1982 Mercedes-Benz S-Class sd review from North America
"A good car for someone who has the expertise neccesary to maintain the vehicle"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
When I first bought the car, my mother took it for a drive and blew the head gasket. The car already had a poorly rebuilt motor. I disassembled the engine and decided to get a new head for the car, as well as pistons and rings. This cost about 2000, and I rebuilt the motor with my father, who is a Mercedes Benz expert. The vehicle found the way into the hands of my mother, who again ruined the engine before it was broken in. The formidable thing about this car was that it burned oil, it had plenty of blow-by and the transmission was weak, but it still attained 30 miles per gallon and was very reliable.
Next, my mother rear ended someone in the car. This ruined the rebuilt motor. After assessing the car. my father and I rebuilt the engine again. This time we did it right! however, when we were done, the car made a strong knocking sound we cannot find the source of.
One window does not work.
The air conditioning needs a re-charge.
The car needs a new brake booster.
The power locks no longer work.
The paint is faded and it has some rust.
There are small flaws in the interior.
The transmission is weak when it shifts.
The seat and carpets are a little worn.
The tachometer no longer works.
General comments?
This poor diesel Mercedes has been heavily abused. My personal 240D is much better taken care of (see my review under "115"). However, under its plushness the 300sd has proven to be a reliable, economical vehicle, even if it has several annoying flaws.
The car handles well, and has good brakes and suspension.
The car has many complicated electronics, as well as vacuum systems, that are a pain to fix.
I don't think it looks as good as earlier Mercedes, but I like it more than any new car.
It is a quick car, especially for a diesel.
The car was designed with a lot of wasted cabin space, and I find the 240d more spacious.
Recommended reviews
| Solid |
|
| 1982 - S-Class 300SD 3.0L turbo diesel My opinion... no matter what...it's still a Mercedes. |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1982 |
| First year of ownership | 2001 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2002 |
| Engine and transmission | 3.0 turbo diesel Automatic |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 249000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 255000 miles |
| Previous car | Plymouth Grand Voyager |
| Date of Entry | 27th June, 2002 |