Well, 3 weeks after my initial look at this car I went back for another visit. I'm glad I did because it gave me a chance to rethink some of my initial impressions and just as importantly allowed the seller to reconsider his asking price.

Long story short, with most of my initial misgivings assuaged I was able to agree on what I felt was a far price, so I bought it.

214k miles and seemingly zero blowby, certainly none that I could detect. The oil cap just sits there when loosened, quite a difference from both of my 617's.

My initial impression was that the car was slower than my 300SD but after driving it for the second time I came to the conclusion that it just "feels" different. Certainly less nimble than the W116 but actually fairly quick for such a large diesel vehicle. As many have noted, the real power of the 603 engine is felt at highway speed. From 60 to 80 this thing really goes.

My immediate tasks for this weekend are the usual things, flush the brakes and the coolant, air filter and oil change yadda, yadda. I'll tolerate the KYB shocks for now (they're fairly new as are the Hankook tires) but I will need to get the wheels balanced and a front end alignment before too long.

The interior is in very good condition. I give it an 8.5 to 9 with the only real issue being the drivers seat. The leather on it has slight wear in the usual places but it sags in the left front. Tired or broken spring I suspect ,but will have to open it up and take a look to be sure.

The exterior is also in very good condition. No rust. Some clear coat peeling on the trunk lid and a little on the passenger side A pillar.

Looking forward to getting familiar with the 603 and the W126.

__________________
Joe

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1980 300SD - 495k miles - 'The Ambassador'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Former Family Members
95 C280
73 280SEL
90 300D
87 300SDL (X2)
86 560SEL
84 300D
80 300SD

The W126 is very easy to fall in love with. Classic looks and lines.

__________________
BENZ THERE DONE THAThttp://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...c/progress.gif
15 VW Passat TDI
00 E420
98 E300 DT
97 E420 Donor Car - NEED PARTS? PM ME!
97 S500
97 E300D
86 Holden Jackaroo Turbo D
86 300SDL
(o\|/o)

Trying to post a few pics but I'm having trouble getting them to link

__________________
Joe

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1980 300SD - 495k miles - 'The Ambassador'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Former Family Members
95 C280
73 280SEL
90 300D
87 300SDL (X2)
86 560SEL
84 300D
80 300SD

the 603 should be more powerful than a 617 in all aspects. Might want to look into new filters all around.

It is. I think the first time I drove it I was just confused by the different feel and didn't really put my foot into it I've driven it for a few days now and can clearly tell the difference in power and smoothness.

__________________
Joe

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1980 300SD - 495k miles - 'The Ambassador'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Former Family Members
95 C280
73 280SEL
90 300D
87 300SDL (X2)
86 560SEL
84 300D
80 300SD

When you get your nerve up, an ALDA adjustment will do wonders.

__________________


~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

__________________
Joe

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1980 300SD - 495k miles - 'The Ambassador'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Former Family Members
95 C280
73 280SEL
90 300D
87 300SDL (X2)
86 560SEL
84 300D
80 300SD

__________________
Joe

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1980 300SD - 495k miles - 'The Ambassador'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Former Family Members
95 C280
73 280SEL
90 300D
87 300SDL (X2)
86 560SEL
84 300D
80 300SD

Looks good

__________________
1986 300SDL, 211K,Dealership serviced its whole life
1991 190E 2.6(120k)
1983 300D(300k)
1977 300D(211k)

When i bought my 300SDL 3 years ago it was sluggish.
I took out the trap oxidizer in the exhaust, make sure the exhaust has not much resistance, then I took the alda off- huge difference, new nozzles (Monark) and a few other things and icar has plenty of power.
car looks great.

adjust alda. also you make want to block off the egr valve with a BB, should improve things.

__________________
1986 300SDL, 211K,Dealership serviced its whole life
1991 190E 2.6(120k)
1983 300D(300k)
1977 300D(211k)

WOW !!

Very Nice!!!

__________________
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

Beautiful car. I just love the looks of that W126 style.

Looks like they took pretty good care of it. I had not seen those kind of center caps before.

__________________
1986 300SDL - 71K miles - Champagne metallic w/Brazil brown interior
1987 300SDL of the same colors--239K miles...soon to be sold to my cousin...

AHH you got it before I could look at it! Nice work, it looks good.

At least theres 1 less nut in Atlanta looking to scoop up an SDL.

I wana stop by sometime and check it out. I might be able to help on some OM603 issues, Ive been thru alot in 3 yrs with mine. Mine will do 115 mph (on wvo) so these things really move out compared to 617's.

SDL should be easier to work on with that 126 chassis. Mine is cramped as hell under the hood, but I think its best engine. Did it have a 14 head on it? Just pay attention to little things like water pump, coolant leaks, res, rad fan. Dont overheat it and it should run for damn near ever.

Im sure you already know about Benz Store, they can get you just about any part for it quick and cheap.

Congrats!

__________________
Paul
Benz-less
I need an SDL !

I second that! That's one nice car!!!

__________________
-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)