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

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
Factory intervals
4
Fitment-scoped
6
Exact references
1

Before orderingIdentify 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 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 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 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 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 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 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

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

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