Hello,

I came across a nice 1983 300sd, very clean all documented service, 145,000 miles. Everything seems to work and the engine is clean enough to eat off. No expense was spared on the car.

I am wondering how these cars compare to a 300d and what the major differences would be. Is this car too big for driving in town? Are the seats power vs manual in the 300d. I would prefer as much manual as possible.

What is a fair price for a super clean 300sd with low mileage and documented service.

Would you be happier driving the 300sd vs 300d?

Thanks!

I've got the SD. Everything is powered. Very little manual on the car save the antenna, you have to manually raise and lower it with the switch if its stock.

If the steering and suspension is tight, It should be a large improvement in ride over the 123. the 83 was the short 126 and so has more car-like handling, slightly less boat-like handling. The 123 is too small for me. I like to ride on the highway.

The 83 doesn't have the klima relay and there are a TON of 83s out there. I Think it is due to the fact that it is relatively easy to fix compared to the 84/85s. It has SLIGHTLY less to go wrong

It could also be that there was a recession in 1983 and so the cars didn't get purchased as quickly causing lots of them to sit on the lot and get older without being used.

In the end though, you need to decide if you like the way the two RIDE. the 126 is still a boat next to the 123.

__________________

77' 300D, "Cartman" SOLD @ 150K (didn't know what I had)
83' 300SD, "The Superdon" 325k+ @ 28mpg
95 E320 wagon, "Millennium Falcon" 231k+ @ 24 Mpg
95 E300D, "Sherley" 308k @ 33.69 Mpg, currently anticipating a head
99 Suzuki Intruder "Trudy" @ 45 mpg

Whats a fair price for very clean one?

Thayer is dead on, if you ride on the highway a lot the 126 is the way to go. If you scoot about town a lot, the 123. Where are you located?

In all of this don't lose sight of the top three criteria in used car selection:

condition
Condition &
CONDITION

Jacksonville, Florida........I drive about 50 miles per day 40 of those miles on the highway. I go out of town once a month about 300 mile road trip.

Thanks!

Whats the going rate for really nice ones?

SD SD SD

Buy an SD

__________________
08 R320 CDI current

Past
95 E420
87 300D Turbo 5spd
90 300TE
83 300SD
85 300TD
92 400E
85 190D

with that low mileage, I wouldn't be suprised if they were asking 3k. Don't pay more than 3k. Even at 140k miles...the dang thing is still 28 years old. You will be shocked in 10 months at how much money you spent on getting it up to snuff....even with this forum.

Yeah sure all the service records. HA! Did they clean the banjo bolts and aldo fittings, did they replace the fuses with the plastic McParts fuses. Are your flex plates cracked. is the "roof" of the trunk forward of the lid rusted? Tie Rods, compression, vacuum pump, compressor, steering box. Go read the w126 tips thread.

__________________

77' 300D, "Cartman" SOLD @ 150K (didn't know what I had)
83' 300SD, "The Superdon" 325k+ @ 28mpg
95 E320 wagon, "Millennium Falcon" 231k+ @ 24 Mpg
95 E300D, "Sherley" 308k @ 33.69 Mpg, currently anticipating a head
99 Suzuki Intruder "Trudy" @ 45 mpg

No question... You NEED to be looking at SD's. They are much more comfortable for the style of driving you are describing.

It is easy to rack up a lot of miles around Jax.

__________________
AJ

1985 300D (SOLD)

The guy is actually asking $5500.00 for the car.

That is priced right if the car is as he says it is. The 3k spitball price is laughable. I would buy it right now for $3000, then run it on ebay and watch it bring $4-5k.

__________________
1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!