Looking to buy a used Benz diesel this spring and I'm trying to research which is more reliable, the w126 or the w140. I haven't found much except on another board and it was just one fellow who didn't have much good to say about the w140 class car.

Any help appreciated.

W126. 86-87.

Avoid the 90's W126's and W140's the engine had a serious flaw that can result in very costly repairs.

The W140 will require a much much larger pile of $ to purchase, and they are also quite scarce.....

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

Thanks

Neither.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Go for a W123

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81 Mercedes 300SD 289k.......SOLD
82 Mercedes 300CD 252k......slow ride

82 mercedes 300 SD...mi Unknown
83 Mercedes 300D ????ksniff..gone too
84 Mercedes 300D 148k........SOLD
85 Mercedes 300TD 386k and holding some one elses project

i'm fond of the W116...but it is the only one i have owned

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-Trevor

OBK #12
1980 300SD 333,XXX miles - Totaled
1986 Mazda RX-7 212,XXX miles - impounded and auctioned off
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited 33,000- SEGR, Provent, Fumoto

Take what non-owners say with a grain of salt. I'm not saying they don't know what they're talking about. The smartest people I know wouldn't touch a 140 But drive a few 140s and decide for yourself. The difference between a 126 and 140 is like night and day.

I've had 2 140s. The 95 S420 I sold didn't give me big problems but I didn't have it very long. I talk to the new owner from time to time and he tells me it's nickel and diming (more like $500-ing and $1000-ing) him with little things. I didn't realize how much it would have cost me if I weren't a DIYer. The 93 SD is everything you've been warned about but the positives (yes, there are positives) haven't been said. Despite having been less than pampered for 10 years just about everything works. It's problem was the dreaded bent connecting rods. And seemingly more than once because the bent rods engine I replaced isn't the original engine.

The 126 is a fabulous car. I've had 5. It's hard to imagine anyone would need or want another car... until you try a 140 Seriously, one will fit your personality better. For me it's the 140. It'll always get you home if that's the reliability you're concerned about. If all the doodads have to work all the time, either get a 126 or give up your other hobbies.

Sixto
93 300SD 3.0

I have been considering a W140. If I do go for one there are two things beside the records that I want.
1. A very late model (97-99)
2. A more simple model. Actuallt, the only ones that I have thought about were S320's.

More recently I am getting tired of my 1999 W210 issues. I am getting to a point where I do not trust any sedan models with chassis numbers after W201.