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#1
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'82 300D vs. '87 300SDL - Advice?
I'm a happy VW TDI owner planning to take the plunge into MB Diesel ownership if the financial stars align. The two cars I'm considering are these:
'87 300SDL, 150k miles. VG-E condition in all respects, trap oxidizer removed & bypassed, owned and maintained for 1/2 its life by an excellent DIY mechanic who's fixed a lot of niggling issues and identified a few more (none of them serious). Price: $7k, plus another $2k or so for e-code lights, new wheels, timing chain replacement, etc. that I'd do if I bought it. '82 300D, 100k miles. Mint, I mean straight out of the showroom, I've never seen a car this age this clean. Stock except for replacement stereo. Maint. records not available but based on condition presumed to be maintained by the book. If there are any major systems about to fail, however, I doubt they've been touched. Price: $4500 I've driven and inspected both cars and would be happy owning either one, though I haven't had a PPI done (and I'm a mechanical layman, not expert). I'm waiting to get some financial issues resolved to let me buy, and one of them might be gone by then. Disregarding that, I guess I'm looking for guidance on likely problems, costs, maintenance issues to look for in these cars at these ages and with this mileage. Assume very moderate mechanical ability, though willing to learn. Thanks, Dave |
#2
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With regard to the 87 SDL:
Got records? -Have the AC Compressor and AC Control PC Board been replaced? Heater monovalve? -How's the transmission doing? Serviced regularly? -Ball joints, running gear, exhaust system OK? That's what mine needed since I owned it E-Code headlights are defintitely great! Tom Kanis 87 300SDL 158K |
#3
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I'll bet you a 52 MB hub cap that the 82 will be on the road long after the SDL is just another parts car........
William Rogers..... P.S. I bought the hub cap at a yard sale for a dollar..... Last edited by william rogers; 04-25-2002 at 08:56 PM. |
#4
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That 300D is a tuff car to pass up on if it really is as mint as you say with only 100K.
It all comes down to what type of car you prefer over the other, obviously. If you do alot of highway driving, the SDL is your car. But I think $7k is just a tad high, try to work him down $6000 and you got a good deal. I think the 603 motor is just as reliable and well built as the good old 617. Both are half million mile motors in the proper hands. Things to watch out for on the SDL in my experience are the belt tensioner (does it rattle or is the pulley slanted), tranny shifts (the trannies in the SDL's seem to last a very long time compared to others, don't know why), exhaust, climate control, and the sunroof (can get pricey). If you want a real utilitarian car, the 300D is your car. It's not as comfy, and smaller than the 300SDL. Whatever you decide, both are great cars. I have had ZERO engine and transmission problems with my 300SDL now approaching 270K hard miles. |
#5
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Are ABS and airbag, albeit a 15 year old airbag, considerations?
How often do you have tall people in the back seat? The 300D should get 10-15% better fuel economy based on what I remember of folks' posts. If you're going to see a lot of hills or expect to drive in the triple digits, the SDL has the edge. The SDL is about due for a vacuum pump if it hasn't been replaced in the last 50K miles. Sixto 91 300SE 87 300SDL 81 300SD |
#6
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I would have to take the 100% iron engine and not a mixed metal if I was looking. 87 is much more refined, the 82 is proven to last. My 83 will run 85-90 all day long and get 25 mpg doing it. It may be my opinion but diesels were meant to have an odd number of jugs
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#7
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I too perfer the all cast iron set up in the 300D, TD, and SDs. As mentioned by others, what type of driving do you do? For around town, the D will be easier, especially when parking. After driving our TD and then our Passat for a while, then driving the SD, you realize just how big it is. The 300Ds are about 191 inches long, where as the SDLs are 208 inches long. For the highway this would be a benefit, but not in town.
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1999 MB SL500 (110,000 mi) 2004 Volvo V70 2.5T (220,000 mi) 2014 Tesla Model S 85 (136,000 mi) MBCA member |
#8
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Thanks to everyone for their thoughts. In terms of town vs. highway, I'm not sure, as this is basically a second/project/hobby car - the Passat TDI will remain my main driver. That may sound counterintuitive, as the raison d'etre of these diesels seems to be economy and durability when driven to insane mileage, but there it is. As much as anything, I guess I've always wanted to own a Benz, and these seem to be fairly low-cost ways to enter the fold (also considering a high-mileage '92 300E for about $7k, but I prefer diesels). The W123's have an almost vintage charm about them, and this is the cleanest one I've ever seen. OTOH, I'm a big guy and the SDL has tons of room. It's still a toss-up.
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#9
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The price on the SDL is great, the 300D too high for me. My brother spent 12,500 on an 86 SDL last year and doesn't feel ripped.
The only real problem with the 603 is the trap oxidizer (replaced) and the engine eating crap from the EGR (easy to fix). Will run forever -- mine is at 172,000 and goes like a scalded cat. Milage on the SDL will probably be a little better than the 300D -- newer engine design. It will definitely have the performace edge. The 126 chassis is at least as good as the 123 -- and the 126 is SO nice to drive! I'd grab the SDL if possible. Peter
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1972 220D ?? miles 1988 300E 200,012 1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles 1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000 1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs! |
#10
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I owned both an 83 300D and currently a 87 300SDL. I drove (drive) them both the same way, very hard and high highway speeds.
The 83 returned a consistent 25.5MPG while the 300SDL returns a VERY consistent 23.5MPG. |
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