Which year Diesel to look for? - Page 4 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

uberwgn · #46 02-25-2014, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boatar

I didn't realize you could chip a Benz diesel, are their considerable benefits or just an increased giggle factor?

I had the circuit board on my '99 socketed so I could switch between tunes or revert to stock.

There was a ~25% increase in torque. The tuner felt that was the safe limit for the transmission. The car was notably faster when you asked for it. No, the chip tuning did not increase fuel economy

toomany MBZ · #47 02-25-2014, 08:41 AM

You can't chip the 616/7's, not sure about the 60x's but doubt it. Later models, yes.

The 350 rod bender term came from light weight piston rods used, I believe. They only produced that engine the one year.

t walgamuth · #48 02-25-2014, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toomany MBZ

You can't chip the 616/7's, not sure about the 60x's but doubt it. Later models, yes.

The 350 rod bender term came from light weight piston rods used, I believe. They only produced that engine the one year.

There is no definitive answer as to why the 3.5 engine bends rods. They did build it more than one year though.

if interested there are some very long threads here. Search Rod bender.

uberwgn · #49 02-25-2014, 10:20 AM

I suspect chip-tuning will be 1998MY and newer...

t walgamuth · #50 02-25-2014, 11:30 AM

I'd avoid the 3.5 rodbender unless it has had a 3.0 liter block swapped in or unless you have the plan to do that yourself and you can get the car cheap enough. I had a 91 and other than the rod issue it was a lovely car....great ride and handling back seat like a limo and bags of torque.

I never really got it perfect though and lost interest after a couple years.

Other than that I'd buy the cleanest lowest mileage best condition car you can afford and not worry too much about the year or model.

toomany MBZ · #51 02-25-2014, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

There is no definitive answer as to why the 3.5 engine bends rods. They did build it more than one year though.

if interested there are some very long threads here. Search Rod bender.

t w is correct, my mistake.

The 350 was offered for two years, according to the FSM.

Dan Stokes · #52 02-25-2014, 07:23 PM

The best engine is an '85 300SD. It was cheap and available. Oh, and I could hear it run (in fact I drove it on the trailer surrounded by a rusty car). Aren't THOSE the main criteria?

Dan

toomany MBZ · #53 02-25-2014, 07:34 PM

If you only need the engine, any 617.95x is fine.

The 85's have a higher (numerically) rear end and some vacuum transmission stuff not found on earlier years.

It starts and runs, = good. Yet there could be internal issues.

t walgamuth · #54 02-25-2014, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toomany MBZ

t w is correct, my mistake.

The 350 was offered for two years, according to the FSM.

they also built some 3.5s and called them 300d iirc.

JimFreeh · #55 02-26-2014, 07:15 AM

I’ve owned MB diesels as daily drivers for near 30 years now, quite a few of those years with 2 diesel DDs in the garage, plus a Dodge-Cummins for 17 years, and 24 years of diesel Kubota tractors. I like diesels.

.

I started with W115 chassis 220Ds, progressed to W123s, then w124s, dallied with a W201, then W126 and currently, a w211, totaling 10 MB diesels. Longest was 13 years with a W124 300TD wagon, shortest was 9 months with the 190D 5 speed (too small). I consider the W210 chassis to be too problematic, so I skipped over that model (just my personal observation).

Generalizing, here’s what I’ve come to think about MB diesels:

The older the model, the simpler. Conversely, the newer the model, the more complicated it is.
Each replacement series required me to learn new systems, but as more people acquired the newer cars the online database for keeping them up expanded. What looked complex (compared to the previous series) was well known by the time the next model superseded what was once new….

My new W211 is much more complex than anything I’ve ever owned before. My W124s appear simple compared to this car. But, there is a positive aspect to this complexity, and it’s the computer. When my W211 is hooked up to the SDS system it’s amazing what you can diagnose. I like to think of it as the difference between a vet examining a dog, and your physician examining you. You (the w211), can tell the doctor things that your dog just cannot communicate.

Outside of pure nostalgia, once I’ve owned the NEXT model MB diesel, I’ve had no desire to go back to the older one. Each new one is a noticeable upgrade from the last, performance, mileage, handling, etc. No matter the criteria, from a driver’s (not mechanic’s) standpoint, the newer car is the superior car.

If I were jumping into the MB diesel pool for the first time, I’d look for the newest model I could find, and balance that with condition/records.

Remember, I am generalizing, there are some models that are considered to be better than most, and a few that can turn out to be real stinkers. Educate yourself before buying.

Jim

300GD · #56 02-26-2014, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimFreeh

Outside of pure nostalgia, once I’ve owned the NEXT model MB diesel, I’ve had no desire to go back to the older one. Each new one is a noticeable upgrade from the last, performance, mileage, handling, etc. No matter the criteria, from a driver’s (not mechanic’s) standpoint, the newer car is the superior car.

Well said, Jim. Even within a single model run, there can be a significant difference. At the moment I have both early and late W124s. Although I prefer the responsiveness of the OM603 in the '87, I can't get around the fact that the '95 seems a more modern and refined car in general. There are a lot of incremental improvements.

eatont9999 · #57 02-27-2014, 01:10 AM

Last weekend, I was a passenger in a few different newer model cars. I was less than pleased. First was my fiance's 2004 Mazda 6; supposed to be the higher end model from Mazda. It rides alright but the seats are like cinder blocks and I had to negotiate about 6 different climate control knobs to keep a reasonable temperature in the cabin and adjust them every 20-30 minutes. I'm a fan of the W126's "Set it and forget it" Ron Popeil method of climate control. Next was the late model Chrysler 200 rental car. The 200 is not only small but the seats ARE bonified concrete guaranteed to give you hemorrhoids! Add to that the resonance of every crack in the road being sent up your spine. The short ride in the Chrysler was quite enough but I had almost 500 miles in the Mazda.

The fiance confessed that future road trips should be taken in the 300SD. We may go to Arizona next but this Houston trip confirmed which car will be taken.

Even an old Benz is more comfortable than a brand new what have you!

Cadin · #58 02-27-2014, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

83 to 85 and 95 are some of my favorite years.

Hey Tom, What do you like about the '95? Would this be a good swap candidate? What would I have to grab? (There is one locally pretty cheap, and I could pack it off in the barn...) This would be a OM603; correct? Manual IP?

t walgamuth · #59 02-27-2014, 04:51 AM

it is the 606 without a turbo. Its a little weak on acceleration and torque but it makes a lovely whirring noise when you wind it out to redline and then goes well enough for me. I believe it is basically a mechanical pump though I am not all that familiar with this model as yet.

I bought it with 230K miles on it from Jim Freeh. Its not perfect but its a really nice car and most everything works fine on it including the CD player. its very presentable and most folks probably think I spent a lot of money on it but I did not.

(Thanks Jim!)

JimFreeh · #60 02-27-2014, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 300GD

Well said, Jim. Even within a single model run, there can be a significant difference. At the moment I have both early and late W124s. Although I prefer the responsiveness of the OM603 in the '87, I can't get around the fact that the '95 seems a more modern and refined car in general. There are a lot of incremental improvements.

Yes, the late W124 series is much nicer than the early versions. If I was asked to enumerate why, it's really hard to list a specific set of reasons why (other than obvious changes), but it's clear to me after owning quite a few of the W124 body style that the last two years are my favorites.

I really enjoyed the 95 I sold to Tom W., but recent health issues (stage 4 cancer) have me consolidating my collection of older cars and my interest in driving a "modern" car has increased exponentially. I would have loved to have kept Tom's 95 E300 in addition to the "new" CDI, but my wife refused to part with her lovely 95 E320 wagon, so....... continuing to decrease quantity, hoping to increase quality (value per unit).

Jim