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-   -   350sdl yes or no? (http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/105583-350sdl-yes-no.html)

tarom 10-13-2004 01:53 PM

350sdl yes or no?
 
I have the possibility of buying a 91 350sdl for 9k from a mercedes
dealership. They have all the books and records and have serviced it
from day 1. I am well aware of the problems with this engine from
my mechanic and info on mercedesshop.
Would it be insulting to have a compression test on this engine?
Would this tell me if the engine is faulty (i.e bent rods)?
I have owned a 85 300sd and 84 300d in the past


Thanks for input....

Rick Miley 10-13-2004 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tarom
Would it be insulting to have a compression test on this engine?

No.
Quote:

Originally Posted by tarom
Would this tell me if the engine is faulty (i.e bent rods)?

Not necessarily. As I understand it, the only way to really really know for sure is to take the head off and measure.

Brian Carlton 10-13-2004 04:19 PM

You probably will not be able to diagnose a bent connecting rod until significant damage has occurred to the block. The predominant indicator of a problem is excessive oil consumption.

So, can you get the dealership to warrant the level of oil consumption for the first 5K miles? Probably tell you to stuff it, but, if you state your concerns and you can get them to agree that it should burn less than 2.5 quarts of oil in 5K miles then you would be all set.

Unfortunately, I'm quite sure that they will believe that 1 quart per thousand is fine. This could already be well on its way into the "problem".

Without such a guarantee, you are rolling the dice to the tune of 6K. :eek:

JimSmith 10-13-2004 05:53 PM

tarom,

Not only is it not insulting to have a compression test done it is about your only real defense when buying any used car against the possibility of buying something with costly internal engine damage. A compressions test, if done in conjunction with a "wet" test and leak down tests, will detect cylinder wall damage and identify it as such. Any indication of a compression problem traceable to the cylider wall to piston ring condition is unsatisfactory. In fact, in my opinion any irregularities in the compression results are grounds to reconsider the deal. Always have a compression test done before buying a used car, from anyone. It is the only way to get past the external features of the car you like and see something about what kind of machine it is. Jim

fj bertrand 10-13-2004 10:20 PM

I think the 350sdl is the finest example of large mb diesels, with a good engine...

Mine now has a little over 100k and doesn't burn any oil between 4000 mile oil changes. The PO was extremely anal about this car, changed the oil every 2000 miles for the first 5 years. (he owned a diesel engine shop)

I guess that everything in life is a gamble, but if I got one of the good engines--after all only 900 of these sdls were imported in 1991. So, there are about 300 bad sdl's and 600 good sdls.

psfred 10-13-2004 10:55 PM

If the rods are bent the pistons will be clanking in the cylinders and it will smoke -- this only takes a couple hundred miles at most to appear. Very nasty.

If it runs well, doesn't smoke, and has proper compression (get the compression test done!), buy it.

Nice car.

Peter


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