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  #1  
Old 06-04-2017, 03:34 PM
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Question My Respect to Y'All, I am looking to purchase a car. The best Mercedes under $5000.

I am desiring help in finding a car that is Reliable, Economical, and Pleasant to drive. I saw this 1980 300sd (W 116) in great shape. What to y'all think ? is parts easily available reasonably ? I like the Classic, reliability, and Economy of this car. Thank you, Harideva


Last edited by hdvl; 06-04-2017 at 03:48 PM.
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  #2  
Old 06-04-2017, 03:40 PM
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1980 300sd is a great car if it is in good condition. I think the blower is a bear to replace. Parts are still available from MB.
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Old 06-04-2017, 03:54 PM
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Great car. Also 1981 300SD has the newer body style and is also a great car. No computers and a dream for a mechanic to keep running.
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Old 06-04-2017, 03:58 PM
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Just keep in mind that the major weak point in a W116 300SD is the climate control. It almost never works and most of the time when someone says it works or just needs a charge, they are lying. It will cost thousands to get the climate control operating as intended unless you do a lot of research and learn how to repair it yourself. Of course, you can always rig up a manual heater valve and bypass it all.

Power windows also tend to be an issue, so you get stuck in a car with non-operational heating and air conditioning with windows that won't roll down. Other than that, they are fantastic cars. I have daily driven a W116 300SD for 10 years and have loved it.

Parts for a W116 are more scare than more common and similar W123 chassis cars. But, I prefer the W116 myself. They have good looks, can be simplified (I converted the power windows and sunroof to manual), are very comfortable, are safe, handle well, have great acceleration and fuel economy, plus parking is a breeze as the turning radius can't be beat.
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Old 06-04-2017, 05:20 PM
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What about the 300SD as in a 1992 (w140 ) ? Thank you
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Old 06-04-2017, 05:25 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Squiggle Dog View Post
Just keep in mind that the major weak point in a W116 300SD is the climate control. It almost never works and most of the time when someone says it works or just needs a charge, they are lying. It will cost thousands to get the climate control operating as intended unless you do a lot of research and learn how to repair it yourself. Of course, you can always rig up a manual heater valve and bypass it all.

Power windows also tend to be an issue, so you get stuck in a car with non-operational heating and air conditioning with windows that won't roll down. Other than that, they are fantastic cars. I have daily driven a W116 300SD for 10 years and have loved it.

Parts for a W116 are more scare than more common and similar W123 chassis cars. But, I prefer the W116 myself. They have good looks, can be simplified (I converted the power windows and sunroof to manual), are very comfortable, are safe, handle well, have great acceleration and fuel economy, plus parking is a breeze as the turning radius can't be beat.
Thank you! This helps
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Old 06-04-2017, 05:31 PM
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Originally Posted by chronometers View Post
1980 300sd is a great car if it is in good condition. I think the blower is a bear to replace. Parts are still available from MB.
Thank you! I just have to pay extra attention with the Air circulation issue. My current car, a 1987 Mercedes 190 16V had heat on always, no AC, and I have to put on a Switch on the fan motor, otherwise the fan runs at the #1 speed, or 2, 3.
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Old 06-04-2017, 05:36 PM
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Originally Posted by tyl604 View Post
Great car. Also 1981 300SD has the newer body style and is also a great car. No computers and a dream for a mechanic to keep running.
It's in a consideration also. It had the 126 body, which is too bulky for my taste. But is it just a tad bigger than the 116 ? Thanks
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Old 06-04-2017, 06:16 PM
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One nice thing about a 126 SD is you can swap in more comfortable 89-up seats (no pleats). The 82-83 SD are as electronicless as the '81. ABS, airbags, security system, etc. didn't hit until the '84 model year. But I agree the 116 is more stylish. Particularly hard to beat with Euro headlights and bumpers. Looks pretty darn good in hubcaps too.

Great acceleration? Adequate in good tune

Look up 'rod bender' before looking at W140 Diesels. Great cars if you're informed and have a contingency plan. A W140 Diesel has great acceleration.

Sixto
83 300SD can be yours
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Old 06-04-2017, 06:22 PM
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Originally Posted by hdvl View Post
It's in a consideration also. It had the 126 body, which is too bulky for my taste. But is it just a tad bigger than the 116 ? Thanks
It's an optics thing. The 78-80 SD is 3" longer and 2" wider than the 81-85 SD.

Sixto
83 300SD can be yours
98 E320 wagon
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  #11  
Old 06-04-2017, 08:58 PM
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I daily drove a '80 SD for many years, the climate system is by far the weak point. Eventually the window regulators went out as well. w116 regulators were absurdly expensive when I looked for them.

I bought a '82 300D for less than new window regulators would have cost, sold the SD and have driven the '82 about 20k since then.

I personally think the W123 is easier to source parts for, while having the cooler styling like the W116
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  #12  
Old 06-04-2017, 09:09 PM
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In Austin TX you should be able to find plenty below the 5K price that you can, if mechanicaly drive for years with good maintenance. I would like another W123 and look occasionally in TX C/L, but my criterion does not include working AC.
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Old 06-04-2017, 09:38 PM
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If a gasoline version would be considered, I'd look for a 94-95 124, sedan or wagon, non-4matic with a 104 motor. Preferably with a new evaporator core. I had a 93' with over 360K, one of my all-time favorites and I've had 5 diesels.
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Old 06-04-2017, 09:46 PM
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Fly over to Maryland and get this.

These are one of the last ones left in great condition.
https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/cto/6157539877.html
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  #15  
Old 06-04-2017, 10:00 PM
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Smile

That one in Maryland is Awesome. The one I am looking at is on west Coast here : https://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/6150589310.html. Thank you Everyone for the Support and Suggestions...

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