I have been around cars most of my life and am fairly handy in the DIY Maintenance area, but I'm fairly new to Mercedes and Diesels.

Having camped on this site for a few months to educate myself, I am now actively looking for a 1986/1987 300SDL. While I'm familiar with the obvious items to check when looking at any used vehicle, I would really appreciate input from this Board regarding specific checks for the W126 in general and the 300SDL in particular. How about a "Top Ten" listing of must-do checks for this model?

Thanks in advance

Andy

I have found that www.w126.com to be very valuable site. Be sure and check out the buying tips link.

__________________
BENZ THERE DONE THAThttp://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...c/progress.gif
15 VW Passat TDI
00 E420
98 E300 DT
97 E420 Donor Car - NEED PARTS? PM ME!
97 S500
97 E300D
86 Holden Jackaroo Turbo D
86 300SDL
(o\|/o)

You should also read the thoughts of Marshall Booth and Dave Meimann at http://buying.mbzarticles.org/checklists/124/

Use the search function and follow the threads of GSXR back to his website for alot of information and photos that will apply to the SDL.

In addition to the last link, here's another specific to the 126:

__________________
Chris

'04 ML500 - 53k, Inspiration Edition, Desert Silver
'11 Audi A4 Avant - Brilliant Black
'87 300SDL sold
'99 C280 Sport sold
'85 190E 2.3 sold

Thanks for the great leads and advice.
I'll let you know how I make out.
Andy

Ok this is coming form someone who bought a neglected SDL, that needed way to much work. Here are a few things to check when looking at a SDL.

1. Look for rust! Pop the trunk, look in the upper corners. Lift the gasket around the window, they start to rust in their.
Take off all of the jack point covers and look in their.
Where the front swaybar exits the wheel well, stick your finger in their and check for rust.

2. Under the drivers side bumper their is the oil cooler. Check the crimps and the fittings. On northern cars they rust and since their steel fittings on an aluminum core the threads often get messed up. $351 for the lines and $256 for the cooler.

3. If the radiator is original it is due. $395.

4. Check for play in the steering wheel.

5. If the egr is still hooked up the manifold will need to be cleaned.

6. With the engine running pull the oil filler cap and check for blow-by.

7. With the engine cold check for pressure in the upper hose. This could be a cracked head. $2000

8. If the under body panels are still in place remove them and look for leaks.

9. It will leak something.

10. Get the car up on a lift and have a good look underneath. Check all of the hard brake lines, paying carefull attention to the ones above the rear axle. They rust in the corners.

11. Behind and under the radiator are two wire covered transmission cooler lines. Their only $10 each to replace but could be a bargining point.

12. Check the front and rear bumper for rust.

My advice is to buy the nicest one you can find. Paying more upfront is money well spent.

"the most expensive Mercedes is a cheap one"

__________________
2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Adsit is selling their new w126 radiators for $195.

__________________
Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)

Yes they are but those are for the 420,560,300SD, and 300SEL. Adsit has the 300SDL radiator for $395, MB had to make that one different.

The one with the closest part number the 420's radiator is different, it is smaller.

__________________
2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200