Looking to buy 1982 300SD - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Father Of Giants · #1 11-05-2019, 12:26 PM

There's one for sale near me, what quirks of the OM617 and Gen 1 W126 should i look out for?

I want the car as a backup car for repairing my primary vehicle. It's far from pretty too but owner says engine and transmission are strong.

If he is full of it, obviously I will walk away.

vstech · #2 11-05-2019, 09:34 PM

The electric seats can be finicky... the seat bottom springs fail, the transmission shifts from 2 to 1 off the line, normally, the B2 piston starts showing itself with oddities off the line.
Aside from that... it operates like any other 617 turbo...

vstech · #3 11-05-2019, 09:36 PM

Mine had the windshield heater circuit fail... a loop in the coolant line heats the lower section of the windshield to melt snow buildup... I live in Charlotte... I bypassed it.

t walgamuth · #4 11-06-2019, 08:16 AM

Rust likes to form under the plastic cladding between the rear wheel opening and the bumper. Pretty rugged cars very comparable to the 123. 82 is first year for 126 IIRC so it might be less complex than years that followed.

oldsinner111 · #5 11-06-2019, 09:15 AM

love them,like a 85 with taller rear end gears. Be sure as all Benz check flex disk

Father Of Giants · #6 11-06-2019, 12:05 PM

Thanks everyone, I'll definitely look for rust and the health of flex disk.

BillGrissom · #7 11-06-2019, 09:42 PM

Turn over the engine manually. I use the bolt on the power steering pulley (22 mm long box wrench). Chalk the crank pulley and feel for 5 strong "air springs" resisting you in 2 rev's. If the engine is good, you will have to stop for ~5 sec to let each one leak down before you can continue. If they hiss down almost as fast as you turn, it is likely getting low compression (<300 psig) and will need a block heater to start on those cold VA mornings. Of course, best is the measure compression, but that takes much more time than in a gas engine. I usually do when injectors are out, using my HF kit.

DDAY · #8 11-06-2019, 09:50 PM

I had a '83 300SD. Fine car. Now junked. Rust killed it. The unitized frame section ahead of the firewall became so weak that it could not support the front suspension connections. Went to the junkyard about two years ago with about 350,000 on the odometer. The engine and transmission were still working.

wally509 · #9 11-07-2019, 06:46 AM

I don't have anything to add as to what to look for. I can give you a price point as I just purchased an '85 300SD about two weeks ago.

I paid $10,000 for a really nice '85, 86k miles, very solid and presentable inside and out. Recent fuel system work, valve adjust and complete inspection done by reputable M-B shop in Milwaukee with only a couple minor nits noted. New brand name tires on new 15" Bundt replicas.

I realize I am setting myself up for "Oh, you got completely hosed, I just bought a showroom new one with 35k miles for $1200" responses as that seems the norm on these forums, but I thought this info might help.

Later,
Wally

wallbenz · #10 11-07-2019, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wally509

I don't have anything to add as to what to look for. I can give you a price point as I just purchased an '85 300SD about two weeks ago.

I paid $10,000 for a really nice '85, 86k miles, very solid and presentable inside and out. Recent fuel system work, valve adjust and complete inspection done by reputable M-B shop in Milwaukee with only a couple minor nits noted. New brand name tires on new 15" Bundt replicas.

I realize I am setting myself up for "Oh, you got completely hosed, I just bought a showroom new one with 35k miles for $1200" responses as that seems the norm on these forums, but I thought this info might help.

Later,
Wally

Wally- are you really the "Buyer" OR seller- mocking me? I test drove that car - 3-4 weeks before u bought her... LOL-- and I am a WALLY- too!

Really nice car- But most people here- suggested I was CRAZY- paying that much for that car...

It was a nice car... Only time will tell if it was a good deal... had a knock on braking... owner said it was ABS sensor- which he fixed- after...
I thought it might be the Rubber- on brake control arm

did u buy- to use as DD? Or just because ?

Still CAN'T believe another WALLY- bought that car!!!!!!!!!!!!

wally509 · #11 11-07-2019, 11:10 AM

Yes, I bought it. Originally I was looking for a w123 but this popped up near by. There was no knock on braking, he did say he replaced an ABS sensor. I verified this with the shop where he had the work done.

We went over it with a fine tooth comb and I talked to the shop he had work on it about it as well. Several panels have been resprayed but to a pretty high standard. There are a couple minor oil leaks, starting to lose the outer spring in the driver's seat and the rear glass is in the beginning stages of delamination but that's about it.

It's going to be a pleasure use/summer car, replacing a BMW e21 320is. I needed a bigger car with automatic for a variety of reasons, so here it is.

I bet the seller was wondering about all these guys called walt/wally looking at the car! Probably thought it was like the old prank phone call thing "is Wally there?"..."is Wally there?"..."is Wally there?"..."Hello, this is Wally, did I get any calls?".

wallbenz · #12 11-07-2019, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wally509

Yes, I bought it. Originally I was looking for a w123 but this popped up near by. There was no knock on braking, he did say he replaced an ABS sensor. I verified this with the shop where he had the work done.

We went over it with a fine tooth comb and I talked to the shop he had work on it about it as well. Several panels have been resprayed but to a pretty high standard. There are a couple minor oil leaks, starting to lose the outer spring in the driver's seat and the rear glass is in the beginning stages of delamination but that's about it.

It's going to be a pleasure use/summer car, replacing a BMW e21 320is. I needed a bigger car with automatic for a variety of reasons, so here it is.

I bet the seller was wondering about all these guys called walt/wally looking at the car! Probably thought it was like the old prank phone call thing "is Wally there?"..."is Wally there?"..."is Wally there?"..."Hello, this is Wally, did I get any calls?".

what R the odds... My past was MB Diesel was 84 300sd-- GOLD color too

Loved that car...

Test drove several SD's and SDL's recently... This one was the ONLY one I really liked... many poster's here tell me 87 sdl- is a "finer" ride and better rust proof, faster,etc... the 2 sdl's I have seen-- NOT so much.

Dave's car was the closest- to mine - from 20 year's ago...
I went from 83/85 sd hunting to SDL hunting (due to the chatter here)...
The 2 I drove... got me leaning back to the earlier SD versions???

Or bucking the "Old" car all together... and going w/ 2015 GLK- and removing the DPF/Software- to rid myself of those headaches...

Just a little scared of doing DPF delete. and if it will effect other Computer diagnostic issues-- in the future.

seems like the 4 cylinder Bluetec-- is getting some great reviews... excluding DPF/sensor issues... which- once again-- I would be proactive- and pay to get rid of!!!

stay in touch on this 85 Gold sd!!!

psaboic · #13 11-09-2019, 10:55 AM

We did the complete DPF /SCR/EGR, etc delete on the 2102 ML350. Combined with the software upgrade, it is like a new car. Couldn't be happier so far. Car has about 20% more power, gets about 3 MPG better than before, and no worries about replacing $500 -$1000 parts every time the moon changes phases. Only drawback is the exhaust IS a bit louder. Not annoying, but definitely noticeable.

wallbenz · #14 11-11-2019, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psaboic

We did the complete DPF /SCR/EGR, etc delete on the 2102 ML350. Combined with the software upgrade, it is like a new car. Couldn't be happier so far. Car has about 20% more power, gets about 3 MPG better than before, and no worries about replacing $500 -$1000 parts every time the moon changes phases. Only drawback is the exhaust IS a bit louder. Not annoying, but definitely noticeable.

what was total cost of DPF delete/software?

another question-- will that delete... have residual effects on the CPU/working or NOT working when other Non- emission parts malfunction? Or will those malfunctions still register? Just curious.

thx

psaboic · #15 11-11-2019, 02:58 PM

The total cost for everything (Software, Buzzken race pipe and Cat) was just shy of 2K. Yeah, it sounds like a lot, but that includes the software and the Buzzken race pipe that eliminates the DPF. When you consider you will no longer have to worry about the DEF heater, level sensor, pump, AdBlue injector, DPF, EGR, Swirl flap motors, 3 Nox Sensors, 2 EGT sensors, the differential pressure sensor system, or the dreaded "starts remaining" countdown if something takes a dump..... the peace of mind itself is worth it.

As for the non-emissions systems, they are not effected, and the CPU will continue to monitor them. All the software tune does is code out anything that has to do with the AdBlue system. The computer simply thinks it is not there anymore. Then the fuel map is tweaked slightly for additional fueling and power. Once the engine gets tuned, the free flowing exhaust helps the engine breathe better and fuel map changes combine for more power with roughly 10% better fuel economy.

We have no emission testing in our area, and we use the rig mostly for off-road exploring, so it is the perfect solution for us.