Nice car. The 300SD is my favorite W126 model. Being an ex-420SEL owner, W126 is the very best Mercedes ever made! I bet yours can be reached 500,000 miles without major problems. Happy Motoring!
I bought an '84 300SD in 2010. I've been through the whole car and restored it to excellent condition, including buying another one (cheap) for it's engine (veggie oil cokes up the engine and eventually a piston ring blew due to the glycerine build up from running it on WVO) so it's another engine and transmission, both from the donor car, and the car is amazing. But you got to spend money on restoring these turbo diesels. Everything works on mine, even the cruise control. I saved a lot on doing the electrics myself. It's one of the best cars ever built and a real shame that you say you're parting it out...
Thanks for all the compliments but let me tell ya. I am at my wits end with this thing. Water Pump, Alternater, Shocks, Rotors, Pads, Front Calipers, Wheel Bearings. Just put $700 in it last week and picked it up now it's over heating and spraying coolent everywhere. I can't sell it and come close the what I've put into it. Friggin Money PIT!!!!
Yes, it does have cruise. pause at 2:20 and it's the little lever on the left of the steering wheel. There's no "cruise main" but you can set, accel decel, and cancel.
@DamnStraightM35A2 and google "suspension bearing bracket". image will show up 4th link down. The ball joint is shot and causes the front driver side tire to shake violently at around 45mph. parts to rebuild are in the trunk for $100. 3.5hrs of labor.
@f350powerstroke Ya thanks...I considered keeping it but I don't have a garage to work on it in so it just doesn't make sense. No luck with cars for me at all I tell ya. Gave up on this car and bought an 09 Sonata. Took it in twice for transmission issues and just got off the phone with the dealer and they have to put a new transmission in it. Wish I still had my Subaru. That thing was bullet proof. And paid for.
yes i do but unfortunately i found out 2 days ago that the trans is shot. Read down to see issues with and work done i.e. $1200 in parts a week before i parked it in 2010 because the ball joint in the suspension bearing braket went out. Still have the parts in box but now the trans.....and many other small issues. Im in Wisconsin so if your really interested let me know. It's got issues though i wont hide anything. Probably just gonna scrap it as i have nowhere to even part it out.
Ya I've dicided against the WVO for now. At least until this car is no longer my daily runner. When it's a second car I may start playing with it a bit.
I will start tearing this car apart within the next couple of weeks. I'm going to pull everything off that I can that is sellable and scrap what is left. If you are interested in any parts contact me through here.
Beautiful car! But stay away from the K&N filters. They are merely strainers that let more dirt into the intake. The stock air cleaner and filter are just fine. Keep the oil changed at regular 3k mile intervals and adjust the valves every 10-15k. If you're into alternative fuels I suggest biodiesel. Veggie oil, however, even with a well made dual tank system, will gum and coke the engine after prolonged use resulting in blow-by, loss of power, and oil contamination (just to name a few).
Veggie oil will gum up your injectors- according to what I-ve heard on-line. I have a W126 (1985), with 323,000 miles. Is a daily driver as of 5/2024. 😊
OK it won't let me post a link but but i was just reading a thread in theMBCA forums. They say to use Shoe Goo. Wish I woulda thought of that. It's held my Berks together for the last 4 years. Trick is to remove all old adhesive with 3M Adhesive remover and then apply pressure for 24 hours with a shower curtian rod or something like that.
@Jartemeous no idea...mine is like separating up on the dash and im missing a chunk off the section on the drivers door. I've seen whole sets on ebay but as far as repairing i couldn't help ya.
@tdvandy2 Because I have about $1500 in new parts with less than 1,000 miles on them into it and I gave up on it. I'll never get what I want out of it selling it as is. Suspension Brearing Braket is out now. Have the parts to rebuild. Was told 3.5hrs of labor.
@ThornBoyz2207 Oh ya i forgot the Ball joint and Drag Link. that's just what i've fixed. 2 windows don't go down, Heater is crap and the glow plugs work when they want to. It always starts but it's harder when the glow plug light don't come on.
1. Does it have Cruise Control? 2. Does It have cup holders? 3. Though only getting 27-33MPG, How long does the tank last? I know those have like 21 gallon tanks so with everyday commuting you only should have to fill up like once a month, right?
UPDATE on the transmission issue. The trans quit working after sitting with no fluid for 2 years but now after having fluid in it for 2 months the trans is working fine and strong. 5 days left on the auction and one bidder so far.
@f350powerstroke Oh I know man. Believe me I've been over it and over it. The only thing I could've done different was not buy it. I did'nt realize what I was getting myself into honestly. It wasn't to long before I realized that the car was not well maintained at all when I bought it on ebay. Got almost a year out of it and it just killed me at the end. Would rather not part it out and havent started yet but I will never get what I want out of it as is. You can buy them drivable for 2K
I own a 83 sd, I would think twice about veggie from what I researched its not worth the effort. As of may 2015 diesel is down to the same price as gas.Restaurants are actually selling oil now to recyclers. I would also not mess with the air filtration. Nice shots of the car driving down the road never get to see what they look like because you're always behind the wheel.
@feanforbeans Everyday driving I been averaging around 27mpg. Just interstate I got 33mpg. Bummer diesel is so damn expensive. wish i would've thought of getting a diesel when it was super cheap...
@DamnStraightM35A2 YEah YEah, Live and learn. I did research the cars before I bought it. Parts themselves I can deal with the price but it was not obvious right away that this car was not well maintained before I bought it. And of course running bio/grease it was going to cost next to nothing to drive shyeah. Either way this car was an absolute money pit and there is no denying that. 1500 in parts in the last month and I gave up. at least I got a year and 20k out of it
.............Kudos to you for maintaining this vehicle I have two cars benz w 115 and 123 Both vehicles do not run very badly The w 115 car was the official car used by the world’s first prime minister My dream is to get those 2 cars running It is not easy The politicians of sri lanka have stolen the national economy and the whole country is in debt to the world The country is now being run by IMF and world aid Everything is taxed Just breathing is not taxed I have seen benz cars abandoned in some countries which are in the best condition Both my cars have about 60% damage to the bumper Recovery is difficult If you have the body of the w 115 or 123 cars in you possession, I would be grateful if you could provide me with the body of those cars. Also, if there is any possibility to help me in making these two cars, I would be grateful Sorry if there was a mistake…… I am also a person who loves benz cars………………… .
Putting er up for auction on ebay. 10 Day auction starting on Friday and if it doesn't sell Im taking it to my dads and he's gonna tear it apart and sell it off piece by piece.
Update on this pile of shit. $400 brake, shock job turned into a $1200 brake, shock, 2 caliper, wheel bearing, radiator, thermostat, fan clutch job. That is with NO labor. Thank GOD my step dad is awesome mechanically. Drove it for a week and a half and now I need a Suspension Bearing Bracket. This is a $600 part and 2.5hrs labor or $100 to rebuild with 3.5hrs labor. Hands down the biggest money pit I have EVER owned. Payed $1900 for it....Free would've been overpaying for this heep a sht
@ThornBoyz2207 Well instead of calling it a heap of shit, perhaps you should have researched these cars before you bought it. And learn to work on it yourself and read Mercedes diesel forums...never even heard of a "suspension bearing" maybe a bushing but not a bearing. "There is no such thing as a cheap Mercedes."