Another angle...

Ever priced the 350 126 cars? The prices on those things are ridiculous. They are a few thousand dollars more than the gassers. Why pay this premium to save money on gas? And on top of this you have the 350 curse hanging over your head.

My next 126 will be a 560. They all require constant upkeep and $$ and in the end gas mileage doesnt't mean that much to me.

Warren, would you recommend a '92 300sd to a friend tomorrow?

Mike

ps- Hatterasguy- what head do you have on your car?

__________________
'90 300SE 298k
-300K and it gets put into retirement.
'80 300D 255k Purchased new by family in 1980.

Had a:
1973 220 (gas)
1980 300SD
1992 400E

Mapleleaf-

So if the engine lets loose on the 350, you say you can throw a .96 engine in for $1000? I had to put a used engine in my sd and it cost a bit more than that. Personally, I prefer to stick with one engine.

Anways, this monster turbo sounds way more fun than a pro-con 350 argument.

Can you tell us more?

__________________
'90 300SE 298k
-300K and it gets put into retirement.
'80 300D 255k Purchased new by family in 1980.

Had a:
1973 220 (gas)
1980 300SD
1992 400E

I saw an S350 with close to 500K miles on it. That's one.

Anyway, about the turbo upgrade. Do you mean you are going to intercool it, and turn up the delivery on the car? SUPER COOL! I'd install an EGT gauge to be on the safe side, though.

Next, you should switch differentials around from a 2.27 or 2.47 limited slip with your 2.82 limited slip. That would allow a greater top speed...115'ish just isn't high enough, these cars want to pull PAST redline!

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1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)

Yes I would....I would sell my car to my best freind...as I have sold the last two MB's to a friend or family member.

I wouls suggest anyone looking at a 140 of the early 90's find on that has been a one owner with documented service history...but I would recommend that on any benz...and if 1000-1500 repais scares them they need to look at another car
A car with that many bells and whistles and complexity is not going to be a cheap car.But those very systems make it an incredible car to drive.
That being said if the resale price of the 350's(be they 126 or 140) is high then the market must be willing to pay it.And there has to be a reason why
I have seen a 300SD 1993 Model for sale at MB of Cincinatti a couple of years agowith 220K....a pristine one owner car will all records.The dealer wanted a pretty penny for it citing the rarity of the model
So maybe I need to hang on to mine after all...lol


Warren
1992 300SD 174K
Columbus Ohio

Putting $2500 into a car that when I'm done with it will be worth maybe 6k-7k makes sense. There is nothing wrong with the head on my car and since I watch the gauges like a hawk it will never overheat. Also as another poster said and I find this to be true the resale on 350SDL's is extremly high. They seem to run in the 10k-12k range. While a comparable 560/420SEL are in the 7k-9k range. That will buy a lot of gas. However I am not bashing the 350 one will probably be my next car.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Might as well chime in for the many times forgotten w116. Best 5-cylinder S-Diesel around. NO emissions. That's right, no EGR to mess with, and looks from the people around you at stoplights and gas stations are priceless. W116's are not nearly as common as w126's but they are faster and most people say they ride and handle better. Cliamte control issues are not a big deal, someone will chime in after me and say they are. Just send me w116's with CC issues, I'll take it off your hands.
Have a Nice Day
David

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2000 Honda Accord V6 137k miles

1972 300SEL 4.5 98k miles

_____________________________________________

I LOVE the W116, and if I could, I'd buy either a 6.9 or 300SD. But, I've always thought the the R107 SL was just a W116 coupe(like the 560SEC) with a convertible top. So, maybe I DO have something after all?

Plus the W116 would disintigrate after 1 or 2 good New England winters.

__________________
1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)

Seems everyone likes their own cars the best

I love them both. The 126 and 116 are probably the 2 most similar cars DB built. People say that one handles better or has thicker doors or is faster...but the truth is they feel very similar. There are differences betwen the 2, but it is really a matter of fine distinction in many ways.

My dream car has always been a '79 450SEL. DB904, palomino interior, US spec. with rear headrests. I like the US bumpers, and I like the US headlights. They make the car look almost jewl-like from 50ft. I like the euro bumpers too, but they are too small to be effective. This is from someone who was rear ended in his 116 and had it had euro bumpers, would have been totalled, in all likelyhood.

Keep this 116 discussion going!

Mike

__________________
'90 300SE 298k
-300K and it gets put into retirement.
'80 300D 255k Purchased new by family in 1980.

Had a:
1973 220 (gas)
1980 300SD
1992 400E

O.K., with all the comments on "early w140" issues, can someone give us an outline of things to be aware of besides the rod-bending issue (i.e., non-diesel specific)? Here's a start:

-wiring harness on '95 and older
-evaporator
-some meniton of front end problems? (can someone elaborate on this?)
-head gasket and front engine seal[s] on w104 gas engine

I have an '84 300D and won't stand up to tell you its the greatest diesel ever, that it handles well, or is even comfortable, but I will tell you its one hell of a reliable car and very easy to work on yourself. Someday I'd like to step up to a more quiet and comfortable w140, but I'd like some buying advice, so please add to my list above!

Thanks,

GregS
'84 300D, 180k
'90 320CE, 171k

Ok read all of this and still love my 93 sd. Took two years to find in this condition , motor factory replaced at 75k , owned all of the above 108/116/123/126 am retired factory tech car has 175k on clock and runs strong w140 flagship car tag

I'd chime it so say its the most incredible car I have ever owned also...puts a smile on my face every time I drive it

a few of the issues that Greg S mentioned...

the evap issue is definitly something that has to be dealt with on many cars...especially the cars that are in the south...you might want to find car that has already had this done.
BUT ..again I was was recently at my local MB dealer and they were replacing onw on a 1992 300SE that the tech told me was the original unit....an evap core that lasts for 11 years is not abad thing if you asked me...but in any case its a $3000 job at the dealer.

As for the wiring harness issue I think that must be a gasoline car only issue

As for the front end the only thing I can tell is what the tech told me...much of what that issue was was the tires that were fitted to the early cars...but I also know that front end pices of the car were "beefed" up in later years.
My particular cars original owner had front end work and a replacement set of tires all courtesy of an MB goodwill program on the car.
As for my self it also took me about a year to find this car....one owner...right color....good MB dealer records...etc


Warren
1992 300SD 174K
Columbus Ohio

I read all over the 'net about the rodbender, evaporator, front end issues, etc.... on the early 140's. But I testdrove a 140 and it was sooo nice to drive, accelerated great.... probably not unlike other large cars with gas motors. So just yesterday I traded my bulletproof, hardshifting, trusty 84 300D with God knows how many miles (odo broke long time ago!).... for this new stallion. AC blows mighty cold. All records for maintenance made it look like it was well taken care of.... oil changed regularly, etc. Only issues I have with it are as follows:

-trunk close mechanism not working
-anti-collision antenna's don't work and the grommets are rotted off
-radio antenna motor works but aerial won't go up (suspect belt is broken)
-seems to use some oil, although doesn't appear to have external leaks;
-glow plug light doesn't come on til after engine starts.
-engine has a little to much clatter at idle, like what a gas engine with the wrong octane sounds like when you accelerate...

I adjusted the trunk closing striker, etc. so it closes flush without assist; next weekend I will pull the antenna & motor out and confirm it's the belt... antenna motor comes on at start up and shutdown so the belt seems to be the likely candidate. The oil use issue I have not yet confirmed but I suspect; could the turbo seals be the culprit, blowing oil into the motor via the intake? If a diesel burns oil, wouldn't the exhaust be blue like a gas engine? Mine has no soot, what little there is is black; I saw earlier advice from an Aussie tech about the glow plug check.... not looking forward to replacing those rascals... work area is TIGHT to do that job. Unlike the old 300D, where the intake is on the other side..... surely it can be done. I will learn this car slow but sure just like when I gambled on the 300D before. However, this car runs fantastically well at all speeds so I think I am going to be fine with it. It's a beautiful car... very elegant.

Any other W140 3.5L Turbo6 owners out there with any feedback or advice?

I would appreciate.

JMH