I'm honestly not sure why, but I'd love to have a 240D just to prevent me from speeding...of course I'd rather have a 280E if I had the money.. :p

I have a beautiful 23 year old Mercedes S class(1979 SD). She is a very powerful and dependable machine. With the turbo, the torque and power are more than adequate for this 5K pound yacht. When treated properly, these machines are a dream.

Mostly, this is a machine with not only a lot of style, but soul.

Replaced short block one time then a complete "caged engine" the second time. Many parts still original---brake rotors replaced the first time at about 700,000 miles---a little worn, but did the job. Or, put another way, when I placed the old rotors on the parts counter, I asked "can you believe these rotors have over 700,000 miles" to which, the parts guy said "Yes, I can believe it".
Ken

__________________
K. Weimer
300SD (1)
300D (5) [Plus 1 parts]
300SEL 4.5 (2)
280SE (4)
280 (2)
250 (1)
250SE (1)
240D (7) [Plus 1 parts]
220D (11) [Plus 3 parts]
200D (2) [Plus 1 parts]
180c (with sunroof)

1995 Nissan UD1800 rollback
"If I can't fix it, it don't get fixed"

I hope you don't let that car rest too long-it needs exercise!

Unbelievable on the rotors...I hope you replaced them with OE parts

__________________
"If God had meant for us to walk, why did he give us feet that fit car pedals?" Sir Sterling Moss

Michael
2014 E63S Estate
2006 SLK55
1995 E500
1986 Porsche 944 turbo

Benz_man600,Benz_man600,Benz_man600 I'll take your bait. For some, myself included it is the engineering elegance of an "Oel Motor" that is appealing. It is that beautiful balance between getting the most an using the least! Pound for pound, part for part, and gallon for gallon a diesel engine can propel a vehicle further/longer. For such purists that is the beauty to behold. Gasoline engines are the answer to a different equation. 0-60 times only really matter if you can't live without that ability to accelerate. Some people actually need that ability and some people simply think they need that ability. Gasoline is the easiest way to obtain that goal but with a trade-off in economy and longevity as they operate closer to the extreme limits of their designs. My own evolution from young man to not so young a man has given me an appreciation for these diametrically opposed purposes. That's why in my 20's I own motorcycles and fast cars and now I own vehicles celebrate endurance and dependability.
There is a scene in the movie "Colors" starring Robert Duvall and Shawn Penn that appropriately illustrates these opposing perspectives. The line is a joke that starts "A young bull and an old bull are standing on a hilltop looking down upon a far reaching herd of cows. The young bull says to the old bull," Man I get so horny when I look down there and see all those fine young cows down there I think I'm going to run down there a screw me one. And the old bull relies," Why would you want to do that when, we could walk down there and screw them all!" So I guess the moral I would hope to share with that story is - a young bull has to be able to go the distance if he want to ever enjoy the benefits of an old bull. And with internal combustion its the same, you can get to them first (gas) or you can get to the most (diesel). But the evolution of these two designs is telling. The most sophisticated diesels deliver performance that will rival a gas motor i.e. MB 99 300D and gas motors that hope to equal diesel endurance and dependability will probably never exist. Diesels (the first internal combustion design) are getting better in their areas of perceived weakness an gassers have been forced to trade off their perceived strengths. So that is my kind and gentle, yet humble opinion. Just think though, when your my age the best diesels yet will be 20+ years old and a great bargain for you when you realize these truths!!!!!
P. S. You young bulls should not be afraid to challenge a old bull once in a while, just watch out for those horns!!

Mea Culpa, I'm truly sorry if I offended any body of any age! I meant to relate my own somewhat retarded learning curve. I appreciate and understand that age alone would matter. To all the percosious youngsters here I applaude your ability to differentiate yourselves from the rest of the pack, by your choice of cars compared to the choices of the majority of young males you clearly demonstrate your individuality and integrity, admirable qualities that will serve you well in life. And I personally thank all of you for the generous input which everyone benifits from. After reading the first post and checking Benz_man600's profile of"student" I assumed him to be young and looking to be educated so offered my .2 cents worth in what I hoped was a kind and gentle manner with a twist of humor!

Frankly, I am surprised. I did some research and found that the new (European only) S420CDI is faster than my 300SE! I am happy to hear that diesels have progressed from the smoke belching days of yore. You alls loyalty to diesels is amazing. If I try a one, do you think I'll get hooked, or am I still to young?

Contrary to the markings on the tail, the 93 300SE was running the same 3.2L inline six that the 95 S320 ran. Why Merceds named it the 300SE instead of 320SE, I dont know? It makes the same horsepower/Tourque ratings as the 3.2L engines found in the: E320, C320, and 99 S320. The V-6 does have a broader torque range though! Personaly, I think the inline six in mines is smoother thatn the V-6 in the newer cars.

This may sound ignorant, but whats the problem with diesels in the winter. I know they start rough, but whats the biggy?

i'm in high school, and own an 83 300SD. I would personally much prefer to have a 560sec/sel, or even a 190E/300E, but the maintenance would kill me. With this car, i can work on everything myself, and learn a ton while doing it. The car isn't that quick, all my friends dubbed it a panzer tank, and it doesn't look that great anymore, but only once has it ever left me stranded(radiator blew, my fault i knew it was going but......) The cars are so easy to fix i think i've fixed just about everything with a 60 peice tool kit. Also, the ride and comfort is unparralelled for the cost of the car. How many other cars can you buy for under 3k that ride like a new honda(if not better), handle well, and will cruise at 100 all day long, while maintaining your comfort with automatic climate control? my opinion is, they are the practical car for someone who wants a mercedes and likes to work on thier own cars.
R

__________________
83 300SD.......sold
96 integra SE....sold
99 a4 quattro....sold
2001 IS300.......sold
2002 330i.........current.
2004 highlander limited....current.

Maybe for the same reasons as fire engines, ambulances, locomotives, generators-(every hospital has one on the roof0 and other various and sundry applications.

700K on a pair of rotors? I dont think thats possible!! The 115's odometers are 5 digit right? So you only see "20000" miles instead of "720000".. that kinda sucks.

I am 19 now.. I bought my first diesel when I was 17.. 83 300D.. ever since then, i've owned

83 300D
85 500SEL
84 300TD
87 300SDL
82 300SD
86 420SEL
85 300D

I may have forgot one or two.. and no im not rich by any means, i find them cheap and sell one to buy one.. its kinda an addiction..

Right now I only have my 87 300SDL which is my favorite, and will most likely drive it until it refuses to drive anymore..

You dont just want to warm the car up, you want to burn the whole !@#$ thing up!

You could not turn the rotors and reinstall them?

__________________
Jim

Hey 600
Where do you live in Virginia, I am in Roanoke

Well---the rotors did look like 700,000 miles---but I have a theory on grooves in rotors---you have more braking surface. So the pads wear a little faster---turn the rotors and you get 52,000 miles out of a set of pads instead of 50,000. I can afford that.
It does suck that the SO registers only to 99,999 miles---which is why whenever I buy a used diesel I don't even bother to look at the SO or ask how many miles---I look it over very carefully.
Ken

__________________
K. Weimer
300SD (1)
300D (5) [Plus 1 parts]
300SEL 4.5 (2)
280SE (4)
280 (2)
250 (1)
250SE (1)
240D (7) [Plus 1 parts]
220D (11) [Plus 3 parts]
200D (2) [Plus 1 parts]
180c (with sunroof)

1995 Nissan UD1800 rollback
"If I can't fix it, it don't get fixed"