I'm back in a big way, 1984 300SD with treasure trove in trunk - Page 5 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

TylerH860 · #61 02-08-2015, 07:00 PM

Finally got the big email. This car continues to amaze.

Tyler,

First thing, that is not me in the picture with my wife when we picked up the MINI.

In 1992 I traded my 1968 Corvette race car to Bob Caulde for the Mitsubishi Eclipse that you can see in the driveway. The corvette was very special to me. I raced it for 20 years. Bob is a fireman in Irving, Texas and is still racing this car. In the picture, Bob is on the left. Also you can see in the back of the picture, the rear of the 300SD in the garage next to my 300TD. I liked the 300SD so much that looked for a 300TD to use for a work vehicle in industrial sales with a company called KAR Products. I found a 1983 300TD with 12,000 miles and bought it for about $6000 more than I was going to pay for a new pickup. I drove it for 9 years and loved it.

Things about your 300SD:

We picked up the car at Stephenson Motors Dealership (started as a Pontiac dealership then became the first Mercedes dealer in Dallas) on Halloween day in 1983. If I can find the picture, I'll send it to you.
The first 3 years my wife would not drive it in the rain or on wet pavement.
It was always kept in the garage.
Never any body or interior work done before you acquired the car.
There is a small dent near the right tail light due to my wife backing into a bush while parking way out in the parking lot so that no one would park close to the car. She was very protective of this car the 16 years she drove it to work in Dallas.
It has never been through a car wash. Only hand washed by me.
The MINI dealer did not need to do any detail work before taking it to the auction.
The wheels that came new where 14"X6". I found a set of 14"X6.5" wheels off of a 1985 model because I did not like the small wheels and tires that came with the car. I really did not like the Continental tires that came on the car. The Michelin MXV are the best.
When I retired from 30 years at KAR Products, I became a sales trainer with Kimball Midwest (I have trained new reps from Wichita, Kansas). That is when I put the SD service as my work car for 3 years. One of the things I needed to do was put on new tires. The 300SD needs H rated tires due to the weight of the car. H rated tires are no longer available in 14" wheel size. That is why I bought new after market 15" wheels.

Enjoy your 1984 300SD as it is a very special vehicle,

Tommy

TylerH860 · #62 02-08-2015, 07:03 PM

Picture

vwnate1 · #63 02-08-2015, 07:16 PM

Impressive .

I'm pretty sure you can still get H rated tires by asking for LT (Light Truck) radials .

This car is a dream come true for an S-Klasse lover .

Skid Row Joe · #64 02-16-2015, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gear-head

There are most definitely several "high level" aerospace/defense industries around the Dallas/Ft Worth area. This area has been quite the hub for the industry dating back to at least WWII, Chance-Vought, Lockheed-Martin, Grumman, Textron Industries (Bell Helicopter) just to start with.

A little factual local DFW history here:
None of the ppl I've known since the '70s here that bought early 300SDs new were from the industry you mentioned. 100% of the ones I knew were upper-crust businessmen. CEOs and big earning businessmen. For example, the pampered 300SD I bought 1-owner had it's roots from a businessman - not an engineer. The coordinates were Walnut Hill Lane and Inwood - very pricey businessman residential area. The engineers I knew were too practical to pay that much for a car to just drive back and forth to a massive parking lot at a defense contractor. It wouldn't make sense. I knew dozens of EEs in the '70s/'80s. I don't recall ever seeing any MBs at Texas Instruments parking lots - just a lot of small Japanese and lower end European mid-sized and American economy cars for the most part. Typically, businessmen that bought a new SD had covered parking at work and at home. There were tons of SDs in Dallas-Fort Worth, and three successful MB dealerships at that time. 2 in Dallas, and 1 in Ft. Worth. I was keenly aware of the MB diesels since our family had owned 3 new ones by the time I arrived here for work in the '70s.

t walgamuth · #65 02-16-2015, 06:40 AM

I'd imagine LT tires in 14" might be rare.

jcyuhn · #66 02-16-2015, 08:32 AM

Hey Tyler, great story and a real cool find. I had not noticed this thread when it first came up. That has got to be the best remaining SD in the country.

The mini dealership is in Plano, I wonder if the car is from my neck of the woods?

TylerH860 · #67 03-04-2015, 01:08 AM

Is it Spring yet?

On Friday I drop her off at a independent mechanic located 2 miles down the road from me. He works on everything old. Had some nice looking vintage Alfa on jack stands along with a very clean 450SEL 6.9, along with some American muscle. I'll take more pictures the next time I'm there. I only snapped one photo of his "wall of shame".

Going in for a Valve Adjustment, Motor Mounts, injector return lines, and oil pan gasket. I was originally planning on doing these myself with a friend, but work and the 2 year old are pretty demanding right now. I'd rather farm it out so I can enjoy this car at 100%.

Once is back and we have nice weather, this car will be so much fun to detail. As its only seen one quick auction detail and 30 years of a fastidious owners garden hose, it will be a lot of fun to clean. Sort of like when I got my 500SL over a decade ago. Cleaning the way all the grime to find a great preservation piece.

I reluctantly had to give up the original title to get the vehicle registered. Just a photo to remember it by.

TylerH860 · #68 03-04-2015, 01:12 AM

PS: The original floor mats were letting the interior down. I went for something a little more bold this time. Can't wait for them to arrive.

gatorblue92 · #69 03-04-2015, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

PS: The original floor mats were letting the interior down. I went for something a little more bold this time. Can't wait for them to arrive.

I love those Coco Mats. Its on my list for the 240D. I need to stop buying cars and just finish the ones I already have

vwnate1 · #70 03-04-2015, 08:24 AM

I love that picture ! .

Sadly , cocoa mats will fill your interior with fibers......

I love that ' Wall Of Shame ' ! I used to have a similar one at my VW Shop , it had pistons with inverted valves stuck in them , bent connecting rods , broken crankshafts and such mostly .

One wheel that had seized whilst being flat towed and been dragged 1/4 through the brake drum

.

I tossed the entire transaxle on that car .

Keep us posted ! you're going to love this Merc.

vstech · #71 03-04-2015, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

Is it Spring yet?

On Friday I drop her off at a independent mechanic located 2 miles down the road from me. He works on everything old. Had some nice looking vintage Alfa on jack stands along with a very clean 450SEL 6.9, along with some American muscle. I'll take more pictures the next time I'm there. I only snapped one photo of his "wall of shame".

Going in for a Valve Adjustment, Motor Mounts, injector return lines, and oil pan gasket. I was originally planning on doing these myself with a friend, but work and the 2 year old are pretty demanding right now. I'd rather farm it out so I can enjoy this car at 100%.

Once is back and we have nice weather, this car will be so much fun to detail. As its only seen one quick auction detail and 30 years of a fastidious owners garden hose, it will be a lot of fun to clean. Sort of like when I got my 500SL over a decade ago. Cleaning the way all the grime to find a great preservation piece.

I reluctantly had to give up the original title to get the vehicle registered. Just a photo to remember it by.

I have seen a lot of those type brake rotors... I've seen worse too...
you have GOT to wonder what the driver was thinking the noise was...

TylerH860 · #72 03-25-2015, 11:20 PM

Regular maintenance and repairs completed after sitting for a few years.

Valve adjustment, Valve cover gasket.
Lower Oil Pan Gasket
Injector return lines
Thermostat
Motor mounts and shocks (mounts may have been original

)
Along with a brake and trans fluid flush.

Only surprise is going to be with the AC. Original compressor with an R12 charge, but the clutch is starting to fall apart. So I'll be replacing that soon & keeping the R12 of course.

So just like the saying goes, about $2000 to get the car up to snuff when you first buy them, even the nice ones. With the fresh mounts and valve adjustment, it's as smooth an idle as I've experienced with a 617.

Next will come heavy detailing.

vwnate1 · #73 03-26-2015, 12:47 AM

SWEET ! .

I hope you'll be posting up lots of photos.....

Whiskeydan · #74 03-26-2015, 09:46 AM

Very nice Tyler!

I don't think I'll ever turn loose of my '84 and 85 300SDs.

btw, Did you get lucky and find the later style AC condenser fitted in that 84?

HoustonM3 · #75 03-26-2015, 10:52 AM

Amazing that the owner took the time to write you this email, its awesome that you know the background on the car. Its always a curiosity to get to know the back story on a car that was obviously so well loved for so long.

As for the background on "typical" W126 diesel buyers. My father purchased a 1983 240d for my mother when she found out she was pregnant with my brother. European delivery. After 2 years the car went to my grandmother and my father purchased a 1985 300SD both of which came from Intercontinental Motors in Houston ( now MB North Houston). The SD then went to my grandmother and my grandfather who was an electrical engineer took the 240D. Both were in service until the the mid 2000's when reluctantly we sold them because they had been replaced with newer models. I feel my grandfather would have written a similar type of email and would take pleasure to know someone was still enjoying and taking care of the car.
Enjoy Tyler!