Should I buy this 300SD with 3.5L 1993?

Is this a bad idea guys?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6330&item=2419135722

[Holson Adi]

sure looks nice. I honestly would rather get a gas S500 and put an extended warranty on it.

If you insist on the diesel, see if you can get a 1994/1995 S350 Turbo and put some sort of extended warranty coverage on it.

good luck!

So say I get a 95 S350, will I end up with bent connecting rods like in the 91's and so on and so forth?

I can afford a 95 no problem, I do want to get a diesel as the fuel economy is a big deal for me, I drive about 55-60K miles a year.

I currently have a 95 740i BMW with 215K miles and I just returned from a 3000 mile trip, averaged about 23 mpg. I would like to see somewhere around 30 mpg, I am sure I can do that with the diesel.

Best
Chris

[Holson Adi]

the consensus seems to be that a 95 wouldn't bend a rod but there are still some who say that it would.

can't be of more help sorry

good luck anyway! great choice - W140's definitely an S!

I just bought a 1993 190E from these people and let me tell you, I would Stay away!!!!! I saw it on Ebay and at the end of the auction the reserve was not met so i offered them some money. They Jumped at it. Well I drove it all the way back To Columbia Missouri With (get this) a horribly badly blown head gasket. I am just finishing up putting a new one in and it really is a pain! A "brand new" car shouldn't have anything wrong with it! They Told me everything was fine and should be great to drive back, but I had no idea I would run into the costly head gasket problem like this! I would go and inspect before buying from these Yeah-Hoos! At least I wish I would have!!

Where have you been? Don't be a stranger. Stay away from 92-94 300SD/S350's. The 95-96 engines were updated with stronger connecting rods.

[edge]

I wasn't aware that the 95-96 were updated with better connecting rods...

[turnne1]

There were many updates to that engine throughout the production run.
There were no 1996 US models
The key on one of these is to find a dealer maintained one...it seems that those are the ones that seem to do just fine..or have had all the problems fixed.
Do the research on the car and look hard for engine work and AC Evap core work

good luck


Warren
1992 300SD 167K
Columbus Ohio

[Rick Miley]

The W140's, especially the early ones, had several other problems besides the connecting rods. Evaporators and front suspensions (subject of a class action lawsuit) come to mind.

For putting on that kind of mileage every year, I think you would do better with a W210 E300. The W210 isn't completely trouble free, but certainly will be less costly in the long run than a W140. 96 and 97 were normally aspirated, 98 and 99 were turbocharged. Also you'll have no trouble achieving 30 mpg.

Did anyone notice that the pictures say "300SD?"

[sixto]

The 92-93 140 cars were badged strangely and corrected in 94:

300SE --> S320
300SD --> S350
400SEL --> S420

Now if the current C240 would be rebadged C260 and the S600 as S550 the world will be a more accurate if not better place.

Sixto
95 S420
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

Okay, that clears up everything for me.

[turnne1]

The front suspension work should have been addressed a LONG time ago on a car of that age.MB bought the orginal owner a complete front end rework AND a complete set of tires back in 1995...as for problems yes thye early 140's can be troublesome....but the dealer will love you!!...haha
but honestly its not funny when its on your dime an d not warranty work
I would NEVER have bought my personal example without a warranty years ago unless they were practically giving it away

Wonderful cars the 140's are..but EXTREMELY complicated mechanically and electronically and very expensive to repair


Warren
1992 300SD 167K
Columbus Ohio

[turnne1]

I just checked out that auction link....car is exactly like mine except with blue(rather than grey) interior.
I noticed the bid was still under 10K...thats a great price if you can get that...but I was also thinking a 140 of that age needs to be checked thoroughly as some very small items that you might overlook can cost big $$
such as ...does the sound system function correctly...a used bose amp costs about $700 for this car($2500 new at the dealer)...and no you cannot interchange these components in the sound system without yanking the whole system out and replacing it all
Do the door/trunk closing devices work?...$700 ...does the rear view mirror funtion electrically?...$850...evap core?...$2500
as you can see a few items can put the car over the market price if you have to repair them...thus some people dump the car at a low price


good luck


Warren
1992 300SD 167K
Columbus Ohio

[turnne1]

Just fine as we speak...I just had to replace the Bose amplifier and am in the process of having the CD changer repaired
I was able to buy the amp by a shop that rebuilds them in California and I knew a shop in Dallas that could repair the becker CD changer...other than that(knock on wood!!) the car is fine.
I got another car so I don't drive it much anymore.
As many know in this forum ,my vehicle had MANY issues 3-4 years ago.Most of the repairs were paid by warranty at the MB dealer.After all of the work that was done I felt good about the long term reliability of the car as I felt all the "updates" for the most part had been performed at the dealer



Warren
1992 300SD 167K
Columbus Ohio