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#1
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Considering 617 vs 603
I'm considering the following two cars - both of them would require travel outside of my state, which I'm willing to do for the right car... Let me first say that this time both sellers are cooperating very well - which has been the biggest issue thus far in my long-distance-car-shopping adventure...
Candidate#1 is a 1984 300SD - as seen in this ad: http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/cto/1414499663.html Female driver, odometer broken so approximate mileage about 170K - leather seats, pretty clean inside, no wear on the seats - dash has no cracks. She said the a/c compressor works but the a/c is not cold. The engine bay looks pretty clean, though the aluminum valve cover, cruise look pretty oxidized, not sure why?! Green coolant, the belts and hoses look fairly new. She said the pickup was not as good as the Isuzu truck she had before.... Some service records exist - asking price $1995, willing to negotiate. Candidate#2 is a 1987 300SDL - as seen here: http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/cto/1422357388.html The owner has car repair business - this was his mother's Benz from new. She was the only driver until 1 year ago when he bought her a brand new replacement Benz. He sold this car to the employee - carried the financing for him until the guy fell back on payments and the car was repossessed - looking to sell it now. Looks clean in additional photos he sent me - engine bay very clean but not too clean. Proper coolant in the expansion tank. Very clean and shiny IP. No records, but the car was maintained by two dealers in Jax, FL - they have records. Supposedly all systems are working. Appears very clean inside from additional photos. Asking $3500 - willing to negotiate. So it's between the reliability of the 617 which seems to have been taken care of fairly well and what is seems like a clean, well maintained 603. The 603 is calling my name, but I know the parts can be more expensive and whatever I buy I'd like to keep for a while and use as my DD, including winter driving here in CO. Advice, recommendations on which one to pursue?! I like the SDL a little better, but I don't want a money pit, if you know what I mean. THanks, James
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1987 Mercedes 300SDL; SOLD 1985 Mercedes 300D; SOLD 2006 Honda Pilot - wife's ride; 122K; 1995 Toyota Land Cruiser - 3X locked; 182K |
#2
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A mechanic who thinks the SDL is a V6?
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1982 300CD Turbo (Otis, "ups & downs") parts for sale 2003 TJ with Hemi (to go anywhere, quickly) sold 2001 Excursion Powerstroke (to go dependably) 1970 Mustang 428SCJ (to go fast) 1962 Corvette LS1 (to go in style) 2001 Schwinn Grape Krate 10spd (if all else fails) |
#3
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Well the 603 should have almost as good reliability, a little more power, and better fuel economy. However, that isn't worth a $1500 premium to me. And the seller thinks it's a V6. If you can talk "V6" way down on price, it would be worth it. Otherwise I'd go with the '84.
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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar. 83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles 08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles 88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress. |
#4
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THe V6...
Quote:
Does every SDL have the Trap Oxidizer, or only some models?! I didn't see it in the engine bay photos, but it may not be visible.. Also, what about the DIY factor - I've been getting pretty comfortable maintaining my 300D with your help here, not sure about the 603 - it looks somewhat more complicated.
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1987 Mercedes 300SDL; SOLD 1985 Mercedes 300D; SOLD 2006 Honda Pilot - wife's ride; 122K; 1995 Toyota Land Cruiser - 3X locked; 182K Last edited by MercFan; 10-28-2009 at 12:11 PM. |
#5
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The best is to drive one of each.
If all else is the same, the SDL is a longer car, has a more powerful engine that is also quieter, more efficient, and less maintenance. Although both engines will run the cars for well over 300,000miles if maintained reasonably, the SD engine has a reputation for being less sensitive to neglect. It's always funny to me to see an ad for a car which is supposedly properly maintained and it has a broken headlamp door, about a $40 part, ... Anyway, if the SDL has working A/C and the SD does not, it can already justify part of the price spread.
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Gone to the dark side - Jeff |
#6
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The SDL is about 6 inches longer than the SD and a foot longer than a 300D (123 or 124 chassis). It is a BIG car, great for the highway, a little less great in tight city traffic. Definitely more bells and whistles, more creature comforts, more room in the back seat and the trunk.
The 603 engine is not difficult to maintain -- no valve adjustments, for example. It is a more powerful, smoother, quieter engine that is nonetheless more fuel efficient than the 617 (I have one of each). Air conditioning can be very expensive to repair so if that's important to you, you might choose the car in which it works rather than the other.
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"Buster" in the '95 Our all-Diesel family 1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car 2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022) Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762 "Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz." -- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970 |
#7
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603 603!
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#8
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Both?!
__________________
1987 Mercedes 300SDL; SOLD 1985 Mercedes 300D; SOLD 2006 Honda Pilot - wife's ride; 122K; 1995 Toyota Land Cruiser - 3X locked; 182K |
#9
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once you go 603 you never go back to those 617's..
bwhahahahahahaaha |
#10
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Perhaps his listings for cars are just typed in to fill-in-the-blank type categories. Such as Cylinders V___.
I would say go with what you want to spend. If you want to go cheaper, get the SD. If you want more expensive, get the SDL. Or you could lowball offer both and whichever person takes the offer, you get the car! Or I guess I could say whoever comes down the most.
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2009 ML320 Bluetec 1985 300CD 1981 300TD Past Mercedes 1979 300TD 1982 300TD 2000 E320 4Matic Wagon 1998 E430 1984 300SD 1980 300SD |
#11
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Depends what you want, apples and oranges. Decide what you want, then go shopping for the best example you can find.
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#12
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True...
Yeah... I just have hard time deciding what I want/need...
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1987 Mercedes 300SDL; SOLD 1985 Mercedes 300D; SOLD 2006 Honda Pilot - wife's ride; 122K; 1995 Toyota Land Cruiser - 3X locked; 182K |
#13
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SDL
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#14
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Quote:
Unless you already have a 603 and you want and 1985 300CD to compliment it...then I can see a 617 coming into the picture
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1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out 1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out) 1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481) "The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care." |
#15
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I have heard that the 617 engines lose power a lot sooner in life than a 603. They wear the cylinder walls into an oval... The 603 doesn't have this problem, but might in the future have a head problem. If you don't let the 603 overheat, it will give you many years of problem free service....
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All it takes for evil to prevail is for good men to stand by and do nothing. Too many people tip toe through life, never attempting or doing anything great, hoping to make it safely to death... Bob Proctor '95 S320 LWB '87 300SDL '04 E500 wagon 4matic |
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