1987 300SDL vs 1994 E320

[Hatterasguy]

My SDL is killing me with repairs so I am thinking about selling. (thinking) I really like the E320/300's they seem like a nice car. I was looking at a 1994 on autotrader.com, with 105k miles, the thing looks pretty nice. Also now seems like a good time to sell diesel's resale seems to be up, I bet I could get $6,500 for mine. I know this is the diesel forum, but you guys seem to give good advice. Looking at my SDL and everything it still needs, a newer car that is in better shape is starting to look pretty good. My next MB will have a full service history, I would like a car I would not have to poor constant money into, I think I would enjoy it more. I'm always working to fix the next problem, this week is the AC condensor, but at least I will have excellent AC after I replace it. What other MB's could be bought for around $6k that can be reasonable to keep going?

[Plantman]

Sorry to hear about your troubles.

What is wrong with your SDL?

My car had a bunch of little things wrong with it that I have fixed over the 10 months I've had it.

I can honestly say that:

A) I put more money into it than I thought I would,

B) I would do it again as there is nothing but cosmetic work left to fix

C) The car has never ever left me on the side of the raod, I am just real anal about my car having all things working

D) I will never sell my car. I may buy another one, but I'm keeping this one.

Maybe you've fixed all the crap that need fixing and you're "home free'

.02

[Brian Carlton]

I have watched you put quite a bit of effort into the SDL since you bought it in January and I certainly admire you for it. I have had mine since March and I have not had the time to do 20% of the things you have done to yours.

I must tell you that the things you have done with it do not seem excessive for a vehicle of that age and with that mileage. Mine has less miles (106K on the clock but I don't really believe it) but it still needs most of the things that you have done to yours. The only major expense that I see is your A/C system. Everything else can be characterized as neglected maintenance issues. These items will be necessary in just about any used vehicle that is 10 years old or more unless the P/O was fastidious about details and overall maintenance of the vehicle.

I have spend over $1000.00 on mine in the first six months and I am not 1/2 way through the punch list yet.

My general feeling is that the first year is the toughest. Unless luck is definitely against you, the second, third, and fourth years require less work and effort. As long as the body is good and rust is not an issue, I think you should keep the SDL for two years and make a decision at that time.

With regard to the E-class, you are looking at a more complicated vehicle that is more costly and more difficult to maintain than the SDL on an item per item basis.

[Holson Adi]

my E420 had been dead reliable and still has been a very enjoyable car to drive. Great classic looks, nice interior, and sweet sounding and powerful motor..
BUT!!

it left me stranded today! The diesel never did...

[Plantman]

Originally posted by Brian Carlton
II have spend over $1000.00 on mine in the first six months and I am not 1/2 way through the punch list yet.

My general feeling is that the first year is the toughest. Unless luck is definitely against you, the second, third, and fourth years require less work and effort. As long as the body is good and rust is not an issue, I think you should keep the SDL for two years and make a decision at that time.

I agree. Unless you pay top dollar for a pristine car, the first year is probable the most difficult in terms of working out the bugs.

In less than a year, I have had lots of things done only because I like my cars to be perfect.

Right now, the only thing my car needs is for the sunroof to be greased up and for the differential gasket to be replaced.

Engine/Tranny/AC all work like a champ. No on believes my car has 332,000 miles.

Remember, that your idea of perfect is vastly different from someone elses.

IF your car runs well, once your AC is fixed, there should be nothing ,major on the horizon.


02

[goldenbear]

I concur with the others. I purchased mine from a family member in 2/2000 when the car had 65k miles. The fact that the vehicle had only 18k miles, TOTAL, put on it in the prior 9 years before I bought it (only 5k miles in the prior 5 years) led to the issues I experienced. I put ~$8k in it during the first year and had to deal with the following: new IP, head gasket, vacuum pump, master cylinder, AC compressor, manifold hose, and some other smaller items. However, in the 3 years since, I haven't put more than $200/year into it.

[RenoHuskerDu]

I wouldn't sell the SDL. The other advice above about the first year being the hardest etc is quite valid IMHO, and I almost always buy used cars. I set aside at least 15% of the purchase price to bring the car up to my standards.

It (the W126) is quite a different car from a W124. I owned a 560SEL that I sold to my brother when I left the states for Europe, and now I own a W124, mostly because the 124 comes in a wagon and the 126 does not. If only they made a 126 wagon! If you like the 126, you might not like the 124 as much. The 126 is quieter, calmer, more stately, and definitively less sporty. I would hop in my 560SEL and be from SF to LA in 4 hours. At high speed it was above reproach, but on a twisty road, it didn't want to be there. OTOH, in my 124 I deliberately take the long way home to enjoy the curves and twisty bits.

Then there's the cult following of the SDL. Until modern diesels finally get EPA approval in the US, there is and will be no large sedan that will offer that performance and such excellent fuel mileage. If you do sell that SDL, you should hold out for top dollar as there are plenty of fans out there that will pay that top dollar. Just find him.

[daverdla]

I don't have any experience with the e320's so I can't help there. I have owned my 86 300sdl since march. I took a chance and paid top dollar for what I hoped would be a trouble free car. So far so good. Two broken plastic pieces on the window operators, two oil changes, and some other minor stuff. It seems to me that you've put so much into that car already, you may be close to having a car like mine that you can just drive and enjoy.

good luck
Dave

[Hatterasguy]

Thanks for the support! Sometimes I just see the money flowing into it and get annoyed. I don't have to much left to do, I have to pull apart the dash and center consel to fix a shifter rattle, find a vacuum leak, and re-wire the radio. Then I have to do a whole bunch of little cosmetic things. I'm going to buy the AC condenser today, Autozone has one for $130 so thats not to bad, throw in another $50 to get it charged up. I still have the skipping issue, and need to fix a part of my sunroof. Then before winter I need to pull the transmission to fix a leak and rebuild the driveshaft, also the timeing chain is due. Then next year I would like to replace the pitted windshield and get it painted so it will look as good as it runs. Probably another $2k will get it up to my standards. There is just a lot left to do, the po bought it in 1994 with 79k miles on it and did nothing to the car. (I mean nothing!) At least he changed the oil, and used high quality Napa Gold oil filters The last time this car got any real work was in 1994 when it came over from the west coast, the dealer converted the AC, went threw the cooling system, fixed minor accident damage, and painted part of it. That dealer did a lot to it in 1994, frankly it would be in the junk yard if so much money hadn't been spent in 1994. The engine seems to be healthy aside from the usual 603 problems, and the body is almost rust free. I'm sure the transmission will blow next year and I'm just waiting for that original head and head gasket to give up

There is a nice red 300E for sale down the street, maybe I'll take a look at it. Or I could lease a new Camry for $199 a month

[daverdla]

My other car is a 1990 porshe 944 S2 Cabriolet. Cost a ton when new, now not so valuable. I got it 1.5 years ago. People ask me why I don't just drive a toyota. They don't get it. I have two great cars for way less than a new camry. I figure the odds are pretty low on both breaking at the same time
Hang in there!
Dave

[Plantman]

I find it amusing that people worry about the head on these cars so much.

The only ones that have problems are the ones that "you let overheat". Then you're screwed. How many times does a perfectly good hose just blow? Water pumps warn you. A foulty fan clutch will warn you via slowly increasing ccolant temps, etc....

I currently have 9 cars/trucks between my personal and business vehicles. I have not had one overheat in over 5 years. AND, I live in Miami.

I constantly monitor them for maintenance issues and if something needs fixing, it gets fixed. Hoses checked all the time when we check the oil. I happen to have a "nose" for coolant and always look under the vans/cars when my employess/family members stop by my office.

I figure, if you're really concerned, just change the head gasket for peace of mind.

Either way, I hope you keep your car.