91 350 Sdl Please Impart me w/Knowledge! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 11-23-2004, 07:39 PM

Guys (and Ladies)
I just took a look at a 91 350SDL with 225k, that was immaculate, it looked, one owner and well kept, it was on a dirt lot here in Charleston.

So I ask the sales guy... (who for all of our freinds on here who like to trash salespeople, was very nice, not pushy, and the only thing he new about the car was it was a 300series mercedes diesel) Do you know anything about this car? do you have any records?, Any history? He tell me he can run an Auto check for me!

Anyway it cranks well (battery acted a little low) started good, all bells whistles and buttons work! Test Drive I ask, sure he says...my wife called

got to go get my son. Ok I tell him I see you tommorrow.

Oh I forgot, in the glove box, a reciept from one of our highly respected indy shops around here, (I went to school with the owner) and it has the previous owners name and phone number on it!!

So I call, leave a message, and he calls back. We talk, he is first owner, never a problem, detailed once a year, changed evap core in 2000, and new transmission last year, was adding a quart between his every 3k mile oil changes, sold the car because his daughter told him to buy an infiniti from her!

Dealer is asking $10,990.00, he sold it to the dealer for 6700.00 5 months ago.

So now my questions for help from my band of Dieselheaded brothers...(and sisters)

Oil burn between every three? Is that within the acceptable range for the 350?

The owner told me he has only had brakes, and minor maintenace (also he gave entire folder of maintenance records to the owner of the dealership!) So no front end work, that I can handle, are there other pretty standard things that will soon go?

I wrote down the serial number of the head You guys talked alot about that in another thread(Ican't find it now

HELP) this is a #17 head, can't remember if good or bad.

Anty other things I should check...

Thanks Y'all are the greatest support!

Joe

whunter · #2 11-23-2004, 08:29 PM

#17 head is very good.

#14 head is bad news.

As I recall.

#3 11-23-2004, 11:12 PM

Thanks, i found the thread, I never realized that there were only 2925 of these produced! (at least that is what I read @ http://home.concepts.nl/~vlimmere/index2.HTM
No wonder people say parts are high.

Joe

DslBnz · #4 11-23-2004, 11:40 PM

I've found his charts to be pretty accurate. Only 2066 SD's were made as well.

Now, comparing diesels, the 300SDL is a rare 126. Even quite a lot rarer than the SEC. However Mercedes made sbout 4 300SDL's for every 350SDL.

And for every 300SDL made Mercedes made 6 300SD's. Meaning for about every 24 300SD's a 350SDL was born.

Interesting huh?

#5 11-23-2004, 11:54 PM

do you think a 350 is going to collector status?

DslBnz · #6 11-24-2004, 12:21 AM

Maybe.

So far the 350 engine is the last diesel engine to be suited solely under the hood of an S-Class car. The 350, throughout it's years, never went into another Benz besides the S-Class, except for maybe the G.

And, in the US, the 350 was the last diesel powered S-Class.

We'll see what happens. I already know that 350's are commanding a ridiculous premium right now. That could be a foretelling.
Meanwhile, the older well-conditioned '86-'87 S-diesels with similar mileage are not nearly as expensive but on average right now sell for prices between the 560SEL's and the 560SEC's.

Supply and demand. Whatever's game for the market. Who knows? But the fewer the numbers, the greater the chance of collector status.

gsxr · #7 11-24-2004, 12:52 AM

It depends how bad you really want an SDL. The oil burn in 3k means it's not perfect (mine is 6k per quart with Delvac-1), but it's not toast yet - when they're *really* bad, it's 300-500 miles per quart.

Having the dealer's purchase price gives you a lot of leverage. You can probably get it for about $8500 if you stick to your guns - and the dealer isn't an idiot. He'll have a VERY hard time getting anywhere near asking price for a rod bender with over 200k. I think it's overpriced, personally, unless it's really , *really* immaculate.

The main thing to keep in mind is that it's quite likely you could have to replace the engine in the next 20-50kmi. Maybe not, but you must plan for that anyway - a new long block is ~$6000 plus labor, or you could swap in a used 3.0L motor for about half that (plus labor). Then again the 300SDL's usually have the bad (#14) heads, which would cost $2-$4k to replace - almost as expensive. (The optimum deal would be a 300SDL with a new head already installed.)

Very tough call - I'd shop around on the Internet for other 350SDL's to get a good handle on pricing before you settle on what you're willing to pay for this one. They are very nice cars, though....

HTH,

#8 11-24-2004, 06:32 AM

Well, I wish I would have been looking in June when the original owner sold his car. The car looks great.
Knowing what I know I did searches on intellichoice, NADA, KBB, and looked at there values. I realize that according to what I have heard these numbers on based on used car lot reporting.
I have been watching traderonline, prices really vary.
Bottom line from what I have heard here is parts are more money, maintenance is more money, cost to own would be more money. Well after all it was a 60k car on delivery

I personally think 8500 is more than I would be willing to give, Apparently the dealer has been using the car as his personal vehicle last 5 months, but parking it on his lot kinda a sell or not deal.
We will se how it goes!
Joe

Hatterasguy · #9 11-24-2004, 10:51 AM

Actually I disagree that parts will cost more. It is a long wheel base W126 these were imported from 1986-91. So non engine parts cost just as much as any other W126. Now the 350 is not that different then the 603 in the 300SDL/D's so a lot of parts are the same. I know they use the same oil filter for example. The only parts you have to be careful of are 350SDL specific parts, the oil cooler might be extremly expensive. I think they use the same radiator as the 300SDL though so figure $400 for a new one if it ever dies. I don't think a 350SDL would cost anymore than a 300SDL to keep going. The 300SD's seem to be slightly less expensive. (slightly)

Now if it is clean and you can get them into the $8k range it sounds like a good example. What about blow-by? Pull the oil cap, on a healthy one you should be able to put your hand over the hole and feel almost nothing. Also look inside how clean is it? At over 200k miles I would be surprised if the engine went south bad examples seem to die pretty young. As long as the car is clean with no rust I would say go for it. It has a newer trans thats a big plus, how does the AC work? What about the cruise control?

The only thing I would be aware of is that if the suspension is all original it will need work soon. I have started replacing parts as they go bad (at 240K)so be ready to start replacing things. But the shocks are the most expensive everything else isn't to bad.

#10 11-24-2004, 01:34 PM

I've got 155k on mine. Purchased it with 148k. I've spent about 2k on services. Most major item was an Injection Pump that needed to be rebuilt. Car did not idle on # 5 cylinder. Rebuilt pump fixed that. Previous owner had tried a micky mouse repair and that resolved issue. I also replaced all four dampers. Nothing wrong with the old ones except that the car was just too soft for my liking. I replaced with HD Bilstiens. Big improvement. A little less like a barge, more like a boat. Replaced the heater monovalve last weeked. Takes all of about 5 minutes to do in your driveway,and your local dealer most likely has 20 of them in stock. I'm about to spend 500 dollars to install 4 Hakka RSI snows. I assume these cars are as bad as my BMW 735i in the snow but maybe this might help. The car has no scratches, dents, rips, rust etc. It has been garaged all it's life till I got my hands on it. It had some minor wear of the leather dye on the driver's lower seat back. I got one of those leather re dye kits and it was a perfect match. Impossible to tell where it was redyed. I paid 8250 for the car, include an extra set of wheels with mounted studded snow. All original paperwork, manuals,etc were included. I really like the car and hope the engine doesn't spit a rod out of the side of the block and hit me in the foot when I'm dieseling. If it does I'll get a rebuilt from Noel's. Where else can you get a car that is built like a tank. Handles a little better than one, gets 29mpg and can actually keep up with traffic. I bet you you can pay 20k for a new MB and not get one as good as these were.
Andre
PS My two little daughters like to place house in it.

#11 11-25-2004, 12:24 PM

Thanks for all the responses,
Hat Guy, drove it about 3 hours yesterday, All, sytems are go, It was about 77 degrees here in sunny SC, so top open, a/c blowin, cruise set at 65+ drove like a dream. I don't know when AYW got his but with that mileage and shape...Good Job AYW!
Things wrong...
Auxillary fans did not turn on with A/C blowing, Brake sensor light was flickering, headlight wipers did not work, couple areas on front driver, and rear pass scratches, (Look Buffable) missing 8 lug nut caps. I called my friend at the local indy shop he owns and works (car was maintained there for the last 6-7 years) and he told me that their was no problem buyung that car, the PO was in every 3k for oil and filters, and he always fixed everything!
It is a shame that the original reciepts are now missing, that would give a great maintenace history, but maybe I can get it from the local shop.
The story unfolded like this...PO who is as stated before was OO (original owner

) sold the car to dealer A for 6700.00, with the car the Owner gave all books and records

(wish I had gotten to deal with PO direct

) then dealer A was driving the car as his personal vehicle, put about 3300 miles on it in the last 5 months, his business tubed, and he sold to these other car dealers.
I told the salesman that I knew a lot about this car, a whole lot... and I would give him $7,000.-- for it, I told him I knew how much the car had sold for, and what the car needed, and that that was fair. While not recoiling in shock, he said he would have to think about it and would call me Friday...so we will See.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Joe

whunter · #12 11-25-2004, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joer2001

I told the salesman that I knew a lot about this car, a whole lot... and I would give him $7,000.-- for it, I told him I knew how much the car had sold for, and what the car needed, and that that was fair. While not recoiling in shock, he said he would have to think about it and would call me Friday...so we will See.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
Joe

Last time I approached a used car salesman with that tactic, the car was sent to an out of state auction, to prevent me from ever getting it.

#13 11-25-2004, 06:16 PM

The guy got that upset with you...wow he needs therapy!

But Whunter,
with 225k mi, 91 350SDL, good condition, what would you think you would pay for it?

Joe

Hatterasguy · #14 11-25-2004, 06:16 PM

They might let you have it for $7k, $7k is a good number to start with. You should have added sharpen your pencil and give my a counter offer. None of the problems you mentioned are a big deal. Heck throw a set of Depo euro's on and get rid of the wipers. I would do a brake job right away if the light is coming on. The lug bolt caps always come off but the new style bolts don't have caps and are a better design.

Judging by the current market I would think $8k give or take is about right. But $9k+ isn't out of the question.

fj bertrand · #15 11-25-2004, 06:38 PM

Don't think the rods are going to go at this late date with all those miles on it.

there were 875 350sdl's built in 91 according to Mercedes Benz Production Models Book 1946-1995. 1990 was the big production year with over 2000 built.

Couldn't get a better car than the 350sdl. < 0.5 qt oil between changes, added stock 10 disc cd player and XM radio. I love the car. Best I've ever owned now and most likely in the future. paid $11K with only 89K on it last october...good luck!!