I've been warned about this model but.... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Botnst · #1 06-13-2004, 04:30 PM

The price is just way too low, here. Are the problems with this engine so bad that I should even look at it?

http://autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=164228757&dealer_id=&car_year=1995&make=MB&distance=300&max_price=11500&model=&sort_type=distance&advcd_on=n&end_year=2005&min_price=1000&first_record=51&certified=n&address=70506&search_type=used&advanced=n&start_year=1984&=&color=&cardist=297

Bonst

suginami · #2 06-13-2004, 04:46 PM

The problem is that there is no such thing as a 1995 300SD.

By looking at the pic, it looks like an '86-'87 300SD.

The famous Mercedes technician in So. Cal., Enrique Rodriquez, has told me his opinion is that the '86 - '87's are the best diesel's made.

I know that everyone here cautions about the aluminum head, but he swears up and down that it is not a problem.

Chris Bell · #3 06-13-2004, 04:50 PM

Looks like the car is a 1981 - 1985 300SD not a 1995. Possibly a misprint? Otherwise there is nothing fundamentally wrong with that car. Looks good!

engatwork · #4 06-13-2004, 05:29 PM

Bot - if it is close by and in as good a condition as the ad states then I would strongly consider it. It looks like a turbo diesel W126. They don't get much better than that.

sixto · #5 06-13-2004, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by suginami
I know that everyone here cautions about the aluminum head, but he swears up and down that it is not a problem.

Dang! Should have had him warrant the head on my SDL

"Last year of the cast iron cylinder head" means it's an 85.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

vwbuge · #6 06-13-2004, 05:53 PM

Looks like an '85. $2800 isn't that good of a deal though. These cars can be had for much less. Did you find out the mileage?

Snibble · #7 06-13-2004, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vwbuge
Looks like an '85. $2800 isn't that good of a deal though. These cars can be had for much less. Did you find out the mileage?

Yea.. maybe if it was used as a doghouse

Botnst · #8 06-13-2004, 06:59 PM

I emailed the seller a request for info. Its not far from here.

This weekend I've looked over four SD's. So far, most of them started right up and idled smoothly. Oil and water looked, felt, and smelled good. ATF looked and smelled good. One had a clunky transmission and leaked. Another had a lot of oil on the engine near the ATF dipstick. Three of them had interiors that I just didn't want to deal with at all.

One looked pretty darned good except for a badly dented door. has 147K miles, he's the third owner (mom bought it off the orig). The owner showed me his receipts dating back six years. I share the same mechanic for some of the later work (our mechanic drives a 123 on which he did one engine rebuild. Nearly a million miles. He keeps it spotless in the cabin and under the hood but the paint is a badly faded, mostly sort of a variable reddish-brown. The darned thing just will not die).

Anyway, this lost soul with the SD (and his mom before him) had spent nearly $3.3K in Illinois getting the car mechanically sound (lots of front end suspension work) and fixing the usual list of things that wear and break over 20 years (its an '81 SD). Worse, the poor lamb's mom lost the title when they lived in Illinois and didn't bother to get it replaced.

Then they divorced dad moved to be among relatives in LA and basically parked it. So Mom gives the boy the car, he spends about $3K of his own money continuing repairs. The only engine stuff on the list was new injectors. Now it has no title so he's depressed, sad, and irritated. He's asking $4.4K. I told him I'd give him a thousand for it and he said no thanks. So I gave him my card and said to call me whenever.

I'm hoping that other potential buyers will look at the car, see the gawd-awful dent, find out it has no title, and just leave. Then maybe he'll see that a thousand is better than nothing....

Bot

wolf_walker · #9 06-13-2004, 08:20 PM

title will run about $300, give or take. be nice, tell the boy.

vwbuge · #10 06-13-2004, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Snibble
Yea.. maybe if it was used as a doghouse

What is that supposed to mean?

vwbuge · #11 06-13-2004, 09:00 PM

I think if you look hard enough you can find a REALLY nice SD for $4.4K.

DslBnz · #12 06-13-2004, 09:16 PM

Let's sit down for a spell and think about how much an ENGINE is worth for these things(even used). This is getting ridiculous.

Gilly · #13 06-13-2004, 09:17 PM

Quote:

1995 MERCEDES BENZ 300SD, turbo diesel, second owner, exc cond inside & out, meticulous maintenance all current, 26-28mpg, never smoked in, last year of high mileage, cast iron cylinder heads, new tires, high mileage, $2800, toll free 877-655-8372.

I believe 84 was the last year they used the 61 series Diesels, 85 was the first year for the 60 series diesels, which I recommend avoiding. I believe it's probably an 82 thru 84 model year.

Gilly

DslBnz · #14 06-13-2004, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gilly
I believe 84 was the last year they used the 61 series Diesels, 85 was the first year for the 60 series diesels, which I recommend avoiding. I believe it's probably an 82 thru 84 model year.

Gilly

'85 was the most UNIQUE year of the 617, because it had the taller differential gearing.

BTW, why do you recommend staying away from the 60x diesels? I consider not having to adjust the valves every 15K miles for the price of one head replacement worth the investment.

lietuviai · #15 06-13-2004, 09:26 PM

If you only look at this from the front then it doesn't look bad, but when you see the rear of this then OMG! I tend to agree that its probably only is good for parts. Seller says it only has about 93K on the engine.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7905281836&category=6783