87 300D totalled in accident thinking about S class - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ebrobb · #1 01-31-2010, 05:37 PM

Yep the title pretty much says it, my wife couldn't stop at an intersection one icy morning and rear ended a Subaru. the insurance company says it's totalled (we are still arguing on the pay out amount). My wife wants to skip the Mercedes and just buy a Honda or Toyota this time because of the high repair costs but I'm having a hard time getting my mind around that. I would like to step up to a mid 90's S-class diesel. More than anything just for the extra room and nicer seats. We found the 87 slightly snug and the seats really springy and not that comfortable for longer trips. anyway I've heard that you can run into a pile of money on the S classes can people suggest things I should look out for. Thanks

thayer · #2 01-31-2010, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebrobb

Yep the title pretty much says it, my wife couldn't stop at an intersection one icy morning and rear ended a Subaru. the insurance company says it's totalled (we are still arguing on the pay out amount). My wife wants to skip the Mercedes and just buy a Honda or Toyota this time because of the high repair costs but I'm having a hard time getting my mind around that. I would like to step up to a mid 90's S-class diesel. More than anything just for the extra room and nicer seats. We found the 87 slightly snug and the seats really springy and not that comfortable for longer trips. anyway I've heard that you can run into a pile of money on the S classes can people suggest things I should look out for. Thanks

Just search for 300sd 300sdl and 350sd and look at the problems with each. There certainly isn't a perfect model to stick to but there are things like the 350's aluminum head that can crack if the water pump goes and it overheats. And they usually do at some point. Some have been replaced...if it has...move on to other issues.

I drive a 300sd
My WIFE drives a Honda Odyssey. We are happily married

bio350 · #3 01-31-2010, 06:00 PM

Been there done that!!! The biggest problem I have with my wife's 92 300SD is.....my wife. She loves the car!!! No matter whether it is running or not. And believe me, I have left it NOT running for an entire 6 months. She was soooo patient waiting for that motor to be put in.
Anyway, I can't believe CL and e-Bay people selling these things for over $9,000. Just because they sold for $90,000 brand new.
They have "rodbender" engines which I have replace on two models....hey, when you get good at something you might as well stick with it. If the entire engine doesn't go the head will. People will say, "I had the head gasket replaced and now it's like new". My wife's had the head gasket, turbo and EGR replaced as they were trying to find out what the cause of oil consumption and loss of power was. All they had to do was replace the motor.
They are big cars that are really nice to drive. But they will either force you to either BECOME a mercedes mechanic or OWN one.

rick surgent · #4 01-31-2010, 07:18 PM

Sooooo....where's the carcass...I mean car.

GregMN · #5 01-31-2010, 07:32 PM

#1: listen to your wife, she is correct, get her what she wants.

#2: I want your parts car.

Hit Man X · #6 01-31-2010, 08:54 PM

If you believe the '87 had high repair costs, do not even consider the W140 Diesel.

ashedd · #7 01-31-2010, 09:04 PM

Just buy my 87 300D and call it a day. Black/grey and about 150K. Runs/looks great... well very good. It's got a couple minor details but it's nice.

dariod · #8 01-31-2010, 10:18 PM

I thought in USA S class diesel came only in 1992-1995 models. There was no S diesel in 80's only SEL, SDL, SD, SL etc.

Hit Man X · #9 01-31-2010, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dariod

I thought in USA S class diesel came only in 1992-1995 models. There was no S diesel in 80's only SEL, SDL, SD, SL etc.

The who with the what now?

SD and SDL are W126 Diesel vehicles.......

bustedbenz · #10 01-31-2010, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dariod

I thought in USA S class diesel came only in 1992-1995 models. There was no S diesel in 80's only SEL, SDL, SD, SL etc.

The USA S-class diesel was available from 79-87 and again from 90-9x... whenever the final w140 300SD stopped being sold. Early-mid 90s.

ebrobb · #11 01-31-2010, 10:30 PM

The wrecked '87 is at my house in central Iowa. As I said before the insurance company is screwing with me saying they don't want to go with the book value because of the age, they want to go with others that are for sale. I did a nationwide search on Autotrader and only came up with 16. anywhere from $1200 to $10k. the closest one was 500 miles away. if the ins. company won't bump up their amount I will take their offer and see if they will let me keep the car, then I can keep it for parts or sell to some other lucky individual. Actually we had really good luck with the car I can usually tackle most things myself with the help of the internet, and we have a really good mechanic about 40 miles away that only works on Mercedes, and he does his best not to kill you with the price. I would be interested in the W140. Thanks for the replies

pawoSD · #12 01-31-2010, 11:21 PM

I would not touch a W140 unless you happen to have huge piles of cash laying around ready to spend. Compared the W124 it will be Much more expensive to maintain....and they have the notorious rod bender diesels. I'd stick with a W126 if you want an S-class, or get a W124 gasser, like a 1990-93 300E or something. Better seats, better looks, various improvements. I have an '82 300SD and a '90 300E and they are both excellent cars.

How fast was she going on an ICY day that even with ABS she crashed. Sounds like speed to high for conditions. When it is icy I leave huuuge gaps between me and the next car, even with my excellent snow tires that actually stop quite well on snow/ice. Can never be too careful.

bsmuwk · #13 01-31-2010, 11:31 PM

how can one offer an opinion on a car that they have not owned for themselves? and how can one base their opinion of the car just because one model had a bending engine? they were available with a 3.0 as well and those didn't bend rods. now what do you have against the car? (not anyone in particular, just saying generally)

i say, find yourself a well driven car with decent mileage that has been very well maintained and you should have no problem fixing an odd end here and there. like i've said to many others, buy the best maintained mercedes you can afford, because nothing is more expensive than a cheap mercedes.

and btw, a w124 can be easily on par with a w140 in terms of maintenance costs.

Jeremy5848 · #14 01-31-2010, 11:32 PM

The 90-ish W140 diesels had an OM603.970 engine that was bored out to 3500cc to make more power/torque to push the bigger chassis. Unfortunately, they didn't sufficiently strengthen the con rods and this engine is now known as "the rod bender." The rod bending is slight, can't be detected by driving, can happen at any time/mileage, and causes the pistons to carve the cylinders into an oval shape. The first clue is that oil use has gone through the roof.

Mercedes developed a stronger rod and even replaced some at no cost in cases where it was to their advantage (good customer, low miles, etc.) PR-wise. The chances of getting that to happen now are not good. Some forum members have these cars and are well pleased with them. If the rods have not yet bent, the engine runs very well and the car is otherwise excellent or so I have heard. When the rods do bend, you throw away the car or look for a replacement engine, such as the 603.960 engine in your wrecked '87.

This is not meant to scare you away from the 350SDL but you do need to look at what might happen. I would not pay very much for one, given the risks, unless the engine had been rebuilt or replaced. If you are simply looking for a larger version of your '87 300D, consider an '86 300SDL. Same engine in a foot-longer body.

Jeremy

pawoSD · #15 01-31-2010, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsmuwk

how can one offer an opinion on a car that they have not owned for themselves? and how can one base their opinion of the car just because one model had a bending engine? they were available with a 3.0 as well and those didn't bend rods. now what do you have against the car? (not anyone in particular, just saying generally)

i say, find yourself a well driven car with decent mileage that has been very well maintained and you should have no problem fixing an odd end here and there. like i've said to many others, buy the best maintained mercedes you can afford, because nothing is more expensive than a cheap mercedes.

and btw, a w124 can be easily on par with a w140 in terms of maintenance costs.

They mentioned not wanting to spend tons on maintenance.....thus a W140 is not a good idea. It is pretty much a space ship for electronics. If I were to buy a W140 however, I would get an S320 gasser.