Are there any major differences other than the body on the 80 and earlier 300sd and the 81 and older 300sd? Are they both as reliable as the other? As quick? etc.
thanks,

__________________
Rob Armstrong, Charlotte, NC
Mountain Island Lake
RobAinCLTNC@hotmail.com

2004 VW Passat GLS TDI-50k
2006 Honda Odyssey EX-L 7k
FOR SALE 1991 300TE 228k

2003 Subaru Outback 57k Silver/Black-SOLD
2005 C230K 18k Pewter/Grey-SOLD
1997 E420 108k Black/Grey-SOLD
1986 560sl 200k Black/Palimino-SOLD
1985 300sd 340k-SOLD
1979 240d 170k-SOLD
2000 Volvo V70XC-POS couldn't sell fast enough

"other than the body"..?.. Well other than the motor they bear no resemblance. Actually they do share similar rear ends.

The tranny is a major change and the body is everything else. The A/C is different (better on 126), the cruise is different (better), the seats are electric (better ? I do like the ability to tilt the bottom section not available on manual seats), the front suspension changes made the 126 car smoother.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the 116 chassis more often the quicker.

__________________
Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician

TXBill, I am curious. I know that they did some changes in 1986 with the 126, but what is different from an 82 to an 83?

__________________
Ben

The MBs:
1976 300D (W115) - 330K and still going (sort of)
1991 300D 2.5 Turbo - Sold at 221K
1983 280SEL - Sold at 206K
1981 300SD - Sold at 232K

The main difference is the transmission. By 1983 it was 2 years old and they were finding out how to make it work right. There were band modifications, valve body mods, and they tightened up the clutch free-play standards. They really didn't get a system they were confident in till 1985, though.

__________________
Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician

are you saying to stay away from the 80 or 81? I am thinking of an 81.

__________________
Rob Armstrong, Charlotte, NC
Mountain Island Lake
RobAinCLTNC@hotmail.com

2004 VW Passat GLS TDI-50k
2006 Honda Odyssey EX-L 7k
FOR SALE 1991 300TE 228k

2003 Subaru Outback 57k Silver/Black-SOLD
2005 C230K 18k Pewter/Grey-SOLD
1997 E420 108k Black/Grey-SOLD
1986 560sl 200k Black/Palimino-SOLD
1985 300sd 340k-SOLD
1979 240d 170k-SOLD
2000 Volvo V70XC-POS couldn't sell fast enough

I would prefer the 81 if I had fixed/modified the tranny.

__________________
Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician

Steve, I own a 81 300SD and I experience flare from 3rd to 4th gear and harsh shifts between 1st and 2nd gear. From my searching on this site, it seems that I simply need to have the tranny adjusted and maybe a couple of cables replaced. What other modifications do I need to complete?

__________________
Ben

The MBs:
1976 300D (W115) - 330K and still going (sort of)
1991 300D 2.5 Turbo - Sold at 221K
1983 280SEL - Sold at 206K
1981 300SD - Sold at 232K