I have a 1984 300d that I am thinking of using for a airport sedan/limo service. Would also be used for business travel. It has some minor rust that I need repaired and it needs a paint job. Total cost would be 4-5k.

Would it make more sense for me to travel south out of the corrosion states and find a good 300SDL for 4-5k and use that for the limo service? Does the SDL have a bigger interior? It just doesn't make sense to spend 5k on paint when I can spend 5k on paint with a whole other car under it.

Besides oxidizer and head issues, is there anything major to look for when looking at one of these vehicles?

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1984 300D Turbo.

Not to burst your bubble or anything. But I think most people who want a "limo" ride want to sit in a new Lincloln Town car or Cadillac. Most limo drivers I know say the customers always want to ride in the new stuff. Hence they have to keep buying new cars every couple of years.

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1981 300D 147k
1998 VW Jetta Tdi 320k
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 141k
1979 300D 234k (sold)
1984 300D "Astor" 262k(sold)
Mercedes How-To and Repair Pictorials
I love the smell of diesel smoke in my hair

I'd go for a rust free SDL, besides being rust free it's more like a limo. I saw a beautiful, absolutely perfect 1987 300SDL sell on eBay for $6k just a couple of months ago.

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1987 300SDL 167k
1992 Volvo 740 140k
1990 Volvo 740 250k
1989 Volvo 240 269k

Anyone want to trade an old Volvo for an '87 300sdl?

I am interested in bringing something different to the market.

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1984 300D Turbo.

will never know its not new unless it looks scruffy.

the back seat in an sdl is as close to a limo as you will get.

tom w

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[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.

Depends on limo service I guess. Late model Lincoln's and MB's seem pretty standard. S350 (LWB) would be a good choice. S280's seem to be the limo/hotel car of choice overseas.

I'd look at it from more of a business perspective, these cars are not that cheap to run if you really start to pile the miles on.

You can probably pick up new Malibu or whatever Ford sells for that market (Crown Vic?) pretty cheap. Run a few making money on the low end until you can break into the high end.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I don't know if you've ever sat in the back seat of a 300D, but, if you're anything larger than a midget, the legroom is miniscule.

A good looking 300SDL fits the bill in terms of size and elegance. Even if you pay $7-8K for a good example, the customers will be more than satisfied with it.

Heres your LIMO, You might want to move on this. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?p=1122494#post1122494
Treeman

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Collector of Fine Hose Clamps
'77 240D 'AVA' is in heaven now
'80 240D Kanarienvogel
'82 300TD 343k was my daily driver 'ADOLPH' In Surgery for a severe Deer Bite to the Nose
'88 560SL 102k 'White One'

it is referred to as a lwb saloon, (that grey 123 limo) or was it a 115?

tom w

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[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.

It would be a horrible to subject a time warp like that to harsh daily use.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I really think the SDL is the way to go. And this is coming from a pretty die-hard SD owner.

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'82 300SD - 361K mi - "Blue"

"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

listen, look, .........and duck.

SD's lack a lot of rear leg room. Pretty hard to beat a lwb W126 when it comes to leg room. I'm a tall guy and I find the front seat of the W123 a bit cramped, the back looks small.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

That's absolutely true. With the front seat moved back a bit, there is barely enough room for an attache case on the floor of the SD in the rear seating area.

Not exactly comfortable as a limo..........