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  #31  
Old 05-05-2004, 12:52 AM
The Warden's Avatar
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Pacifica (SF Bay Area), CA
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Re: Opinions

Quote:
Originally posted by 300SDLTOM
I just never liked not be able to get the back wheels from leaving a black streak behind me. Course I was 20 at the time and who wouldn't.
Actually, me. I was driving a 101 hp Nissan turbo diesel (in an IH Scout) when I was 18 and was driving a 1 ton cargo van with a 175 horsepower IH diesel when I was 20. Now I'm 23 and have another 175hp IH diesel (about to get a turbo ) and a 125hp MB turbo diesel.

Yes, I'm weird

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  #32  
Old 05-05-2004, 04:22 AM
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 66
I know a guy who has over 480,000 miles (albeit mainly highway travel) on his '84 617 turbo,
same engine, turbo, pump...the head has never even been removed. He religiously dumps the oil every 3000
(uses Castrol 20w-50), but is a bit hit and miss with the other maintenance. It runs a little weak until it
warms up, and the turbo is a tad noisy, but otherwise he still bombs it at 90 mph during the daily
commute...I keep telling him he should at least replace the timing chain...

I think this is probably the exception rather than the rule tho, most people don't keep up on the
maintenance, or they get overheated and at least need a head gasket.

From what I can gather, the 603's are "as a rule" equally reliable, as long as you cater to their quirks
and don't ever overheat them. The 350's seem to have some special issues, but I think that's mainly
due to premature head gasket failure (water doesn't compress, which over time can bend rods yada yada).
Actually my next Benz will probably be a 350...or maybe a 124 E400/420E...can't yet decide.
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  #33  
Old 05-05-2004, 08:13 AM
it leaks, its german
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: raleigh nc
Posts: 1,111
Re: My 123 loves freeways!

Quote:
Originally posted by The Warden
I must respectfully disagree here.

Granted my 123 is an '85 so it has the "special" differential, but my biggest complaint about highway traveling is that I have difficulty keeping the car at 65mph. This isn't due to a lack of power; it's due to the fact that the car just keeps wanting to go faster and faster! I'll be driving, and look at the speedo and see that I've crept up to 75 or 80mph, then I have to let back on the throttle.

I'll admit to not having driven a 126 or any 603-powered car (the power sounds nice, but I like my cylinder heads being made out of cast iron, thank you very much ), but I can honestly say that my 123 is the most highway-happy car I've ever owned by a long shot, and one of the most highway-happy cars I've driven. It's as happy as my mom's '90's Pontiac Grand Prix was, and is bounds and leaps better than the '00 Honda my mom currently owns.

Just my $.02...good luck with whatever you decide

Yep, the taller gearing of the 85. My 83 was hitting 3200 at 70 and was getting a bit whiney, at 85 it was just unhappy. The last 3 123 cars I had were like that, just uncomfortable sounding at that RPM. The 603's and the one 602 I've had were turning around 2900 at 70 and were "coming into their own" around 3600. That translates to around 90 in my wagon. Just like the 617 starts spooling up around 1500 and the 603 starts spooling around 1900, different animals entirely. Ive not had head problems with 603's (maybe the 72 deg t-stats I use help this) I have had chain problems with 'em tho'. 617's also seem more inclined to leak oil when they are run hard at high RPM. I guess in a nutshell the overall feel and sound of the 603/2 powered 124 cars just suits me better. I find my 603 powered wagon to "sound happier" than the 103 powered ones I've had. Like I said, 123 cars are wonderful, just not my cup O tea.

Of course I really like 94-95 140 cars as well, does that make me a sick man?


Joe
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  #34  
Old 05-05-2004, 09:39 AM
Benster Tom
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Joe. Those140's are nice, aren't they. I was tempted to try and get a S350 D. I just peferred that older MB look of the 126 chassis. I was talking to a local MB shop Techncian the other day and he was basically giving me his opinion. He said that all round the 617's were basically real reliable engines. He said he felt nothing was wrong with the 603's other than some head issues, which MB worked out, but overall they're great engines. He said look around, you still see alot of the 617's running up and down the streets to this day.
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  #35  
Old 05-05-2004, 08:34 PM
Benster Tom
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Belt Tensioner

Well I've been talking up the SDL. Now my Brake Tensioner is going bad for like the 3rd time in about a month. Does anyone understand why that is? I had it replaced because it needed it, then after about 10 days I noticed that it was making a "vibration" noise, especially at idle. You could actually see it moving up and down a tad. Got it replaced because the MB shop said it was defective. Now here it is about 14 days later and i'm seeing it again. Does this sound like another defective Belt Tensioner or is there some other underlying problem that could cause this?
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  #36  
Old 05-05-2004, 09:03 PM
it leaks, its german
 
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Location: raleigh nc
Posts: 1,111
Ok, thats the damper or belt shock causing that.

3 causes.
1) worn spring.
2) cheap **** damper
3) oil leaks onto the damper bushings



Joe
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  #37  
Old 05-05-2004, 11:18 PM
Benster Tom
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Well I'll know Monday, what's up with it. The 603 sure did run good at 3500 rpm's this morning going to work. Even with the Belt Tensioner, hummin.....
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  #38  
Old 05-10-2004, 07:30 PM
Benster Tom
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Thumbs up 300 Service Records...establishing a "paper trail".

When purchasing a MB... it'd be great if you have a paper trail in maintenance records to help determine if it's worth buying or not. I didn't do it but if I had done it over again I would have really looked into that. After reading previous threads about "300SDL service records" it really makes you wonder about which is more reliable car. The "D, SD or SDL".
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  #39  
Old 05-10-2004, 10:31 PM
wolf_walker's Avatar
Zen And The Art Of Diesel
 
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Location: Oklahoma City
Posts: 2,050
Quote:
Originally posted by joe p
Ok, thats the damper or belt shock causing that.

3 causes.
1) worn spring.
2) cheap **** damper
3) oil leaks onto the damper bushings



Joe
From the look of the tensioner setup on them one could make a quick summary of it with something to the effect of "****y design".

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  #40  
Old 05-11-2004, 01:22 AM
Benster Tom
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From the look of the tensioner setup on them one could make a quick summary of it with something to the effect of "****y design".


Yeah Wolf your probably right about that. Everyone I talk to that's had an SDL has always had a problem with the tensioner.

Did MB ever come up with solution to the design flaws of the belt tensioner?
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  #41  
Old 09-03-2007, 03:24 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 1
trap-oxidizer recall for 1987 300SDL Turbo

How would I find out if the Trap Oxidizer was replaced in the car I just purchased?
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  #42  
Old 09-03-2007, 08:44 PM
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85 300sd cruses @ 80 mph no problems @ 3300-3400 rpm's Has plenty of power to spare currently running 225/60/16 . Also turbo waste gate adjusted , ALDA full out, air intake system. I'll agree with Brian sometime it gets a little vibration at around 90. Currently getting 27mpg with a/c.
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  #43  
Old 09-03-2007, 09:31 PM
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Why are ya'll tacking onto a dead, three year old thread?
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  #44  
Old 09-04-2007, 01:44 PM
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Brian's head gasket notwithstanding, I still feel (I own an SDL and my best friend owns an SD) - that the SD is the best of all the worlds. Just personal opinion... the size and so forth of the 126 really appeals to me, and I wouldn't recommend the 603 to many people based on my experiences with mine... I know that Brian and a few others will argue me on that one, and I'm certainly not trying to step on their toes. But just comparing the only one I've ever owned, the only other one in the "family/friends" circle that I have access to, and the many posts and things I've read... in my mind, the 5 cylinder engine is by far the "workhorse" that never dies. And so, 5 cyl + w126 = 300SD

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