What body was the 1987 300D?

__________________
Tom in AZ

1985 300SD, smoke silver, blue interior, 146K
1973 280, 85K (sold)

My answer is that the 606 is the sweetist diesel MB has brought to this country. 4 valves per cylinder with double overhead cams, it will rev sky high and pull like crazy in turbo form. They are also extremly durable and seem to return extremly good mileage. I think as the years roll on 606's will prove to be very very long lived. I have seen some nice tight examples with 300k+ on them.

The 603 comes in a close second for me. They are extremly durable and are fun to drive as well. The 603 has a very nice sound at full throttle and returns good mpgs.

Both of the above engines have no problem in the winter.

Now the older 617 is a good engine, but it is not as powerful or returns as good mpg's as the newer motors. Also dare I say this they don't seem to last as long and hold up as well.

__________________
2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Bite your tongue, HG, eBay is full of 617s with 500K - million mile potential

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

What about the 602 compared to the 603 or 606?

__________________
-----------------------------
1965 VW Deluxe Microbus

I have never driven or worked on a 602, but they seem to be good engines. I almost bought a 1992 300D when I was hunting for a MB. It had 290k on it and was in very, very good shape. If the guy wasn't asking to much money for it I would have bought it.

__________________
2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

The diesel guys don't want to hear this, but you can buy a 300E for ~60% of the cost of the diesel (in a 124 car), and its smoother, faster and parts are cheaper (and easier to find used.) You lose 8mpg. Maintenance is probably a toss up. The diesels are MUCH more expensive in the 124 body. Check out autotrader.com. You will pay a few thousand dollars (at least!) to gain 10mpg at the pump.

I'm a diesel lover too (my 300D is my second in 9 years), but after 1985, the gas v. diesel debate gets complicated.

Like sixto said, decide what chassis you want, then pick a drivetrain. It probably snows where you are, so rustability becomes an issue too.

I suggest you spend a week or so (there is that much information on this site in the archives) and get a feel for the strenghts and weaknesses of each model.

Might want to check out what 'wolf walker' has to say about MB diesels. I think he came over from VW diesels.

__________________
'90 300SE 298k
-300K and it gets put into retirement.
'80 300D 255k Purchased new by family in 1980.

Had a:
1973 220 (gas)
1980 300SD
1992 400E

I've been on autotrader a lot lately and I did notice the price difference between comparable W124 300E and 300D.

I keep going back and forth between the W123 and the W124 style. I can't decide ...

__________________
-----------------------------
1965 VW Deluxe Microbus

300SD is a W116 (78-80) or a W126 (81-85)

Get a Diesel Vanagon to keep the 65 bus company

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

I drove a 91 300D for over 140,000 when it got totalled. Loved that car and couldn't imagine replacing it. I now have the 6 turbocharged (98 300E td) and it is a whole other vehicle. So much more pep and responsiveness. The newest CDIs are even more incredible.

__________________
1991 300D 172,000 (totaled)
1998 E300 Turbodiesel 82,500

I think this is sorta contradictory...more parts generally = more stuff to need maintenence (therefore) equal maintence between the two = one fails first

The 617 stands up pretty well...you don't often find examples of people abandoning their 617 when it "clunks out", the "head cracks, or it "won't start"

Just like the older 220D's, 240D's, etc. the simpler engine takes less to get more as far as longevitiy.

You can drive a 617 with loads of blowby and numerous problems until the day it dies whereas the 6 cylinders are a tad more finnikey about all their trinkets working in sync.

But the 6 is fast...what can I say

You know, it really doesn't matter which motor you buy. they are all old cars and the possibility of getting burned is always there.

Just buy the nicest, best condition MB you can find with a color you like. NO matter what you buy, you're going to want another model within a year or two, GARUNTEED.

E class, S Class, diesel or gas, they're all a pain in the ass.

Time to go fix broken window regulator #8 in 10 years! Then tighten a belt, track down a vacuum leak and the list goes on. Always.

__________________
'90 300SE 298k
-300K and it gets put into retirement.
'80 300D 255k Purchased new by family in 1980.

Had a:
1973 220 (gas)
1980 300SD
1992 400E

fahrgewehr2 I am glad I didn't buy a 560SEL at todays fuel prices. A 560 would probably get low teens 15mpg if I'm lucky. My SDL is good for 10mpg more. Maintaince is probably a wash.

Now if you compare say a W210 E320 to an E300D well then that gets tricky.

It doesn't really matter what anyone else says buy whatever you like. Their really is no bad MB or bad engine.

__________________
2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Only bad evaporators, heads and con rods?

Seriously, get what fits you. The rest you'll learn to live with. Or did I say that already?

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

A 560SEL is not for everyone. Its a GREAT car, powerful and fast. I am not complaining about fuel prices... if one can't afford something so simple as fuel, then driving is not for them. While I was abroad, fuel prices were nearly double of what I am paying here. We're getting a deal since our taxes are not as high.

ps - 15 mpg is what you would expect for stop and go, high traffic city driving. On the open roads, it gets close to 20 mpg.

Snibble I will run 400 miles a week on my car during the school year. I don't want to buy that much fuel, I'd rather spend my money on other things.

Assuming I would get 15mpg out of a 560SEL thats like $70 a week; vs $40-$45 for my SDL. I do mostly stop and go and city driving.

If you drive a lot fuel costs add up over the course of a year.

$30 a week over the course of a year is $1560. I could buy myself a very nice fly rod or new pair of ski's everyear with those savings.

If I drove like 100 miles a week I wouldn't give a crap about fuel mileage or cost.

__________________
2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200