In our last update, we had the transmission in our 1984 Mercedes 300SD rebuilt. We anxiously awaited the day we could pick up our blue beauty, and about a week later it came.
We hopped in, went for a drive, and were still in love with the car. It still had some glaring issues, though. Namely tires, or more specifically …
In my old neighborhood, we used to call that a "three-body trunk."
observed mileage?
Observed mileage: 21 in the city, 27 on the highway, 24 towing the trailer on back roads.
This is the most technologically advanced Mercedes of its time. Using the same motor as the W123 series it has better 0 to 60 times & better fuel economy. This was accomplished through better aerodynamics and it is considered the first Mercedes to thoughtfully consider aerodynamics as a solution to fuel economy and performance. It is also ideally suited to running vegetable oil as a single or double tank conversion.
Any updates on Otto, is he still in the pack?
Unfortunately not—his transmission died a hero's death when it broke in half.
He has, however, been replaced by The Commissioner, a 1987 300sdl.
Tom, weird question, but was the HVAC system in Otto as complicated to work on as the one in the 87, or were you lucky and both work without issues?
Tom Suddard wrote:Unfortunately not—his transmission died a hero's death when it broke in half.
Good thing you didn't call it Brakes, then.
In reply to Esoteric Nixon:
The HVAC system in Otto was FUBAR, and I left it that way. I threw a ziptie on the vacuum pod behind the glovebox to keep the side vents working, and drove it like that.
The '87, thankfully, has a properly working HVAC system.
In reply to LawrenceRhodes :
The 1984 300SD is arguably the finest, most reliable, and easy to repair automobile ever made. Ever made. Wear parts are affordable and far less expensive than many other manufacturer's parts, and they were built by engineers to be easy and fast to repair. This is back when pumps, controls, electrical parts etc were meant to be rebuilt as opposed to being replaced. When the alternator quits fir instance, two screws hold the brushes/voltage regulator in and are replaced for around $30. This car was engineered and built to be Driven. A million miles is not uncommon. What is uncommon is finding one before Latin American taxi drivers do..! They Love these cars!
$300 for four tires!?!?!
Oh. In 2013.
I'm gonna set my pitchfork down now.
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