Comments on: Turbo 80′s To The Max (Headroom): Benz 300SDL Commentary + Period Pics To Match

By: Ed

Ed — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 16:48:31 +0000

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.

By: dq

dq — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 10:36:45 +0000

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!

By: John

John — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 17:39:00 +0000

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.

By: Bob

Bob — Sun, 10 May 2009 13:03:40 +0000

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!

By: Mercedes Hybrid

Mercedes Hybrid — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:02:55 +0000

[...] Take for example, the late 80s 300SDL “Turbo”. [...]

By: gunnar

gunnar — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:50:47 +0000

Funny how that works, eh Johannes

By: Johannes Schlörb

Johannes Schlörb — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:03:15 +0000

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”!

By: Benzlog » Fabulous Five-Sixties [UPDATED]

Benzlog » Fabulous Five-Sixties [UPDATED] — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 05:39:20 +0000

[...] des W126, des seinerzeit in Europa nicht erhältlichen 300 SDL, noch lobende Erwähnung finden: ADL über den SDL Kategorie: [...]

By: Gunnar

Gunnar — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:28:28 +0000

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.

By: gotleib1

gotleib1 — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:01:01 +0000

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.