An additional point on the 5 cylinder turbo diesels.

(1) The engine was originally designed to run turbines on remote stations in germany where they were seldom monitored. They ran non stop reportedly for years. It was not until much later that the engine was realized to be so absurdly reliable, that it was decided to be used in the mercedes automobile line.

(2) Mercedes has often referred to the 84 300DT as "The Million Mile Car".

AS for diesel drivers being slower, the imput from others on this site is to the contrary.
In my personal experience, my diesel spent most of its life ranging from 80 to 108 mph often on 4-10 hour trips at a time. When I reluctantly sold it at 265,000 miles to a close friend to upgrade myself to an S Class, it was still running like new and would get 20 mpg at 108mph. On the rare trips with my wife, it would get 28mpg at 65 (no honey I was not dozing off, I am just suffering from Attention Deficit Hyderactivity Disorder (ADHD) and am currently lacking sufficient visual stimulation at these reduced speeds). I generally check the condition of my 300DT by top speed. In its life, (outside of times when it needed something...& top end usually would tell me that) it stayed in the 104 to 108 mph range, which I consider to be an acceptable deviation on flat level ground for an extended time period.

While I realize there are 450's, 380's, and even maybe a 560 with 300 to 500K miles, they do not appear to be as prevalent as the 300D's which are common in my area with 300 to 500K miles. My 1984300DT @ 265K miles was a "youngin" in the neighborhood, a mere child.

At last contact, my friend has some 325K on the motor, and still no one has been into the motor (top or bottom) at all.
(However, The AC evaporator core is another story...ouch!)
Good luck to all. Wish I still had my 300DT, but I least I get to see her periodically.

Dwight



[Edited by dwight hinton on 06-29-2001 at 03:51 PM]

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dwight