1987 MB 300sdl

[tkotanch]

Hello All,

I have a good friend in PA that wants to sell me his 1987 MB Diesel for a reasonable price...$1500-2000. It's got 180,000 miles and I know he's taken good care of the car. I would have to drive this beast across the country.

But I wanted to ask. Is this a good model? Anything particularly bad or anything I should know before purchasing it?

Any input, comments, etc. would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Tom in AZ

[OhioSDL]

search for SDL in the shop forum search engine.
The single biggest thing that could be wrong with it is the head "problems"
look under "SDL 14 head"
but if it does have the 14 head dont let it scare you.
have a hot compression test done and check the coolant tank for any oil residue.
second search under the " trap recall SDL "

otherwise they can be solid road yachts.
well it depends on the previous owners. if there is much neglect than your 2000 purchace price might climb to 5000 with all the repairs that may have been defered.

if need more info use the search because someone else has aready had the same problem you may be experiencing at that moment. or a better way is find the people who have this car (most of them can be found on this post:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=109693 )
and click on their name and read their previous posts. really neat feature as you can see the progression of their cars problems and the answers that worked for them.

If it dosent work out for you im sure others would be intrested in the vehicle once we know the condition.

good luck,

[OhioSDL]

the car is probably on its last legs. you really would do better to steer clear of this white elephant. bad fuel milage. no room in the front or back. the ammenities are bare bones. the ride is like a coal cart. and the engine has no performance what so ever. and diesels smell bad
you should buy a KIA or a or something more safe

by the way. you have a bad friend. you should give me his phone number and address so i can go scold him for trying to sell you a piece of junk

[TX76513]

Originally Posted by OhioSDL

the car is probably on its last legs. you really would do better to steer clear of this white elephant. bad fuel milage. no room in the front or back. the ammenities are bare bones. the ride is like a coal cart. and the engine has no performance what so ever. and diesels smell bad
you should buy a KIA or a or something more safe

by the way. you have a bad friend. you should give me his phone number and address so i can go scold him for trying to sell you a piece of junk

LMAO

[Dervman]

Hi Tom,
These are GREAT cars - not that I'm biased at all
I would highly recommend a pre-purchase inspection by a M-B specialist to assess the condition of the car and if it needs any major work. Also do a search here on "SDL" and read some of the information.

If your friend has owned it for some time and the car has a good service history then that is a great start. Regular maintenance is critical on any car that is 18 years old and vital for Diesels. Regular oil changes and all the filters is a good sign the car has been cared for.

Potential problems? Well apart from the obvious (Brakes, Suspension, etc.) the SDL uses the 603 series engine with an Aluminum Head. If Overheated they have been known to crack but otherwise appear to be just fine. Replacements are expensive however.
Transmissions are good if maintained but symptoms of possible problems are slippage between gear changes. They tend to be a little hard shifting but really harsh changes may also indicate a potential problem.
The Sepentine Belt that drives all the accessories (water pump, alternator, A/C Compressor & Power Steering) has a pulley Tensioner that is prone to failure. The Shock absorber on the tensioner usually goes first but the pulley and tensioner bearings quite often fail. You will hear a chatter from the front of the engine.
If your friend or previous owners haven't already changed the Vacuum Pump then this should be added to the preventative maintenance list. If it has a smooth front cover with no screws visible it is an original. They are normally fine but can fail without warning and in doing so can deposit their bearings into the engine with obvious results. The newer design (with screws on front cover) have sealed bearings to prevent this. Replacements are about $350.
The Auxilliary water Pump which circulates coolant through the heater at low engine rpm's is another common failure item. It is a pain to replace due to its location between the bulkheads and is expensive. It can also damage the Climate Control system and the A/C Compressor Clutch if it fails as they are all on the same circuit. You can disconnect it though (I doubt you need it in AZ) and run without it.
Radiators are a common problem item as the plastic header and bottom tanks often fail where the main hoses connect.

$1500-$2000 is a good deal for a 180,000 mile car if it is in good condition with no major issues.

Good Luck

[goldenbear]

Originally Posted by Dervman

...$1500-$2000 is a good deal for a 180,000 mile car if it is in good condition with no major issues.

Good Luck

Wow! I'd say that would be a steal for 180k mi and good condition. If it has some of the issues noted in this post, then that's another story.

[tkotanch]

To All,

Thanks for the input. He has owned the car for about 9 years and has always had it serviced at the MB dealer. I'm still going to have to drive it back here or have it shipped. I may wait until it starts getting hot in AZ and then fly back to pick it up.

I assume you're being sarcastic when you say "no room in front or back" It's one of the biggest cars I've ever seen...a definate land yacht! It would be fun to drive it out here. I'll keep you posted.

Thanks again,

T

[Hatterasguy]

Great cars, all of the problem areas have been stated above. I would still get a PPI done, better to find a problem up front then down the road. Don't worry about the head, just don't overheat it.

[ccooper]

I say Go For It! In my estimation, the SDL is one of the best Mercedes ever made. The ride and handling is indistinguishable from the 420 SEL and I think it is a solid value. It is a much more refined vehicle than the 300 SD, yet it is almost as durable. I'm 6'5" and whenever I go anywhere with my immediate family (all of whom are over 6'), we take the SDL. I absolutely love the room. Plus, the longer wheelbase gives a smooth ride. I added all the 560 SEL features - the heated seats, reclining rear seat, etc, and it's a hell of a car. I have no desire to buy another car for a long time (unless it's the Mercedes-Benz, ... errr Dodge Sprinter Van. But it's going to take more than wild horses to make me part with that car! - even with the Sprinter.)

It sounds like this car has quite a bit going for it. You know how it has been maintained for the past nine years, and the price is right. It wouldn't be unreasonable to pay $5,000 for such a vehicle. However, in addition to issues mentioned above, such as the 14 series head, there are some things I would look out for. Keep in mind these are things _you_ should look out for, above the PPI.

Interior condition. How is the leather? Are there a lot of cracks / rips? Do the seat springs sag. Is the padding deflated? How about the wood? Is it clouded? Are there a lot of cracks? Is it clean? Is your friend a smoker? Check the console and dash; look out for cracks. What is the condition of the steering wheel? Bottom line: is this a place where you want to spend a significant amount of your waking hours?

Exterior condition. This car has been in PA, where there is salt. Unlike AZ (or CA), rust is a real issue here. Check the underbody for signs of rust. Remember this is literally a cancer for cars. Look at the paint. If it's not in top condition, consider that you will spend a minimum of $2,000 for a quality paint job. Does the trim look good? How well do the doors close? Are the rubber seals intact?

Accessories. Make sure the AC / Climate control are working. The AC is another $2,000 fix (compressor, recharge, sundry line replacement, etc). Also, check for things like the rear glass defogger to be working. These all cost $$ to repair or replace.

I know most of these things are picking nits, but you will see every last imperfection in this car over time. Make sure that you are getting exactly what you want, or that you know how much it will cost to get exactly what you want. My car is a labor of love and I've put a lot of time and effort toward getting it the way I want. If I had it to do over, I would have paid $2-3,000 more for a pristine specimen. As it turns out, I've spent well over that. But I love my car!

I hope this is of some value to you.

Casey