I Sold My Diesel to Buy This...Hope I Did the Right Thing! - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

MBeige · #16 04-24-2012, 05:07 PM

Congrats! I own a diesel and an M103 engine'd MB myself, love the combination. M103 is silky smooth, OM617 is just relentless.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

... 15W50!!!

why? I'd go with what's specified for the motor... I'd expect 5w30 or similar... 15w50 would be if the bearings are bad or something... MASSIVE heavy oil!

A lot of M103 owners use 20W-50, or 15W-40. This is what I use, during the summer months and during the colder months, respectively, on my 190E 2.6.

10W-30 is too thin. But let's not make this into an oil thread

pawoSD · #17 04-24-2012, 07:04 PM

M103 is an awesome motor, can really rev it without any issues, then again, I've yet to break any MB motor....so....

I use 5w40 diesel synthetic in ours, runs great with it. If it was a summer only car I'd consider 15w50. I do run Mobil 1 15w50 in my M116 v8 and it loves it.

pawoSD · #18 04-24-2012, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skippy

Buy a Mercedes that isn't diesel? I did that once. ONCE

They're really not that bad. The key is to still have a diesel or two around to drive when the gasser isn't running properly and you get angry at it.

The 300SE in this thread is one awesome looking ride. Good to see there are still other mint W126's out there!

Wayfarer · #19 04-26-2012, 08:21 PM

I've been back and forth between diesels and gassers for awhile now, and you know what, they're all superb. They are all Mercedes after all. My current daily driver is my '91 300SE which I am falling more and more in love with every time I drive it. It is silly simple to work on...once you comprehend how the CIS fuel injection system works... Just did a full 90K service and it took all of 3 hours to do everything: plugs, cap & rotor, filters, tranny, etc., and now I'm good for another 30K. A few more things to change and more finicky, but not bad at all. And I've actually developed a reverence for the Bosch KE CIS system.

After many 100K's of miles in my diesels, I am blown away at how buttery smooth and responsive the M103 is. Yeah, I get 17 in town and 22 on the highway, but so what, especially with the price of diesel these days.

Oh, and in response to the comment that you need to keep your diesel when your gasser is down for repairs, just buy two nice gassers for the same cost of one ratty diesel. There are some unbelievably nice gasoline cars out there for cheap. That realization is what made me finally start dabbling in gassers: I could buy the same car with half the miles for half as much!

And 300SE's are about the very best deal going right now. Happy travels!

Brian Carlton · #20 04-26-2012, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayfarer

I could buy the same car with half the miles for half as much! :

At an average fuel economy of 20 for the gasser versus 27 for the diesel, there might be a good reason for that.

I calculate that you'll pay $840. more for fuel to travel 15K. The assumption is that both Diesel and Premium are at $4.30.

Wayfarer · #21 04-26-2012, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

At an average fuel economy of 20 for the gasser versus 27 for the diesel, there might be a good reason for that.

I calculate that you'll pay $840. more for fuel to travel 15K. The assumption is that both Diesel and Premium are at $4.30.

Here we are with another gas vs. diesel thread....but the OP was pretty much rolling out the red carpet for us

Here in Boise, Premium is $3.75 and diesel is $4.25, so the difference is more like $450 over 15K miles. I drive about 10K/yr. these days so the difference for me is about $300/yr. However, I used to drive 30K/yr. ...and I used to drive a diesel... and the savings were sizable.

Point well taken though. I think it comes down to how much you drive and how much you like the gasoline smoothness, quietness, responsiveness, etc. For me, at 10K/yr., it's worth it to drive the gasser, but if I still drove a lot, the decision would go to the diesel.

My 300SE with 75K miles and in near perfect condition cost me $4500 back in '09. When I was looking in '09, 86-87 300SDL's with similar miles were $10-12K, and well-kept ones with 120K-150K were fetching $8K.

I love 'em both. Again personal preference. At the 10K/year I drive, saving $6K-8K on the purchase price is worth an extra $300/yr. in fuel cost. Bottom line: I really REALLY like them both and appreciate them for what they each do best...that's why I have both.

The OP has bought a fine car and will now get to experience Mercedes gasser greatness and add that to his life's experiences.

Btw, greetings from potato country

Brian Carlton · #22 04-26-2012, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayfarer

Here we are with another gas vs. diesel thread....but the OP was pretty much rolling out the red carpet for us

Here in Boise, Premium is $3.75 and diesel is $4.25, so the difference is more like $450 over 15K miles. I drive about 10K/yr. these days so the difference for me is about $300/yr. However, I used to drive 30K/yr. ...and I used to drive a diesel... and the savings were sizable.

Point well taken though. I think it comes down to how much you drive and how much you like the gasoline smoothness, quietness, responsiveness, etc. For me, at 10K/yr., it's worth it to drive the gasser, but if I still drove a lot, the decision would go to the diesel.

My 300SE with 75K miles and in near perfect condition cost me $4500 back in '09. When I was looking in '09, 86-87 300SDL's with similar miles were $10-12K, and well-kept ones with 120K-150K were fetching $8K.

I love 'em both. Again personal preference. At the 10K/year I drive, saving $6K-8K on the purchase price is worth an extra $300/yr. in fuel cost. Bottom line: I really REALLY like them both and appreciate them for what they each do best...that's why I have both.

The OP has bought a fine car and will now get to experience Mercedes gasser greatness and add that to his life's experiences.

Btw, greetings from potato country

I know exactly the dilemma you reference.

I recently procured a very nice 300SE from a forum member and I fully intend to get 24 mpg from it after I finish the installation of the 2.47 and the first gear start.

Out here, diesel is about $4.30 now and premium is within a couple of cents of that figure, so my numbers are fairly close. In your case, with the benefit of cheap premium, it definitely makes sense to drive the gasser.

Furthermore, there is absolutely no comparison between the smoothness of the M-103 as compared to the OM-603. It's positively excellent. The diesel still exhibits that thrum-thrum-thrum that is unavoidable and indeterminate.

I really look forward to getting the SE out of the damn garage. Still more work to do on it...........and I need to sell one of the diesels so that I can get it registered and not bankrupt myself.

Wayfarer · #23 04-26-2012, 10:32 PM

Whoops, I was thinking about regular! Premium here in Boise is actually $3.95. My bad. It's still $0.30 cheaper than diesel. So that means more like $400-500/yr. increased fuel cost for the gasser.

But still the basic analysis is the same: is the increased fuel cost worth the huge purchase price savings and gasser advantages?

Cool idea about the 2.47 swap. I don't even attempt to take my 300SE on road trips unless I have to because after awhile I can't stand the high highway rpm's, but I have grown very fond of the final drive ratio around town. It is perfect up to and including short 70 mph jaunts out on the interstate. I use my 300SE as a daily driver to-and-from work and for everything else around town. For road trips I pick a different "arrow" out of the "quiver" and drive the E320 or E420.

One of the things I really like about the 300SE vs. other W126's is that it just seems lighter and quicker than any other W126. Not sure if it really is lighter, maybe the M103 responsiveness just makes it seem that way, but the 300SE is...dare I say...even *sporty*. This 300SE that I have now is hands down the best driving W126 I've ever driven. Maybe it's just my particular car, but I suspect it's the inherent qualities of the 300SE (light, short wheelbase, etc.) at work.

Brian Carlton · #24 04-26-2012, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayfarer

Cool idea about the 2.47 swap. I don't even attempt to take my 300SE on road trips unless I have to because after awhile I can't stand the high highway rpm's, but I have grown very fond of the final drive ratio around town. It is perfect up to and including short 70 mph jaunts out on the interstate. I use my 300SE as a daily driver to-and-from work and for everything else around town. For road trips I pick a different "arrow" out of the "quiver" and drive the E320 or E420.

One of the things I really like about the 300SE vs. other W126's is that it just seems lighter and quicker than any other W126. Not sure if it really is lighter, maybe the M103 responsiveness just makes it seem that way, but the 300SE is...dare I say...even *sporty*. This 300SE that I have now is hands down the best driving W126 I've ever driven. Maybe it's just my particular car, but I suspect it's the inherent qualities of the 300SE (light, short wheelbase, etc.) at work.

I did a careful analysis before I did the swap. Since the SE starts in second gear, you've basically got a three speed automatic. Sure, it drives well around town, even though it starts in second, because of the 3.46 gears.

In my case, I intend to have a vehicle that is slightly faster around town by starting in FIRST gear and still have the benefit of fourth gear on the highway with a 1:1 ratio on the 2.47. 1-2-3 are slightly shorter than the existing 2-3-4 with the 3.46.

It's going to be GD interesting to see if this vehicle is the best possible combination ever developed. I've been heavily dissed about it in my thread over on the Tech forum. Somebody is going to get the last laugh............we'll see...........

regsatx · #25 04-26-2012, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayfarer

Whoops, I was thinking about regular! Premium here in Boise is actually $3.95. My bad. It's still $0.30 cheaper than diesel. So that means more like $400-500/yr. increased fuel cost for the gasser.

But still the basic analysis is the same: is the increased fuel cost worth the huge purchase price savings and gasser advantages?

Cool idea about the 2.47 swap. I don't even attempt to take my 300SE on road trips unless I have to because after awhile I can't stand the high highway rpm's, but I have grown very fond of the final drive ratio around town. It is perfect up to and including short 70 mph jaunts out on the interstate. I use my 300SE as a daily driver to-and-from work and for everything else around town. For road trips I pick a different "arrow" out of the "quiver" and drive the E320 or E420.

One of the things I really like about the 300SE vs. other W126's is that it just seems lighter and quicker than any other W126. Not sure if it really is lighter, maybe the M103 responsiveness just makes it seem that way, but the 300SE is...dare I say...even *sporty*. This 300SE that I have now is hands down the best driving W126 I've ever driven. Maybe it's just my particular car, but I suspect it's the inherent qualities of the 300SE (light, short wheelbase, etc.) at work.

It truly does handle like a big "sporty" sedan. Night and day from the very nice 300SD I drove for nearly a decade. It often feels like a V8 if you are in the right spot on the rpm band. I love driving it more each day. It kind of reminds me of a BMW 735i I had in the mid 90s. The BMW's engine was the best part of that car, another remarkably powerful, smooth inline 6...but no way the rest of the vehicle able to stand up to an MB.

Brian Carlton · #26 04-26-2012, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by regsatx

.but no way the rest of the vehicle able to stand up to an MB.

I feel the same way about the 740iL. It's a pleasure to drive but it's built like crap and always needs something............expensive.

suginami · #27 04-26-2012, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

I did a careful analysis before I did the swap. Since the SE starts in second gear, you've basically got a three speed automatic. Sure, it drives well around town, even though it starts in second, because of the 3.46 gears.

In my case, I intend to have a vehicle that is slightly faster around town by starting in FIRST gear and still have the benefit of fourth gear on the highway with a 1:1 ratio on the 2.47. 1-2-3 are slightly shorter than the existing 2-3-4 with the 3.46.

It's going to be GD interesting to see if this vehicle is the best possible combination ever developed. I've been heavily dissed about it in my thread over on the Tech forum. Somebody is going to get the last laugh............we'll see...........

I've been patiently waiting to see you finish this project.

pawoSD · #28 04-27-2012, 12:16 AM

I used to use my 300SD as my daily driver as I drove about 90-120 miles a day....saved me on fuel quite a bit...its also still my winter daily driver. Now my daily commute is about 12-13 miles, anything more is paid for by work, so in the nice weather I drive my 420 most of the time. Gets about 17 city/22hwy, so only a bit worse than the 23ish I get in the diesel. Once I have my 190d conversion on the road I estimate it will see mid to upper 30's, so if I drive that 1-2 days a week, it will average out even more.

The M116 V8 seems to be more consistent in MPG returns than the M103....my wife's car (the 300E) seems to get about 12-14mpg with all her short trips (lots of 2-3 mile stuff at a time) where with the M116 I still see over 16 doing 6-8 mile trips. 300E tends to do about 22-24 hwy, have seen as high as 27.5 on cruise.

Haven't had the M116 as long, but so far its been less finicky than the M103.....and both have similar # of miles on them.

MBeige · #29 04-27-2012, 12:42 AM

The M103 is a silky smooth engine, and with a 2.6 190E, I could easily become a reckless driver out on the road especially when out on the highway. In the city, the 2.6 lacks the grunt the 3.0 has (on my mother's 300TE). I believe the final drive ratios on both cars are the same, maybe slightly different. I'm now learning a lot about the M103 and the W201 chassis, slowly bumping up the fuel economy from 15-ish to 17-ish around town.

I had a chance to ride in a well-kept 300SE European version overseas, a few years ago. It *did* feel sporty, for a large sedan. It was very nimble on its feet, surprising for such a large car.