I think that it depends on where you live. Out East with salt on the roads and no donors in the bone yards to get parts from, then yes you're crazy to try to keep these old MBs running well as a daily driver. Out West and Southwest however, classic MBs are still all over the place, the bodies are good and you can comfortably spend a weekend wrenching on them in January out on your driveway.

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'81 300SD

NOOOOOOoooo, RUN! The MB is much better from a parts availability stand point.

1980 SAAB 900 3 door,
I bought it in 1986, used it, then it made the rounds between Mom / Dad and me depending on who needed a car. I finally took it off the road in 2010 due to parts being too much of a battle, I was pretty rusty at that point as well. It isn't easy keeping an obscure car running when it is Dads daily driver and they are some distance away. Sold 2011.

It's hard giving-up something you really used to enjoy, but there may come a time you can get back to it as a hobby in ownership again, at some future point.

Lol....I look at Mercedes parts as you look at Saab parts. Hard to find, but then, I know all the sources for Saab parts since I was into them for so many years.

With the help of this list I'm learning the MB parts sources, some are still difficult, haven't found the copper sealing washer for the fuel filter for instance....

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Eric, CPO, Submarines, retired.
Here's a sig line...
Mine: '68 Corvette LS1/4L65E, 83 240D, 2000 GMC 4x4, 08 FLSTC Anniv
Hers: '72 Corvette 454/4spd, '99 MB SLK, '93 Metro vert, 78 240D, '92 Silverado, '65 Fjord Rustang, '59 Fjord Fairlane, '17 Slingshot.

I have to run often enough to find copper sealing washers. I have toyed with the ideal of making them with my gasket punch set. Last week it was Kubota injector seals at 2.00 each for eight of them for a hydralic pump.

It is not the money particualrily as much as finding a source fast for some sizes. That's why I thought as I drove back. Why not see if you can make them yourself if you can locate a sheet of copper.

Annealing the old ones can sometimes get you by. Just heat them red hot and let them cool. Removes any work hardness.

Let the rage go....
It's not good for you and your ex will only derive more satisfaction....

Best revenge is living well.

Jim

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14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles

I have a wonderful new wife and a daughter, I am indeed living well!

I came to the same conclusion and retired the 300SD a year ago to someone who was prepared to do more heavy wrenching and/or run it into the ground - something I could not bear to do.

I had the same challenges as many others - indies who knew these cars are dropping out, and my local shops here in the BC interior that simply do not want to touch any unusual vehicle. With a weak back and no access to a lift, I didn't fancy doing the prop shaft and rear end work on my SD that needed to sometime in the future.

Given our wonderful summer climate, I'll keep the 380SL running as long as possible but the W126 was a much nicer drive than the W107!

I'm now driving a VW Golf wagon - a really fun ride with great handling and fantastic fuel economy. I miss the SD but the new ride is great.

I completely understand! I just sold my 300SD back in September because I did not have enough time to keep up the 87 300d and the 83 300SD. My wife loved the W124, not so much the W126...so it had to go. Working full time, being married, and having a social life really inhibit time working on the MB. I ended up just buying a low mileage GMC Yukon that I don't have to worry about suspension or turbo rebuilds on. American cars don't hold any value so it was pretty easy to find an inexpensive one. Best of luck!

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97 S500 (90,000 miles) - wife's car
87 300D (298,000 miles and a replacement #14 head)
94 Suburban K2500 - need something to haul firewood
83 300SD (343,000 miles) (sold)

Congrats!

You can always find another car, but a good wife.... that's almost as hard to find as a good original engined 350SD(L)!

Jim

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14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles

Without a good wife is going to always be difficult. I too am very lucky.

The OP is in Richmond VA , a place I'd expect a decent number of Mercedes buyers to be. And, they always can stop be the local dealer and buy parts.

For SAAB, they were not sold in large numbers and few models made their way to the US further reducing the parts pool. Also, there is no longer a dealer network. Sure you might be able to order parts, but the supply is rapidly shrinking.

Try and find the following at an auto parts store, on a Saturday for a 80 SAAB 900 ( with a B motor ).

Water pump ( in block )
Front rotors
Front wheel bearings
Front calipers.

92 was the last year for the classic 900, the on the spot parts supply for those isn't exactly great either.

It isn't that I can't keep the car running ( I have a fully equipped shop ) it is more of a practical issue keeping it running in one day.

Copper washers are no big deal just measure the ID and OD, they are standard sizes.

If stranded, old ones can be reused either by heating to anneal or by tightening to standard torque and looking for leaks. ( If reusing, put back the way it came apart. ) If they still leak, hammer the banjo bolt head to imprint the washer then retighten.