1987 300SDL Turbo Diesel 139K, 2nd owner - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

cgryphon · #1 08-21-2011, 12:30 PM

1987 300SDL Turbo Diesel 139K, 2nd owner $5,350

The time has come to thin the herd. Not ever an easy decision for an addict. This is a really nice, clean well sorted and somewhat rare 1987 300SDL Turbo Diesel, that I would drive anywhere right now. Starts great, idles great, runs great and up to 28 MPG on the highway running 70MPH.

These pictures were taken this spring and the car still looks the same. Just too damn hot for a photo shoot recently.

This is the most smoke free diesel I have ever driven. The only time you can see any exhaust smoke at all is at night, in following headlights, under throttle enough to get the turbo spooling up. Absolutely no smoke at idle or when cruising. Burns no oil between changes.

I have the original owners service book stamped up to around 125K, and over $3,000 in work I have had done, not including things like filters, oil, tires, etc. Currently the car has just over 139K. I have owned the car since August, 2005. Much of the time the car was stored at my Mother’s house in her garage while I worked out of the country. I have had the car back with me for the last year and drive it at least twice a week.

The maintenance history that I have is both mechanical and cosmetic, as I like my cars to run well and look nice. I have moved often due to work and this car has been seen by some of the best indy’s around IMO, including Erol at Erol’s Autobahn in Nashville TN, and Roger at Shuler’s ******** in Fayetteville AR.

The car was purchased by the original owner in Fayetteville, AR and shipped to his home in Nashville, TN, so it has lived its entire live in the south. This car has ABSOLUTELY NO RUST, by any standard. I have never found a speck on the car anywhere. The car is 24 years old, so there are a couple of dings and rubs, mostly on the painted lower panels around the bumpers. Overall a very straight and clean S-Class. Paint is very nice and shines well, with no missing clear coat. All the exterior rubber is in very good condition. No water leaks at all.

The list of some of the repairs/replacements during my ownership, more or less in chronological order:
• Front suspension including Ball Joints, Tie Rods and Idler Arm. This car rides very nice and tracks straight. It’s a blast to drive on curvy Ozark roads! Like dancing with a light footed, big girl (no offense intended!)
• New Fan clutch
• New OEM Behr Radiator
• New water pump
• New style vac pump
• New Serp Belt
(This car has a great cooling system. You can drive the snot out of it with the A/C on in stop and go traffic and it never gets above 95C. It is a #14 head, before ya’ll ask.)
• Brake pads
• Headlight doors, both sides.
• New grill chrome strips and gray plastic grill insert
• New hood pad
• RF side marker unit
• Trans fluid and filters and diff fluid
• All wipers including headlight wipers and washer motors. All cleaners and pumps work.
• Air Filter
• 4 Michelin MXV in like new condition, from Costco
• All fuses
• Diesel purge
• Fuel filters
• R&R Battery Tray
• Sunroof wind deflector
• A/C system overhaul for leak free COLD function, even in this crazy hot Arkansas summer. This included a low pressure port, various o-rings, ETR switch, new Freon, etc.
• Flex Pipe and Clamp R&R to fix an exhaust leak
• Clean like new exhaust manifold. Somehow the EGR became blocked with an almost invisible custom tooled insert during this process.
• Replaced original radio with CD tuner, including I-pod port in face and remote control. Still have functional fader wheel. Original speakers sound great! I have the original radio included.
• After-market CB RADIO!!!! This was added by the original owner, is completely hidden in the dash, and works great, if you can stand the “language” from the truckers.

Links to my cold start and 0-60 videos here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDc62iAh_f8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYtAkARE6HQ

Links to S-Class crash videos here (amazing)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxMt7qmv9eU&playnext=1&list=PLC6CC78131E3EFC5F
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSEl2ueCATs

This is a great running car. Like all these old cars, they want something. The current list than could be addressed, but is absolutely not required for safety or reliability:
• Slight leak on top of the IP. Indy says the o-ring/copper washer set up where the hard lines leave the pump age and leak. Not a big deal but you can see it’s wet.
• Both front seats have split leather on the single front panel, at the front of the seat between where your knees are. I have often debated repair or replace, but it’s purely cosmetic. Sheepskins would work as well. Also, the bolster on the driver’s side has the normal wear through and that hole could also be fixed.
• Transmission shifts hard when cold. Roger Shuler and I have been making small adjustments to dial it in and it’s is very acceptable. Probably still have a small vac issue somewhere. No slipping or hesitation.
• Climate control functions as normal, but will not shut off completely. Even on “O”, the fan is still running on low, but the A/C/Heat is not on/running, just the fan. I have a PNP spare that is included. Not sure of condition. All controls function as normal in any “on” position.
• The windshield is original. It has no chips or dings, but almost 25 years of grit have taken a toll. You only notice if the sun is at the just right angle.
• Need to repaint wheels, as they have become worn and faded overtime.

Every other function and switch on this car works, including all windows, door locks, trunk lock, sunroof tilt & slide, power antenna, rear defrost, recirculation, door mirror, fader wheel, lighter sockets including rear doors, all power seat options and memory, telescopic steering wheel, oil pressure, tach, odometer, speedo, fuel and reserve light, visor vanity lights, rear seat reading lights, all switch illumination, all warning bulbs, cruise control, etc. This car is equipped with a driver’s air bag.

I could go on and on, and I think I have. This is a great car for a diesel fanatic or wanna-be diplomat. Just fantastic on the highway, around town and even on a dirt road. People buy these cars all the time that have been run to the limit of maintenance, and then dumped. This car is just the opposite of that, a great, well sorted, car. I would love to see this car go to a forum member, interested in enjoying it and maintaining it for years to come.

The car is located in Bentonville, Arkansas (northwest corner of Arkansas) and is ready to go today. I am asking what I think is a very fair price, considering condition and maintenance, $5,350.00. I welcome your comments around pricing and any reasonable offers. I will deliver anywhere in North America for the price of fuel and a flight home to XNA. My email is the best way to reach me, clay dot griffin at dawnfoods dot com.

Thanks,

Clay

joegolden · #2 08-21-2011, 01:45 PM

absolutely beautiful! Car should not be for sale very long. Awesome write up

This is the way a classified should be done. I bet you hate to sell it. it is a lovely car. Oh and btw was your 0-60 run a full throttle run?

joegolden · #3 08-21-2011, 04:02 PM

Oh and I love the green hornet in the background btw

cgryphon · #4 08-21-2011, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joegolden

Oh and btw was your 0-60 run a full throttle run?

The 0 - 60 was WOT, but no "power braking". Just a smooth start as you would have entering the highway.

The "green hornet" is like driving a go cart, compared to the SDL. Typical 2.2 liter 4 cyl, but it loves to rev!

Thanks,

Clay

joegolden · #5 08-21-2011, 05:35 PM

I have driven a c280 and it was pretty quick. I always wondered how a c220 performed. Probably close to my 2.3 190e I had once

SwampYankee · #6 08-23-2011, 09:08 PM

What a beautiful car! Good luck with the sale.

shertex · #7 08-24-2011, 07:34 AM

This is very nice....makes me miss my SDL!

cgryphon · #8 08-30-2011, 07:57 PM

Deposit accepted from forum member

. Working on delivery details now. Thanks to all who responded, and those who were interested in the car.

Best,

Clay

TylerH860 · #9 08-30-2011, 08:26 PM

Clay,

Sorry not to respond to your email; was busy getting everything done before going on my trip. Excellent write up.

Its also nice to see that my wagon gets garage priority.

joegolden · #10 08-30-2011, 10:50 PM

Tyler are you the lucky buyer!

cgryphon · #11 09-19-2011, 04:09 PM

Delivered this weekend for the new owner. 600 plus miles on a great road trip in the South.

Thanks for all the interest from the forum.

Clay