88' 300SEL vs. 88' 420SEL vs. 82' 300SD .... - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #16 09-07-2008, 05:40 AM

With the cost of fuel these days, the only one of the bunch I would consider is the diesel. If its not nice enough I would look for a nicer one.

I had an 84 500sec. A lovely car....beautiful to look at, nice to drive and sporty for such a large car (its not really much larger than a 123 though) and the fuel mileage is just terrible! best I could ever get running on average 65 was 19 highway. Around town it was 12 and 13.

I drove it a lot of miles anyway and with 140K on it I used it for a summer of autocross events with absolutely no issues and it was on its original timing chain (I didn't know of the reputation of them).

The sd can be converted to stick. Thats what I would do at first sign of tranny trouble. With a four speed you should be able to top 30 highway without too much trouble. The 126 body is fairly slick for a benz!

Tom W

86560SEL · #17 09-07-2008, 09:27 PM

Thanks Tom... well, I can indeed buy the white 300SEL (101K) for $2000. Its a nice car appearance wise, but I have not driven it yet and its not all that local. A/C needs "charged" he said, but everything else is in perfect working order. Good paint, very nice interior. He said it does not smoke or burn any oil between changes.

I can buy the 420SEL for $2500 - nice car stated, but it has bad paint. Owner said the sides are fine, but the "upper" areas are dull... clear coat is shot. Its a blue car of course. He was supposed to be finding out if the timing chain/etc has been replaced... this car has 192K. He said it ran "better than great". Knowing my luck, I would buy it, start home with it and the guide would break and throw a hole in the valvecover and I would be out $2500.

The 300SD is still up in the air! It has good paint, very good leather interior (just has that typical specks on the seats from age) and obviously garaged since its nice and original and being a 1982 model. It has about 186K on it. Everything stated to work perfectly, even the HVAC unit.

My 1985 380SE had 275K and I was amazed that I still got 20 mpg in town and that was with leaky injector seals. I guess the 380 uses much less gas than the 500 or 560.

What is the "M103"... the 3.0 I6? I had a 84' 190D and while it was slow on take off, I did not mind it, so I think I could live with the power of a 300SEL. I test drove a 89 300SEL a couple of years ago and while I did think it was slow off of the line, it was suitable for me.

Yeah, that one W140 (94' S420) was sold (it need a crank sensor, rear window motors, steering sector was leaking and HVAC was out). The other W140 (1993) I really like and would probably buy, but it seems to "use some oil", which may be normal for a 500SEL, but I am used to my 85' 380 that had 275K and did not use a drop of oil between 3K changed, nor did it leak, nor does my 91' Lexus LS400 with 214K.

I will know later this week I guess.

Thanks again for all of the replies!

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

With the cost of fuel these days, the only one of the bunch I would consider is the diesel. If its not nice enough I would look for a nicer one.

I had an 84 500sec. A lovely car....beautiful to look at, nice to drive and sporty for such a large car (its not really much larger than a 123 though) and the fuel mileage is just terrible! best I could ever get running on average 65 was 19 highway. Around town it was 12 and 13.

I drove it a lot of miles anyway and with 140K on it I used it for a summer of autocross events with absolutely no issues and it was on its original timing chain (I didn't know of the reputation of them).

The sd can be converted to stick. Thats what I would do at first sign of tranny trouble. With a four speed you should be able to top 30 highway without too much trouble. The 126 body is fairly slick for a benz!

Tom W

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hit Man X

Trans issues you have heard are BS, I have 260k on one that's stock. Shifts slow into Reverse but upshifts are fine. Just change the fluid every other year or 25k and you'll be fine. The trans shifts firm, just how it is...

420sel is what to buy! I own variants of all you're interested in... and I am seeking a prime 420 for my condo actually. They're a BARGAIN for what you get. Well I'd take an ECE 500sel too. 420s are nearly as quick as 500s due to less weight... same with the 560.

Unless you brew Bio, Diesel isn't worth it due to cost of fuel (cost per mile). Economy simply isn't THAT much better anyway. They only get upper 20s at best, unless you drive 55-60mph. I've gotten 29-31 more than once in my SD and SDL but that was 65mph cruise in the fall (AC off) and those have 2.88:1 diffs. For $1/gal more... you can do better and reap the benefits of more power. The pretty flat torque is great if you do quite a bit of city driving.

300sel is a quirky vehicle, buzzes down the freeway, 2nd gear start. Decent freeway car if you're a slow freeway driver, poor in the city (get a few people in there, have AC on, fan clutch locked, start in 2nd gear... and it's a turd) Geared wrong, needs a 2.88:1 with first gear start and economy is so-so as S-Class pointed out. A 420sel will match it in economy (if not surpass) if driven modestly (65mph freeway)... with an extra 40ft-lbs of torque ~1000rpm sooner (and about 25hp more up top) which is massive for normal driving.

The M103 will always need a valve job between 150-200k due to freeway RPM (I wouldn't want a primarily driven city car). Cheap and easy, but factor it in. One guy has swapped in a 2.88:1 here and loves it. I'll be doing the same when I put a 2.47:1 in my SDL. OH - my 300sel drinks 1 quart in about 250 miles... 260k on the ticker with new valve seals.

Timing guides are easy on the V8s, just time consuming. The M116 you can get updated alu guides that won't fail again. If you're in a pinch for time, do the driver side first as that's the side that fails.

Diesel's one advantage is the lack of countless vac tubes, housings, etc that go bad on the gas motors. But fix those and you're good.

Buy the one with the best paint and interior. Any of your choices will require a few thousand to be put in.

Skip that W140. HVAC issues are HUGE on those.

86560SEL · #18 09-09-2008, 10:44 PM

Well, the 1982 300SD was sold. It went for about $2600 (it was on ebay), but I would have had to pay an additional $500 shipping. It was a good deal, but I was hesitant - it was on ebay and the seller had good feedbacks, but all of his Mercedes ads were very much the same, with only minor tweaks and there was one buyer in particular that paid $$$$ for a low mileage 83' 300D (supposedly), but turned out that the odometer was busted.

I am leaning more toward the local 300SEL at this time. I have interest in three 300SEL's. ALL are 1988 models. One (white) with 102K for $2000, one (bronze/light brown) with 154K for $2500 (but $400 more for shipping) and one (black) mileage unknown for $2500, but again, will have to be shipped. The white one will not require shipping and is the lowest mileage/price, but the A/C is on the fritz.

THEN there is a 88' 420SEL with 190K for $2500 (local). Bad paint.

Hit Man X · #19 09-11-2008, 08:44 PM

Drive the 300SEL, they're just goofy. The only M103 W126 should have been the SE. Then drive a 420SEL.

I say hold out until you find what you really want. No reason to settle for less.

86560SEL · #20 09-11-2008, 10:17 PM

Thanks... well I am checking out the supposed low mileage on the one 300SEL. I did find a local and stunning black on black 1995 S500 that is awesome, but we all know the issues some of these have, but if the price is right.

86560SEL · #21 09-16-2008, 12:58 AM

Well, well, well. Found out that the mileage on the "fairly" local white 300SEL is not actual. Odometer stopped a month ago said the seller? Um hmm. Passing on that one. Had I drove all the way up there, commited to buy it and found out that the low miles were not actual at all... I would have been ticked and would have had to crushed the little weasel.

The local S500? They want $7000 for it. No way! Not for one with 153K and timing chain, evaporator core driveshaft updates unknown.

Have found several other 300SDL's and 300SEL's I am checking on. All seem to be nice cars. Some are out of state where my uncle lives (big city) and he is looking around for me. He is actually looking at a 86' 300SDL for me tomorrow.

Hit Man X · #22 09-16-2008, 01:43 AM

M119s dont have the timing chain/guide issues the M116/7s did from what I've seen... just the early have the engine harness/evap core problems.

No way I'd consider an SDL without going over it in person. They're quirky vehicles.

86560SEL · #23 09-16-2008, 01:53 AM

Thanks for those tips.... yes, my uncle is personally checking out that 300SDL for me tomorrow. He has a 1991 350SD and pretty familiar with MB diesels... more than me of course....

Thanks for the info on the M116 vs. M119. For some reason I thought timing chain/guides/rails was as critial on the W140 V8 cars as it was on the W126 V8 cars.

My prime pick would be a LWB W140 with the 3.2L I6. S320 LWB.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hit Man X

No way I'd consider an SDL without going over it in person. They're quirky vehicles.

Hit Man X · #24 09-16-2008, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 86560SEL

Thanks for those tips.... yes, my uncle is personally checking out that 300SDL for me tomorrow. He has a 1991 350SD and pretty familiar with MB diesels... more than me of course....

Thanks for the info on the M116 vs. M119. For some reason I thought timing chain/guides/rails was as critial on the W140 V8 cars as it was on the W126 V8 cars.

My prime pick would be a LWB W140 with the 3.2L I6. S320 LWB.

Okay good, you want a familiar party going over a potential 603 powered car. There's much to miss/over look.

BENZSTER · #25 09-16-2008, 04:30 AM

86560SEL,

I may have stumbled upon a good car for you. pm sent.

Brgds,

BENZSTER