By far the 6.3.

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With best regards

Al

well (said with respect) you would know.

(actually, i would have said 6.3 too - older, cruder technology. for example, aren't there like 46 spots to hit when you do a lube/grease job?)

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"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."

I have both. Have had the 6.9 10 years, the 6.3 5 years. 6.9 blew a differential. Usual replacement of spheres and struts.

6.3 needed a couple of air bags. Had a rusted head bolt while trying to replace leaking head gasket hidden with caulk by previous owner. Also replaced heater valves (not as bas as a heater core) and had to rebuild the air compressor.

Toss up. But for me I have gootn more miles out of less dollars on the 6.9.

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MB-less

i can

I'd rather have a money pit 6.3 I love that car- but it is a pricey one-I remember driving the 6.9 when new (yea-I'm over 30) and it was a monster- but the classy 300SEL 6.3 holds a brighter candle in my own opinion- nothing against anyones elses or a 6.9 for that fact...I was almost killed in a 1972 280 SEL and if it wasn't for that monster engine (4.5) I would have been finished- was hit head on by a drunk driver in a truck! I would still have that car today...

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Timothy Evans
TimEvans35@gmail.com
CELL 310 990 6780


1985 380 SL
2010 CL 6.3 AMG
*2009 CL 550 Sport 4matic
New addition-1984 380 SE
Newest Edition 1986 300E AMG

When I sold my '70 6.3 in 85 or 86 it had 150,000 miles, not a scratch or ding, perfect paint (I had it repainted twice), and everything worked. However I found myself spending about $400-500 on average each month just to keep it up. Just got to the point that I did not want to spend the money on it.

My 2 cents. Had '69 6.3 uneventful ownership other than a transmission re-seal; had '71 6.3 also uneventful ownership other than replacing intake manifold rubber hoses. Had '76 6.9 a monster of a car with AMG rear end and some engine mods; I restored it and if it weren't because a Mercedes mechanic stole $5,000 from me in cash that I paid for a full hydro suspension overhaul that only needed new spheres and front hydro valve (both of which by the way he charged for but he never replaced) ownership was wonderful and enjoyable. All these cars were euro models, 6.3's were right hand drive I imported from UK. Moral of the story: if 6.3 air suspension and fuel injection pump are good ownership is not very expensive; if 6.9 hydro suspension is good not very expensive since most all other parts except engine and hydro suspension are run of the mill 116 450SEL parts.