I'm back with a uniquely optioned 1991 350SDL
 

It's been a brief hiatus but I'm back with a one owner 1991 350SDL. I'm still living in Dubai and have been daily driving a G500 for about a year now. I recently could not pass up a one owner 1991 350SDL in my hometown of Houston. Here is the run down.
European delivered car. Has all european delivery documents and brochures and order sheets. Delivered through Intercontinental Motors (now North Houston Mercedes). Could not pass the car up and it has a few unique options I figured everyone would appreciate.
Desert Taupe/ Creme Beige
1. Velour interior
2. Electric rear window shade
3. Orthopedic front seats.

Car has been garage kept since new. 211,000 miles. Orange dials and no rear window delimitation. Original paint in great shape. Interior is a 10 of 10. Everything works (yes the orthopaedic seats/ locks/ antenna/ windows/ climate control/ roof/ windows). The original owner was a well known developer in Houston who passed away in 2015. His grandson has kept the car in a climate control garage since. He serviced it to get it ready for the sale. I've put it through the shop to have the following work done.
1. Re-upholster the vinyl trim around the seat belts.
2. Replace a leaking steering box.
3. Shifter bushings ( thank you leaky steering box).
4. Various cosmetic things (floor mats, buff/wax) new rear tail light lenses. Replace aftermarket radio with original Becker with Aux cable.

What can I say I'm a sucker for these diesels. Especially a one owner with all papers. I know its a rod-bender but I plan to drive this car on a trip to Burning Man from Texas this Summer. Here are some before photos. After photos will come later.

More pics.

Engine

Lovely.


My 1990 350SDL is a spitting image of yours, sans the window shade. Plus it needs more TLC.

Neat score!

Hope you enjoy the 91 SDL!

Congratulations the 350sdl... Same velour interior on my 560sel. Nice and comfy. Just take care of the drivers side bolsters hard to find replacements for them.

350
 

Stunning find

Interesting, my 84 SD has the same style of cloth interior. I only wish it looked half as good. Sun is your cars worst enemy in this part of the country.

Nice find!

Nice find! With that many miles on the engine it's likely a good one. All the failure ones I've read about happened before 150,000 miles... my car included.

-J

My '91 only has 122,000 on it, so does that mean I need to be prepared?

My 350SDL
 

ROLLGUY
For your info. my engine let up in smoke in 2003 with 150k on the clock.
Hopefully your car will get past that milestone without misfortune.

Great find

Some blew up on the first owners while the cars were under warranty. Some blew up at 80k. Some went longer. I don't know exactly what failed on my car, but the motor was replaced sometime around 150k miles.

If the car isn't burning oil or running oddly at 122k I wouldn't be super worried. If I were looking at a car with a huge asking price and 60k miles I'd be more suspicious.

-J

When you go to put the original becker back in you'll probably find that all the speaker wires at the amps behind the rear seat have been cut, and extended up to the head unit. Also there will be an antenna extension cable that connects somewhere near the tuner running up to the front of the car.

After fighting with the BE1432 for years in my car I would recommend you stick with an aftermarket radio. I've replaced every part in my system twice. Just last week it broke again... no audio. Some fault in the tuner module in the trunk... again.

Continental makes some radios that would look great in the MB dash:

Continental Automotive -Radios

Question: Does your 350 have an oxidation catalyst? It would be in the "normal" spot a cat lives under the car. I've always wondered if they came with them originally. My car already had an aftermarket exhaust on it when I got it.

-J