how many own a 140 300SD?
 

I just bought a 1993 300SD..... it is unbelievably comfortable. AC will freeze you out, leather seats are fantastic..... engine runs good BUT it does have what sounds to me like a pre-ignition clatter at idle. It also seems to use some oil although I've only driven it 600 miles since I bought it and haven't changed oil & filter yet since purchase. I found with my old 1984 300D, it would sometimes use oil, sometimes leave more than I care to admit on the driveway and other times it would run for all 3,000 or so miles between oil changes with no need to put more oil in it....

I would like to compare notes with some other current 140 300SD owners. Any of you out there???

I cannot find a technical manual on the engine so I don't know how or if I can adjust the injector pump to get the pre-ignition to go away?

Any thoughts, comments, ideas from the other diesel lovers out there?

Thanks,
JMH

I don't have the heart. Someone else go ahead. I will say that your engine is the OM603.97, if you care to do a search.

Even though it is badged 300SD, it has the 350 engine.

Nice car though! :cool:

I own a 1995 S350 with over 263,000 miles. Never bent a rod. Great car! I think the rod stories are overdone, but Mercedes did make the rods bigger in late 1994 best I can find out. My car had started running rough at idle and using more than the normal amount of oil. I just had valve guide seals, new timing chain, and injectors installed and that fixed my problem. I do not know exactly what the oil consumption is yet, but I have driven over 1000 miles since the job and it has not gone down on the stick any. The only other thing oil consumption wise that has been done, is the turbo had to be re-built.
Best source for a technical manual is Alldata.com. $14.95/yr. Mercedes has not published one yet. They still want you to take it to the dealer.

Mercedes Has published a service manual its on DVD and its $175-1 800 222 0100

Thanks rdanz!

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Not a bad car if you get it after the engine rebuild and all that. Things that stopped working on mine: AC, back windows go in and out, moonroof goes slow, etc. Other than that enjoy.