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Originally Posted by Jim B.
The very best diesel choice in America for them seems to be the '86-'87 300SDL, and I believe some would have to have their trap oxidizer worked out.
The 1981-85 300SD sedans are a good diesel choice too, with a few less refinements, being from an earlier year.
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Hmmm... I dunno about that... The "refinements" you speak of are a slightly changed interior and a few useless power accessories such as a power steering wheel and a tilting sunroof.... The older cars are equipped with the OM617 engine which quite honestly is superior in every way to the later model engines found in the SDL 126's...... Im sure "refinements" would matter less and less to you when your dealing with your first headgasket job or if you have one of the nice 350SDL rodbender models....
Personally if I were doing a later model 126 I would look at a 300SE..... Its one of the most undervalued 126's out there..... Most people shopping for gassers are looking at 420SEL's and 560SEL's..... The later model diesel engines don't have that many advantages over the similar gasser engine.... You have about the same reliability and fuel economy..... Not to mention Gassers are generally smoother and have much better drivability without the diesel smell and soot screen under heavy acceleration......