I understand why you are attracted to the 92 300SD, they are great looking cars. If the price was right I would want one as well. But for $6500, I would have to pass.

I have had my 6.5 for about 6 months now. Since owning it I have easily put 1-1.5k into it, and not on deferred maintanence, just to get it running (New IP, gaskets, PMD, etc). It is great...when it is moving forward. We'll see how it holds up longterm. If I had the money I would by an Excursion. I probably am in a few years, again we'll see how the 6.5 holds up.

If you buy an Excursion you won't want to install your Frybrid kit in it. At least not the one you have. The 7.3 grease system is very different from the one you had in your 124. You should be able to put it into a 6.5. Probably something to consider since you want to run the new car on the kit you already have.

How about a Passat TDI Wagon? They should be able to fit 3 cars seats across the back, shouldn't they?

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2009 ML320 Bluetec
1985 300CD
1981 300TD

Past Mercedes
1979 300TD
1982 300TD
2000 E320 4Matic Wagon
1998 E430
1984 300SD
1980 300SD

With that attitude, I'd say go for it. There are plenty of examples of people getting near the half million mark with these engines, and the W140 is becoming more commonplace in salvage yards. For the year 1992, the wiring harness would not be an issue. A good parts car could go a long way too.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

TylerH860, What years were the wiring harness an issue? I thought all the W140's up until 1996 had wiring harness degrading issues. This is one of the things that has been keeping me away from a W140 i was considering.

I thought the wiring harness issues were contained to the 1993-1995 models.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

Tyler, I am not sure. From what i have read on multiple sights it seems to be a bit of a dispute of when it was but the generalized statments seem to be that at least all w140 diesels have the wiring harness issue on top of everything else.

Now this looks like a fantastic buy:

i'd pay $2500 for that.

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Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

It may be a fantastic buy, but not for a2t. He just sold his 124 300D to buy something bigger. I believe his main motivation was to fit 3 car seats in the back.

__________________
2009 ML320 Bluetec
1985 300CD
1981 300TD

Past Mercedes
1979 300TD
1982 300TD
2000 E320 4Matic Wagon
1998 E430
1984 300SD
1980 300SD

Yeah, I have seen this and PM'd about this and it does seem like a great buy.. wish i could get to TX to buy it what would cause a charging system issue? what isn't mentioned is the car sat for 4 years but runs good now after it's sleeping time. Could it just be a bad battery after sitting so long? after sitting what would need to be done to it fluid wise? have all of them flushed?

I just PMed him on where the car is. It's not his car, it's his fiancee's Uncle...........so I would want to get the CARFAX on it, etc. You say it's in Texas, where?

3 car seats? Sounds like he could use a minivan.

BTW, what is/was his budget?

I think he told me College Station, TX. I don't like to buy sight unseen and TX i can't get to right now, plus with charging issue i couldn't drive it back to CA so then there is shipping costs. Nice guy, selling it for his Fiancee's uncle i think.

Ah good point, hadnt thought about it but it would surely take a call to vegistroke to get the $5k kit from them for the 7.3L. Well worth it as that land yacht nets about 10mpg on a GOOD day in the city. As for the Passat wagon I dont want a wagon for wvo, man. That stuff smells horrible and I dont care how careful you are, there will be a day when your wvo fuel gauge fails while you are filling it, and you will overfill the tank. I did it twice with a $2k kit from Frybrid in 3 yrs, thankfully I was smart enough to remove all carpeting at the onset and remove the spare well drain. In a wagon that would be instant death. Not that a passat is big enough (go with 124 if you dont care about the smell).

thinkin about it...not for 6500 but maybe 5k ?

Minivan? cmon man.. things arent that dire. we can always install a 3rd row in the Corrado!

budget is..I donno, I dont want to spend too much. Honestly, I could probably go buy a new benz if I really wanted to. But watch my 2 boys get in and out of a car sometime and you would think I should have my head examined for paying more than 5-10k for a car. sidekick the doors open into the car parked next to us, rally shift the combi stalk pretending its a 3 on the tree, it goes on. At this point in my life its better to get something not too nice, trust me!

Tricky left out the 1st rule of buying a car : NEVER BUY SIGHT UNSEEN! If you want that 1 (and it looks pretty good) go look at it, drive it, ect... The charging issue wouldnt scare me a bit, those things came with wimpy 70 amp alts, its cheaper to install 120 amp units, or even get a 143 amp or 150 amp unit for only a few beans more. Very easy install. Good luck.

** Edit, wait did the later model 124's actualy get an alternator with 120amp? Think they did, either way, sounds like easy fix from my sofa. Bring your fluke multimeter for test drive, probe the battery to see if its running at 14+ volts. If so, likely battery, if not, likely just a worn out alt.

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Paul
Benz-less
I need an SDL !

You really need to slow down and evaluate what you need. Three children's car seats would be smashed together in the back of even a W140. Jumping into any vehicle purchase is terrible, let alone something with an ominous past such as the S350D/300SD W140. Trying to save $500 in fuel now or $1000 versus the potential loss for $5-8000 with a bad vehicle purchase is not smart fiscally. Hell even the 300SDL is a touchy car.

The W140 is a monster money pit, FAR more than I believe you imagine. Driving it 15 years from now? Doubt it due to the complexity of the vehicle overall.

I saw someone briefly mention the HVAC, once the evaporator core leaks you are in for a fun time. Someone here said book labor is around 28 hours to R&R that alone, not to mention rebuilding the rest of the system that will have failed around it.

Wiring harness were problems from 92-95 from what I can recall. I sold a harness to a gentleman for his SL that had fallen apart. It was not too expensive.

Honestly, you need to look for a late 6.5 TD Suburban or a PSD Excursion 6L or 7.3 (6L is a fantastic motor with a few minor upgrades to prevent issues: EGR delete, by-pass oil filter system, head studs, and small tuner). The extra space will do you good if you plan to drive the vehicle 15 years from now when your children grow into teens.

4R100 trans from Ford is decent, but the 5R110 behind the 6L is great. It is a six speed auto with one gear locked out most of the time (4th as 5th is the 1:1). If you consider the 6L Ford, you must obtain an OASIS report on the vehicle. You also get a VGT unit with the 6L and 32V heads. It is just modern.

The 6.5 is pretty low tech all things considered and the IFS GM has under 3/4 ton and 1 ton rigs is pretty lame. Late 6.5s had all the cooling issues fixed but they do have PMD overheating issues causing stalling with the electric pump. The stock 4L80E shifts terrible and the torque converter is garbage. A well built one of those would set you back around $4k (with converter, installed, etc) and even the newest 6.5 Suburban was built last around 1999. But with some fixes they can run nicely too.



AGAIN, take a step back and evaluate what is out there. It is worth a month or two of thinking and searching. Hell there are even Diesel full size vans you should consider.

__________________
I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

It is fair to say the consensus is that the model is a lemon, stay away from them.

You wont get 15 years on WVO, no one does on a good motor.

This one is too expensive, $3,500 is absolute max for it.

The lack of history info is a problem, if it was good, the seller would be telling you all about it. Take the VIN to a dealer & see what they can tell you.

You appear to be dreaming about the car. Thinking "Gee I would look good in this car. It would solve all my problems!!" If it was so good it would be gone by now.

This model is a prime example of "A fool & his money are soon parted!!"

Sorry to be so harsh, I am just being rational & too often car purchases are irrational decisions.

__________________
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving