Erwin Rommel,

I get the impression you already own the 1990 350SD you described above. In that case you most likely are a victim already.

I was also an unsuspecting customer, but I bought mine from a dealer I have known for twenty plus years and got a break when the car started falling apart on me. But that was after I had the engine rebuilt there.

If I did it again, I insist on some kind of technical explanation from Mercedes on what caused bent rods to start with and what was done to the rods available for a new or rebuilt engine to make that not happen again. Then I would debate the scenarios of new (remanufactured by Mercedes-Benz) or locally rebuilt engine.

The MB remanufactured engines come with the 4 year, 48k miles warranty, while the ones done by the dealer or anyone else have a one year, 12k miles warranty. The total cost for the remanufactured engine is about $2k more than the other option, unless you rebuild the head at the same time.

My first choice would be not to own this car, if I were you. That may not be possible at this point, and depending on what you paid for it, you may be forced to keep it. Good Luck. 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)