300SDL Buying Advice
11-14-2012, 04:42 PM
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1994 Ford Escort
300SDL Buying Advice
Hi everyone! First post.
I am in the market for a 300SDL. I went to check out a 1987 model this afternoon but I am not terribly knowledgeable about diesel engines.
I was hoping that if I gave some of the details about the car you nice folks would be able to help me interpret whether of not it is worth the time and money.
Battery was dead upon seeing the car (it has sat for a little while so that is to be expected). Got a charger on it and it started right up. Little bit of smoke but after a few seconds the idle smoothed right out and ran pretty nicely.
According to the guy selling the car he had the turbo rebuilt at a cost of about $1500 a short time ago. He said that it currently seems "stuck" but that he was pretty sure a little bit of manipulation could get it freed up and working.
Took it for a ride. The car is SLOW without the turbo. Didn't feel it winding up or kicking in at all.
Transmission shifts a little rough. Once again this could be because the car has sat for awhile. Very hard to say.
ABS light is on along with a very annoying buzzer that starts when you first give it gas after a complete stop.
Heater and AC don't seem to be working but the defroster kicked in so it seems like the blower motor works.
Sun roof doesn't seem to work. switches to put the windows down were taken for use in another 300SDL the guy owns.
The guy is asking for $1295. Do you think this is something that could be brought back to life or is it better to pass it up and find something that needs a little less TLC.
Really like to hear back from as many people as possible. I know without seeing the car yourself it is hard but any advice at all is helpful.
Thanks,
Looch
I am in the market for a 300SDL. I went to check out a 1987 model this afternoon but I am not terribly knowledgeable about diesel engines.
I was hoping that if I gave some of the details about the car you nice folks would be able to help me interpret whether of not it is worth the time and money.
Battery was dead upon seeing the car (it has sat for a little while so that is to be expected). Got a charger on it and it started right up. Little bit of smoke but after a few seconds the idle smoothed right out and ran pretty nicely.
According to the guy selling the car he had the turbo rebuilt at a cost of about $1500 a short time ago. He said that it currently seems "stuck" but that he was pretty sure a little bit of manipulation could get it freed up and working.
Took it for a ride. The car is SLOW without the turbo. Didn't feel it winding up or kicking in at all.
Transmission shifts a little rough. Once again this could be because the car has sat for awhile. Very hard to say.
ABS light is on along with a very annoying buzzer that starts when you first give it gas after a complete stop.
Heater and AC don't seem to be working but the defroster kicked in so it seems like the blower motor works.
Sun roof doesn't seem to work. switches to put the windows down were taken for use in another 300SDL the guy owns.
The guy is asking for $1295. Do you think this is something that could be brought back to life or is it better to pass it up and find something that needs a little less TLC.
Really like to hear back from as many people as possible. I know without seeing the car yourself it is hard but any advice at all is helpful.
Thanks,
Looch
12-16-2012, 12:54 AM
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81 300sd, 83 300dT, F350, 250 diesel & 16 ft car trailer
my fnd's 91 sd, did have the waste gate open, all he did was blowing compressed air in and pushed it back, squirt oil into the shaft/stem. after a while it worked.
abs can be expensive to fix. these cars are pre computer diag era. u need to go to all the sensors and parts to check them out. my 84 the abs still works , thank God & touch wood.
this car can be exp to maintain or bring up to spec.
u need to really assess the $ u need to drop in to make her work proper or drive her as a beater.
abs can be expensive to fix. these cars are pre computer diag era. u need to go to all the sensors and parts to check them out. my 84 the abs still works , thank God & touch wood.
this car can be exp to maintain or bring up to spec.
u need to really assess the $ u need to drop in to make her work proper or drive her as a beater.
12-30-2012, 08:10 PM
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1981 300SD, 1991 Geo Metro
Another old post...don't know if OP ever got his car or not, but...a good chance to relate an ABS story. Don't know if it is applicable to Mercedes ABS, but here goes...
I had an '85 Lincoln Continental, which was, so the story goes, the first US car to have standard ABS. Everything was fine for a few years, then the ABS pump died. New one from Ford was about $2100. Since I paid $1000 for the car in '95, I wasn't inclined to buy a new pump. However, without the pump, I had NO rear brakes, and braking distance was much longer than normal. A rebuilt pump from Napa was $1600. I found a guy who would rebuild mine for $500. Then it hit me...the junkyard. Found one for $8. It worked fine.
In the process (at one point, I considered rebuilding my own pump), I learned enough of the theory on ABS brake systems that I was able to pass an exam given by the wind turbine company for which I now work. Increased my starting wage by two or three bucks an hour, plus enabled me to pass a certification for another buck an hour.
I had an '85 Lincoln Continental, which was, so the story goes, the first US car to have standard ABS. Everything was fine for a few years, then the ABS pump died. New one from Ford was about $2100. Since I paid $1000 for the car in '95, I wasn't inclined to buy a new pump. However, without the pump, I had NO rear brakes, and braking distance was much longer than normal. A rebuilt pump from Napa was $1600. I found a guy who would rebuild mine for $500. Then it hit me...the junkyard. Found one for $8. It worked fine.
In the process (at one point, I considered rebuilding my own pump), I learned enough of the theory on ABS brake systems that I was able to pass an exam given by the wind turbine company for which I now work. Increased my starting wage by two or three bucks an hour, plus enabled me to pass a certification for another buck an hour.
