lolz
hes only been working on them over 20 years and knows his stuff

He doesn't.

Trust me.

I was pondering the same question as the original post just yesterday. Now I have the MB bug and will likely be "shopping" for a slightly newer than my 300D model. Those seem like S class cars being sold. What is the failure modes on the '90-'94 models that would have you saying to avoid?

you dont even work on cars, you are an engineer/designer...

An incorrect observation and an erroneous conclusion.

Unless your Norman.

Exactly

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What brands, engines and models do you have in mind?

Ditto!

Absolutely correct, as pertains to MB diesels..

1998. Tough lesson about women, joined & quit a mild cult, dropped out of grad school, picked up cigarettes.

On the plus side, bought a Mamiya C330, made some super photographs with it, began to realize the military industrial complex wasn't what I was looking for.

W126 Diesels. Cars to keep forever.
 

The W126 1991 350SD are known as the infamous "Rod Bender" diesel, which were, for a time, in the early - mid 1990s covered by a "secret" MB warranty that allowed for a dealer installed new, complete crate engine. If you can find a documented one of them, you should be OK.


Do a search here on "rod bender" for more information...they had a basic design flaw.

Curiously, the 1991 350SD rod benders did not ALL have day to day evidence in real life, of this problem, in driving. About maybe half of them actually did.
Due diligence is needed to snag one of them that are OK. I personally would not touch one.

But when the ovaling started, on the bad ones, and then you would discover that you were burning a LOT of oil, well, at THAT point, it was too late...

'91 is the last year of the W126 in the USA, and all the other problems were pretty much sorted as the car was first sold here as an '81 model.


The most durable and utterly bulletproof W126ers are the anvil reliable 1981-1985 300SD models, but those lack the interior and exterior mild styling upgrades, and such things as dual airbags, ABS, upgraded wheels, etc.


The 1986-1987 SDL ones have aluminum heads, ( I believe ) so are not quite as bullet proof.


But with any of these big diesel W126 cars, they can be, if well kept, easily achive 400,000 to 500,000 miles, and far above.


One of the members here, "SirNik84" is campaigning a 1984 300SD, whose odometer broke at 354,000 miles and he thinks it has over 400,000 miles on it now.

I love driving that car, he loaned it to me a couple of years ago. Same as my '91 560SEC AMG but with 2 more doors and lots slower but LOTS easier on the Persian Perrier.

Why is every one scared to mention the words "ROD BENDERS?

Some how I think I would be listening to Brian before taking much notice of many others.
Some one who has been "working on them for 20 years" probably has 1 years experience practiced 20 times !!

I notice that many have said that problems dont include a particular year car, just so happens thats the year of their car!! Would be interesting to hear what they say once they have traded.
I am sure there are lists on here for models with particular problems. Just not sure if there is one single list.

LOFL:D

Well, brazen and enlightened one, why don't you shine down upon us your brightness?

You called a guy an idiot while offering nothing to support your assertion.

What do you have of substance to offer?