Car Model History

Four-door rear-wheel-drive luxury sedan · 3.0-liter OM617 turbocharged diesel inline-five (125 hp)

1981 Mercedes-Benz 300 SD Automatic

Contemporary U.S. coverage identifies the 300 SD as one of two regular 1981 S-Class models; gray-market European variants are excluded.

1981 Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W126) — sedan, front three-quarter view
Exact 1981 S-Class reference photograph; exact configuration not verified ·

Photo: “1981 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE (W 126) sedan (25041740475)” by Jeremy from Sydney, Australia / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.

Factory configuration

What this model is

Trim
300 SD
Body style
Four-door rear-wheel-drive luxury sedan
Engine
3.0-liter OM617 turbocharged diesel inline-five (125 hp)
Transmission
4-speed automatic

Compare related 1981 configurations

Compare up to twelve documented pairings, prioritizing the same engine, body, trim and gearbox as this car. This related selection is not a complete factory lineup.

Browse all documented 1981 configurations →

Compare 2 related configurations — current car marked
1981 Mercedes-Benz S-Class: documented configuration differences
ConfigurationEngineTransmissionBody
Current carMercedes-Benz 300 SD Automatic3.0-liter OM617 turbocharged diesel inline-five (125 hp)4-speed automaticFour-door rear-wheel-drive luxury sedan
Mercedes-Benz 380 SEL Automatic3.8-liter M116 fuel-injected V8 (155 hp U.S.)4-speed automaticFour-door long-wheelbase rear-wheel-drive luxury sedan

Configuration-specific ownership

Maintenance for this exact configuration

These items are filtered to the engine, transmission, trim, and model-year applicability recorded for this configuration. Broad Amazon category searches are suppressed here; shopping links appear only beside catalog-backed part numbers.

Service desk

What this car needs & when

Use this as a service-planning checklist for 1981 Mercedes-Benz 300 SD Automatic. Start with the interval, confirm which engine or configuration you have, then use an exact ordering reference when one is verified.

Service topics
6
Scheduled topics
4
Applicability stated
6
Exact references
1

Before ordering Identify your engine, options and build date. Part numbers and sizes can change within one model year. Shopping links appear only for catalog-backed references; still verify the listing against your vehicle before ordering.

  • Engine oil and filterView intervals, applicability and sources

    Engine oil and filter

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1981 · OM617 turbocharged diesel inline-five · 300 SD · United States · Exact 1981 300 SD owner's-manual schedule. It is not claimed for the gasoline 380 SEL.

    Published interval: 7,500 mi / 12,000 km / 12 months · Required every 7,500 miles or at least once a year.

    Source: Mercedes-Benz — 1981 300 SD owner's manual maintenance system · owner's manual pages 58–59 — engine oil and filter change · checked

  • Maintenance serviceView intervals, applicability and sources

    Maintenance service

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1981 · OM617 turbocharged diesel inline-five · 300 SD · United States · Exact 1981 300 SD owner's-manual schedule. It is not claimed for the gasoline 380 SEL.

    Published interval: 15,000 mi / 24,000 km / 24 months · Every 15,000 miles; for low-mileage operation, at least once every two years.

    Source: Mercedes-Benz — 1981 300 SD owner's manual maintenance system · owner's manual pages 58–59 — Mercedes-Benz Maintenance System · checked

  • Brake fluidView intervals, applicability and sources

    Brake fluid

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1981 · OM617 turbocharged diesel inline-five · 300 SD · United States · Exact 1981 300 SD owner's-manual schedule. It is not claimed for the gasoline 380 SEL.

    Published interval: 12 months · Replace annually, preferably in spring.

    Source: Mercedes-Benz — 1981 300 SD owner's manual maintenance system · owner's manual page 59 — special maintenance measures · checked

  • Engine coolantView intervals, applicability and sources

    Engine coolant

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1981 · OM617 turbocharged diesel inline-five · 300 SD · United States · Exact 1981 300 SD owner's-manual schedule. It is not claimed for the gasoline 380 SEL.

    Published interval: 36 months · Replace the water/anticorrosion-antifreeze mixture every three years.

    Source: Mercedes-Benz — 1981 300 SD owner's manual maintenance system · owner's manual page 59 — special maintenance measures · checked

  • Engine air filterView intervals, applicability and sources

    Engine air filter

    Fitment must be confirmed

    The part reference below is catalog fitment only; retain the separately sourced factory service interval where one is shown.

    Applies to: 1981

  • Engine oil filterView intervals, applicability and sources

    Engine oil filter

    Exact reference available

    Use the exact engine, VIN, and build date to confirm the catalogued service part before ordering.

    Applies to: 1981

    300 SD — 3.0-liter OM617 turbocharged diesel inline-five (125 hp)

    MAHLE OX 78D

    Applies to: 1981 · 3.0-liter OM617 turbocharged diesel inline-five (125 hp) · 300 SD · Exact 1981 300 SD engine application. Confirm VIN and build date before ordering.

    Source: MAHLE Aftermarket — Mercedes-Benz passenger-car filter application catalog · 1981 Mercedes-Benz 300SD 3.0L L5 — OX 78D · checked

    Verified ordering references

Search results may cover different scales, trims and model years. Check each listing; this search does not establish an exact replica of the documented vehicle.

Sources

  1. Mercedes-Benz Club of America — 1981–1991 W126 U.S.-market buyer's guide
  2. Car and Driver — February 1981 U.S. 300 SD and 380 SEL launch test

Other 1981 configurations

Filter documented 1981 configurations →