Mercedes Diesel on BAT 1984 300SD

[1990C4S]

Paging Speeder, Von Smog, etc, What do you think?

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1984-mercedes-benz-300sd-turbo-diesel-10/

It's a$10k car? $15k? There are no bargains on BAT, it will go for full market value I think.

Looks like something you could drive for another 20 years. I think this is the year prior to the 'rod-bender' engine.

I like it....might be bidder.

[vonsmog]

Looks like a clean car, will have to watch what it does. I have its baby brother for sale if you are interested in a 300D with 50k miles on it with new paint. Asking $12k

[jwasbury]

Here’s a car I have noted for sale locally on Craigslist. Similar rig with low miles. Looks pretty sharp:
https://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/cto/d/sdl-mercedes-benz-turbo/6648151424.html

^might be the “rod bender” engine though

[1990C4S]

VS - Nice, not quite what I want though.

jw - I think the post 1984 cars are not as good, engine issues are common.

[greglepore]

Yes, thats the indestructible motor. Not sure about the BAT premium though. Its a 10-15k car. All the ancillaries are 30 years old, the indestructible nature of the motor won't solve that.

[Don Ro]

A workmate of mine bought a new '80s MB 240D. He love the car, maintained it himself.
He eventually sold it because the seat material (foam?) inside of the seats deteriorated to such an extent that they lost their shape.
How common is that?

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Don Ro

A workmate of mine bought a new '80s MB 240D. He love the car, maintained it himself.
He eventually sold it because the seat material (foam?) inside of the seats deteriorated to such an extent that they lost their shape.
How common is that?

It happens. If he sold it for that, not very smart because it's easily fixed. All materials are widely available.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by greglepore

Yes, thats the indestructible motor. Not sure about the BAT premium though. Its a 10-15k car. All the ancillaries are 30 years old, the indestructible nature of the motor won't solve that.

Agree w you, especially since I've owned so many old ones. The BAT car really doesn't look top shelf to me, maybe it's the quality of the photos. They are a dime-a-dozen in decent but not showroom condition. Prices are all over the map.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by jwasbury

Here’s a car I have noted for sale locally on Craigslist. Similar rig with low miles. Looks pretty sharp:
https://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/cto/d/sdl-mercedes-benz-turbo/6648151424.html

^might be the “rod bender” engine though

That one is not a "rod bender." That name is attached to the later, 3.5 version of that car w 350SD and 350SDL badges. I have one, it's great.

That's a nice car and has been advertised for a while, they're asking too much for it. It's been on ebay, etc. Are you saying that it's shown up on your local Oregon CL?

[speeder]

Here is my 1991 350SD “rod bender.” 220k miles and somehow hasn’t bent its rods yet. Maybe next week or month.

It’s one of the nicest cars I’ve ever owned. The only reason I say, “one of”, is because I’ve owned some really nice cars.

[Steve Carlton]

What causes the rod benders to bend rods?

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

What causes the rod benders to bend rods?

The explanation I heard was that when Mercedes bored the cylinders to 3.5 liters on the OM603 block, it left the cylinder walls too thin and/or the compression of the larger pistons oval-ed out the holes until excess side forces bent the rods slightly. It doesn't make a lot of sense and apparently the engines still run w the bent rods but not as smoothly.

I had avoided the model forever and then found my present car advertised in Oregon w vaguely described engine problems. I assumed that it was bent rods. I've had an extra 3.0 liter OM603 engine sitting on the shelf for years, (doesn't have that problem), I was going to transplant it in this clean 350SD.

I decided to throw a new battery in the 350SD and get it running just to be able to move it around. To make a long story short, there was nothing seriously wrong w it and some dealer up in Oregon wrote up a crazy repair estimate for the poor owner full of unnecessary work. I bought it as a project and it turned out to be the best running diesel I've ever had. It drives as smooth and quiet as a gasoline model and has fantastic power. Such a nice car.

[1990C4S]

Yes, oval cylinders locking up...

Speeder: I have avoided the 3.5 cars for that reason, am I being overly cautious? A 100k or 150k mile car isn't too risky?

https://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/cto/d/1995-class-mercedes-benz-s350/6647605989.html

Or this?

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/city-of-toronto/very-rare-mercedes-diesel-wagon/1365469056?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

[slow&rusty]

Vonsmog - beautiful W123..wow!

[greglepore]

That w140 diesel is pretty rare and a "very" nice highway car. I'm hooked on 140's. They have their quirks from being a bit overengineered, but so long as you're a diy guy. The "rod-bender" thing is sort of like the IMS-its real, but somewhat overblown.

[Tervuren]

Ugh, I shouldn't browse the other auctions.

This uncommon color is amazing in person.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2005-jaguar-xkr-2/

[1990C4S]

Great looking Jag...

[Tervuren]

My family had a cheap example of one of these that we were given a good deal on.

It was a lot more ragged, but still a good car.

Ended up as my oldest brother's car until he got married and had kids.

My oldest brother is not kind on cars, the Mercedes managed to last.

The braking and handling is quite good despite its tank like styling.

The power delivery leaves to be desired, some lag, then briefly ok, then a shift, then meh, then comes into a small power band, repeat.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

Yes, oval cylinders locking up...

Speeder: I have avoided the 3.5 cars for that reason, am I being overly cautious? A 100k or 150k mile car isn't too risky?

https://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/cto/d/1995-class-mercedes-benz-s350/6647605989.html

Or this?

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/city-of-toronto/very-rare-mercedes-diesel-wagon/1365469056?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

The wagon is a 3.0, so no cylinder issues w those. The w140 looks pretty nice, you would need to drive and inspect it in person. If it idles smooth and runs well w no blow-by, it is not exhibiting any symptoms of cylinder issues at this time and I'd definitely take a swing at it.

Worst case scenario? You get to drive it for many thousand miles before it develops a serious engine issue. It's basically an $80k car for $3500, (or less if you wave cash), and a car that they do not make anymore and never will. I love the w140 but you need to really inspect the car and hopefully service records, a bad one will eat you out of house and home. Amazing engineering, though.

[Tervuren]

The odometer on that is some what hard to believe for being a diesel.

Two hundred thousand miles on a 1984 is "low miles".