Replacement Mahles are hard to find for this engine. Does anyone have experience with the KOLBENSCHMIDT pistons? There alot cheaper, but maybe for a reason.

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83 280TE- 5 spd, 16.5mm rear sway
85 280SL- 15" Bundts, 5 spd

Kolbenschmidt were / are used by Mercedes as OE

They have a good reputation.

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

True what Stretch said, they are used as an OEM.

Best thing to do is reach out to Mark at Metric Motors in Canoga Park, CA.

You're not going to find a nicer, more helpful person - let alone anyone with nearly as much experience with MBZ engine rebuilding.

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Current rolling stock:
2001 E55 183,000+ Newest member of the fleet.
2002 E320 83,000 - The "cream-puff"!
1992 500E 217,000+
1995 E300D 412,000+
1998 E300D 155,000+
2001 E320 227,000+
2001 E320 Wagon, 177,000+

Prior MBZ’s:
1952 220 Cab A
1966 300SE
1971 280SE
1973 350SLC (euro)
1980 450SLC
1980 450SLC (#2)
1978 450SLC 5.0
1984 300D ~243,000 & fondly remembered
1993 500E - sorely missed.
1975 VW Scirocco w/ slightly de-tuned Super-Vee engine - Sold after 30+ years.

You're good with "Piston-Smith": https://www.ms-motorservice.com/en/company/history/always-the-right-rhythm-the-piston/

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Prost!

When I bought my pistons for my OM617A from Mercedes-Benz back in 2007, the set of 5 came in a Kolbenschmidt box with a Mercedes part number label placed on it.

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1985 300TD - "Panzer Wagen" - undergoing full restoration (resto - mod)
2014 GLK250 Bluetec - Wife's car

Mercedes-Benz Master Certified Technician.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joshuajeeper/