SL Diesel Road Trip - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

mach4 · #1 05-08-2013, 10:44 PM

I decided it was time to take the diesel SL out on the road. A nice trip from San Diego to Arkansas. (Kind of a warmup for the SoCal GTG run up the coast)

Today was day one San Diego to Albuquerque. The car did really well.

This was the first chance I've had to get a true highway mileage number. San Diego to Phoenix produced 33.8 and the second leg, Phoenix to Albuquerque delivered 30.6 over the continental divide.

The 33.8 number is probably going to be the absolute max I'll see, as that was constant speed (70mph), no construction and literally no brakes from the time I got on the freeway until I got off for fuel.

Tomorrow, Oklahoma City.

kerry · #2 05-08-2013, 11:07 PM

Don't fall asleep on that leg.

Squiggle Dog · #3 05-08-2013, 11:12 PM

Oh, wow, you drove through Phoenix! I would LOVE to have seen that car. My roommate wants an SL, but the V8 engines tend to overheat down here, plus the gas mileage isn't great. A diesel SL would be wonderful.

dude99 · #4 05-08-2013, 11:15 PM

You could probably make a living wither producing and selling diesel SL's or even just selling a kit with all the mounting hardware and air cleaner etc... Beautiful car... Glad to see the it's racking up some miles

mach4 · #5 05-08-2013, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squiggle Dog

Oh, wow, you drove through Phoenix! I would LOVE to have seen that car. My roommate wants an SL, but the V8 engines tend to overheat down here, plus the gas mileage isn't great. A diesel SL would be wonderful.

I'm planning on going thru Phoenix on Tue or Wed on the return run so that might be another possibility. Once outside SoCal didn't see any old MBs - no 123s, 124s, 126s and no 107s or 129s either.

NC-Diesel · #6 05-09-2013, 12:18 AM

I would love to see what this looks like under the hood or here how you managed to fit that! I love the SL bodies! Avoided them because the fuel costs are too expensive!

mach4 · #7 05-09-2013, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NC-Diesel

I would love to see what this looks like under the hood or here how you managed to fit that! I love the SL bodies! Avoided them because the fuel costs are too expensive!

Here's everything you need to be able to build your own - 380SL Diesel Conversion Project

Lots of pictures "under the hood".

Squiggle Dog · #8 05-09-2013, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mach4

I'm planning on going thru Phoenix on Tue or Wed on the return run so that might be another possibility. Once outside SoCal didn't see any old MBs - no 123s, 124s, 126s and no 107s or 129s either.

That might work. I've seen a few W123s and W126s on the road here. Craigslist is flooded with 107s, but I rarely see them on the road. I have never seen so many coupes in the wrecking yards.

I bet a guy could get along okay buying up decent 107, W111, etc. project cars that didn't come with diesel engines, installing OM617 engines in them, then detailing them really nicely like Mercedes Motoring does. I bet a lot of them would find their way to Europe and other foreign countries.

outboardr · #9 05-09-2013, 01:06 AM

Wow, what a project, and what a classic looking SL!
When I first clicked on the thread and saw the grille, then the mileage figures I thought what bs is this! Then saw you had 617 to account for the mileage.
How quiet is the ride?

mach4 · #10 05-09-2013, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by outboardr

Wow, what a project, and what a classic looking SL!
When I first clicked on the thread and saw the grille, then the mileage figures I thought what bs is this! Then saw you had 617 to account for the mileage.
How quiet is the ride?

The ride is quite quiet - especially at speed. At idle there is no mistaking the MB diesel signature sound. I don't have a hood pad at the moment, so that will likely help quiet things down a bit.

compu_85 · #11 05-09-2013, 10:04 AM

IMHO the trunk lid should read: 300SL Turbo Diesel.

The badge on the left never indicated if there was fuel injection or not, so I think leaving it as 300SL is appropriate.

Nice swap! Glad it worked out to be so straightforward

-J

t walgamuth · #12 05-09-2013, 11:04 AM

Cool! I am glad its working out for you. I believe we had some discussion about the mileage it would pull down. I'd love to see what we all predicted.

mach4 · #13 05-09-2013, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

Cool! I am glad its working out for you. I believe we had some discussion about the mileage it would pull down. I'd love to see what we all predicted.

Here was my prediction - 380SL Diesel Conversion Project

Not too far off...

mach4 · #14 05-10-2013, 03:58 PM

Well... made it to Arkansas.

Two more legs in the books for fuel and car performance. Albuquerque to Amarillo was 32.1 mpg while Amarillo to Bentonville only got me 29.2. The lower number is most likely due to adverse winds.

The car continues to perform above expectations.

Heading across west Oklahoma this beautiful sky started to darken and became one of the worst super-cells I've ever experienced. Rain and hail and near zero visibility.

Probably got more rain in that 30 minute stretch than the car has seen in its lifetime being a SoCal car. But no leaks anywhere and better yet no hail damage- good thing since there was no place to hide as all the underpasses were already filled with others taking shelter.

I do have one potential problem and that is the custom A/C belt tension adjuster appears to be coming loose. I need a crowsfoot wrench and a long extension, neither tool I brought along. I may just cut the belt it deal with it when I get back.

Walkenvol · #15 05-13-2013, 09:07 AM

Got to be a harbor freight somewhere close.