I am thinking about selling my '82 300D and buying a 300sd. I like the more comfy seats and any thing I can do to make my Mercedes diesel hobby more enjoyable for my wife the better.Such as lighted vanity mirrors and lights in the doors. Do the '85's have computers in them? If so what do they control?
Thanks

my 84 has the auto climate control and cruise control - that's pretty much it for "high tech" I think in that generation

a modern car in-dash CD player has more technology

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~shell
As of 2/2010:
2001 CLK55 0o\=*=/o0
13.6 @ 106mph
10K mi
1984 300SD
260K mi and going and going...
97 S600
46K miles
1991 Sentra SE-R (extremely dorked with)
www.se-r.net

We have both a 300D and a 300SD and in my opinion they're almost equal in comfort...the 300SD just feels a little bigger, while the 300D drives like a lead block with wheels. I like them both, and mechanically they are almost identical. Your 300D is faster than an SD will be as they are heavier, and mileage will be slightly less as well. All the '85's have was a different transmission (not necessarily a good thing, it makes them far more rare) and some extra electronic emissions stuff. Otherwise they're identical. The one good thing the '85 300D's and 300SD's had was the 2.88 ratio differential instead of 3.07....the 2.88 means less rpms on the freeway.

__________________
-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)

I know im gonna stir up a hornets nest with this post but oh well,

Honestly I like the SD so much better than the D, I get better mileage in the SD because of the gears, it is much better on the highway because of its areodynamic features, If you have a nice example, the interior is much nicer in the SD, power seats, somtimes heated, power recline and power headrests,

The SD is bigger, weighs about 300lbs more, but was constructed with high strength steel, so it is light for its size.

The SD will have antilock breaks, and should stop quicker than the D,

I have owned both, I prefer the W126.

All that being said, other than removing the gauge cluster, it is easier to work on a 300 D, the systems are alittle less complicated. I would rather work on a 300 D, but own a 300 SD,

Its much more important to find a nice example rather than year/model, if you find a really nice 300 SD, go for it.

Im not saying the 300 SD or the W126 is better, i just prefer it more, lots of members here will prefer the W123.

__________________
1984 Euro 300SDC, (4spd standard)
1986 Toyota Landcruiser Diesel HJ60 5spd X2

Gone but not forgotten (some sold, some stripped)
1983 300 SD, 1985 300 SD, 1983 240D, 1986 300 SDL, 1985 300 SDL, 1983 300 D, 1984 300 D, 1985 300SD, 1987 300 SDL, 1983 300 SD, 1985 300 TD Euro, 1983 380SEC, 1990 300 D, 1987 300D, 1982 300D, 1982 300D, 1994 E420, 1987 300 TD, 1987 300 D, 1984 300 D

Only the '85's of the 300SD and 300D had the 2.88 gearing, all other SD's have 3.07....also....only the 85's came with Antilock brakes...and I think it was optional. So if you get anything prior to a 1985SD ('85's are hard to find), it will not have those features, and is mechanically almost identical to a same-year 300D.

__________________
-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)

I've owned both. The SD is superior.

__________________
'85 300SD (formerly california emissions)
'08 Chevy Tahoe
'93 Ducati 900 SS
'79 Kawasaki KZ 650
'86 Kawasaki KX 250
'88 Kawasaki KDX200
'71 Hodaka Ace 100
'72 Triumph T100R

The SD does have more "feel" And I agree, I like it better too.

__________________
-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)

The SD has more options for retrofitting from parts off the more accessory equipped higher-end 500/560SEL's (e.g., heated seats, rear window shade, adjustable hydraulic suspension, airbags, rear seat headrests, rear center brake light). Granted it might be a nightmare to install some of those things, but they should still fit because they were made for the W126. I've done the rear seat head rests and center rear brake light on mine.

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http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/l...aman/Fleet.jpg

Peach Parts W124.128 User Group.

80 280SL
85 300SD
87 300TD
92 300D 2.5 Turbo
92 300TE 4Matic

Thanks for all the info.

My SD does not have anti-lock brakes. I believe that was an option.
It also does not have a self leveling system. I believe that is in the SDL. Or maybe also an option?
I don't have airbags either, I know that was an option.
No heated seats either.

Also, the '85 has the improved vacuum pump???

That said I love my SD.

Danny

__________________
1984 300SD Turbo Diesel 150,000 miles

OBK member #23

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