Newer Diesels
 

Well its time to get a newer vehicle...the 83 300SD just is not longer fitting the bill as a year round car up here where the winters get to minus 40 and stay there for months. I'm tired of doing major repairs (this winter swapped out the rear end) in minus 35 so I'm throwing this out...

With all the combined experience out there .... what would you get and/or what would you avoid? I'd be looking for a recent, 5 yr old max, vehicle.

Brian

Why don't you just find another 300SD that is in better condition, or figure out what is going to break on you next and get it repaired during the summer when it is much warmer.

...exactly what I told my wife! Didn't work!

I wish I could purchase a 2003 built 1983 300SD:):).

Maybe a '95-'96 E series diesel would fit your needs. Non-turbo and pretty straight forward.

Before it gets slammed, I will suggest a 1998/1999 E300 Turbodiesel. Awesome road carr.

TDI
 

I'm not sure how dead set you are on another Benz. I too, have an '84 300sd. I also own a '02 golf TDI. Night and day difference driving the two. You'd probobly miss the sheer statelyness and magnatude of the Benz, however, after experiencing the responsiveness and acceleration you'd never know it was a diesel. The mileage is awesome, I get 48mpg with an automatic when I drive down to SoCal. Pretty comfortable too.

good luck!

Inter911,

I will second the recommendation by narwhal, a 1998/1999 E300D TurboDiesel is a great car, and makes it's Dieselness in terms of responsiveness and cold starting, as well as smoking and vibrating hard to detect. Very quick, starts very easily in cold or warm weather, smooth and hardly leaves any evidence of being a Diesel behind (unless you floor it and wind it out to redline). Good luck whatever you choose, Jim

Inter911,

Why not take the money for the newer car and build a garage?
It would keep the 300SD warm for easy starts and keep you warm when you have to repair it?

How do you keep the fuel from gelling when its that cold? I think I would bite the bullet and get a gasoline car when its that cold and just use the Diesel in the summer.

PS. To make life even easier, put a grease pit in the garage. I have one and I would recommend one for any DYI.

P E H

Aren't grease pits illegal? (not code) I'm looking at putting a lift in my garage addition.

Mplafleur,

Possibly not to code but probably that only applies to a commercial garage. Any way, around here, I go by my own codes.

Actually , I think a grease pit is better than a lift because one person can be working on top while another is working underneath. This is especially true when R&R an engine.

You don't need a high ceiling with a pit either, although my garage ceiling is 10 feet high. Grease pit also costs a lot less too, I put in in myself except for the ready mix cement.

P E H

Got a garage but its full of VW and Porsche air cooled parts...plus a 66 912 undergoing resto.

Never had a problem with gelling. Up here we use P50 diesel when it gets cold. P40 or less just won't cut it.

As far as heat...it is a problem in the cold. Looking at getting a second hand Webasto while in Germany this summer. Over there everybody swears by these units.

Looking at the Jetta TDI wagon and the Dodge 4x4 with the Cummins. Main reason for going diesel is the mileage, the lower price of diesel here (.73 cents a litre versus about $1 a litre for gas) and the ease in maintenance (shop rates about $100 and hour in town or you ship it out 1,000 miles then fly down to pick it up).

I will probably stick with the 83 and just put a couple of grand into it. There's no rust....just a bunch of niggling problems. To satisfy the wife I'll look in the 98/99 300's though.

Brian

Me too.
 

I'd better put in my vote for the E300, or they might throw me out of the club. :eek: Seriously, you won't find a better Diesel on this side of the Atlantic. That is, until the new CDI shows up later this year.

Inter911

It would be best not to look at an E300TD. If either you or your wife drive it you will be certain to buy it!

Inter911, I was in your shoes with a 315k miles 300SD (even though we only have mild winters) and I replaced it with a newer E300 turbodiesel. Go test drive one and see for yourself.

I'm wondering if the E300D was sold in Canada??? I usually look in the Globe in Mail Megawheels site but I can't find any E300D's for resale. All are gas models...

Anyone know if they were sold in Canada?

I'm still leaning towards fixing up the 300SD (did I mention I have a low mileage...88,000 kilometer...car for parts? Too bad the previous owner hit a rock and ripped out the oil pan and left the engine running) and buying another car (read sports car) for me.

Brian