Which diesel to get rid of? 84 190D or 87 300SDL - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ah-kay · #1 11-23-2023, 03:12 AM

Need some collective wisdom here. I want to thin out my herds and need to pick one. I have identified the 190D or the 300SDL. Both are mechanically sound and had been driven up and down California many times.

190D is a 5sp so it is quite rare. Everything works.
300SDL need A/C and ball joints work. Not an issue if I decide to keep it. It has reclining back seat.

Which one shall I pick? Any input is welcome.

87tdwagen · #2 11-23-2023, 07:40 AM

Any other choices?
Wife, kids? 😁

Tough call, both are great chassis. For me, I'm a big guy, so I would lean towards the W126 as the keeper. Also biased, as I've owned a few of those and miss their highway performance.

I also love rowing thru the gears. Why Not swap trannies and put the 5 speed into the SDL? 😁

Can't go wrong keeping either. Good luck with your choice and Happy Thanksgiving

vstech · #3 11-23-2023, 09:15 AM

Hmm.
What’s the reason here? To make a good decision, a little backstory is needed.

Personally, I am a horrible person to ask… I have both, plus several others…

I do know, the 190 has expensive and unobtainable parts… so, maybe that one makes the most sense.

However… the 190 easily gets 35+ mpg, and with care, can hit 50mpg… so… from a cost to operate, the 190 gets my vote…

How is the clutch on it? Mine started slipping, so a replacement was needed… and the damn thing is nigh impossible to find. Took my trans shop several months to repair.

ah-kay · #4 11-23-2023, 11:27 AM

More info.

190D 330k miles, clutch replaced at 280k
300SDL 380K, rear seal replaced at 350k.

So both are very mechanically sound. No particular reasons. Just thin out 1 car. The other cars are keepers. I know it is a tough call and I want it to go to another enthusiast.

t walgamuth · #5 11-24-2023, 09:39 PM

keep the nicer car

jdulle · #6 11-25-2023, 08:02 AM

I'd sell the SDL, if you change your mind later, you should be able to find another one. With the 190, it's pretty hard to find one of those that is in good running condition with the 5 speed.

JHZR2 · #7 12-17-2023, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ah-kay

More info.

190D 330k miles, clutch replaced at 280k
300SDL 380K, rear seal replaced at 350k.

So both are very mechanically sound. No particular reasons. Just thin out 1 car. The other cars are keepers. I know it is a tough call and I want it to go to another enthusiast.

Both are very high mileage.

I’ve never found my 190d to give north of 35 mpg. Or my 350SDs to give more than 30.

But my 603 cars will cruise the interstates. Comfortably. My 190D will cruise the interstate, and do 70 mph+, while being much louder. Much higher RPMs.

So it comes down to a few things:

- which is nicer?
- how important is highway use?

jsb357 · #8 12-18-2023, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdulle

I'd sell the SDL, if you change your mind later, you should be able to find another one. With the 190, it's pretty hard to find one of those that is in good running condition with the 5 speed.

^^^^ THIS

ah-kay · #9 12-18-2023, 12:58 PM

I have pretty much made up my mind. The 300SDL is going. I can replace the SDL but a 5sp 190D is nearly impossible to find if I ever change my mind. The 190D is not kept for mpg nor the SDL kept for cruising. The CDI and 300Ds are in great condition so I am never short of fun cars to drive. The 190D is super fun because it's a 5sp and easy to fix. It can take all kinds of abuse and never complain.

I have a buyer who wants me to fix up the AC plus other issues. We will see.

JHZR2 · #10 12-18-2023, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ah-kay

I have pretty much made up my mind. The 300SDL is going. I can replace the SDL but a 5sp 190D is nearly impossible to find if I ever change my mind. The 190D is not kept for mpg nor the SDL kept for cruising. The CDI and 300Ds are in great condition so I am never short of fun cars to drive. The 190D is super fun because it's a 5sp and easy to fix. It can take all kinds of abuse and never complain.

I have a buyer who wants me to fix up the AC plus other issues. We will see.

That seems sound and reasonable. There are a lot more nice w126 cars of both vintages than w201 cars.

The w201 isn’t as nice a car in terms of its appointments, not that it bothers me. I’m not sure that a 5sp w201 is ever going to be a collector car per se, nor will they be worth much, but value is in the eye of the beholder.

Fine choice.

Now as a side discussion, can you comment on how smooth your 190d idles compared to your other MB diesels? Both my w123 and 201 4 cyl diesels idle pretty rough, even with an idle sped up, compared to my 5/6 cyl diesels which are all super smooth.

ah-kay · #11 12-18-2023, 05:11 PM

My 190D idles very well and cruises around at 75+mph up and down CA. It does not have much power ( 78hp when new ) and probably lost a few over the years. I need to shift down to 3rd on a steep incline ( rev to 4k rpm ) otherwise it is great on level freeway.

I wrote the car can take a lot of 'abuse'. It is an understatement statement as it has not 'seen' much diesel since I bought it which was 110k miles ago. In other words, it was abused with care.

JHZR2 · #12 12-19-2023, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ah-kay

My 190D idles very well and cruises around at 75+mph up and down CA. It does not have much power ( 78hp when new ) and probably lost a few over the years. I need to shift down to 3rd on a steep incline ( rev to 4k rpm ) otherwise it is great on level freeway.

I wrote the car can take a lot of 'abuse'. It is an understatement statement as it has not 'seen' much diesel since I bought it which was 110k miles ago. In other words, it was abused with care.

Yeah it surprised me how well my 190d will cruise at speed.

Mine pulled up the hill great going on the CA58 out of Bakersfield (I bought mine in Redding, CA).

The car idles perfectly stable, it just vibrates the hood more than I’d like. Similar to my 616 in my 81 240d.

ah-kay · #13 12-19-2023, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHZR2

Yeah it surprised me how well my 190d will cruise at speed.

Mine pulled up the hill great going on the CA58 out of Bakersfield (I bought mine in Redding, CA).

The car idles perfectly stable, it just vibrates the hood more than I’d like. Similar to my 616 in my 81 240d.

Try going up Los Angeles national Forest on the I-5 ( N or S ). That is the real test for any car.

vstech · #14 12-20-2023, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ah-kay

I have pretty much made up my mind. The 300SDL is going. I can replace the SDL but a 5sp 190D is nearly impossible to find if I ever change my mind. The 190D is not kept for mpg nor the SDL kept for cruising. The CDI and 300Ds are in great condition so I am never short of fun cars to drive. The 190D is super fun because it's a 5sp and easy to fix. It can take all kinds of abuse and never complain.

I have a buyer who wants me to fix up the AC plus other issues. We will see.

I like the choice.
Now... i gotta decide if i am EVER going to reduce my fleet...

I just got my 190D5speed clutch replaced, and am itching to give it a shake down...