My mechanic said almost the same thing to me when I got my '87 300D Turbo. He commented that the 603 was an especially expensive engine to repair. So far, I guess I have been lucky -- most of my expenses have been associated with fixing the problems left to me by the PO. Routine maintenance of a 603-- oil and filters. etc., is pretty much the same as a 617. In terms of my time, the 603 is actually easier to maintain, since valve adjustments are not required. It may be that the "expensive" comments are related to the increased complexity of the 603 -- an additional cylinder, hydraulic valve tappets, pulling the intake manifold to get at the glow plugs, etc.

Jeremy

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970