My sons new ride, '86 300SDL and some questions.
 

Pics are in next post

I should have waited for the frost/dew to disappear, the paint is spectacular. I'm not crazy about the 17's but it rides ok. 194K on working speedo. Started instantly with normal glow at 31* this morning. I has a small amount of rust along the front edge of the sunroof and on the bottom of one of the doors. That is all I can find.

Now to what I need to fix:
1. Slow shut off- shut off valve or other vacuum leak?
2. AC doesn't work- told it was a leaking hose, seller was honest about everything else... we'll see.
3. Mild play in steering- ball joints? Maybe tighten the steering box? No unusual tire wear.
4. Belt tensioner noise- Tensioner and shock already ordered.
5. Runs COLD. 175 mile trip never got to 60* on the gauge. Already ordered a new thermostat.
6. Cruise doesn't work- Probably won't fix
7. RF window won't work- checking switch this morning.
8. All fluids/filters will be done ASAP
9. Needs shocks everywhere.

Any comments on my tentative diagnosis are welcome.

Lost my pics...

Looks like a nice ride! Those are at least MB-AMG style wheels, if they weren't chome I would like them :)

Those wheels don't look too bad on there IMHO. Nice W126.

Anybody tell me how to get the window switch out? I've got the wood out with the switch attached, but it's not like my other benz's where I can pop it out. It appears after I remove the plug that there are clips on each end, is this correct? Do I just need a screwdriver to pry them out? It also appears that on this car the "frame" that the switches mount to has been glued to the underside of the wood.

Nice ride Gator!

I got the window switch out, cleaned and replaced... no luck, window still doesn't work. Fixed the slow shut off- tested the shut off valve and it held 22" vac. Found a split vac hose near the trans modulator fixed that and now it shuts off quickly. Looked through the repair records and found where the head had been replaced due to an overheating incident when the car was only a year old. Unfortunately the replacement was a #14 head... A good day so far though.

Test the window motor direct. There could be broken wires in the door hinge area.

Good idea Chad, I'll try that next.

Replace the fuse first. The windows are fused in pairs.

I thought of that Chief, all the others work, thanks for the suggestion though.

Yeah, those are a fun failure to diagnose. Window works sometimes but when it doesn't opening and closing the door fixes it. Yep I have the same issue, just haven't had the time to tear into it yet.

love it! w126's are my fave!

First pic looks like the front fender doesn't match. Must be the frost because it doesn't look like that when its dry.

I adjusted the steering box one half turn (CCW) and it seems to have taken some of the play out but it feels like just one side of center. I was only able to drive it about a half mile afterwards (not registered yet). I won't mess with it anymore until I can drive it more.

Any thoughts on the running temp? Would a stuck or missing thermostat let it run that cold? I'm not sure how to check the gauge. I have a infrared non contact thermometer but I'm not sure what to take the temp of. Maybe the upper radiator hose? I need to change the coolant anyway, it has the green crap in it. Seems to be the light green "universal" stuff though. Some Xerex will be in it soon.

Forgot the mention the broken odometer. I took the speedo out and verified the gears are bad. I can buy the gears for $65 or ship it off and get it fixed for $115. The gear swap doesn't seem too hard, any thoughts? It has the VDO electronic/analog odometer.

Cal, I might have a set of gears.. I had an extra set. Gotta find them. An open theromstat would definitely cause it to run cold. Can't wait to see it.