i was just wondering what year did Mercedes make the best diesel? the repair guy told me 85. however i think my 86 300sdl is stronger, but i'm no expert.

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ez rider

1999

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Rick Miley
2014 Tesla Model S
2018 Tesla Model 3
2017 Nissan LEAF
Former MB: 99 E300, 86 190E 2.3, 87 300E, 80 240D, 82 204D Euro
Chain Elongation References

hard to knock (no pun intended ) the 617...82-85

'

Did you want to know the best or the strongest????????????????

Big difference in those 2 items.

The 617 was probably the best. But the 616 is much more simpler and as reliable as the 617.

The 99 E300 that I owned was a very fast but a shop queen, that is why I got rid of it and drive an 82 300TD.

Dave

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1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car

Cast Iron heads mean alot. So, anything prior to and including 1985 I beleive.

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1984 300D Turbo Sedan (Hilda) 272,115 miles.....
Anthracite Gray/Palamino Leather, I am 3rd owner

2001 Dodge Stratus (Silver) (wifes) 55814 miles...

1982 280TE Wagon Astral Silver Metallic/
Anthracite Velour
260,512 miles (Eva)

1969 230 Sedan Olive Green/Black MBTex
4 Speed Manual
84,213 miles ????
Haus Frau


2004 Boreem Ninja Pocket Bike
Highly Modified 49cc (Ling Ling)

Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit

Best is aquestionable concept....

I'd say the 82-85 617s are the best, because they have a good mix of durability and power, but their efficiency isn't as good as the newer engines, and they aren't as powerful.

However, the 606's are great engines, just not as durable. But they get better mileage and are much more powerful.

Then again, the 616 is even more durable than the 617, and will last a lifetime.

They are all pretty good, just pick the qualities most important to you.

Personally, I'd say the '82 300TD, in silver, is the heighth of automotive engineering, simply because I own one. Besides, everyone knows that silver is the fastest color, it has to do with the rays of sun reflecting off the particles and refracting and all sorts of complicated engineering stuff you woudn't understand.

peace,
sam

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"That f***in' biodiesel is makin' me hungry."

1982 300TD Astral Silver w/ 250k (BIO BNZ)
2001 Aprilia SR50 Corsa Red w/ 5.5k (>100 MPG)

IMHO, the iron OM616.912 that is found in the 1982 & 1983 Mercedes Benz 240D's is one of the more durable engines you will find anywhere.

- Patrick

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1982 240D. 198k, Marine Blue/Blue, 4 Speed, Crank Windows, No Sunroof, No Rust, No Oil Leaks
2001 TDI. 197k, Lagoon Blue/Black, 5 speed, Chip, G60/VR6

I love my 5th cylinder and my turbo to DEATH but ya know, I cannot contend with this. Those 4 bangers last a lifetime heh...

For 55-70 mph running and durability it is hard to beat the non-turbo five cylinder too - 1981 300D. It is my most favorite commuter car.

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Jim

I agree silver and the sun reflection gives the optical illusion of fast

But I prefer a Deep Blue Streak!

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

i have a 1982 300td with 138k on it, great car, very good engine, uses no oil at all ,has good power--i am 64 years old, i will never wear it out on my life time ,and, i will never sell it,also it was a southwest car--so it want rust-- Dennis [SIZE=1][COLOR=SeaGreen]

Wow this is a loaded queston! Define "best" Best as in fastest? Cheapist to run? I would say now 2005, I am exptremly impressed with the E320 CDI.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Best engine or best MB diesel car overall?

I'd say the 116 'whale series' 300SD from about 1979 - if it's old enough for manual heating system - is one of the best MB diesel automobiles, rust condition etc being equal.

The 116 will outhandle the 123 at any speed. The 115's werent bad either, except you had to crawl underneath the car to change the oil filter.

Overall, my personal (biased) opinion is that a 1972 240D 4-spd with corner wing windows and manual sunroof is the ULTIMATE.

Sad to say, but steering/handling on my 123 has been sloppy as hell since day one - in spite of steering box adjustment, new bilsteins, etc.

Dunno about anything newer than '82 just because I've never owned one. Did they build a 5-spd 4cyl diesel car sometime in the 1980's?

It depends on your definition of "best". That question is very subjective.

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1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)

240DieselDog:

There is something about the 116 chassis, isn't there? We have a narrow two lane road locally that winds through a nice neighborhood and gets you from one major section of the town to another without hitting all the traffic lights. Not many people used it, but the people in that neighborhood managed to get the city to put 6 or 7 speed bumps scattered along this road, so even fewer people use it now. All of my cars have to slow almost to a stop to handle the speed bumps .... except the Mercedes. For some reason I can rip through the speed bumps at 40 mph and hardly feel a thing in my trusty ol' 116. I do it regularly. It gives me a feeling of satisfaction as I imagine how it pisses the neighborhood off. Fair play, I figure, because they ruined my favorite road. It used to be a speed trap for the local police, but I've never noticed one there since they put in the speed bumps.

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Richard

"Die Schadenfreude ist die reinste Freude"