I looked into the first gear start conversion. However discovered that it leads to premature failure of the trans. Seems that it was not designed strongly enough to start in first gear all the time.

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2004 F150 4.6L -My Daily
2007 Volvo XC70 -Wife's Daily
1998 Ford F150 -Rear ended
1989 J-spec 420SEL -passed onto its new keeper
1982 BMW 733i -fixed and traded for the 420SEL
2003 Volvo V70 5 Speed -scrapped
1997 E290 Turbo Diesel Wagon -traded for above
1992 BMW 525i -traded in
1990 Silver 300TE -hated the M103
1985 Grey 380SE Diesel Conversion, 2.47 rear end, ABS -Sold, really should have kept this one
1979 Silver 300D "The Silver Slug" -Sold

It used to be the other way around for me, I used to think diesels were demons of complexity. Beginning with diesel Rabbits, eventually leading up to my awesome TDIs and currently with this peach of an OM602, they're simple and straightforward machines. I now fear for the complexity of gasoline engines, my experience is that when they start to go south there's no much stopping them. I think the durability, uniqueness (in the US), degree of engineering and most of all the community that surrounds diesels is much more satisfying. Fuel efficiency isn't even my primary motivator anymore, though it's a nice plus.

I love my diesels, I love the clatter, I enjoy working on them and mostly I enjoy driving them. My experience is they have that x factor a gasser does not have.

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- Johnny

1990 300D 2.5L - 135k
1998 Jetta TDI - 257k
2005 E500 - 117k

It shouldn't, as I mentioned, all but the US cars had a switchable automatic after 1986 that would start in first.

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With best regards

Al

I have a couple late '90s gasser cars (Altima & Camry) as my daily/winter drivers. So the two diesels are now my back-up vehicles, and may sit for weeks at a time. The issues with gasahol have compounded the problem of running an old gasser vehicle infrequently. The stuff destroyed the carburetor on my '87 Isuzu Pickup after it had sat for an extended period. (Admittedly a very complicated, emissions-controlled Hitachi 2V carburetor)
Yet, I've had old diesels fire right up after sitting for months, sometimes years, with little more than a battery charge or replacement. IMHO, the basic W123 diesels (240D and Euro 300D/TD) are the last of the bullet-proof, durable, reliable Benzes that I can still easily work on.
So I'm staying away from the automatic-everything, post W123 models, with their dual electric fuel pumps, OVP issues, pricey electronic modules & relays, biodegradeable wiring harnesses, faulty belt tensioners that break the timing-cover, multiple systems that need reprogrammed if the battery is replaced, etc, etc....
Yes, many on these forums are very happy with their well maintained newer models.
But the affordable newer Mercedes I'm most likely to find in my area will be someones shiny, but neglected, high mileage money-pit!

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

I'm in love with my 05 CDI with the OM 648. Just got 39+mpg going 70mph. Love the power and it's as smooth as any gasser. I wish the new E diesel came with a 6 of 300 HP instead of a 4 with 200 as an option. That thing would be as faster than a e550 and get twice the mpg.

Wait till the gassers get 100k miles on them and see how like it then

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General George - 1967 Land Rover 2a SWB 1983 OM617 Turbo

Try to testdrive a 530i 5 speed with sport package. Rare car, but miles ahead of the 540i. M62's are too repair heavy... You might as well buy a m5 at that point.

The m54b30 in the 530i is a gem, all you need to take care of is valve cover gaskets and vanos seals.

Another thing to take note of is that V8 e39's don't use rack and pinion, this includes M5's...
Only the inline six (528i, 525i, 530i) use rack and pinion.

My 525i 5 speed coupled with coilovers handled like my friends '04 M3 on KW V2's.

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1981 300TD 4 speed manual
Euro bumpers, zender valance and skirts, H&R springs, billy HD's, leveled sls, real AMG Pentas 16x8 et11, vdo boost/egt gauges intergrated into ash tray, eurolights, led 3rd brake light

Uh,...we passed that mark long, long ago. Twice!

Most any modern gas engine or car for that matter is good for at least 200,000 miles with random care.........Three to six hundred thousand with good maintenance.
Cars last so much longer these days.

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"Our Lady of Blessed Acceleration...
don't Fail Us Now"

Cars are more disposable now than they ever have been, just because they "last" doesn't make them special, or nice to drive. Sounds like you've got all the right ingredients for a Corolla commercial. Congrats on your smooth, winter-starting, high mileage gasser. Never heard of that before.

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- Johnny

1990 300D 2.5L - 135k
1998 Jetta TDI - 257k
2005 E500 - 117k

580k on a Toyota Tacoma. The early models made in Japan. I had an 02 that blew the head at 120k. Threw a rod at 180k. Have not and will not buy another toyota. Unless it's old. Still have an 88 truck with 350k on it.

The thing about these old diesels though, they won't leave you stranded. A million electric gizmos in a gas, one thing off and you're calling triple A

With an old mechanical diesel, the hardest part is shutting it off. No spark makes for reliability. Mechanical lift pump and a manual trans is unbeatable. Even if you loose all electrical, just need a hill or some buddies.

Problems tend to lead to performance issues, but you usually make it home.

I'm noticing this more with mercedes. Driving with a bad wheel bearing and axle, a modern toyota would have seized or exploded long before. Must be the 60 horsepower.

And if the world ends, every grocery store will have vegetable oil on the shelf. Find some acetone or gas and you can keep going.

I'm not sure if this is sarcasm or not. Cars are more disposable I'll give you that, but taken care of, gas and diesel are pretty close rivals. This as I've got the engine under the knife in an 04 explorer of course . Different strokes for different folks, I've had both diesels and gassers. I like the old om617 around town but the associated 30 year old car issues that go along with it make it very annoying to own. I think newer diesels are fantastic, we bought a Jetta new in 2000 and have put tons of miles on it...well maintained for sure, but no sign of quitting at all. I still prefer my turbo gas cars over the diesels. Much higher rev range, higher and more useable Hp, just much more performance oriented.

TL;dr - typical has vs diesel thread


Sent from an abacus

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Sounds like you took good care of them. The only gas car that i had that made pass 200k was a 1981 Corolla which at that point still needed nothing but gas to run. Got stolen though imagine that.

The worst diesel that we had was 1994 6.5 Suburban which we got rid of at 260k. It still ran pretty strong but the electronics kept on failing.

From what i seen any decent diesel engine will outlast any gas engine.

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General George - 1967 Land Rover 2a SWB 1983 OM617 Turbo

Mom had a Dodge Dart with the slant six that went 280,000 miles on the original engine. I've seen plenty of Crown Vic taxis and flat four Subies with over 300,000 as well as the odd Honda and Toyota and one 124 gasser with that kind of mileage. The longevity and fuel economy gaps between diesels and gassers are closing, to the extent that my next car will likely be spark ignited. Have you seen the new Alfa 4C? I want one. Same goes for the Scion FR-S and some of the newer BMWs.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

I've only seen diesels with 1,000,000 miles though. But really? What's left of a chassis after that.

I'll let you know in 45 years.

Here's a gas powered Volvo with 3 million miles.

Irv Gordon's Volvo P1800 has reached 3 million miles

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With best regards

Al