How often do you change your oil?

I've not been impressed by the 190s -- local mechanic warns people off them, as he says he does far more work on them than he does on the 300s at the same age, similar engine notwithstanding. He thinks MB "cheapened" them to lower the price.

Typical valve job time on the M100 series engines is more like 160,000 miles, more if you use synthetic oil and change it often. Bottom end should last the lifetime of the car, same proviso about oil.

My local MB mechanic says this of MBs -- "they are like Porsches -- maintain them regiously by the book and they run forever. Cheat on maintenance, and they fall apart in a year!"

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!