which diesel 300? 87D, 92SD, or 98D. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Geezer · #1 05-06-2009, 01:24 PM

I'm in the market for another diesel benz.
I want everything in this one. It will be the one I keep forever. Good power(fastish), some luxury, will rack up miles effortlessly, can handle SVO(I've heard the arguments here), and is not so complicated I can do some(the more the better) maintenance myself.
I have an 83, love it, but after driving an 87, I realize how archaic it truely is. I'd just buy an 87, but I can't shake the thought that the newer ones would be light years ahead in refinement of even the 87. Thanks for you'd input.
Samson

pawoSD · #2 05-06-2009, 03:06 PM

The SVO thing gets even more likely to ruin the engine the newer you go. There are none that will "handle" it forever....plus, in Cleaveland it probably gets pretty cold out for at least part of the year....negating any use of veg oil anyways. Don't hack up a nice diesel for veg oil purposes. If you intend to keep it "forever", then you're going to have to run it on normal diesel.

I'd say a 1987 300SDL or 300D would be a nice car, or a 1990-93 300D 2.5.....or a later E300 diesel.

a2t · #3 05-06-2009, 08:11 PM

clarify "SVO" for us ... if you mean single tank use, i wouldnt. if you mean a decent 2 tank system like a frybrid, any of them will work well for long periods of time.

i have 42k miles on my 87 300d frybrid kit and it works excellent. running with their kit has paid off the investment of the car, all mtc, and the kit itself.

the 98 turbo is definitely a step up in the world of refinement, but also expensive. im sure you are well aware the installation process for good 2 tank kit on the 98 is a chore. its easier on the 87 D, easier still on the SDL, and a breeze on the 123.

i'd pick an 87 d or sdl and proceed with caution using wvo. do it right and it will last.

on this forum, diesel owners fall into 4 categories :

-never but never run anything but d2 - seems to be majority
-bio d OK - next most common
-wvo 2 tank OK - somewhat hated
-single tank OK - vigorously hated

and you'll be hard pressed to find owners with actual experience to back up any of their claims. as Ive mentioned time and time again, i will disclose any and every fault i find with running frybrid kit in my 87 300d. PM me, email, whatever you want. Ive found its viable, but takes considerable mtc and care to ensure properly filtered/dewatered oil is used, and the miles of extra coolant lines and fittings require constant attention. worth it? hell yes. 100% use by OPEC is for suckers.

jump on www.frybrid.com for more open minded discussion.

#4 05-07-2009, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geezer

can handle SVO

I hear Volkswagens are nice cars, you should get one of those.

Jeremy5848 · #5 05-07-2009, 01:11 AM

An older car will be easier to convert to SVO (if you really gotta do that . . .). The '98 E300D is a super car but far more electronic and much less room to squeeze in an SVO conversion. Even the 96-97 normally aspirated version is busy under the hood. The '87 300SDL probably would be the balance point between "luxury/modernity" and "serviceability/SVO convertability."

One thing you need to realize is that whatever you convert to SVO, any future problems will be blamed on the conversion by your mechanic. Not so bad if you do all your own work and know what you're doing. Not so bad if your regular mechanic did the conversion, then you can blame him. Other combinations, especially a self-installed conversion later serviced by a mechanic who knows nothing of (and is suspicious of) SVO, are risky. Some wrenches will simply refuse to believe your problem is not caused by the conversion.

#6 05-07-2009, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy5848

Some wrenches will simply refuse to believe your problem is not caused by the conversion.

Thats becaue they usually are.

Geezer · #7 05-07-2009, 09:56 AM

Thanks. I've been running a greasecar(two tank) system for over a year now on the 83. I love it. Car runs great on it, though I have significantly lower compression on cylinders 4 and 5(worn rings) not sure if that can happen in a year of running SVO. though I have easily driven 20k miles on it this year. I think the 87 300D is the way I'm headed. it is much cheaper than the 98 and if it blows up because of the SVO(which I don't believe it will) I won't loose my shirt.

babymog · #8 05-07-2009, 05:27 PM

The '87 is my favorite to drive, good power and easy to modify. The '90-'92 has some improved cosmetic and comfort features, but I can't handle losing one cylinder, a trade-off. The '98/'99 has a little more power than the '87, but loses some of the chassis rigidity of the 124. Additional features and comfort, more airbags, more electronics, again a trade-off.

No clear winner, just different cars for different tastes and needs. My personal preference is the '94/'95 with a turbo-diesel transplant (603 or 606), have your cake and eat it too.