Am I wasting my time trying to sell this 1983 300SD? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

vstech · #16 03-02-2014, 12:23 PM

there are tools that are designed to remove the cluster, you can make a set out of steel coat hangers... but I've always just grasped the bottom of the cluster with my thumbs on the knobs for display brightness, and odometer/clock adjustment, and pulled it right out...
then reach behind it, and unplug all the connectors, and remove the lower bulbs... (the wires have numbers to keep them in the right order that match the holes in the cluster)

then kinda wriggle it out from behind the steering wheel... install is reverse of removal...

but that looses the 400K mileage from the cluster... I'd order a set of gears from odometergears.com or find them separately and swap them out. 400K is NOT a huge amount of miles, and is a badge of honor, not a detriment on a diesel Mercedes!

vstech · #17 03-02-2014, 12:25 PM

keep in mind that the cluster needs to be out of a DIESEL 126 from 81 to 84 in order for the odometer/speedometer to be accurate... if it's from a gasser, or a diesel newer than 84, it will be off considerably...

capflya · #18 03-02-2014, 12:25 PM

For the gauge cluster, if you don't have the removal tools I've found it easiest to remove the panel under the steering column and then reach up and push it out from behind. If you're not sure the other one works you can get the gears to fix the odo. They're like $30 on ebay and pretty easy to do, I fixed my dads w126 when he got it.

If you need some parts I've got a w126 in my driveway that I'm pulling stuff off of. I'm just over in Napa so not too far away. Shoot me a PM, I'm pulling stuff off of it later today. There's not much left but you're welcome to take whatever you want. I'm saving the brakes since it's an 87 and has the larger front brakes. The blower stuff should all be there.

charmalu · #19 03-02-2014, 01:16 PM

Your body looks good and the interior, doesn`t look like any body damage or rust from the pictures. To me a great body is a plus, body work IE rust is a PITA to repair. An engine can be replaced if bad. Good one`s can still be found in PNP, especially if it was a driver and in there because of an accident.

You didn`t mention if the oil leak was to the front or rear of the engine. If it is a front Main Seal that can be fixed w/o engine removal. rear Main, then the engine has to be removed.
Could be the Oil Filter housing seal or maybe the Turbo Supply Line has a crack. How about the oil lines to the Oil Cooler?

Pull off the lower under dash panel on the passenger side. remove the plug to the Blower and put 12V to it to see if the Blower even works.
When we got our 80 240D it did not work even with 12V. replaced it with a good PNP Blower.

I did some CL searching in the SF Bay area, this first one is an 80SD with 528K miles for $2500 and one owner.

***1980 Mercedes-Benz 300SD Turbo Diesel, One Owner***

82 MERCEDES 300SD / CUSTOM VEGGIE KIT

mbz 300SD

Mercedes Benz 300SD Turbocharged Diesel

Mercedes 300SD Turbo Diesel

1979 mercedes benz 300sd clean Cold A/C Classic power diesel leather *

1984 Mercedes diesel 300sd air bag anti lock brakes euro headlights

1983 Mercedes 300SD Turbo Diesel

1984 Mercedes Benz 300SD $1900 OBO

300SD mercedes for TRADE!

There are 3 W116 in the bunch, but will give every one reading this as to what they are going for out here in the Bay Area. The prices are all over the place.

Any mileage claim on any old MB is suspect.

Charlie

83w126 · #20 03-02-2014, 01:42 PM

The oil lines actually looked almost brand new when I got the car. I think its mainly the front and rear seal leaking, the oil filter housing is a possibility too though. Its unusual to see Mercedes diesels for much less than $1800 anymore, the state did a pretty good job of getting all the cheaper ones off the road by offering the owners money to scrap them (as much as $1200 in some cases).

Assault · #21 03-02-2014, 01:52 PM

There is a very simple, yet timely way to repair your odometer.

How to Repair Your Broken Odometer

TnBob · #22 03-02-2014, 02:25 PM

OR .. you could buy another car on time.. paying $300/400 a month and still have mechanical issues.

Why not spend that money on repairing your Benz ? If you dont feel up to it, find and indy, have him do a full inspection on the car and work from there.

83w126 · #23 03-02-2014, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TnBob

OR .. you could buy another car on time.. paying $300/400 a month and still have mechanical issues.

Why not spend that money on repairing your Benz ? If you dont feel up to it, find and indy, have him do a full inspection on the car and work from there.

It sounds like you may be right, maybe I should just keep it and not worry about it. Its no worse now than its been for the 3 years I have already driven it, and it doesn't sound like its worth enough I could afford something better if I sell it.

ROLLGUY · #24 03-02-2014, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 83w126

The other thing that will make keeping it difficult is that diesel w123s and w126s have pretty much disappeared from my area in the last few years. As recently as 3-4 years ago there were still a lot, and now they are gone, and the supply of junkyard parts has far decreased as well. The air cleaner bracket is broken on my car, and even though its a 5 minute job to replace it I can't even find one anymore.

I find the same thing around here as well. 123's are almost non existent now in many of the yards that had half a dozen on site less than a year ago. As far as the air cleaner bracket, Pelican Parts should have them in stock.....Rich

crazy4diesel · #25 03-02-2014, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 83w126

I am surprised the air cleaner bracket is that cheap, I had seen them elsewhere for $50, and I usually don't even check peachparts because the prices are rather high on most other stuff.

I don't know, I find Pelican/Peach (the relationship I still don't understand) pretty good on most things as far as price, there are times, they don't carry a brand I want for something, where it's only Uro they offer, I move on. But, for the prices of things I do want, and their customer service, I've been very pleased.

I think, given you're need/desire for a selling price, versus the market realities, you might be best off sinking a grand into it and driving it! It really is a nice looking car, and great looking interior. But the oil dripping can be an issue, I've even seem some cities fine residents with chronic leakers parked on the street. One thing I've already discovered in my project, removing these engines really isn't that bad.

charmalu · #26 03-02-2014, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazy4diesel

I don't know, I find Pelican/Peach (the relationship I still don't understand) pretty good on most things as far as price, there are times, they don't carry a brand I want for something, where it's only Uro they offer, I move on. But, for the prices of things I do want, and their customer service, I've been very pleased.

I think, given you're need/desire for a selling price, versus the market realities, you might be best off sinking a grand into it and driving it! It really is a nice looking car, and great looking interior. But the oil dripping can be an issue, I've even seem some cities fine residents with chronic leakers parked on the street. One thing I've already discovered in my project, removing these engines really isn't that bad.

Pelican Parts owns the Peachparts Forum, Wayne Dempsey bought it a couple years ago from Bill Woods.
It started out as Mercedesshop.com and they had Fastlane as the site/link to order parts, then later add Allpartsexpress. The name got changed to Peachparts because MB didn`t like the use of their name and the selling of parts. (Think Attorneys). Peach came about because the home base was in Georgia.

I ordered some parts on Fri about 5pm and got the delivery Saturday at 11:15am. talk about fast service.

Charlie

jay_bob · #27 03-02-2014, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

keep in mind that the cluster needs to be out of a DIESEL 126 from 81 to 84 in order for the odometer/speedometer to be accurate... if it's from a gasser, or a diesel newer than 84, it will be off considerably...

One other thing to consider with gauge cluster swaps:

The tach in a gas engine counts the sparks.

Diesel tachs have a sender on the balancer (123/<=85 126) or a ring gear sensor (124/>= 86 126).

The number of pulses/rev on the Diesels is not the same as the gas models.

The worst case, the later ring gear sensors give 144 pulses/rev, while the gas spark is 3 pulses/rev. The result is a gas tach on a Diesel is buried at 7k as soon as you start the engine.

Fortunately the clusters are modular, and you can remove the individual elements and swap them.

ROLLGUY · #28 03-02-2014, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charmalu

I ordered some parts on Fri about 5pm and got the delivery Saturday at 11:15am. talk about fast service.

Charlie

Yes, being in CA helps. I too have ordered parts before noon, and get them the next day. I think you got your parts in record time.....Rich

yvairguy · #29 03-03-2014, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cooljjay

You might very well be wasting your time selling it at that price. With mileage north of 400k and a oil leak.....it will not appeal to many people....at that mileage number, things just start wearing out...approaching the end of their life....

I would have no issues driving a car with that many miles and the car is in great shape for that many miles...

But a question that needs to be pondered....that most buyers are thinking....why would i pay this much money for a car with over 400k on the clock....when I can get a decent one with a quarter of the miles for the same price....

I would think it would sell for 1500$ but that would mean you would lose money....so you must ask yourself....do I want to keep this for a second car and continue to fix it up....or should I just cut my loses and get rid of it...

I think cooljjay hit it, i paid 1100 for my 300D with "low miles" right about 200k, i wish it was a SD but with 200k less miles i would have still bought the 300D over the SD based on mileage alone.

eatont9999 · #30 03-03-2014, 01:06 AM

I think the car in question is worth about $800 to a prospective buyer given the issues described. Not many people are in the market for a high mileage, old benz with an oil leak. You could easily put $2300 into the car to make it right again. A grand would go toward the suspension and steering with the difference going toward oil leaks, cooling system, A/C and misc improvements. Paint is another $1500 if it is not in good condition.

My grey 300SD is undergoing a full restoration and I can attest to the cost of such an endeavor. To have the car running like new will cost a lot of money. There is no cheap benz!