I've found a 1987 300SDL for sale and have looked for information on the MPG I might expect to get and can't find much consistant information. It goes anywhere from 19/24 to 28/35. What have any of you folks who have one of these found?

Also, anything I should look for if I go see this car? It wasn't really the model I was looking for but it sounds like a very nice car.

Thanks.

 

It is a big/heavy car but it is the most fuel efficient luxury car at the time. It should average 28+ on the freeway. Town driving is less as it is heavy. 28+ is much much better than a gas engine like a MBZ SEL.

I once got 570+ miles on a full tank from San Diego to Santa Cruz, mostly freeway but not all.

83 300D, 87 300SDL.

 

28 mpg 87 300D country driving 11 miles to work and a heavy foot

 

Hiya,
I've always heard these wonder stories about the SDL mpg and always been eager to attain them.

Unfortunately my own experience hasn't been quite asstellar. In the last year of owning my 300SDL and lots of highway mileage (25K+ this year) the best I get is 25.5 / mpg. Im not a current AC user, and try to keep it between 60-70 mph. I also keep on top of the maintenance including filters, tires, oil changes, etc.

Fed. govt site lists it at way lower...closer to 20mpg. http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/3411.shtml

I don't think the mpg argument is very strong for the SDL. I'd rather argue on basis of aesthetics, emissions, and beautiful craftsmanship that is easily restorable,not to mention a stellar ride.

C

 

i agree with coffeedog ,my sdl drinks more diesel fuel than the others i drive..i love the size of the bac seat area.nice power.goes good in snow.if you want great mpg get a 4cyl

 

Part of the lower MPG could be the fuel supplied in your area. Newer fuel do not do as well. I ran an additive in mine and it helps. Did not do a lot of testing once I seen it go up I never stopped using it. When I first got the car it was around 22-24mpg once I added it 28 was the new base line. I've went through some issues that lowered my mpg 2 broken injector lines, a bad return line, and new o-rings on the injector pump to the injector lines.

 

your car is 5cyl,the sdl are 6cyl

 

Jim the 87 300D is a 6 cyl 86 and 88 are 5 cyl. I'm no expert on Mercedes what is the diffrence of the SDL to a 300D in 87?

 

the sdl is 126 body and the 300 d is 124 body style.they both have 6cyl turbo..i dont know if the engines are the same.when i think 300 D i think 5cyl....my daughter has the 87 300d ,,that car is sweet...i like the 124 look over the 123.

 

I enjoy mine I need to get it up on the rack and see if I can tightend some of the plates under and at the rear of the injector pump. Small leaks.