Are MB 126 Gassers as solid as Diesels + b4 & after pics - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

scott2go · #1 03-19-2005, 03:57 PM

I have searched to no end and just wanted to ask the Diesel board's thought's on MB gassers.I love my 81 300sd and while looking for new grey or white interior have come across some mint AZ sel's and sl's w/ around 150,000 mi.for $1000 to $3000.Or non running cars for $500,I even found a 380 that had a gm 350 under the hood,so should I stick w/ diesels or get a gasser for kicks???Any comment's would be great,thanks,

I also thought I would share a couple pics off the resto''

sixto · #2 03-19-2005, 07:50 PM

The gassers are a hardy bunch. V8s need a timing chain and associated parts every 150K miles or so but aren't much trouble to maintain. Bosch KE-Jetronic is fairly robust but it can't hold a candle to an injection pump for long-term reliability. At some point you'll have to deal with an idle air valve or electro-hydraulic actuator or something that won't leave you stranded but will nag you with hard starting sometimes or rough idle sometimes... situations that are really difficult to diagnose and not worth 5 hours of shop time to fix.

Then there's the hard-to-break habit of turning the key and waiting for a yellow light to go off

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

turbodiesel · #3 03-19-2005, 08:00 PM

The gassers are somewhat fickle but reliable. Even with problems, they will continue to run until something major happens like a timing chain pops. The Bosch mechanical fuel injection system is a bit complicated and if there is a problem, hard to get right. They get horrid fuel mileage as well.

boneheaddoctor · #4 03-19-2005, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbodiesel

The gassers are somewhat fickle but reliable. Even with problems, they will continue to run until something major happens like a timing chain pops. The Bosch mechanical fuel injection system is a bit complicated and if there is a problem, hard to get right. They get horrid fuel mileage as well.

LT-1 CHevy will get you twice the power and twice the milage....

turbodiesel · #5 03-19-2005, 08:06 PM

The LT1's aren't bullet proof, either. Opti-Spark, water pumps, etc. They do haul ass, though.

boneheaddoctor · #6 03-19-2005, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbodiesel

The LT1's aren't bullet proof, either. Opti-Spark, water pumps, etc. They do haul ass, though.

maybe not perfect but parts are easy to get. Almost any parts store in Podunk is likely to have them in stock.............

rg2098 · #7 03-19-2005, 08:38 PM

Debating gassers on a diesel forum? Your punishment is to go sit in your diesels for 30 minutes idling or 15 minutes of driving.

Seriously, MB made some great gassers as well.

d.delano · #8 03-19-2005, 08:46 PM

I really want a 124 gas car, I really do. But Larry Bible talked me out of it unbeknownst to him with a post lamenting troubles he's experienced. Still want one really bad, and I would prefer a '95 E420, but an earlier 400E would do nicely. 500E would be even better but those are way too costly and rare. So how about the 4.2L 124s? Would they be worthwhile?

boneheaddoctor · #9 03-19-2005, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rg2098

Debating gassers on a diesel forum? Your punishment is to go sit in your diesels for 30 minutes idling or 15 minutes of driving.

Seriously, MB made some great gassers as well.

I got more experience with gassers...in fact own two of them....

Hatterasguy · #10 03-19-2005, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d.delano

So how about the 4.2L 124s? Would they be worthwhile?

The M119 is an awsome V8, they will run close to forever if you keep the oil changed. The M119 gives the OM617 a good run for its money. Both are capible of extremly long lives, but the M119 will do it with close to 300hp.

MB makes some great gas engines. Personally I wouldn't pay a premium for a diesel MB, for example:

1991 350SDL with 50k on it for $20k
1991 560SEL with 50k on it for $15k.

I'd buy the 560.

turbodiesel · #11 03-19-2005, 10:17 PM

What's funny is the 560SEL was an $80,000 car in it's day.. $15,000 or $20,000 more than a lowly 350SDL.

Same with the E320 and E300.. The E320 was more expensive.. but look what commands more resale value today.

sixto · #12 03-19-2005, 11:21 PM

True, but it's more market value than intrinsic value. The 560SEL costs less to buy because there are more available and they compete with eachother. When there's a 50K mile 350SDL for sale, it's probably the only out there for a few months. Considering the time value of money, $20K is probably worth $15K at the time it actually sells

FWIW, kbb.com puts an excellent private party 91 SDL with 50K miles at $8925 and a similar 560 at $7,825.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

turbodiesel · #13 03-19-2005, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixto

FWIW, kbb.com puts an excellent private party 91 SDL with 50K miles at $8925..

I'll buy as many as you can find at that price with those miles!

scott2go · #14 03-20-2005, 11:51 AM

Great advice folks.I will keep all of this in mind if I go that route.The main reason I asked is that some of them are super clean for a low price.And the interiors of the later 126's are sweet,Mostly 1 or 2 owner cars....
But if these fuel prices continue to go up I might have to ride a moped!!!! HAHAHA....

Hit Man X · #15 03-20-2005, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbodiesel

The LT1's aren't bullet proof, either. Opti-Spark, water pumps, etc. They do haul ass, though.

If you're gonna swap it, make a set of motor mounts and drop in an LS1 alum block or 6.0 iron... no Optispark crap, actually can change the plug wires, stock manifolds flow like a shorty header, and far better cylinder heads. Everything the LT1 wanted to be but better.

The Gen IIIs are insane motors stock... my truck has the smaller iron block version. 6 bolt crossmains, powdered metal rods, hyper slugs, etc. A bud of mine just finished a 6.0L swap into his reg cab from a 5.3... ran a 12.30 in the 1/4 with a 224/224 (278/278) .560 112LSA cam, stock 6.0 heads, and assorted bolt ons.

But there is no car I've owned like my 126, the joy from driving it I can't describe even in it's current shape. I can't imagine how it'll be once I get even more things done to it as time goes on.

Not to mention I can blow some diesel smoke on people too.

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