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  #1  
Old 08-02-2002, 11:16 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Oklahoma City
Posts: 10
How many miles are on your 124 diesel?

I recently bought a '95 E300D with 99K on it. Manufactured 7/94, I think it has the redesigned timing chain, although I don't know how to tell for sure. Good maintenance records and a strong low-smoke engine and smooth tranny. AC evaporator replaced at 60K and engine mounts at 90K. Brakes and such; other than that just routine maintenance. (I'm considering replacing the chain at the 120K service anyway.)

I've been a little concerned about some discussion that the newer Mercedes diesels don't seem as reliable as the older 70's and 80's models. I would like to hear from some 90's 124 model owners. It would do my heart good to hear some 200K and higher reports. How about it?

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Paul
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  #2  
Old 08-03-2002, 08:26 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Newberry, Fl
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I have an 87 300D Turbo with 207,000 miles and counting. Just recently got back from a 2,200 mile roadtrip with no problems.
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1987 300D Turbo (mine) 210,000 miles (with XM radio) 1985 300D (Dads) 122,000 miles 1987 190D Turbo (Brothers)139,000 miles With Eurolights

Last edited by deezuhl; 08-03-2002 at 08:32 PM.
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  #3  
Old 08-04-2002, 08:20 AM
CJ CJ is offline
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180,000+ miles on mine.
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  #4  
Old 08-05-2002, 07:44 PM
The Least of These
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Exton, PA
Posts: 559
I have 168,000 on my 124 2.5 turbo and it feels like it will run for another 150,000. This is the work I have had to do over the past 35K:

Replaced:

Fan belt, clutch and tensioner
Front struts - Bilstein HD's
One transmission cooler line
Radiator, hoses and thermastat
Antenna mast

Work needed:

New tires
Refinish rims
Left tie rod end

General maintenance:

oil ever 2.5K
oil filter every 5K
trans, rear axel, fuel filters, PS fluid, brake fluid, air filter ever 20K

You will have repairs. Wear items will wear - like on any other car. The car as a whole will last for several years and hundreds of thousands of miles if maintained properly.
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  #5  
Old 08-06-2002, 01:43 AM
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Burbank, CA
Posts: 597
My '91 300D 2.5Turbo has 215K. Too many fixes to mention -- including MB rebuilt injection pump and suspension subframe mounts.

Now runs great, though the A/C just went south.

Was changing oil at 3K, now contemplating 5K changes on Delvac 1300. Any ideas...?
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'91 300D 2.5 Turbo 330K
'00 VW TDI Golf, 190K
'67 BMW R50/2
'73 Norton Commando Interstate
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  #6  
Old 08-06-2002, 06:57 AM
The Least of These
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Exton, PA
Posts: 559
Dana,

What were some of your other major repairs? I would like to know what to expect/prevent in the next 50K. Thanks.
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  #7  
Old 08-06-2002, 09:46 AM
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Location: Plano, TX
Posts: 2,574
Only 120K miles on my '87 wagon - it was owned by the proverbial little old lady. Drivetrain is perfect - runs like it's brand new. I've had the usual issues with 124 chassis cars - evaporator leaks, etc. - and stuff that one expects on a 15 year old car, such as worn out suspension bushings. It's been solid transportation, and will continue to be for quite some time.

I'll point out that all these late 80s/early 90s 124 diesels have completely different engines than your '95 model. The earlier cars use the OM603 (six cylinder) and OM602 (five cylinder) engines, which are very much the same. Your car has the OM606, which was also used in the 210 chassis E300 for the 96/97 model years, and in turbocharged form for the 98/99 model years.
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  #8  
Old 08-06-2002, 03:42 PM
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Location: Fairfax County, Virginia
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Dana,

Ya had to ask about the "oil thing!"

I agree on extending drain intervals ... I would recommend 6k with Delvac One (synthetic diesel engine oil).

I am doing about 5-6K drains now on 15-50 Mobil 1, but am considering going to 10K with filter change at 5K ... filter is so easy from the top!

After doing a bit of reading on what long haul truck fleets do, particularly in Europe, I think it would likely be "safe" to probably go 20K with filters every 5K.
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George Stephenson
1991 350 SDL (200K and she ain't bent, yet)
former 2002 E320 4Matic Wagon - good car
former 1985 300 CD - great car
former 1981 300 TD - good car
former 1972 280 SEL - not so good car
a couple of those diesel Rabbits ...40-45 mpg
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  #9  
Old 08-06-2002, 10:01 PM
turbodiesel
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I saw an 87 300TD wagon today at my mechanic's shop. 367K on the clock.
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  #10  
Old 08-07-2002, 02:40 AM
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Location: Burbank, CA
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Okay Slowmoe, here goes:

Got my late grandfather's '91 300D 2.5Turbo, drove it across the country from NJ to CA at 175K two years ago.

Fixed: turbocharger relay (???); headlight wiper motor ($100?) During the next year, I either fixed or replaced:

-- r. window regulator ($180, roughly)
-- bottom engine cover ($250)

Then the handling went south, with the machine steering like I was standing in a canoe at 70 mph. An incorrect diagnosis led me to replace:

-- shocks ($500)
-- linkages and odds and ends (all in all, about $900)

The real handling repair, from a third independent MB mechanic:

-- rear subframe and differential mounts ($1,000)

Then the REAL nightmare began, starting with a windshield wiper motor ($30), which led a fourth indy mechanic (convenient location) to recommend fixing a leaky injection pump ($60).

The problem: He ruined the injection timing by confusing the internal parts, then sprayed ether into my engine to crank it over. Result: Engine sounded like nuts and bolts.

A fifth indy mechanic -- I wasn't going to return to the former boob -- discovered my compression was low. The problem: a bent rod. Result:

-- rebuilt engine, with new tranny clutch plates (about $4,700)

However, my engine still didn't sound right. The suspect: an unrepairable injection pump. A week later, climbing a long grade in the Sonora desert, I fried a piston, the result of an overheated cylander caused by insufficient fuel from the pump The resulting fix:

-- new piston etc. ($750, parts split with the mechanic not willing to be faulted for a pump he didn't replace)

During the 50-mile drive home, the car quit. After a $100 tow bill (not to mention the hundreds spent on renting cars during the entire ordeal), I parked my 300D for months, my finances utterly exhausted.

The final fix, from sixth indy mechanic:

-- a rebuilt MB injection pump ($1,400)
-- new cam, the result of a faulty installation by rebuilder ($200)
-- with various and sundry parts, battery etc (about 3,000 total)

Total cost of repairs, more than $10,000 (in honor of my late grandfather). With each repair, I dug a deeper and deeper hole. A perfectly good car was trashed by an ignorant mechanic fumbling to fix a leak in a finicky Bosch fuel delivery system. The aluminum head, sensitive to heat, miraculously, survived.

Would I own another 300D 2.5 Turbo? Yes, it's a fabulous car -- in educated hands. I get almost 34 mpg on the highway, about 27 in town. My mechanic, a gem, tells me it rips compared with other MB diesels. In short, I love the car and plan to drive it till my grave.

Though I would prefer to use Mobil Delvac 1 (used in my VW TDI at $22 a gallon), I use the Delvac 1300S 15w-40 ($7 a gallon) for economy. I wouldn't recommend Mobil 15w-50, as it is not a CH-4-rated oil, and won't suspend the soot from a diesel engine.

Good luck on your next w124.

Anyone know what may be wrong with my A/C, which began to crap out two weeks ago?
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'91 300D 2.5 Turbo 330K
'00 VW TDI Golf, 190K
'67 BMW R50/2
'73 Norton Commando Interstate
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  #11  
Old 08-07-2002, 05:30 AM
Johnson Chan
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Dana

I got a 92 300D 2.5 turbo with 311,000 miles or so. Almost 500,000 km badge.

Repairs? HAHAHAHA, i have replaced everything except the dashboard, steering wheel, engine and a few other parts. I have a very big filing on the replaced parts. A couple years ago i spend around 20 grand on repairs (in 1 year!). First the tranny went out $4000 there (fixed at dealer of course). then AC, injection pump, blah blah and it snowballed from there. since i just put 4k in my tranny of course i will fix the AC or injection pump for 2K. and then i had 6K invested in repairs and next time something went south of course i had to fix it. I just had new michelein mxv4's put on about 1-2 months ago (about $700).

I dont mind though, cause if i had to do all these repairs on lets say a Rolls or bentley, i would have costed a whole lot more. ALso i drive cross country so i would rather do this at home or dealer than on the side of the road.
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  #12  
Old 08-07-2002, 07:26 AM
The Least of These
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Exton, PA
Posts: 559
Wow Dana!!

An R50, an Inerstate and a 300D2.5 - you're cool!!

But you do need help with your choice of mechanics.
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  #13  
Old 08-07-2002, 01:50 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 709
I sold my 1992 300D 2.5 in 1997 with 208K...only thing I fixed was a vaccum pump...great car


wow....what a list or repairs Dana....did you ever think about
going to the MB dealer?...I think you would have been much better off and have an MB warranty to stand behind your car....as it is you are probably upside down on the value of the car/money spent ratio...so you will probably need to drive the car for years to get your moneys worth......Chan...where di you get a tranny for $4000.00.....I think going rate at an MB dealer for one of the old hydraulic units is $2500/parts and lobor with a 24 month MB warranty...that also sounds high for those tires...about $200 too much...you need to check out Discount tire or NTB

Warren
1992 300SD 145K
Columbus Ohio
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How many miles are on your 124 diesel?-1992-300sd.jpg  
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  #14  
Old 08-07-2002, 02:10 PM
Johnson Chan
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Warren,

I got my tranny from the MB dealership. labor there/here is about $95.00/hour. i forgot the exact amount but after parts, labor and tax, disposal fee, etc. is came out to $4K. On the 92 300D 2.5 there are 3 diff trannies that fit that car, so prices may vary.

For the tires i bought them at NTB, about $150.00 per tire, after taxes and mounting, balance, new stems, road hazard, it was $700 give or take a little.
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  #15  
Old 08-07-2002, 02:45 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 709
My dealer charges 80/hr...and I think(?) a tranny job is about 10 hours of labor...actually the $2500 figure I got was for my current car ...not the 300D....I was talking to the tech one day and he was telling me prices on certain other repairs..that I had not had done.....

but at 300K Chan you are pushing the envelope(in my opinion) on the value of the car versus cost to repair......in the summer 1997 the dealer offered me 10K in trade for my 1992 300D with 208K..retail at that time was only about 12,500
I also bought my tires at NTB...$588 total for Michelin MXV4 with all insurance taxes etc....225/60/16


Warren
1992 300SD 145K
Columbus Ohio
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How many miles are on your 124 diesel?-1992-300sd.jpg  

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