Average Engine Life For A 300D\240D - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 05-10-2002, 06:00 PM

One of the things that attracted me to a diesel was their reputation for long engine life. I own a 1983 300D with 175,000 miles on it, and it runs well enough now that I expect it will keep going for at least another 100,000 miles. My question is how long should I expect it to keep running, given regular maintenance and oil changes? Is 250,000 miles average before a rebuild is needed, or is 500,000 miles more like it? What's your personal experience?
Thanks,
Kevin
Indiana

gnolo · #2 05-10-2002, 06:21 PM

I don't have a real idea about what can be the life of a 240D or 300D engine. In fact, it depends a lot of the maintenance and the use of the car.
Nevertheless, I know few people in France who have reached more than 500 000 miles without rebuilt of the engine. The best record I have seen is 850 000 miles on a 300D (W123) with the same engine and it was still running good (it was a taxi driver in Paris).
At the opposite, I have already seen a engine which was completely done with "only" 185 000 miles.
Some factors like if you use bad quality oil, or if you tow heavy trailler, or if don't drive tranquilly when the engine is cold ... can affect the longevity.

Finally, I guess the 300D have a better longevity than the 240D.

BWatson · #3 05-10-2002, 07:03 PM

I'm 2 oil changes away from 250,000 miles and running strong!

sublettd · #4 05-10-2002, 07:38 PM

Kevin,

I picked up an '82 300D while stationed in Germany in 1985. The Mercedes dealership in Kaiserslautern told me the car would go AT LEAST 500,000km (~310,000 miles) before ever having to do anything to the engine if the oil was changed regularly and the 25,000km service was done. Mine has 277,000 miles on it and it's still going strong.

They are good cars if you take care of them.

Don

#5 05-11-2002, 03:45 AM

Even if you really neglect the engine, expect 200K, where a Ford Taurus would be dead at 50K.

If you maintain it, 500K is a reality. I owned a 85 300D with 470,000 miles on the original engine, second transmission. My 87 300SDL has 270K and no signs of slowing down!

virtualdoc07 · #6 05-12-2002, 08:59 AM

I have been in many many Taxis in Germany, some with over 500,000 Km on them. In addition, they have a a factory ordered extra heavy duty drivers seat.

I know I have seen a 60's era 190D with over 1 millon KM on it, posted on another site.

High milaage is no secret with Diesel, overland trucks routinely run 3 Million miles; just change the oil and filters frequently.

I have a 300TD with 228 K miles an going strong.

Stephen

#7 05-12-2002, 10:25 AM

From what I have been able to read here, the engine will seem to last forever but I guess it is the transmission that will punch out early. How long can one of the automatics in the 300s last? How many actual miles have people gotten?

#8 05-12-2002, 01:52 PM

I've got 270K on my original box. Usually when they are neglected, you will get ATLEAST 150-170K out of it before it starts flaring or slipping. Even then, it's still driveable for a while more. I test drove a 87 300SDL with 340K that had its original drivetrain.

Robert W. Roe · #9 05-13-2002, 01:14 AM

My tranny is at 197K miles, and takes a while to shift from D to R, or vice-versa, when cold, but otherwise is doing pretty good. Mobil 1 ATF has helped smooth the shifting considerably.

A couple weeks ago I was admiring a nice white 1983 300D that I had parked next to. The owner came out from the gas station. I said hi, and said something inane like "I like your car" and then I asked him if he wanted to sell it. He laughed and told me he had 318,000 miles on it. I said that I had 197K on my SD and he asked to buy mine.

diesel don · #10 05-13-2002, 01:10 PM

If you told me what I'm going to tell you, I wouldn't believe you. My 84 300D does not use oil period. Dipstick measures full at the 3000k interval for oil changes. My 85 goes down about 1/3 of the distance between the full and add mark. They both have over 200k on them and I would never have thought that such a thing was possible before entering the MB world.

Don

Nate Stanley · #11 05-13-2002, 04:05 PM

My '84 300D Turbo just racked up 241K on the original engine. Oil stays between the marks on the dipstick between changes, and the last oil change interval was 4000 miles.

I will drive it 650 miles / week until either something breaks, or I get a job closer to home. Both seem unlikely at this time---

The Warden · #12 05-13-2002, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by diesel don
If you told me what I'm going to tell you, I wouldn't believe you. My 84 300D does not use oil period. Dipstick measures full at the 3000k interval for oil changes.

I believe ya.

My F-250 actually uses very little oil. With 200K miles and all of the other problems I've had with it (it sat in the desert for 5 years; all the plastic and rubber is worn out), I've been utterly amazed by this.

My van usually loses one quart of oil in the 3,000 miles between oil changes, but if I'm late with a change, it starts taking one quart of oil per fill-up, almost like it's trying to tell me something...

Nate, noticed your F-250 in your signature...just wondering, have you ever been over to Ford-Diesel.com? Pretty good board on the 6.9l's...

And I hear ya on the commute...I assume you work somewhere in the San Jose/Sunnyvale area or somewhere thereabouts?

Personal note: Yay! 100th post

Nate Stanley · #13 05-13-2002, 05:08 PM

Warden,
I had to mothball the F-250 because the Watsonville-Fremont commute would have eaten me alive in fuel costs. Not to mention the big Ford rides, well, like a truck, unless the 5th wheel is
strapped on.

Another downside was that the truck LOVES oil, and I only get 700 miles / quart, though the engine is basically healthy and pulls the 5th wheel at 65 on level ground with no effort, and gets 11MPG in the process.

The solution was to get the Benz, which will pay for itself in less than 2 years in fuel savings alone.

Not to mention the comfort level is raised considerably, and my old back injury pains that were aggravated by the F-250 have been totally elimanated. The 300D is therapy.

I have lurked on the Ford Diesel website, and have found it to be every bit as good for 6.9 owners as this site is for Benz owners. It's this kind of support that we all really appreciate as we squeeze more miles out of our oil burners than the automakers ever imagined possible.

The Warden · #14 05-13-2002, 05:45 PM

Nate, amen to that!

And it's actually the commute (less so for me, but my pocketbook's smaller too) that's pushing me to sell the van and get a Benz (as much as I love the idea of having a fine diesel Benz, I'm gonna miss the van). I've got enough use for the pickup to hold on to it, though...besides, it was an inheritance from one of my favorite people in the world.

Just wondering, how many miles are on your truck? I'm wondering if the valve stem seals have gotten brittle, or maybe the valve guides are getting worn...if it still runs that well, I'd have trouble imagining the rings are in that bad of a shape...

Keep on truckin'

Nate Stanley · #15 05-13-2002, 05:55 PM

Warden,
the truck has 158,000 on it.
In November 2000, the glow plug controller stuck on while towing in a snowstorm in the Siskiyous- all 8 burnt up, and I needed to pull the heads the get the glowplug tips out of the combustion chambers on two cylinders.

At the time the engine had 122K, factory crosshatching was still visible.

I had the valves ground, the head shop said guides were not necessary, but he still put valve stem seals on anyway.

Just where the oil goes, I'm not sure, but the engine looks at it as more fuel anyway--so it still runs strong.

Bottom line, the truck' s a keeper for towing, but do yourself a BIG favor and get a turbodiesel Benz, You won't regret it. I'm looking for a nice SD to replace the Crown Vic; that's how much I like these Mercedes cars!

Regards,