Opinion About S 350 Turbo Diesel - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Pedro Reis · #1 08-22-2006, 07:26 PM

Please give me your opinion about this model S 350 TD years 1995/1996.

Fuel consumption?

Main Problems?

Cost of maintenance?

reliable?

Good Buy?

Best Regards

Hatterasguy · #2 08-22-2006, 07:32 PM

The car itself is fine, the engine makes a fine boat anchor though.

Don't buy a deisel W140, buy an S320 its better all around. Well unless you can get your hands on one of those S300TD's that MB never imported! Now thats the model to own!

TMAllison · #3 08-22-2006, 10:00 PM

Search "300SDL" on the forum for info. Motor had head problems. Numerous heads repalced by MB in the US.

I think everyone on the diesel forum agrees that the OM606 in the S300TD you posted about earlier is a better motor in a desirable and reliable body. It was never sold here.

Hatterasguy · #4 08-22-2006, 10:01 PM

The later 603's never had head problems. They had the quite durable 17 or newer heads.

They did have problems with rods bending though, hence the boat anchor comment.

The S350D and S300TD are the same car, W140. Just one has a very good driveline, the other does not.

oldsouth · #5 08-23-2006, 12:01 AM

I guess there are good ones and bad ones. I have a '95 S350 purchased new and it now has over 318,000 miles on the original engine. To answer your questions:

1. 1995 was the last year they were imported into the US.

2. I average 24 mpg. Ranges up to 28 mpg under good conditions (cool temps, 60-65 mph)

3. Usual W140 issues: Make sure all doors and trunk operate properly, rear view mirror tight, wipers work properly, etc, etc. Do a full throttle run up to at least 85 mph and listen.

4. Cost of maintenance can be very, very high on a car that has not been maintained perfectly.

5. I would go across the US in mine without hestiation.

6. They are going for around $15-18k. Pretty cheap for a $65000 car new. But heed #3 above

Remember it is a 11 year old car. Most people are not perfectionist.

sixto · #6 08-23-2006, 01:36 AM

oldsouth, can I trouble you to share the 12th and 13th digits of your VIN?

Thanks,
Sixto
93 300SD

oldsouth · #7 08-23-2006, 08:15 AM

26

Why?

sixto · #8 08-23-2006, 11:39 AM

Thanks! Someone I know is looking for the latest 95 possible VIN, I think VIN -26- is his cutoff, in the belief that engine integrity is greatly improved in these latest cars.

Sixto
93 300SD
... -14- is on the wrong side of the cutoff

dieselbeagel · #9 08-23-2006, 12:14 PM

What Sixto is asking

Ex. VIN WDBGB12EXSA345678

what is the number 34 (above) in ur car's VIN?

The cars produced in the latter part of 95 had VIN numbers 26 or more. Rumor has it that these cars had the newer heads and updated rods and did not experience the problems of earlier productions.

gsxr · #10 08-23-2006, 02:27 PM

All six-cylinder OM603 diesels from 1992-1995, used in the W140 S-class, have the OM603.971 (3.5L) engine that is known for ending up with bent connecting rods (which then oval the cylinder walls and ruin the engine). Unless the engine has been replaced with a factory crate motor, and/or has the updated rods installed, there's a good chance the rods could bend if they haven't already. No it doesn't affect all the engines for some reason (oldsouth obviously has been fortunate) but there is no *confirmed* VIN cutoff or anything else that translates into a "good" engine.

That said, these W140 diesels were badged two ways in the USA:

1992-93: 300SD
1994-95: S350

The bent rod problem also affects the 1990-91 W126 S-class, since they had the same OM603.97x engine. These were badged 350SD and 350SDL.

Anyway, the W140 is a great car, if you can afford the maintenance. Of the gassers, I'd go with the S500, the M119 is a fantastic motor but no it's not cheap to keep up. Such a shame that MB never imported the intercooled OM606.96x S300 turbodiesel W140 that was available in Europe from 1996-99. Now THAT would be awesome! You could build something similar by installing a 1986/87 3.0L OM603 and intercooling it. Heh-heh...

oldsouth · #11 08-23-2006, 11:01 PM

I have posted this long ago, but here it is again.

W140 Diesel production by year - USA imports
1992 - 1131 - 300SD
1993 - 1005 - 300SD
1994 - 672 - S350
1995 - 425 - S350
Car was made in Germany from 1991-1996
Total worldwide production - 20,518

My car was made 3-95 and arrived at the dealership toward the end of 5-95.

It was supposedly one of the last ones imported because the dealer could not order any more. Mine was the last S-Class diesel they have sold up to the present date. There is supposed to be another S-Class diesel available in the US sometime in 2007 or 2008.

oldsouth · #12 08-23-2006, 11:06 PM

gsxr - Is the 606 the same engine in the 98E-Class diesel? Would that engine fit and work in a 140 chassis. My E300D has plenty of power and at over 150,000 miles uses NO oil whatsoever - None! That engine is more powerfull than the 3.5 and would probably get better fuel mileage.

Hatterasguy · #13 08-24-2006, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldsouth

gsxr - Is the 606 the same engine in the 98E-Class diesel? Would that engine fit and work in a 140 chassis. My E300D has plenty of power and at over 150,000 miles uses NO oil whatsoever - None! That engine is more powerfull than the 3.5 and would probably get better fuel mileage.

Yes, I would guess it uses the 722.6 as well so 5 gears to. To bad we never got any overhear.

jshadows · #14 08-24-2006, 10:56 PM

I'll take the S400 CDI. Dammit MB, bring these sweet diesel S-classes into the US. Unfortunately a little less accessible and a little more expensive than the few W140's diesels still alive.

http://autoweb.drive.com.au/cms/A_52651/newsarticle.html

I didn't calculate out the horses, but it gets nearly 25MPG.

oldsouth · #15 08-25-2006, 12:29 AM

Well, I guess we scared Pedro off.