300 sdl ebay - anyone looked at this? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

wheelguru · #1 12-21-2003, 01:31 PM

Has anyone looked at this? In person?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6330&item=2448988711 Price seems fair, owner says he is getting 20-23 mpg in combined driving, which seems a little low to me, but I have absolutely no experience with this particluar model. Closest I got was driving my brother-in-law's 420 SEL . I am looking for a bigger car to haul the family around in and this would seem to fit the bill. -andy

TN-W124 Diesel · #2 12-21-2003, 03:01 PM

The SDL's are VERY hard to find in good shape..I believe they will be a collectors car. I have been searching for 4 months...parts are reasonable, and this is a great color..ask if timing chain has been replace and valve job, otherwise these cars are bullet proof

wheelguru · #3 12-21-2003, 03:59 PM

I have been looking off and on for a while too, and the ones in really nice shape are way more than I should spend. Assuming this one is mechanically fine I am more than willing to live with some wear and quirks, and even dents for the price.

slowmoe · #4 12-21-2003, 09:14 PM

You may want to ask for a listing of recent work that was performed... If someone does not take care of the interior of the car, they usually neglect other parts as well ie. somone who would take the money on an insurance settlement and not spend it to fix his car seems to not care for it very much. He mentioned the interior being in bad shope several times. I would ask for additional pictures too.

VA300SD · #5 12-21-2003, 09:19 PM

I own a 81 SD and very familiar with the SDL.

For some reason the car does not look like an SDL.
Are you sure it is ?
Maybe it's the picture but to me it is a SD....

Won't hurt to make sure dispite what the seller is saying.

I am not implying the buyer is not being truthful.

turbodiesel · #6 12-21-2003, 09:20 PM

It doesn't look too bad.

If I got ~$2500 from insurance for a dented fender and hood, I wouldn't spend that money on fixing it, either. Someone recently lightly rear-ended me. The result was a slightly scuffed bumper, barely noticable. I got an estimate written up for $300.. went right in my pocket.

turbodiesel · #7 12-21-2003, 09:21 PM

It's not an SD. Look at the moulding (smooth), headlights and headlight wipers, 15" rims.

zbenz · #8 12-21-2003, 09:25 PM

I just put a new cylinder head on mine. This is a common problem with these. Cost for me to do the job 2000+. Granted it now runs great but unless I could check one out I'd never buy one without assuming it needed one. Mileage figure 25-29.

VA300SD · #9 12-21-2003, 09:28 PM

re - It's not an SD. Look at the moulding (smooth), headlights and headlight wipers, 15" rims.
-----

Thanks !
I guess I better brush up on my SDL spotting skills.
In person on the road, they are unmistakable.
There are several in our town, all in pristine condition.

wheelguru · #10 12-21-2003, 10:32 PM

I asked the owner a few days ago what work he had done in the past 75,000 miles. He says the oil has been changed religiously, transmission filter 25,000 ago and AC fixed a year and a half ago. Says it needs to be gone on Dec. 31, either via ebay or it will be donated to charity. Because of the short time and distance involved I am probly going to take a pass on this one. I would have hoped that something besides oil and trans fluid would have been done between 175,000 miles and 260,000 miles. If head gaskets are common failures on this engine and his gas (ok fuel) mileage figure is low, and I can't look at the car without commiting to a flight across the country then I don't think it is for me.

Ken300D · #11 12-27-2003, 12:48 AM

I have also been in touch with the owner and they will take $2000 for it. Their EBay feedback is 100% and I think they are just being honest about the interior. Some people are picky about what they are willing to call "nice" and so the seller may be critical of his own car. The way to know is to see it.

I would jump on this and start looking for a suitable hood replacement, but I am overdosed on diesels right now.

If anyone is interested, I have the owner's phone number. I also have a subscription to AutoCheck and can run a report against the car - we can see where its been.

Otherwise, its going to charity I suspect.

Ken300D

rmmagow · #12 12-27-2003, 01:07 AM

Somebody here should really buy this car. At 2500 it ain't too bad, at maybe 2K it is a steal. Even if you did nothing at all to it, you'd get 5 more years out of it and sell it for more than you paid for it. If you put 5K into it, you could drive it to the grave. Wish I had room for it but wife has put up with two old diesels already.

Ken300D · #13 12-27-2003, 10:23 AM

AutoCheck (for what its worth) comes back totally clean. Here are the available event records:

Report Run Date: 12/27/2003
VIN WDBCB25D5HA279352 1987 Mercedes-Benz 300 Series 300SDL
Event Date Event Location Odometer Reading Data Source Event Detail
09/01/96 HUMBLE, TX MOTOR VEHICLE DEPT. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
09/01/97 HUMBLE, TX MOTOR VEHICLE DEPT. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
02/11/98 MIDDLETOWN, MD MOTOR VEHICLE DEPT. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
02/11/98 MIDDLETOWN, MD 187,676 MOTOR VEHICLE DEPT. TITLE (Title #: 27083597)
07/28/98 FREDERICK, MD 195,743 MOTOR VEHICLE DEPT. TITLE (Title #: 27504183)
07/28/98 FREDERICK, MD MOTOR VEHICLE DEPT. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
06/07/00 FREDERICK, MD MOTOR VEHICLE DEPT. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
06/17/02 MYERSVILLE, MD MOTOR VEHICLE DEPT. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
-----------------------------

Ken300D

Ken300D · #14 12-28-2003, 01:20 AM

Bump TTT.

#15 12-28-2003, 06:10 PM

Okay, I've sent the seller an e-mail through eBay, but I'd like to give him a call as well. Ken, I'll take you up on your phone number offer.

Thanks,
Lawson

veedubtdi@mb-diesel-cars.com