$2400 SDL yey or ney?
 

http://www.craigslist.org/sby/car/144188031.html

Dad suggested giving me his 78 300D and selling my 300SD for a "better" one. Personally i think i may do it but i have put in alot of work to get the car to better running shape. Fixed tons of electrical problems (speedo im still working on) I dont know if i really want to. If i do i want to go a step up to a SDL or maybe even a later model 300D (like the 87 ones) maybe even a 190D if i can actually find one.

What do you guys think? and what you think about that SDL?

I like the added leg room in the back, but is the SDL's 6Cyl as good as the
5 Cyl in a SD or D. I have seen some posts that have led me to believe it
is not. It has more power, but harder too work on. But I really like thoes
fancy seat covers;) . I hope he/she is not trying too hide anything. Car
look in really good shape. I is a hard call... Jay

81 300 SD 138 Miles " Black "
81 300 SD 134 Miles " Diamond Blue Metallic "
81 300 SD 237 Miles " Diamond Blue Metallic "
83 300 SD 166 Miles " Cream "

Thats a thought that had come up. the 5cyl are pretty much bulletproof and the 6cyl in the SDL's are newer and therefore harder to work on but i like a challenge! And the black is sooooooo nice on a W126.

Im looking For 190D's but only thing i dont like about the 190's is they are pretty cramped inside (gpa has a 190E) the 300D would be a step up but most of them around here are out of my price range.

You've got a lot of issues with that SDL, the largest of which are the lack of a/c and the missing pawl for the Park position in the transmission. PO probably broke it off.

Figure to spend at least $4K in parts to return everything to proper function. It's not an insignificant challenge on these vehicles. Parts are costly.

The car has been on craigslist for about two weeks now. The owner originally wanter 3500 for it and it has yet to sell even at 2400. I actually bought my 300 turbo off of this guy, he is a nice and fairly honest fellow. The only seller I've seen that didn't say the 300 got 30+ miles to the gallon, he said 22 at 85-95 and it has been a bit better. It was new to him when I got my car last april but after emailing him back it just didn't fit into his life anymore. I remember it being a nice looking car, much better than the junk found on ebay that usually sells for a higher price. I would contact him and take the car for a drive. Worst thing you don't like it and it is not for you.

Ill probably take a look at it, also will take a look at a 190D. Guy says the 190D needs a new battery and the gasket around the tranny filter leaks so need another one of those. No big deal on the 190D he says it has 119K miles and all electronics work so may be worth looking at for $1500.

Show up with $1700 CASH, I bet you could drive it back home. Tell the owner you have to transfer title, receive new plates, etc. Not to mention the obvious nonfunctional bits. Body looks decent, the interior is questionable at this point. Looks like it has power rear seats, that's cool. I have them also. :D

I'd be curious what front suspension bits were replaced...

Use the leaking AC to your advantage at this point. Also the ABS which is probably just a bad OVP fuse. The trans is the big issue.

i have a pretty nice
 

90 350 sdl. in terms of condition it is pretty excellent. runs and drives about perfectly and the body and interior would be described by someone who doesnt know every little thing as like new.

but the motor is a lot more finicky than the 617.

if i could find an earlier 126 with the 617 in equal condition i would trade instantly.

but finding one this nice is not likely.

tom w

FWIW, you should be able to replace a broken parking pawl by taking the rear bearing housing off. If it's like the transmission I think it has, that's a pretty easy job. I wouldn't be scared off by that one at all.