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  #1  
Old 07-24-2004, 01:32 PM
hensmark
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Is 90 or 91 350 SDL a wise buy?

Hello,

My name's Mark and I'm new to this forum. I'm planning to buy a MB diesel and like the size and style of the early 90 or 91 350 SDL. In perusing some of the threads on this forum though it seems that these may be models to stay away from due to the 3.5L engine.

How bad is this problem and should it be a deal killer on these cars? It seems some of the engines may have been replaced -- is there anyway to tell this?

I'm planning (hoping) to put a lot of highway miles on this car and am also planning to run it partially on vegetable oil using a greasecar kit.

It seems the earlier pre 87 300 series diesels are heavily favoured by most in the forum but I would like something a bit newer and preferably with airbags.

Any advice or feadback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

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  #2  
Old 07-24-2004, 01:44 PM
sixto's Avatar
smoke gets in your eyes
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Eastern TN
Posts: 20,841
Airbags - the 86-87 SDLs have a driver side airbag. Who knows if it will fire after 17 years? The 90-91 SD/Ls have a driver side airbag, passenger side airbag was optional. That's long in the tooth as well for an airbag.

You can check the engine serial number against MBUSA records to determine if the engine was replaced and replaced with an upgrade engine, not something out of a wrecked car. I believe some engines were rebuilt so records would be the only way to know for sure.

There's speculation that a combination of EGR gases and blow-by are the main cause of rod failure. It seems logical to me that if you fit a currently good engine with a catch can between the valve cover vent and turbo inlet, and disable EGR you should have an engine that will last a good long time. Disabling EGR in the 90-91 SD/L is not simply a matter of plugging a vacuum line, but it has been done.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL
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  #3  
Old 07-24-2004, 10:12 PM
hensmark
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Thanks sixto that is helpful. Could you tell me how to get access to the MBUSA records?

If you've got the time and interest -- I'm researching one car on ebay right now --
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2485259056&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT

The seller claims 179k miles which seems to check out with carfax. The details of the car:

VIN WDBCB34D6MA575529
Make Mercedes-Benz
Model 350
Year 1991
Body 4 Door Sedan
Engine L6, 3.5L; SOHC; Turbo
Vehicle Type Passenger Car
Trim 350SD
Manufacturer Mercedes-Benz of North America, Inc.(MBNA)
Assembly Plant Sindelfingen
Country GERMANY

I'll ask the seller what the engine serial number is and would like to check it with MBUSA if you can give me a hint on how to do that.

This car sounded interesting to me based on the new AC, partially rebuilt front end, new timing chain etc. Assuming all that is correct, my main worries would be the motor and the transmission.

Again thanks for any input.
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  #4  
Old 07-25-2004, 02:12 AM
sixto's Avatar
smoke gets in your eyes
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Eastern TN
Posts: 20,841
Right off the bat it doesn't have a passenger side airbag so it doesn't offer more safety than a 300SDL.

Take the VIN to an MB dealership and have them run a vehicle master inquiry (VMI). It won't tell you more than the datacard tells you except for completed and outstanding recall type items. If you're on good terms with the dealership, you can press for more details. I'm always told they can't give me further information. Others in the forum say the dealers are more than happy to reveal the car's documented history. Go figure.

Here's the datacard info:

Engine no - 603970 12 001998
Trans no - 722361 03 453132

Body color code 702 - smoke silver
Body trim code 65 - mushroom
Interior trim code 265 - leather mushroom

Option codes:

227 - rear ashtray with cigar lighter and illumination
241 - left front seat electrically adjustable with memory
242 - right front seat electrically adjustable with memory
340 - thrid brake light
412 - electric tilting and sliding sunroof
446 - cruise control
461 - instruments with mileage reading and English lettering
491 - US version
524 - paint preservation
531 - automatic antenna
543 - sunvisor with vanity mirror illuminated
551 - anti-theft warning system
581 - automatic climate control
592 - heat insulating glass with windshield band
600 - headlamp wiper
611 - courtesy lamps for front and read doors
639 - elimination of first aid kit and trunk warning triangle
757 - Becker Grand Prix US version
801 - change of model year
810 - Bose sound package (that crappy sound system is Bose?)
877 - left and right rear reading lamps

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL
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  #5  
Old 07-25-2004, 11:13 AM
mplafleur's Avatar
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Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Lathrup Village, Michigan
Posts: 2,939
Too bad they eliminated the warning triangle.
__________________
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)

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  #6  
Old 07-25-2004, 10:05 PM
hensmark
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Michael, I take that as a strong recommendation to stay away for this model. Too bad. I really want to get a diesel with a few less years on it than an 87 but it seems like the '87 or earliers is the best option.

Thanks for the input.
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  #7  
Old 07-25-2004, 10:21 PM
mplafleur's Avatar
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Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Lathrup Village, Michigan
Posts: 2,939
I didn't mean it that way. Growing up on a farm, I have a thing for warning triangles.

Just be careful of the engine and do your due diligence.

__________________
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)

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