I picked up the SDL this evening. This thing is fast. Frank Barone says it best so I won't repeat. Mrs. Leadfoot in the SE couldn't keep up.

On the outside it's close to pristine. A ding here and there but it was a worthy companion to the W220 it shared a garage with. It doesn't look like a car with 260K miles.

On the inside there's a 4" gash in the passenger seat that is very out of place with the condition of everything else. The PO can't remember how it started. A small scratch just grew into the gash.

Mechanically it could be a challenge. Everything works except for the ACC. The fan makes noise and air keeps switching from one set of registers to another. I hope this doesn't mean taking the dash apart. AC works and blows pretty cold. Oh, and the outside temp was 118-119F at 10:30pm in San Ramon, CA. Good thing the AC was cold The transmission feels fine. The shifts are smoother than the SE which isn't saying much. I prefer Chrysler and Toyota's imperceptible shifts.

The engine will require work and hopefully not ressurection. It smokes more than I can tolerate on warm start up. One good billow and it's done. It smells like fuel, not oil, but what do I know. It almost smells like charcoal starter fluid. It knocks and clacks for a while after any start. It smooths out but never idles as smoothly as the SD (which is for sale). It's even noisier at idle than the SD (which is for sale). Get on the gas and it's gone. When I come to a stop, there's a momentary cloud. When I'm on the freeway and punch it enough to drop into 3rd, there's a trail of smoke. It smokes anything on the road figuratively and literally. I've gotten used to the SD (which is for sale) that doesn't smoke that I can tell.

The chassis also needs some work. Any smoothness over the SE is purely wheelbase. The steering is tight but not precise and there's a bit of pull and wander that I don't notice on the SE.

So now I get to pore over the records and see what's due.

Sixto
91 300SE (days are numbered?)
86 300SDL
81 300SD (for sale cheap)

Congrats on the new SDL!

Start with running a bottle of diesel purge or alike thru it for one tank. Try chaning the fuel filters too.

Driving it hard for a while may clear up some of that smoke if the previous owner was a baby with the pedal.

I think driving mine hard is the best thing for it, no smoke, no noises and I think it's very happy

Is it gold or champagne outside? Mine is champagne with the creme interior with 263K, I think we could have twins

turbodiesel,

If I remember correctly from your posted pic's, I believe the "official" exterior color of your SDL is smoke silver (paint color code 702). What a great color - mine's the same. Even when it is unacceptably dirty in my eyes, she still looks clean to others.

__________________
Chris

'04 ML500 - 53k, Inspiration Edition, Desert Silver
'11 Audi A4 Avant - Brilliant Black
'87 300SDL sold
'99 C280 Sport sold
'85 190E 2.3 sold

Yeah it never does look dirty, but I would still rather black

The california sun took its toll on my clearcoat, its pretty much shot. I am probably going to get a high quality repaint this summer of the original smoke silver color.

Is your interior creme or brown?

My interior is Sienna Red - it's the color of fine wine.

__________________
Chris

'04 ML500 - 53k, Inspiration Edition, Desert Silver
'11 Audi A4 Avant - Brilliant Black
'87 300SDL sold
'99 C280 Sport sold
'85 190E 2.3 sold

Sixto,

Congratulations on your SDL. I have one too and happen to think the 300SDL was the finest, smooothest diesel produced by MB with the 126 body style (biased opinion, of course).

You describe that the engine doesn't have a smooth idle. It should be super smooth. I'd clean the injectors with diesel purge first to see if this clears it up. It may need a new set of injectors too being that it has 260K, so the correct spray pattern may be compromised.


Turbodiesel:

Black with palomino interior here.

Herb
'82 240D
'87 300SDL

I looked at the papers more carefully and it's an 87. I was tracking a couple of SDLs and I lost track. I'll check the paint code but it's defnitely more gold than smoke silver. The interior is more palomino than cream.

The records show that all 6 injectors were replaced less than 10mo/10K ago. I'll give Diesel Purge a shot anyway.

The fact that the SD idles better and smokes less suggests that I'll be getting better acquainted with the shop manual.

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
81 300SD (for sale cheap)

It could also be an engine mount that needs replacing...

Steve

Ps. Airfoill.... do you have any experience with the 350SDL?

That is what I was looking for when I found my 300SDL

Congrats on getting the SDL. Now you might wish you kept the wheel you sold me. Sorry, you can't have it back.

Good luck with the SDL. I think you will find it more complicated than the 300SD. I know I do.

P E H

Steve A

I don't have any experience with the 350SDL other than staying away from it due to the bad reputation of bending piston rods.

Herb
'82 240D
'87 300SDL

Thanks... I can see I need to do a 350 search here on the forum... from what a few folks have said, the 350 seems to have a reputation for not being as reliable as the 300.

__________________
Steve A

'87 300SDL 97K Mi
'87 300TD 115k Mi