It's in my hands now - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Ether · #1 02-28-2010, 08:12 PM

Well, the 87 SDL that started out (at least as far as this forum is concerned) with Hatterasguy in CT and then transferred to The Don in FL for just over a year, will now reside with me just outside Atlanta.

As with most 23 year old 300k mile cars it has a few warts but thanks to the wads of money Hatterasguy threw at it and The Don's careful stewardship, I found it to be in pretty decent shape when I took the keys.

I took care of the worn out lower ball joints yesterday at Pierre's shop before heading north. Unfortunately, the drivers side abs sensor did not survive the operation so that will be needing replacement. Also discovered some worn UCA bushings but luckily I happen to have a few in my parts stash so that'll get squared away pronto. Going to need an alignment and wheels balanced as well.

A couple of rust areas will need to be dealt with and maybe someday new paint. Had some wind roar from the sunroof which wasn't quite closed properly but got that squared away after fiddling with it some.

Hey Joe! Did you ever drive the car at night? The euros are nice and bright but are aimed rather low it seems to me.

I'm hopeful that the previous moniker for this car (The Money Pit) no longer applies but we'll see. Regardless, it will be fun.

79Mercy · #2 02-28-2010, 08:17 PM

So thats why you were at Petes shop on saturday....

Congrats on your new purchase!!! Its a pretty decent car.

BTW, that car has a cool feature that im sure your going to want to fix, a smoke screen under WOT, lol.

Ether · #3 02-28-2010, 08:24 PM

That was the reason. Did you get your system bled?

A smoke screen can come in handy ya know.

79Mercy · #4 02-28-2010, 08:26 PM

Yes I did, it was a large pocket of air in the t-stat housing, I did just as pete said and it was perfect.

So will you be back down for the GTG 3/27.

Ether · #5 02-28-2010, 08:31 PM

Most likely I will. Was already planning a trip down for a good portion of the week prior so unless something changes I will be there.

JimmyL · #6 02-28-2010, 10:39 PM

I certainly wish you luck with a car that 2 forum members couldn't wait to get rid of.

Perhaps it just needed to find the right owner......
Whatever the case it is a well know forum car and we will enjoy following it's progress.

TheDon · #7 02-28-2010, 10:41 PM

I did notice the euros were aimed incorrectly but every time I wanted to aim them properly I couldn't find a big flat wall that wasn't seedy. my driveway is angled so it wouldnt work.

enjoy the car and that smoke screen at anytime is not from me. I don't know why it did that, the ALDA looked untouched and the air filter was replaced

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyL

I certainly wish you luck with a car that 2 forum members couldn't wait to get rid of.

Well, the SDL sold before the Cabrio so it was the one that had to go.

Palangi · #8 02-28-2010, 10:44 PM

Isn't that the same car that Turbodiesel in New Jersey owned?

Ether · #9 02-28-2010, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyL

I certainly wish you luck with a car that 2 forum members couldn't wait to get rid of.

Perhaps it just needed to find the right owner......
Whatever the case it is a well know forum car and we will enjoy following it's progress.

I"m sure there will be an unexpected event or 2. There always is with these old cars.... I reckon that's what keeps it interesting.

Ether · #10 02-28-2010, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palangi

Isn't that the same car that Turbodiesel in New Jersey owned?

Not sure about that. The records I have show Hatterasguy bought it from a dealer in CT in 2004.

Palangi · #11 02-28-2010, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ether

Not sure about that. The records I have show Hatterasguy bought it from a dealer in CT in 2004.

OK, probably not the same car....

I was thinking that Turbodiesel had a high mileage SDL that a member in the Northeast bought. I must be thinking of somebody else.

Skid Row Joe · #12 03-01-2010, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ether

I"m sure there will be an unexpected event or 2. There always is with these old cars.... I reckon that's what keeps it interesting.

That's for sure. Anything over 100K miles and 10 years old is an unknown in my experience with 'em. A car with over 300K and several decades old - you can count on it needing periodic, possibly costly repair. But that's to be expected. Good luck with your new car.

Jim B. · #13 03-01-2010, 12:45 AM

So *that* is where the car went.

It's a really rare one, to find, in the USA, with the velours interior.

I would have loved that velours interior in mine, but it has black leather, so to save it, and at the same time be more comfortable, I bought top of the line sheepskins in polar white from www.ramsheadusa.com and have been supremely happy with them for over a dozen years!!!

I am even wearing --right now, as I type this --- these sheepskin slippers from them, that have lasted longer than my marriage !!!

Congrats, hope to see pic's iof it in mint condition soon, I am certain you are a worthy custodian of this wonderful east coast car.

pawoSD · #14 03-01-2010, 12:52 AM

That SDL certianly likes to make the rounds of owners on the forum....I've had mine since July '03....and it's not leaving anytime soon!

It looks like a really unique/cool car, very very few of them have that interior in the USA.

buffa98 · #15 03-03-2010, 01:01 PM

What kind of milage you get on the trip back up?