Hello,

So...I've got the chance to pick up a very nice 1980 300 SD that has been very well taken care of, with full service records, 2nd owner, for $1000 obo. Interior is great, body is completely rust free, engine sounds awesome...but the catch is there is no reverse. I would assume worse case scenario is a rebuilt transmission. Maybe not so drastic, but the owner says the band is broken and not out of adjustment.

My '83 300DT, which looks decent, has a couple of rust spots here and there, has an awesome interior, euro lights, completely rebuilt suspension, but has a weak engine and a great transmission.

Are the transmissions compatible between the two cars? I've been looking for a nice w116 for a while and am prepared to sacrifice the w123 for it...I thought I would either part out or try and sell the w123 once I pulled the transmission.

Any thoughts here?

Thanks,
Sam

I would thoroughly examine the w116 for rust... At least with your car you know what issues need to sorted out. Even though the w116 looks pristine it may need attention in the very near future.

I guess it all depends on what YOU want to drive.. If I were in your position, and had the funds, I would totally do it just because I like the looks and driving characteristics of the w116..

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How does the owner know the band is out of adjustment? The reverse band adjuster is notorious for backing out and is a five minute fix on the spot if you know where to look for it.

The newer transmission will bolt up just fine to the engine. Although I have both, I never really checked to see if the newer one would swap that easily. I suspect they are the same length and the driveshaft is the same, but I do not know. I don't hear of many swaps of that sort. I am sure it can be done.

Even if it is a broken band, that's an easy fix too since you have to pull the tranny for the swap.

I bought my 300SD under much the same conditions. Mine had a bad torque converter. I say go for it.

Rick

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

I'm leaning in that direction...it really is a nice car and is completely rust free...including undercarriage...it has been garaged it's entire life...even the dash is crack free.

I'll have to do some research on the band....the owner said he took it to a reputable transmission shop and that's what they told him. I'm not sure what to look for, but I will figure it out.

Looks I'll be red-eyed tonight searching for reverse repairs on the forum...

HA!

Odds are in your favor for a five- finger five-minute fix. Do some searching here for reverse band adjustment on the 722.1 xx or four bolt trannies.

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

IMHO, W116 vs W123 is an easy nod to the 300SD.

I own both and the W116 is just a different breed. The W123 is a fine car obviously, as the huge number of them sold and still in service world wide attest. But a properly running W116 is a thing of beauty and a lot of fun to drive.

The 2 issues to look on the SD for are of course rust as has been mentioned and the climate control servo which most likely is/will be an issue at some point. That being said, my 300SD has been a daily driver for the past 8 years and 100k miles and I have had no issues with my servo (knock on wood).

__________________
Joe

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1980 300SD - 495k miles - 'The Ambassador'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Former Family Members
95 C280
73 280SEL
90 300D
87 300SDL (X2)
86 560SEL
84 300D
80 300SD

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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

It must be a 300SDT.

My apologies...I thought any 300D turbo was referred to as a 300DT...I supposed since all '83 300D's were probably turbo's the extra T would be redundant.

Anyway...I did purchase the 1980 300SD...with hopes the reverse is an easy fix...but am totally prepared to pull it and rebuild....I paid $800 for it and she really is a beauty...not a speck of rust and I think one of the cleanest interiors I have ever seen from that era...I feel extra lucky and can't wait to make it "perfect"

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Nice.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

Looks great- hows the back seat stuffing?

Keep us informed on the transmission issue. We are hoping for the best.

Rick

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

Cool, let us know what you end up doing to get reverse.

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83 SD

84 CD

I started a new thread on the reverse issue and my progress if anybody wants to chime in..


http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?p=2196289#post2196289