Looking for a diesel car recommendation - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

haasman · #1 09-09-2003, 12:56 PM

I am helping a good friend look for a used diesel Mercedes. It has to have at least one air bag, preferrably two. Wagon can be part of the consideration.

I know there were issues with some of the engines, but since leaving the 240D, 300D, 300SD camp some time ago, I haven't followed the oil burners as closely.

Any recommendations would be great appreciated (and year/models to avoid).

Thank you in advance,

Haasman

DslBnz · #2 09-09-2003, 01:33 PM

1986 - 87 300SDL-T (heads may crack)

1987 300TD-T, 300D-T (heads may crack)

1987 190D-T

Dual Airbags

1990 -'93 300D 2.5

1990 - 95 350SD/300SD/S350
Beware of high oil consumption, and loud clanging noises in the bottom-end. If no noises are apparent, and it doesn't consume any oil, then replace(if it hasn't been done already)the connecting rods with the new reinforced ones that Mercedes makes today. This may be more trouble then your friend wants to go through, though.

'95 E300D

'96 - '97 E300D

'98 - '99 E300D-T
The '98 - '99 E300D-T's prices are way up in the stratosphere. I'd definitely wait until the year we get CDI's before I'd think about buying one(will definitely never trade in my W126's, though).

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All of those cars (with the exception of the 350)are good cars and will last forever if properly maintained. Your friend needs to have a certain price range to narrow down the search.

The prices in this listing can be any where from $1K, to $44K, all depending upon condition, exclusivity, and mileage.

Rick Miley · #3 09-09-2003, 01:37 PM

Recommended

90+ 300D 2.5 Turbo
95 E300 Diesel (W124)
97 E300 Diesel (W210)
98/99 E300 TurboDiesel

Recommended with caution
(overheating can crack heads)
86/87 300SDL
87 300D
87 300TD

Avoid
Any S Class Diesel after 1987 (rod benders)
96 E300 (resonance flaps)

Rick Miley · #4 09-09-2003, 01:44 PM

DslBnz posted while I was composing, so here's a followup.

I forgot all about the 190D. They're rare, but that would be a great one to have!

Asking prices for 98/99 E300's are stratospheric. But actual selling prices, with typical mileage, are in the low to mid twenties. The CDI's will be arriving shortly, so the E300 will probably fall in line with similarly aged E320's.

Edit: Since your friend is placing such an emphasis on air bags, please remember that MB's life expectancy for them is 15 years. So some of those recommended cars already have bags that are out of date. IMHO, antilock brakes are a much more important safety feature for the average driver. All of the recommended cars have them.

Finally I think there were a very few 1985 W123 300D's and W126 300SD's with optional air bags and antilock brakes. Same caveat applies.

haasman · #5 09-09-2003, 03:06 PM

Thank you for all the replies. Very interesting how they line up. Too bad the 3.5's had some many problems.

I had no idea about some of the diesels being rod benders. Seems almost unbelievable.

Haasman

Diesel 924 · #6 09-09-2003, 03:42 PM

If your friend is not an enthusiast, i.e. Mercedes nut, just tell him to get a VW TDI. That sounds like the car he wants anyway.

leathermang · #7 09-09-2003, 03:54 PM

This seems like a good time to ask when airbags started in our diesels... and if there are any problems with them getting old and not working..... ?

Rick Miley · #8 09-09-2003, 03:59 PM

We just went over that a few days ago. Were you out mowing grass? How dare you ask before searching!

LindaJane's Airbag Question

leathermang · #9 09-09-2003, 04:01 PM

You know very well I WAS.... sorry .....

Hawk180 · #10 09-09-2003, 11:38 PM

I read LindaJane's post and the replies and this one as well. Yes the airbags are a good SECONDARY restraint system but no substitute for a good set of seat belts. I have been in a couple of accidents in my driving past and walked away from two totalled vehicles. (Neither one my fault) Why, because I had my seat belts buckled. In one of them the other driver spent several weeks in the hospital and several months in physical therapy. That could have all been avoided had he been buckled up. I have also driven a race car in the past and believe me, I would not even dream of getting in that thing without a good set of seat belts and harness. The same applies to my cars and aircraft now.

Holson Adi · #11 09-09-2003, 11:51 PM

1995 E300D's

I rode in a bunch of W124 E250 (5-cylinder version of the E300s) taxis in Singapore. They all had more than 1.x million km's and they were running great! The drivers loved them and even those whose operators didn't take care of were still running.

The later 124s also have R134A A/C that actually works pretty well.

william rogers · #12 09-10-2003, 02:39 AM

What a shame! that the wonderful amazing Mercedes Diesels in the 240D the 300 SD And D with it's 617 and the diesels that led up to them are old timers now . And that the next gneration didn't increase in quality, long life, and trouble free durabilty.Rod benders, yea gads! what happened to the thousands and thousands of miles of testing that Mercedes is famous for?

but gee we did get heated trunks to keep our spare tire warm,back up camera's so we need not turn our heads,dvd players,under dash shoe shiners,and computers that check our pulse and remind us to get our teeth cleaned......

William Rogers......
74 240D
81 300SD
86 Euro 500SE

P.E.Haiges · #13 09-10-2003, 10:19 AM

Will Rogers,

And don't forget massaging seats and GPS navigation. How did I ever drive my old MB without them?

P E H