What do you mean? Nobody has had a head gasket fail?

My car had one.

What anecdotal information, or any other do you have to support any other theory?

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Do you have any evidence of a head gasket failure that occured prior to the subject connecting rod failure on a 603.970 or 603.971?

Did your vehicle suffer a connecting rod failure? I don't believe that it did.........and, therefore........your head gasket failure is irrelevant to the topic.

You've got a theory with no supporting evidence.........evidence that should be available from those who suffered the rod bearing failure.........if the evidence exists.

We're discussing your theory..........correct?

I could come up with a theory that a rock was kicked up off the roadway and got sucked into the intake and magically went though the turbo and into the combustion chamber and bent the rod. I don't have any evidence of that..........but, I'd like you to believe it because my machinist came up with the idea. Would that be acceptable to you? I think that this rock theory has some merit.........and I'm going to put it forth in the future..........how about that?

could one conclusively say: "350's are junk, stay away from them?"
just wondering.
as I wondered before...: why do people think MB is sooooo good??


because of their great parts department and because people think you are rich when your car has a star on it's hood?

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1964 datsun 1500
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this is where I quote some dude, so I look smart because of quoting that dude that said something smart once

Well IMHO its all academic. The bottom line is that the rods bend and its an expensive problem to fix. No one is sure how to prevent it, so your better off spending the extra effort earning the money to fix it.

Its a shame really, I have seen some cherry 350SDL's but even I'm scared to touch them. I guess the trick would be to get one super cheap with a DOA motor and repower it.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I wouldn't say they are junk, but certainly not MB's best effort. Every other MB diesel is supurb, at least the ones we got in the US. The 3L 603 is a fine engine in all respects.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

As long as you never, ever, never over heat it. Of course if the PO has already over heated it, that sucks too.

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1987 300TD 309, xxx 2.8.2014 10,000 mile OCI


Be careful of the toes you step on today, as they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow. anonymous

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter won’t mind.” Dr. Seuss

Yeah I don't overheat my cars, most engines don't like that.

I did see an S350D that was overheated so bad the temp sender melted! I'm sure the head was cracked but that was the least of their problems since the pistons melted to the walls. Top hose came off, the guys wife was driving it...kept going at 80 until it stopped!

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

The 300SDL is a dog compared to a 350SDL when it comes to low end acceleration. You really have to stretch the engine out on a 3.0 liter to get the power you need. Whereas a good 350 could chirp a tire.

It takes some adjusting...The 350 is a Hell of an engine. And by that, one can easily anticipate the irony in that statement.

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1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)

Yep nothing the old checkbook can't fix. I don't know if a bit more low end power is worth $5k-$13k to me...hmm I'd have to drive one maybe it is.

IMHO the older 603 is worth a possible $1k-$3k head or headgasket job; so is the larger one that much better?

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

What did you finally do with yours?

I don't recall any conclusion posted.......??

Traded it for a Pathfinder?!

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Don't you 2 ever sleep? It's 1:00 on the east coast.

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1987 300TD 309, xxx 2.8.2014 10,000 mile OCI


Be careful of the toes you step on today, as they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow. anonymous

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter won’t mind.” Dr. Seuss

..........soon.........

As a proud owner of a '91 350SD I strongly disagree with the above allegation! There at least three of us on here who own 1990/1991 350SD's or 350SDL's that currently exceed 500,000 miles. Quite an accomplishment when you think how few were built in comparison to all of the 240D's, 300D's, and 300SD's put together. But in my seven years on this forum, there is a non-stop extolling of the virtues of the 240D, 300D, 300SD, my favorite of course "the bulletproof engines". If you put all of the hundreds or perhaps thousands of 240D, 300D, 300SD, owners on this forum together I don't think you have three in the whole bunch, that exceed 500,000 miles. With that huge expanse, of time from the first 240D to the last 300D, if these vehicles were so spectacular, so reliable, so bulletproof, wouldn't you think between all of these owners with such widely available vehicles there should be huge groups, in each category (240D, 300D, 300SD) with mileage meeting or exceeding 500,000 miles? Where are you? Where are you hiding? It's the limited production, mighty '90/'91 350SD/SDL's that are the true reliability, high mileage champions. Rod benders, I've never disputed it, nor do I do so now. However it would appear that among the small group of '90/'91 350SD's and 350SDL's owners on this forum, we own the most reliable long mileage vehicles here. The 350SD's and 350SDL's apparently have had their connecting rod failures, but what exactly is the major engine failure in all of the thousands of 240D, 300D, and 300SD's, that's sending them to the crusher long before they reach 500,000 miles? Enough of the constant bad mouthing against the 350SD/SDL's. I really can't take it any more. Lets concentrate on finding the causes of all the catastophic engine failures on the 240D, 300D and 300SD's that's sending most of them to an early
(pre 500,000 mile) grave!

'87 560SL 150,000
'94 SL500 40,000
'91 350SD 515,000 that's right 515,000 miles not kilometers

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jcciem
'94 SL5000 60,000
'91 350SDL 545,000
'91 350SD 197,000
'00 E55 AMG 77,000

The only thing that kills a 617/616 is improper maintenance or just plain wear. The 617. for example, does not have a re-occuring issue with breaking internal engine parts. Infact, every 617 failure I have heard of is due to lack of maintenance (think oil cooler lines, radiatior hoses ect ect)

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1981 300SD 512k OM603