Turbo 80′s To The Max (Headroom): Benz 300SDL Commentary + Period Pics To Match
By Gunnar Heinrich
GOTTA love the 80s. As any Saab aficionado will attest, it was the decade when turbo was king.
It really didn’t matter how fast your car was or wasn’t; as long as it wore a “Turbo” badge, you and everyone else could think your car was quick because Turbo = Speed!
Trouble was getting up to speed. In the case of the “300SDL Turbo Sedan,” that meant 10 seconds to 60.
That’s quick time in its day for a 3,800 pound diesel, but generally lagging four seconds or so behind what was then considered a fast naught to 60 time.
And despite being “the most supremely civilized diesel ever designed,” the 300SDL was a W126 generation S-Class that – along with the premium powered 380SE – didn’t really sell.
Mercedes brought the 300SDL to market in ’86 to 86 the legendary 300SD, whose five cylinder engine was (and remains broadly) a true, stout, bomb-proof workhorse of an oil burner.
But die volk auf Stuttgart were looking for a little, no, a lot more refinement and a bit more balance. So, they engineered a sixth cylinder and constructed some sound deadening measures around the engine to keep down das funk.
“The 300SDL simply refuses to sound like a typical diesel-engined automobile -even at idle,” The US MB brochure intones, “The engine is acoustically encapsulated within its compartment, and even underneath, to absorb and contain running noise. These and other ingenious measures help make it one of the more quietly capable automobiles in the world, gasoline or diesel.”
Having driven two examples of the 300SD and witnessed one 300SDL at idle and then under acceleration, the extra cladding really paid off.
For US based diesel collectors, this softer spoken Benz that rests on a longer (121.1″ wheelbase) represents the last of the great and grand diesel powered S-Classes.
The following 350SDL introduced in ’88 tarnished Benz’s sterling reputation for die-hard diesels by dying hard before the clock saw 100K (heresy for the typical Benz diesel which sees more than 300,000 miles).
By the time the dreaded 3.5 liter powerplant had been put to not working in the W140 generation’s 300SD and 350SD, owners of both gens brought a class action lawsuit against Mercedes-Benz – and won.
The 300SDL, theretofore, is likely any S-Class aficionado’s prime diesel choice. Even if the performance promise behind the Turbo badging is just a little lagging.
[Click brochure spec sheet to enlarge]
About the Author: Gunnar Heinrich is publisher of Automobiles De Luxe online and is executive producer of the Automobiles De Luxe Television series on PBS member station CPTV.
gotleib1 | Jun 24, 2008 | Reply
The 560 SEL’s are beautiful machines, however the practicality and longevity of a SDL makes it an attractive option. A friend of mine who was in the car business at the time refers to the SDL as “Super-Dog Long”. At the time they might not have sold, but now I’d love to have one. Sadly many of the SDL’s have ran themselves to the moon and back. But I’m sure a through search could net yourself a low mileage one. Not that mileage is bad for Diesel but you can always be more comfortable when they are “your” miles on the clock.
Gunnar | Jun 24, 2008 | Reply
Sounds attractive, all told. From what you mention of the 300SDL, you’d get the identical beauty that could be bought in a 560SEL, but with a model that will cover twice as many miles on the same size fuel tank.
Johannes Schlörb | Jun 25, 2008 | Reply
Very true – and again very nice and interesting article, Gunnar. A lot of the facts I didn’t know before. One reason is: just like the R107 560SL, the W/V126 Diesels were not available in their “country of origin”!
gunnar | Jun 25, 2008 | Reply
Funny how that works, eh Johannes
Bob | May 10, 2009 | Reply
I am fortunate to own three over-engineered cars: (1) 1987 560SL (2) 1990 420SEL and (3) 1987 300SDL. The SDL is my daily driver, and although it is not in the same pristine condition as the other two, it is the one I like the best.
I do not think the world will ever see a car such as the 300SDL. It is truly special. This car is one of the finest ever produced.
Repair/replacement makes the item fixed like brand new unlike other cars that will never be the same again. It takes repair very well because of the overbuilt German engineering.
It will cruise at 90 mph all day without a hiccup.
All the electrical system works as new, including the A/C.
Best of all, the car consistently yields 35 mpg on highway and 25 mpg in city driving, amazing for a car this size – and almost twice the mileage numbers yielded by its 420SEL twin.
I doubt a better car has ever or will be built!
John | Aug 8, 2009 | Reply
Had my 87′ 300SDL over two years now. Best car I ever owned. Consistently gets 28 mpg Highway/city if I keep my foot out of the turbo. At 6’5″ and over 250 lbs. this automobile gives me all the room I need. Plenty of room in the back with seat all the way back for the kids. Bought it as a daily driver but now use it on long trips over my newer vehicles. Better fuel mileage and I still feel refreshed after an extended drive.
Spent about 4 months looking for one that was decent. Had it a couple of months and some guy knocked on my front door on a Sunday morning. He saw the car in the drive and offered to buy it right then and there. I told him to keep looking.
dq | Sep 27, 2009 | Reply
The minute I found a mint 1987 300SDL with less than 80K original miles, I paid the asking price. It just happened today! What a car! what a feeling!
Like you gents, I believe the SD/SDL series SANS 350′s are the best ever produced in our lifetime.
Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts!
Ed | Nov 6, 2011 | Reply
I owned.a 300Sd for 12 yrs it had 50000 mi. On it when I gave it away. I just purchased a 300SDL with 200000mi. It was a pampered car. It is in beautiful original condition,with only minor wear. This car is faster,quieter and smoother than the SD. I love it.