1980’s S Class Diesel Questions

Looking to buy a 1980’s MB S Class diesel. I’d like to get some pros/cons, differences, experience, etc.

Do you like the 5 or 6 cylinder models?

SD vs. SDL?

Early 80’s or late 80’s?

I’m looking at an ’83 (5 cylinder) SD Cream w/ Tobacco Leather with about 115K miles – or – an ’87 (6 cylinder) SDL Silver w/ Blue Leather with about 135K miles.

Any specific problems I should be looking for in this mileage range (timing chain, brakes, suspension, etc)?

All opinions appreciated!

cg

im guilty of raving about early 80s 5cyl you might check out some of my other post replies

i would look out for brake pads @ that mileage

they are awsome cars, slow , but very reliable. Father has a 1983 with 280K runs fine. Pads replaced last week. The only thing I see wrong are the seats crack easy, and the climate system is not cheap to repair.

I'll rave on some more :lol: at the risk of sounding disagreable
I have a 1982 300 sd, I think that when you consider it is a 5000+ pound behemith that is powered by only a 168 cubic inch engine, Mine (when floorboarded with 5 fat-folks myself included in the car ) will burn rubber at take off, burns rubber when shifting into 2nd, barks rubber a little going into 3rd and tops out at about 125 mph @ 5,500 RPM, yes the speedometer stops @ 80 mph, but my son has got the speeding ticket that verifies. And yes while doing this he twisted the speedometer cable out of the square slot :smokin:

When you say they are slow are you comparing them to a corvette ?? then yes they are slow.
When compared to american land barges with little motors they seem like a rocket !!
My neighbor has a 1997 Grand Marquis (If i spelled that right) with a 4.6 liter fuel injected gas engine and he is amazed every time i smoke him hands down. :smokin: I love to see his disappointed face :disappoin in my rear view mirror while the front of his car is slightly blackened by the diesel smoke.

As for the climate control fix if you taking it to a shop and signing the open ticket, well then yes "bend over" :nono:

If you pull the dash apart and look it is usually a dry rotted vaccume hose and 5 bucks will buy about 10 feet of that stuff :2cents:
But yes the top of the back seats are cracked and getting worse :disappoin

I am not sure what you have done to yours, but No stock 100hp diesel vehicle weighing that much will do that :screwy: . Maybe a manual if you dump the clutch. Having worked at a service shop for years with many Mercedes, VW , Volvos, diesels and owning a ford F250 Power Stroke is a Mystery :dunno: , any Turbo car has a lag time and when you add it to a slow spinning diesel the lag time gets worse. I would say the top speed of 125 would be about correct once you get them going. The only smoke comming off these cars is from the tailpipe. And if you are barking your tires "automatic car" you need to have your transmission looked at.Again they are great cars.And I have no plans for "bending over" anytime soon! :nono:

Well scuba i knew i would sound disagreeable, Nothing presonal my good man.
I have done nothing out of the ordinary to either my 1982 300 sd or my sons 1985 300 td wagon exept for normal maintainance and i pay close attention to all of the small tuning procedure details and they both run about same way,the 300 sd with 500,000 + miles on it i have replaced the timming chain, tensioner,tensioning rail and injectors, the wagon being a slight faster because it's about 600 lb. lighter or so.

Yes you make them sound weak by belitteling them at 100 HP but don't forget about the monster 312 foot pounds of torque @ 3600-4000 rpm these diesel demons put down. Thats as much as a 350 chevy has. It's enough torque to break stuff if your not careful.
As far as the transmission goes while "Floorboarded" the only thing slipping should be the tires, if yours does not shift with at least a good solid thump then your tranny is slipping. That goes for almost any car.
But yes while taking off like a "Sane" person these cars should shift very smooth and problem free.
And yes they do suffer some turbo lag but about 20 feet off the line the lag should be gone, if not maby check the vaccume lines going to the waste gate control for blockage or leakage, or the wastegate control itself, they do go bad sometimes. Also many techs and service guys on these cars overlook the regular throttle linkage adjustment procedure this is very important and should be checked on a regular basis because of the many joints and plastic parts in the linkage this can have a determental effect on the performance of these smaller engines. Remember the smaller the engine the more tempermental they become, small correct adjustments can have big positive results, while small incorrect adjustments can make them slower than molasses.
With the utmost respect to you. I too have repaired all types of vehicles for over 36 years. Mb, Porche, Jag, Mg, Chevy, Ford, Harley, Honda, you name it, i may have had a wrench in one.
I have suprised many clients by making their mb diesels run just like mine. They come to me sounding just like you. When they leave they are true belivers.
As far as "Bending over" if you work at a $$$ service $$$ shop !! well, you should understand the meaning of what i said, please, it's not a cheap shot at you my fellow car guy.

True, I worked on LARGE diesels in th CoastGuard and they are, out of the box, underpowerd. With a little tweak to the fuel pressure and a adjustment there you can get alot more out of them. My father loves his 300sd, and I just ordered his High Mileage award from MB. Take car and Happy Holidays from a fellow car nut!! :)

I bought a blue 87 300 SDL 3 years ago and have loved it.

The only significant problem with the 6 cylinder engine (603) that I have found is an overheating problem. I hadn't thought it was too serious (MB Tech bulletins says it's normal) until lately when I found that the 603 has a tendency to get cracks in the cylinder head. This lets combustion gas leak into the cooling system.

MB solved the problem in later years, but if you are looking at one to buy, check the casting number on the head. -14 seems to be a common number for those years and it seems to have a cracking problem. Also check for new cooling system components (bottle, radiator, hoses, etc). If the car is cold (but been run recently) squeeze the upper radiator hose. If it's hard as a basketball, you probably have a cracked head. ( $3k DIY job). Factor that into your offer if you still want to buy it.

Later dash numbers on the casting don't seem to have the problem. And as soon as I can justify the $ I'm relpacing mine.

They're great cars! 23.5 MPG around town in style, Great road car and they only made something like 14,000 of them (all for the US).

check out my benz
members.cardomain.com/harrysmith500
I love my car, its even better cuz i can beat the gay loud civics at my school with my turbo'd 1987 SDL 300, it is the only way to go

The only significant problem with the 6 cylinder engine (603) that I have found is an overheating problem. I hadn't thought it was too serious (MB Tech bulletins says it's normal) until lately when I found that the 603 has a tendency to get cracks in the cylinder head. This lets combustion gas leak into the cooling system.

I have a question about the head thing you mentioned. It's a chevy not a MB, and the cracks are hairline around the spark plug, but I was wondering since my car has this is there a way to fix the cracks or will it be fine, since their around the spark plug. I could get a pic if needed.

Hay everyone, I have a 81 300SD. I have to say it is
one the best cars I have ever had. I even race it in a
local race called Targa Newfoundland. It is a 5 day
race covering over 1350 miles, with NO SPEED LIMITS
on over 360 miles of public roads. I have ran it the
past 2 years. I still can't belive they are letting us do
it. I cooked my trans and need to find out if my
parts car trans will work. I have a 420SEL V8 gas
and a 72 280 D. I am almost sure the 280 D will work
but will the 420 SEL trans work. Please help !!!
Thanks. Jason

The only difference between the SD and SDLs are that the SDs are short wheelbase and the SDLs are long wheelbase. Honestly, if you are looking at the W126 S-class, go for a petrol engine.

There are a few more then that..
First the SDL comes with a 6 CYL diesel
and the SD has a 5 CYL diesel.
There are a few interior changes too.
The only thing the petrol engine does better, is start
better in the winter " when not pluged in "
The Diesel will out live a petrol by about 3-400,000
Miles. And the way gas has gone, I would live with a
little more smoke to get 35 MPG then 14-16 MPG
"14-16 is on a good day"
Also I hear that the 5 CYL is a better then the 6CYL.
Not as much power, but has less problems.

Any one of the 5 cylinder diesel models will last forever, basically.. There is a gentleman in england with a 240D that has over a million miles on it.. Of course to get it to last that long alot of servicing of the car has taken place.. I have a 1987 420 sel with over 140K on it and it runs like its new.. If I ever buy another Benz it would be from the 80's for sure.. Being my car is gas not diesel I can still pull on average highway driving over 400 miles on a tank full..Looking to buy a 1980’s MB S Class diesel. I’d like to get some pros/cons, differences, experience, etc.

Do you like the 5 or 6 cylinder models?

SD vs. SDL?

Early 80’s or late 80’s?

I’m looking at an ’83 (5 cylinder) SD Cream w/ Tobacco Leather with about 115K miles – or – an ’87 (6 cylinder) SDL Silver w/ Blue Leather with about 135K miles.

Any specific problems I should be looking for in this mileage range (timing chain, brakes, suspension, etc)?

All opinions appreciated!

cg

I would say that most likely both of the trans won't work in the 81'.. But not positive ask any Mercedes repair shop they would know or any tranny shop..Hay everyone, I have a 81 300SD. I have to say it is
one the best cars I have ever had. I even race it in a
local race called Targa Newfoundland. It is a 5 day
race covering over 1350 miles, with NO SPEED LIMITS
on over 360 miles of public roads. I have ran it the
past 2 years. I still can't belive they are letting us do
it. I cooked my trans and need to find out if my
parts car trans will work. I have a 420SEL V8 gas
and a 72 280 D. I am almost sure the 280 D will work
but will the 420 SEL trans work. Please help !!!
Thanks. Jason

I'm sure its a sweet ride, I hate those loud tuner cars.. All noise no muscle.. Mercedes are the legends in the automotive world..check out my benz
members.cardomain.com/harrysmith500
I love my car, its even better cuz i can beat the gay loud civics at my school with my turbo'd 1987 SDL 300, it is the only way to go