I'm looking for my first Mercedes. I like the fact that some of them are really wide and offer tons of interior space. I've got a couple questions about different models.
Which models are the widest/biggest? Are 300TE, 300TD, 300SD, 300SDL... all basically the same car but with different engines (I do know the TD & TE are wagons but otherwise are they similar to the other 300s?)

Which models are "mini Mercedes?" So I don't call about one.

Will a pair of 190 skis fit in the trunk of a 300?

A search would give you a more detailed idea but basicly:

S class would be the large cars
E class the middle of the road
C the small line

The numbers on the back tell you what the car is, for example:

300TD- 300 means 3 liter engine, T means touring (wagon) D means diesel
560SEL- 5.6 liters, Sounderklass (s class), E stands for Einspritzing (sp?) it means fuel injected, L means long wheel base 6in added to the rear seats.

But this changed in 1994, they got rid of the "E" because all cars are fuel injected and got rid of the L. For example the 500SEL turned into the S500. The 400E turned into the E420.

If you want a really big car the W140 made between 1992-99 is bigger then the W126's. Although the W126 isn't small.

Edit: for full size ski's you will need a roof rack unless you get a wagon.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

The "kinder-benz" would be the W201 chassis, the 190E, 190D, 190TD

With skiing in your thoughts, perhaps you should also be looking for a 4-matic equiped car, which is Mercedes designation for all wheel drive.

I don't need 4wd to get to the hill. Until recently all my vehicles have been 2wd. Good tires and agressive technique will get me through the snow 95% of the time. If it gets really good (lots of snow) I can take my Ford Diesel 4x4.

Kinder-benz?????

Old MB's are not that great in the snow, they are not a fwd car. My SDL has new all season tires and it is ok, snow tires are needed though. Also it doesn't have an lsd so traction is only going to be so good. If I were looking for a MB to go skiing with I would chose a newer one with a limited slip and traction control. A W210 wagon would probably be a good choice. My SDL does ok in 2-3 inch of unplowed snow, more then that and well... Also they don't do hills unless you get a running start, think slightly better then a 2wd version of your truck with nothing in the bed.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

That's bad.

I'm surprised that being as heavy as they are they are not better in the snow. I had a Volvo 240 and 740 (both wagons) and with good snow tires they were tanks. Were you running all seasons or real snow tires?

I just did a little search for a W210. A little spendy for my income.

I would think a wagon would be better in the snow because of the extra weight in the back. I am running new all season Firestone's, cheap ones 380's I think; I have a good set of summer wheels and tires. I live on a pretty good size hill and last night I went up through 2-3 of fresh snow. I hit the bottom at 15-20mph and she pulled up the hill, the rear started to slip but I lifted a little and went up. Anything more would be pushing it. I would at least get 4 real snow tires such as Blizzaks. My previous car was a Camry and that thing was like a truck in the snow, I drove through 6-8 of unplowed without any problems with that car. The SDL is a little different, if I loaded the trunk down and ran good snow tires it would probably be better.

The ABS works very well though.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200