I knew my car needed brake and bearing work, and have had a wheel, or two off for the last few weeks. Not too many miles on it since buying it in November.

Yesterday I finished up the front brakes, tie rods, wheel bearing repack, and ball joint and went for a ride.
Needs alignment next week, no surprise, but handling and tracking felt very good. Maybe a new steering damper...

Brakes are great, straight and sure. No squealing, yet. Quite rewarding for my first brake job.

After repeated stops to set brake pads, I got on the highway and did about 15 miles cruising.
Most pleasant! Car wanted to do 200 miles, but first we'll do alignment. Then we'll roll. Italian tuneup time.
For what I know about a diesel, it runs smooth, with ample acceleration. Smoked a white Caddy after doing a U-turn and flooring it.
Punching it took me from 60 to 75 in a blink. Very smooth, and it was ME that let up. Car was ready for more.

Work so far:
Brake pads all around.
Rotors in front.
both tie rod assemblies.
Right ball joint. Paid $65 to have an indy press it in.
Repack front bearings
fuel filters
Air filter
seat frame and pad
monovalve kit---I have heat!
Taiwan-Euro headlights
bosch wipers with cages
Hood pad
front crank seal and Oil and filter--$264 at indy shop
rubber muffler hangers
CD player

Sitting on transmission filter kit and MB coolant. To do soon.
Also need to:
Replace under hood fuel lines
Shifter bushings
Look at flex discs

Putting it into full-time service this week.
Paid $6100, received a CitiBank Driver's Edge $1500 cash rebate, and added about $1700 parts and labor to date.
(Coulda had a Chrysler Grand Voyager with 110,000 miles for the same money...)
So far, so good.

__________________
Mike J
Cary, NC

1987 300SDL
203,400 miles
How NOT to buy a MB Diesel:
Know little or nothing about diesels or Mercedes Benz.
Get the WVO fever.
Drive 70 miles to a used car lot in the country.
Buy the car without having it inspected, because it seems like a good idea at the time....
I'll be back. I'm gonna need help.
I love this car already!


1998 F-150 154,000 miles

1994 Geo Tracker 75,000 Miles

pray tell, does a white caddy smoke?

tom w

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Reluctantly.
He dropped back and changed lanes.

__________________
Mike J
Cary, NC

1987 300SDL
203,400 miles
How NOT to buy a MB Diesel:
Know little or nothing about diesels or Mercedes Benz.
Get the WVO fever.
Drive 70 miles to a used car lot in the country.
Buy the car without having it inspected, because it seems like a good idea at the time....
I'll be back. I'm gonna need help.
I love this car already!


1998 F-150 154,000 miles

1994 Geo Tracker 75,000 Miles

got any pics of your SDL? mines at the indy waiting for a engine rebuild, only 102k miles on it but 3 cylinders had no compression. i bought it in December knowing it needed engine work but i suspected a cracked head, not 3 bad cylinders. oh well its still a nice car

hey that happened to me.. glad it did happen too

I have photos, but haven't resized yet to be able to post.
It IS a nice car! Makes me think of the Ford Escort I bought new in 1987. FIVE (5) CARS AGO!

Hey Bernie! I'm a REALTOR too. Who are you with?

__________________
Mike J
Cary, NC

1987 300SDL
203,400 miles
How NOT to buy a MB Diesel:
Know little or nothing about diesels or Mercedes Benz.
Get the WVO fever.
Drive 70 miles to a used car lot in the country.
Buy the car without having it inspected, because it seems like a good idea at the time....
I'll be back. I'm gonna need help.
I love this car already!


1998 F-150 154,000 miles

1994 Geo Tracker 75,000 Miles

i dont have an sdl.. wish i did but i went and bought my benz like you did.. for the biodiesel movement which i am slowly not caring about anymore and not knowing a thing bout diesel benz's

Are all of you other '87 SDL owners aware of the evil trap oxidizers? Killers of turbines??? Mine, mercifully, had an '86 exhaust manifold installed w/o the TO. It was done too late, however. Crap from the TO built up and sent crud into the turbine. The car drove like an old 200D. Now she is awesome.

Good luck enjoying your road-going diesel locomotive.

__________________
Charles Cleaver
1975 350SE + 1992 300CE-24 SportLine 5-speed + 2002 SLK320 6-speed + 1974 W114 280
1986 190E 2.3-16 (Decomm rear self-leveling suspension; Euro-code headlamps) sold
2004 Audi S4 6-spd - sold
1969 (2) and 1980 Porsche 911T, S, and SC - alas gone
1987 300SDL - Graf Spee; Euro-code headlamps; 16-inch 8-hole wheels - sold
1994 E420+(E500 suspension/E-code headlamps/PAD chip) sold
1968 250SE 4-speed (NICE car) - long gone
1962 220S 4-speed/column mount - long gone

1. I have no trap oxidizer. Apparently it was removed.
2. I will be very careful about taking the step to WVO.
3. I ain't talkin' oil.

__________________
Mike J
Cary, NC

1987 300SDL
203,400 miles
How NOT to buy a MB Diesel:
Know little or nothing about diesels or Mercedes Benz.
Get the WVO fever.
Drive 70 miles to a used car lot in the country.
Buy the car without having it inspected, because it seems like a good idea at the time....
I'll be back. I'm gonna need help.
I love this car already!


1998 F-150 154,000 miles

1994 Geo Tracker 75,000 Miles

Bought my 300SDL about a month ago, flew from NC to Chicago and picked up car. Did my shakedown over the next 820 miles. Got real close and personal with the car, am very glad I got it. Mine has 136k, PO just had the trap oxidizer recall done. Came with the factory orthopedic seat option, and they work! All in all, I love the car. I've changed the hood pad, seat springs, and buff and wax. Planning to change tranny fluid to Mobil-1 syn, although the fluid looks good. Shocks, brake pads, and antenna mast are on the list too. Enjoy your car, I sure will. I sold my '87 560 SEL for this car, no regrets yet.

James S. Jetton
1987 300SDL 136k

Wow, you drove a 19 year old car 820 miles right after buying it?
Braver than me. Glad you made it.

How did you find it?
Was this an EBay or Craigslist purchase?

__________________
Mike J
Cary, NC

1987 300SDL
203,400 miles
How NOT to buy a MB Diesel:
Know little or nothing about diesels or Mercedes Benz.
Get the WVO fever.
Drive 70 miles to a used car lot in the country.
Buy the car without having it inspected, because it seems like a good idea at the time....
I'll be back. I'm gonna need help.
I love this car already!


1998 F-150 154,000 miles

1994 Geo Tracker 75,000 Miles

We bought the 82 SD with 207,128 miles on it in pennsylvania, drove it 710 miles back over the next two days, never had a prob....A/C died on the way due to improper recharge, but didn't affect driving...

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Mike,
This was an ebay purchase, which in any case, is a leap of faith. This is my fourth car that I've bought out of state and (knock on wood) no problems yet. I've asked enough questions I guess, made sure of seller's feedback, and know what I'm buying. I emailed and called seller to get a feel for the vehicle and in all cases the cars where better than described. Do I feel lucky? Sure, but it worked out. I saw that you're in NC, I live in Greensboro.

Jim
1987 300SDL 136k

Drove my '84 1200 miles the second day of ownership with no problems. Well other than the A/C not working and the cruise a tad funky going downhill. Though the PO said that they both worked *perfectly*.

__________________
But what do I know...

1984 300SD 256k