Warren,

Sounds like you got the best deal. Although I like my new car, it came with a bunch of payments for a while, and the old one was paid off. I was really looking forward to another 10 to 15 years of no car payments. Mercedes-Benz offered me no assistance with my repair. My total cost was around $7,000. No one has discussed the new head design here much, and I am curious if the new head design is really part of the final fix for this problem. Do you have any idea what the design changes to the head were?

I would have been happiest if there was no problem with the 350SD as it was an otherwise pretty satisfying car to own. In the end, I feel like I did not get abused by Mercedes, but it was the sales guys at my local dealer that helped most, not Mercedes-Benz of North America.

Have a good day, Jim

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)