAT, but very good! I need to work on that before next summer.

Mine needs some front end work. Car squeeks or moans everytime the front driver's side suspension has to move. And when the transmission is cold, I get the normal 2 --> 3 upshift flare.

Mine had working AC but needed a dash, driver's seat, and paint to be a GREAT car when I bought it. 2 down and 1 to go.

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daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
Cluster Needles Paint
New Old Stock (NOS) parts

Past:
3/2008 1986 300SDL "Coda"
04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more

This is my '86 SDL sans engine and tranny. The chassis had 312k miles on it, but the trans is now rebuilt and I'm about to but the engine back together. (#22 head)

I paid $2200 for it about 5 years ago, with a blown engine.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)

These cars had crummy AC, MB didn't put a good system in the S until the W140.

But with R12, and in good working order its acceptable. The most expensive part in that AC system is the compressor at about $900. The people who are talking about evap cores are confusing these with W140's. I have never heard of a W126 needing a core. I'm sure they fail, but so can any part.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

$2200 seems like a lot for a car with a blown engine....we got our extremely nice rust free 300SD with a blown (but still able to limp the car along whilst burning quarts of oil) engine for $700.

What is it with the 310-314k death mark? I have seen several cars that have been either at the junk yard (not due to accidents) or in other places with engine dying-issues at those miles. Kinda scary! Your SDL died at 312k....our 300SD we got met its fate at 313k....

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Its a lot of miles, things start to break. You 617 guys have to worry about your oil pump chain, the 603 guys have the vac pumps to keep us entertained.

Old engines with lots of wear fail.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

maybe he means blown like it has a blower!!

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1967 250 S
1967 280SE
1968 250S
1971 280 SE
1973 220
1974 280 S
1975 450 SEL
1976 220 D
1979 300SD
1983 300 SD
1985 230 TE euro
1986 280SL
1986 500 SEL euro
1986 190E 2.3
1990 300 SE
2003 C230 K
2004 C230 K
1987 560SEL
1987 300SDL now in canada
2005 C230
1998 C43 AMG Sold to DON
1993 190E 2.6
300TD Former daily driver Totaled
current:
R320 CDI
Ram 2500 Cummins

I couldn't find any for $700. Not even any for <$2000. And I wasn't the only one who valued the car @ $2000. There were several bidders. It's also what I paid for my '85 300SD with a broken timing chain and crank.

Besides, the new #22 head on it was worth what I paid for the car.

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Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)