Mine wasn't nearly as rough sounding, but it did have that loping character. I also had no holes in the pistons. Just two pistons that didn't quite reach the height the rest of them reached. And, when mine got to the point of using a quart of oil every 800 miles or so, I took it in to have what I expected to be a cylinder head refurbishment. I was stunned to hear I had bent rods. It wasn't until it started burning oil after 10,000 miles on the rebuild that I began to research the subject and found this forum.

Jim

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Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)