I have been wanting to buy a 140 for a while now, I love the body style and newer interior features over the 126. I love my 560SEL but at $3.79 for Premium it's killing me at 16MPG.

So I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone and get a 140 diesel. What's the concensus for best year? Any specific things I ought to be looking for repair wise?

Any feedback or links to previous posts would be appreciated.

-gil

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GG NJ USA
1983 300SD (Sold at 198K)
1989 560SEL (205k) - slowly restoring
2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid (6k) - daily driver
1995 Colt Vista AWD (145k) - fun car! spare
1991 Buick Riviera 3.8l (85k) - fur die Kinder
RIP: 1965 LeMans/GTO Convertable -my first
RIP: 1968 GTO 400 HO w/ 400HP - ballsy!
(blew the motor racing a '69 GTX - bummer)

wasnt there only one w140 chassis diesel?

the s350?

ive read that the first few years are heavier and are built with better quality materials. the 3 piece climate control v. the single unit comes to mind as the biggest clue to which series any particular car belongs.

it seems that they started cutting costs in the s models around that time so if you can find the earlier model then that might be more substantial. i do not know if mechanical or electrical issues differ from early/later styles so ill leave that to the experts.

just know that this is one of those troublesome electronic cars that can have internal engine damage from little to no operator error. from what i understand, these engines can self destruct at any point and use a lot of oil?

im not an expert, but you can believe what i say(however little it is!) as i've read these and other boards fairly extensivly for 6 months. thats about all i remember hearing. i do like the w140 but it might be beneficial to do without the dodads and dohickies in the name of actual reliability. fuel cost is negligible if you bend a rod, isnt it?

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http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...Untitled-1.jpg

Sorry, but I just have to say, skip it. Don't even consider a W140 diesel. The one that would've been a viable candidate would've been the S300 turbodiesel. However that engine/chassis combo was only available overseas.

350's are junk. The newer, stronger conrods may last longer, the fatigue cycle rate might last for awhile, but they will bend. They will break. 350's can't be trusted. Now maybe an S350 with a 3.0 liter would be OK. Although a little sluggish, however.

STAY AWAY FROM THE OM603.970/971. RUN FAR, FAR AWAY.

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1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)

The best 140 Diesel is a rebuilt one .

That applies to the 1991 126 350SDL as well then?

Yes, it does.

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Rick Miley
2014 Tesla Model S
2018 Tesla Model 3
2017 Nissan LEAF
Former MB: 99 E300, 86 190E 2.3, 87 300E, 80 240D, 82 204D Euro
Chain Elongation References

I always hang around my Indy's shop and ask him about various cars. He says to avoid w140s in general...says they just have too many options, overengineered, electrical, vacuums, etc...very expensive to fix. He also told me the 140 diesel is just not a well designed car...says the car is too heavy and has no get up and go.

My two cents.

T

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Tom in AZ

1985 300SD, smoke silver, blue interior, 146K
1973 280, 85K (sold)

Thanks for the feedback, I am sufficiently bummed now

Will look at VW TDI instead.

-gil

Could always look for a 350SDL with a dead engine, and a totaled 600SEL with a good motor....and make the swap... V12 gas vs. 3.5 V6 diesel... (leave the diesel badging on the trunk).....people would experience the fastest/smoothest diesel...ever Could just see the look on the face of someone with a: Corvette, Porshe, Ferrari, BMW, or any other sports car.....when they are effortlessly beaten by a diesel.

Ignore me, I am dreaming.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

You might want to consider the S320. It's a gasser, but it's the most fuel efficient of them in the W140 chassis. I've always been impressed with the look of the W140, and the S320 is probably the one I'd get if I were in the market. But if you want ultimate fuel economy and refinement in a Mercedes, go for one with the OM606 engine (95-99 E-class).

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

Thank you DieselAddict for that advice. I have thought of an S320, but with that amount of weight I think it would be anemic and more noticebly, as I expect a diesel engine to be sluggish! Also, I assume a 320 still requires Premium Unleaded, which is pricey.

I had a 300SD, early model ('83) and I liked it alot, it was just not in good enough shape to invest in as a keeper and daily driver. I got a great deal on the '89 560SEL, and I totally love it but want the next generation 140 for style and gadget reasons, yet the gas mileage is a concern now.

I thought a Diesel 140 would be a good compromise. Oh well.

As for the E-class, they are too small for me. If I am going to go small I would prefer small and sporty, so the VW Jetta TDI makes more sense and is much cheaper (2001 models typically sell for under $9000).

-g

Well the Jetta is a lot smaller than any E-class! If too small is a concern, it makes no sense to get the Jetta. The TDI does however get excellent fuel economy. Have you driven a W210? It's noticably bigger than the W124, but you do have to keep an eye on those spring perches. The TDI is probably the cheaper choice though.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

Right - so if I am going to go for "small", I am also going to go for cheap and better fuel economy.

I am actually bidding on 2 diesel Passats - a litle bigger and nicer than the Jetta, with 45MPG.

-gil

I've driven alongside a person with a 140 S320 gasser, they effortlessly left me behind with it....so I would say its probably not slow. I personally would not mind having one at all...as I also really like that body/chassis style...

Does a 606 engine fit into the 140? vs. a 603? I wonder how well a 606turbo would perform in that car....it has even more power than the 3.5 engine does....

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

We had an S320V back in the day... it's a sweetheart of a car. It has more than enough power to get you into trouble, and it makes enjoyable noises while doing it. It's not going to haul like a 420 or 500, but it is nowhere anemic. Find one and take it for a spin, you might be suprised.
~D.J.~