Back in an SD - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Austin85 · #1 05-20-2015, 10:28 PM

It's been a few years maybe 5 since I've owned a Mercedes Diesel and this weekend picked up the pictured 1981 300SD . Lots of fun so far...I had the same color exterior 300SD in an '82 five or so yrs ago.

Not sure of the actual miles or history yet but the body and interior are good, the seats are almost perfect cocoa colored MB Tex. The inop OD shows around 256,xxx miles now. The engine runs good with nice pick up and no strange sounds ...transmission is going to need a mount but seems to shift well too. AC cold and blows strong but I may need to replace the compressor seals or the compressor. There is some dye there so I guess there was or is a leak there. Hasn't effected the cold yet.

The body is straight and pretty clean. I had the car up on a lift and checked out by an "indy" Mercedes Shop in Coral Springs , FL . The underside and suspension is in pretty good shape. The only rust I was able to find are the obvious two rust dimples next to both front wheel fenders, there is some inside the trunk under the windshield deck which does not look to bad, and a repairable piece near the front right jack position. I've used Corroseal from HD and it's easy non toxic and works great.

I have a bunch of projects to get to. So far, I removed the rear seats and padding as there's a small windshield leak from the rear seal. I had to dry out the rear seat carpet and foam padding on the passenger side. I ordered the new seal from Peach Parts and will have it Friday but I'll be trying some Permatex Flowable Silicone Sealer before on the advice of my "windshield guy", I take the 50/50 chance the glass cracking when it's installed due to age.

I cleaned inside all 4 window switches so now all 4 work vs 1 when I drove it home. Found my rear pass window is off the track as it slides down on it's own now.

I will rewire speakers and put in upgraded NVX 5.25's and hopefully some 6x9 MB Quart's which I have from my old truck.

I don't recall 300 SD's having Bundts, but mine does. I am going to start looking for some nicer 15's asap.

Ceristimo · #2 05-20-2015, 11:34 PM

That looks like a nice one! I love that color!

And noooooo...Don't get rid of the bundts. In my humble opinion the BEST wheels on an '80's Benz.

Austin85 · #3 05-21-2015, 12:11 AM

Thanks "Ceristimo",

I like the bundts on the 123 chassis but I do want 15's on the SD.

I just checked my previous "stable" and my old Yellow SD was an 81 also. I guess I have the same exact car and color, just darker interior now.

Will post pics asap....in progress there.

w123fanman · #4 05-21-2015, 12:32 AM

I recommend either the 15 inch 15 holes or the 16 inch rims from a late 90s CLK. They are probably about the lightest rims you can get for one of these cars.

Here's some on a W126, I have them on a W201 and on a W116 then put the ones from that W116 onto another w116

t walgamuth · #5 05-21-2015, 06:36 AM

I like the color. I almost bought one that color back when it was a fairly new used car. Could not get together with the dealer though.

toomany MBZ · #6 05-21-2015, 09:29 AM

Not a fan of the bundts for a 126 either, I went retro.

Austin85 · #7 05-21-2015, 11:09 AM

[QUOTE=w123fanman;3478170]I recommend either the 15 inch 15 holes or the 16 inch rims from a late 90s CLK. They are probably about the lightest rims you can get for one of these cars.

Nice cars. I like that look of the CLK's on an SD. Are they exact fits , and are they off all CLK's and between what years?

Thanks!

Austin85 · #8 05-21-2015, 11:10 AM

Nice cars. I like that look of the CLK's on an SD. Are they exact fits , and are they off all CLK's and between what years?

Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by w123fanman

I recommend either the 15 inch 15 holes or the 16 inch rims from a late 90s CLK. They are probably about the lightest rims you can get for one of these cars.

Here's some on a W126, I have them on a W201 and on a W116 then put the ones from that W116 onto another w116

w123fanman · #9 05-21-2015, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austin85

Nice cars. I like that look of the CLK's on an SD. Are they exact fits , and are they off all CLK's and between what years?

Thanks!

It looks like they are from 1996-1999, they are 16x7 and the offset is 37mm vs 25mm for the 7 inch wide 15 inch rims offered on the W126. They should fit as stock but the center caps in the front will not fit that way. You would have to also purchase spacers, 5mm is enough for the center caps to fit but 10mm or 12mm would make it closer to stock (or at least how I am thinking of it, I'd ask in the wheels part of the forum, they would know better). You would need hub centric spacers, not the ones they sell at autoparts stores since those just cause vibrations.

Here's a thread about it: GregMN's 1991 W126 350SDL Has A New Home