Hello Peaches,
I have been lurking on the diesel Forum for years gathering information and learning about Mercedes diesels. The right car at the right price finally came within reach so I bought it. Yesterday I picked up a 1987 300SDL from the original owner with 107,200 miles. The 200-mile drive home went smoothly.
I don't have any service records for the car except for the maintenance book showing oil changes to 85,000 miles at the dealership. The owner moved way out in the country and found a local mechanic to change the oil and service the car. The original owner passed away last year and his son did his best to recall what was done to the car. The son told me that the turbo charger was replaced and something in the exhaust system that had become stopped up with carbon.
The interior does not have any rips or tears, but it is dusty and dirty. The car spent the last 10 years on a horse ranch in Texas. Interior should clean up nicely.
The exterior has suffered the weather. The heat and sunshine has not been kind to this car. The hood does not shine and appears coated in tree-snot. The trunk lid shows spots of bare metal and failing clear coat. Should a 1987 even have clear-coat? The pin-stripe is crackled and feels rough to the touch, and it is baked on well enough that it will be a job to remove. The car is otherwise straight and has never been in an accident. With correct preparation and a quality respray the car would look good.
The car feels very solid mechanically. It starts right up. Air conditioning works perfectly. It shifts through the gears very smoothly. The acceleration is excellent; you can feel the power of the turbo charging at about 2,000 rpm. The ride is smooth. Steering is precise. The car makes a noticeable black smoke when you give it wide open throttle. My friend Don suggested that we check the plumbing for an air leak.
Without service records, I believe that I should start from scratch and inspect/service every thing. I will change the oil, transmission fluid, rear differential fluid, change all filters and flush the cooling system. Are there some known "trouble items" that I should address sooner rather than later?
Thank you for your wisdom, experience and opinions!
Jeffrey