All,

Sorry, but this deserves a separate thread. Check out auction 4642869722. The seller claims he's selling his pristine, immaculate, and seemingly perfect 350SDL--which he just bought on eBay, as evidenced by his auction history-- because he can't stand to see the interior "dry up" in the Arizona climate. Is this a valid concern, or does someone think this beast was drinking oil?

DL

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1995 E300 146,000 miles "Celia"--sold
1993 300sd 131,000 miles "Konstanze"--with Mom in Tampa
1987 300sdl 225,000 miles "Frau Grau"
1980 300sd 164,000 miles "Old Yeller"--sold

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.com%3A80%2Fsearch%2Fsearch.dll%3Ffrom%3DR40%26satitle%3D4642869722%26fvi %3D1&item=4642869722

link

Why is it diving over to the driver's side?

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1982 300CD Petrol/Black Leather

And here is the auction he bought it from last month

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6330&item=4635023140

Well then what is the real reason the SDL must go away. I can't place any merit on the dry climate.
Maybe a problem mechanically or affordability?

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BENZ THERE DONE THAThttp://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...c/progress.gif
15 VW Passat TDI
00 E420
98 E300 DT
97 E420 Donor Car - NEED PARTS? PM ME!
97 S500
97 E300D
86 Holden Jackaroo Turbo D
86 300SDL
(o\|/o)

Or maybe the infamous 350 rod-bending engine has not yet received the no-less infamous and expensive head retrofit. therefore he is selling a time-bomb before its burst.

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Aquilae non capunt muscas! (Eagles don't hunt flies!)


1979 300SD Black/Black MBtex239000mi
1983 300TD euro-NA. White/Olive Cloth-MBtex 201000mi. Fleet car of the USA embassy in Morocco
1983 240D Labrador Blue/Blue MBtex 161000mi

the car is definately leans to the drivers side, front and rear. if hes so open and honest, how could he fail to mention that?

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1991 300 D 2.5 Turbo, 220k
also in the family:
1981 240 D 185k
1991 350 SD 185k
2006 S 500
2005 SLK 350

Why no mention of a CARFAX? something smells funny from here!

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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

He did state in the auction that the shocks/struts are shot. I know with my 300 that has bad struts/shocks that it does sit lower. *shrug*

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Fantom71 aka Dale
Madison, AL

91 190E 2.6 5 speed 220k miles and this car still scoots!

exactly how much of a lardass would be required to make a SDL dip like that? hehe... My current 300D has a similar condition (springs? seats? what are those?), god bless the american dream.

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http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

Pah, diesel fuel always smells!!! (Just teasing)

The car looks gorgeous, in and out, but that is the motor with the design flaw. That *alone* would make me run away.

That is maybe obvious here, but evidently not to the bidders at this point.
The reason to sell makes no sense. Everyone in Central/Southern Arizona knows the sun is hell on paint and interiors (and nevermind the desert sand storms) but this new (6 deals) ebayer, gave a pretty unusual reason to "flip" the car.

Perhaps he didn't know of the danger of a car like this, like as was said, a possible time bomb, that could blow.

Not sure what Arizona law is with respect to diesels, but in Calif. diesels are exempt from smog, but if he were to transplant an older "good" engine from the 80's into the body of the car, that would be illegal. The engine for gassers has to be same year or newer than the car it went into.

A carfax, complete set of up to date books and records, stamped by MB main dealer, and just 70k on the clock still would not be enough with a car like this.. It has a fundamental flaw. In the end, regardless of the provenance of the car, it is a terrible gamble for the buyer. (Maybe the seller knows that now and didn't when he bought it.)

Reading the original ad from the Kansas City dealer, what says it all are the two words: AS IS

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Hey guys,
this may sound ignorant, but i learn alot from these casual posts. could you give some of us the skinny on what these cars are infamous for? i gathered bent rods, but a little more detail and opinion would be awesome.

For all us newbies Thanks!

Dale

1983 240D

do a search on 350SDL, or rod bender, and prepare for alot of reading. (and it isn't good news mostly)
And stay away from them.
A few have had luck with them. A lot have not.

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

I am still willing to take the gamble. I just have to find the right one- cheap, just in case

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1984 TDT Blue on Blue "Harriet"
314,143 9/29/05- Our first date
351,000 12/29/08- Oh, the places we have gone!

1991 SDL Black on Palomino "Winchester the III"
188,655 8/11/07
218,700 12/29/08

Work vehicles:
MCI-
D4500 125k
D4505 200k
102A-3 1.8Million! and my fav

Well, "infamous" being notorious, the big (usually dark) SEL sedans are and were infamous for being the transport of choice of third world dictators, potentates and kings. In Africa, even children are sometimes named "Wabenzi"

When well kept, properly serviced with the correct fluids and parts, they are meant to last forever, and to be able to cruise safely and comfortably at their top speed all day long. They are built for the most part to be easy for the their mechanic to work on, and engineered to the highest standard, without regard to price point, and put together with great care. They are not cars built to be disposed of in a few years, and MB makes parts available, though not always cheaply. They will achieve star trek mileages and can protect their owners from injury in horrific crashes (Many or most of these these qualities apply also to your 240D, as you probably already know)

The very best diesel choice in America for them seems to be the '86-'87 300SDL, and I believe some would have to have their trap oxidizer worked out.
The 1981-85 300SD sedans are a good diesel choice too, with a few less refinements, being from an earlier year.

The gas models do ask for replacement of the timing chain, tensioners and guide rails about every 100,000 miles. A few remarks also can be found at www.mbcoupes.com which covers the gas coupes and sedans, a quick introduction for buyers. The air conditioners on the W126 have been problematic, and door locking systems occasionally give problems, but generally the cars are not problems - unless they have been neglected, it can cost a lot of $$$ to catch up.

I am sure others can address the issues more comprehensively than this, but I think they are great cars.

Jim

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

350SDLs also have the last of the W126 options, I'd like to have a fully loaded one with SLS and such. Just stick in a 3.0L and be on the way.

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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]