How does $ 4800 for a 87 300SDL sound ? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

amit · #1 08-21-2003, 11:19 AM

I posted earlier that I was considering a MB diesel.

This one sounds interesting - although I have yet to see it.

Model - 87 300SDL
Color Exterior / Interior: Black / Palomino
Miles: 87,000
Asking Price : $ 4800 and he will not budge

Condition:

The guy says he has all service records and all service was done at an MB dealership. He says both interior and exterior are in excellent shape.

#2 08-21-2003, 12:20 PM

To me it doesnt sound bad.

If it checks out it could be a great car.

Mercedes are sometimes hard vehicles to price. To most people they are old cars but ot us they are great cars if taken care of worth some money. They are worth some money not for resale potential but for the use we can still get out of them.

IF you plan on keeping the car for years to come and it is in good condition it might be worth it.

There are alot of not so great cars out there for less money. So you must determine if this car is a great one or one that is so so

good luck

bob

amit · #3 08-21-2003, 12:29 PM

Thanks.

What makes me a little wary is the ultra low miles - only 87,000 for a 17 year old car ! That is only 5000 miles a year.......

I read that too few miles have its own set of problems just like high miles.

mplafleur · #4 08-21-2003, 01:26 PM

I bought my '87 190D last year with only about 80k miles on it. I don't think that's too few.

As for the asking price. I think it's a pretty good deal if everything you say about it is true. Do a Carfax and verify the mileage. If you know someone in a dealership, give them the VIN and ask for a Master Vehicle Inquery. This will give you a record of all dealer service.

If all checks out, I'd leap on it.

#5 08-21-2003, 01:49 PM

The only way that 80,000 miles would be too few would be if all those miles were done the first year or two then sat in a garage, or worse in the weather for the rest of its life.

If the miles were spread evenly over that amount of time, it will most likely be fine. That said, if you're not capable of doing compression check and mechanical evaluation yourself, pay someone to do it for you.

Good luck,

ericnguyen · #6 08-21-2003, 07:43 PM

Dear Amit:

I think it's a VERY good deal with all the car service records are available (as the owner said). Take a look at a recently ended Ebay auction (the final price is $8050)!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&category=6330&item=2428183063

A 300SDL with 87,000 Kmiles is even much more expensive on other sites, including autotrader.

Best regards,

Eric

engatwork · #7 08-21-2003, 07:58 PM

How bout sending me that fellas phone number/location where I can go check it out for you

.

amit · #8 08-21-2003, 08:04 PM

Please guys. Let me have first shot at it. I need a good diesel !

Also, do not forget that when a deal sounds too good to be true, it may be exactly that.

turbodiesel · #9 08-22-2003, 06:59 AM

Sounds like an absolute STEAL if the mileage is accurate at 87,000 and the condition depicts it. The color combination is desireable and gorgeous as well.. buy this before someone else does!!!

tjohn · #10 08-22-2003, 07:53 AM

As has been mentioned just be sure to check for a cracked head. The heads were redesigned several times, with the later ones being more resistant to cracking. If you can see the casting number above the #2 injector, you should see something like "603-xxx-yy-zz". If "yy" is 15 or lower, it's the older, more crack-prone head. If "yy" is 17 or higher, it's the newer head.

Of course, even if its an older head this doesn't mean it has or will crack - but since head replacement usually goes into the thousands of dollars, you may want to know where you stand ahead of time.

Good luck with this car.

Thomaspin · #11 08-22-2003, 12:38 PM

Interesting facts.

Is there a similar test for identifying a 350 diesel that has been replaced with the later factory version which fixed the con rod problem?

tjohn · #12 08-22-2003, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Thomaspin wrote:
Is there a similar test for identifying a 350 diesel that has been replaced with the later factory version which fixed the con rod problem?

I'm afraid that if there is I don't know about it. I would dearly like to find one, as I would love to have one of the 90-91 126 350SDL's, provided I knew the engine was sound. I should add that I got casting head information from Dave M. on the MBZ.org diesel email list. He trades here under the handle GSXR.

Thomaspin · #13 08-22-2003, 01:06 PM

Hmmmm....

How about this approach? Is it reasonable to conclude that any 350 with a replacement engine has had the problem fixed, or are there various generations of replacement engine?

Agree on the '90/91 idea - the best W126 year(s) with a 'fixed' diesel 6 would see me selling my 1990 560SEL.

tjohn · #14 08-22-2003, 02:19 PM

AFAIK all factory replacements are OK. The problem of course is that MB has been so unaccomodating about even admitting the existence of a problem, let alone detailing how its been corrected, that its tough to find good written reference to use. It seems clear that the OM 603.970/603.971 in both the 126 and 140 350 SD/S350 had problems. Just to be safe, I'm assuming that all original engines had a design flaw that was corrected in the replacement engines.