1987 Mercedes-Benz 300-Series

SDL Sedan

6 - Cyl.

Automatic

wdbcb25d7ha288036

Diesel

It is finally time to sell Sue Ellen my 1987 Mercedes 300SDL with 306,000 miles (or maybe not). I am going to be completely transparent about everything I know about this car. I have always wanted a diesel Mercedes and the SDL was my favorite. I bought this one from a restaurant owner on Cookeville TN about 2 and half years ago. He had bought it from a Doctor in Nashville 3 years before and who I believe was the original owner. My dream was to convert it to run on veggie oil, but time and money and life got in the way. I even got a 50 gallon drum and did all the research, but it just never happened. Now she is my daily driver and I drive her about 30 miles a day. We just had our 3rd child and I sold my old truck and the wife says it is time to sell Sue Ellen and get an SUV or truck. So this brings me to where we are today, trying to find Sue a new home. First I will tell you the history I know about this car. I know the transmission was replaced at 275,000 because the man I bought it from had a receipt. He said there was a slip between 2nd and 3rd so he just had it replaced completely. I have had no problem with it at all and it shifts very strongly and precise. I drove a few of these when I was trying to find one and this one by far was the strongest. The engine is very strong and doesn't seem to have any major issues at all. You can see in the videos below that it runs perfectly and has great acceleration. The only issue that it has is that it has a diesel leak on the injector. It is leaking at injector 1 and I had a mechanic look at it. He said it was a copper washer that needs to be replaced. You have to have a $50 Mercedes tool to remove it and the washer cost about $8. A Mercedes mechanic can do it in 30 minutes, or you can buy the tool and do it yourself. The other issue with the engine is that there is a crack in the coupling between the turbo and the exhaust. So if you sit with it idling for a long time you can smell a little exhaust in the cabin. Its not bad at all but just trying to disclose everything. The engine is very clean and has your typical diesel oil sweating. It doesn't leak much oil but maybe a drop after every night. The main leaking is the diesel. The body is in great shape and I haven't found any rust anywhere. The paint seems to be very good and almost too good for the age. If it was repainted they used the exact same color and a professional did it cause it great. It has one chip on the hood which I show in the videos but other than that it is perfect. The interior is 24 years old. So that means the leather is dry and cracked, and there are a few stains and such. But for being 24 years old the interior is in great shape. There is a crack on the passenger seat and a tear on the drivers seat side. The back seat doesn't have any tears or rips but the seams on the back top have come undone. The instrument cluster has been replaced with a another because it only goes to 85 when it should go to 145. I was told they do this cause the speedo goes bad in these models and it is easier to just replace the whole thing. SOOO I really don't know for sure how many miles are on it. When I did the carfax on it years ago there was a jump from like 125,000 miles to 230,000 miles. So this car may have 200,000 I really don't know. The ac and heat work great the radio and sound system have been upgraded and sound great. The wipers and washer work and so do the headlight ones. All the windows work but the back passenger one has a small broken white piece that holds the window on the track. I never open it so I just unplugged the switch, but the motor works just fine in it. The sunroof motor works fine but the sunroof will not retract because the clips on both sides have broken. SO I say the sunroof is broken but could be fixed. All the seat controls work fine so do the memory switches. The headrest even goes up and down. The telescopic steering wheel goes in and out also. Cruise control works but I never read the manual on how to do it so sometimes I don't understand how it works. It takes off sometimes so maybe I am pushing it the wrong way. ;-) I never use it. The suspension and rubber up front will need to be replaced soon. It is a bit clunky and loose but it still drives fine. I priced all the parts to replace it all and it came to $325. Its stuff like ball joints and control arm bushings and shocks. The rubber up there is 24 years old and just needs to be replaced cause a lot of it is cracked or old. The tires also will need to be replaced soon. They are out of balance and the thread is starting to get thin but it is completely drivable and I do it everyday. For some reason from 60 to 80 it is very smooth but 40 to 60 you can get a vibration from the tires. Just need balancing or replacing I guess. That is about all I know. I am sure I have left something out so please ask. Below is a list of what I have done to it, as well as what I had planned on doing to it if I kept it. Things I have done to Sue: 1.Replaced the Brake master cylinder, and two calipers and two rotors and all the brake lines. 2. Replaced the serpentine belt. 3. replaced all fuel filters 4. Replaced the battery 5. replaced the alternator 6. replaced the idler tensioner pulley 7. Replaced many vacuum lines and cleaned them all out. 8.replaced many fuses 9. cleaned and repaired dash vent acuators. 10. Cleaned and repaired brushes on fan blower. I am sure I am forgetting something since I have done these repairs over 2 years when needed. If I was to keep the car my next steps would be repair the diesel leak, replace the rubber in the front end as well as the shocks, and get new tires. Then I would go on to fix the smaller lesser issues like the sunroof and window clip. If you are still reading then I assume you are a serious buyer and I hope you will come take a look at her. You can come to my office in Brentwood if you like or meet me after work. Again I drive this car everyday so the mileage will change. I have loved this car and I hope I can pass it on to another owner who will keep her running. Lots of images HERE http://www.pixelmen.com/mercedes Detailed videos: Video I made back in Feb: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jMHrFT8EF4 Walk around: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOuGk8l9BQI Interior views: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6RtYIovE6g Engine running: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AG3pB27kCg Going 80 on interstate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QveZuklsRAY