looking at buying this 300SD Mercedes Turbo Diesel and just wondering some of the good and bad things about this ride, dont know that much about them my main questions are: fuel mileage, part avalibility/expense, reliability, and longevity any help is appriciated thanks diesel bombers!!

 

I bought on in 2007.Beeen form east coast to texas and back.Use for business everyday.Best car I've ever owned.Will out run stock diesel pickup on take off.But not chipped ones,unless I'm using my propane.
Remeber maint items if not replaced can run you $500 for parts.Flex Disk,motor mounts,rotors,calipers ect...
MPG 30 to 32 hwy city 25.Million mile engine.

 

I have an 83 300SD. No real drawbacks. They are not fast or quick in stock form. They are quite easy to tweek. Remember the radio is more electroniclly complex than the engine. Parts are easy to get. It just may take one or two days longer to get.

The dealers can get almost everything, but its usually quicker to go aftermarket with OEM Parts.

Like any truck or car, there are cheap things and expensive things.

If you take care of the car, it will take car of you.

There are several good forum sites out on the interweb.

Leo

 

Fuel mileage will realistically be mid-20's most of the time, maybe 30 tops with good fuel (this will vary depending on the fuel available where you live - I've seen 10-15% variation in different states in my car!).

Part availability is no problem at all, either new or used, but you need to know where to buy new parts (internet, not at your local McParts) and what brands to avoid (do not buy Uro, APA, FEQ... these are offshore garbage, which is why they cost 1/3 as much as the good stuff).

Reliability is very good to excellent if you buy a car that was taken care of reasonably well. There's an old saying, "there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes". If a car has a lot of deferred maintenance thanks to previous owners who never put any $$$ into the car, walk away.

Longevity = as long as you can keep it intact, i.e. avoiding the dimwit who's busier texting instead of driving. The chassis and powertrain can go literally a million miles if maintained properly. Most get wrecked before that happens. But I've seen lots in the 300k-500kmi range.

I'd recommend moving up to a 1990's-vintage MB if you can afford it, btw. There were many refinements & improvements on the newer models and the cost isn't much higher.

 

As gsxr said, look for maintenance records good sign the car received some care. What also maybe trivial would be keys, they are laser key only from Mercedes over $50 each!

- The front end, flex discs, A/C blowing thru all vents, R134 conversion are some things to check.

The OM617 is a positive tank, easy to work on(valve adjustments abt 12K), and you get electric overdrive.

 

I have a 83 300D and odo stopped at 305,200 miles. Peach parts and autohaus az are the best places to get parts and the local pick and pull. I bought a tide me over car 2 years for 900 and other than the tires, brakes and oil, I haven't done anything else (except valve adjustment) to it 2 years and 25 K miles later. Best 900 spent, Michelins were on sale for 220 and the brake parts did not cost me 60. I spent another 170 for the transmission filters, a bunch of oil, fuel and filters and hoses from auto haus and I still have a few for 3 more oil changes. I have driven it to Wyoming and Northern California. The water pump is weeping but due to the cold weather I just add a quart or so of coolant a week for over a month now. It's 42 from Auto haus and I am doing it this weekend.

---AutoMerged DoublePost---

And the 85 SD is a much better car. If you go reverse fast you will find that it has 2 speeds reverse.

 

I'm getting ready to purchase an 85 300sd... price can't be beat.. doesn't run because of a starter solenoid and two other small things i can get taken care of before driving it home. 600 bucks. I've been looking for one of these for a while to familiarize myself with tinkering. I also need an alternative while my daily is down for an overhaul.. I have heard too many good things about these cars.



2-speed reverse you say? I'll be checking that out next week hopefully.