which is better a 300sd or a 300sdl?????? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

calimercedes · #1 12-14-2005, 05:20 AM

you know ive been in this diesel cars for so long .. especially the 5 cylinder engines.. today when i come across a sdl with a nice running 6 cylinder, i say to myself, this is nice... and i end up buying it... after driving it for so much as 3 weeks , i realize that my sd is something else... man i gotta admit.. the 123 and the 126 body 5 cylinder engines are the best.. their fun , way easier to maintain and it just gives that whole feeling about driving a diesel.. after all i love the shake and more noise of the 5 cylinders.. their just f****n different.... what do you think?

Hit Man X · #2 12-14-2005, 05:42 AM

I enjoy my SDL for it's longer wheel base when I have family around, no packing into one of my smaller vehicles anymore. The motor is more powerful too (obviously). But the noise the 617 makes is great.

I wish MB had threw an extra cylinder on the 617 (it'd be a 3.6L then) with an aluminum head instead of revamping the block too. No rod bending, more torque, and more HP.

speedy300Dturbo · #3 12-14-2005, 06:15 AM

IMO the OM60x motors are easier to maintain when it comes to routine maintenance. They don't need valve adjustments, and when running synthetics can go for extended oil change intervals because the engine by design doesn't pump as much soot into the oil as the older motors.

Diesel Giant · #4 12-14-2005, 06:48 AM

I like the 5cylinder cars the best. Both the SD and the SDL are too long for my taste. I prefer the 300.

t walgamuth · #5 12-14-2005, 07:14 AM

is a peach to drive. ride, handling, power, quietness, etc.

but i do miss the bulletproof qualities of the old 617.

a 617 with another cylinder would be too long and too heavy. and if they put an aluminum head on it i am betting that too would be problems.

tom w

Hatterasguy · #6 12-14-2005, 10:59 AM

The 603's are simpler to work on and better highway cars.

dieseldiehard · #7 12-14-2005, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedy300Dturbo

IMO the OM60x motors are easier to maintain when it comes to routine maintenance. They don't need valve adjustments, and when running synthetics can go for extended oil change intervals because the engine by design doesn't pump as much soot into the oil as the older motors.

I have also noted this, you can observe the oil in a 603 a month after an oil change and its stll clearish, thin, you know not all thick and loaded with carbon like with the 617's are after a few hundred miles. I think the piston rings were improved in the 603. anyone know for sure?

greasybenz · #8 12-14-2005, 04:07 PM

The SD is the best of course!! They can run better on wvo then the 6cyl but if your not a wvo user well still get the SD

the 5cyl are bullet-proof and the 6cyl can be just as reliable if they are better taken care of. But you can abuse the 5cyl and it wont break as easily as the 6cyl.

But ive compared them both when i was shopping for my first car but my choice in the end was the 5cyl for its bullet proof reliability,failry easy maintinence, cheap and easy to find parts, and the fact that it is easier to run on wvo.

JamesDean · #9 12-14-2005, 04:33 PM

SD.
Nuff said.

Hatterasguy · #10 12-14-2005, 05:06 PM

The L stands for the long wheel base in the world of the S class. So an SDL would be a long wheel base S class diesel. There are 6 extra inch's added to the wheel base and you know it. The SDL isn't the best city/parking garage car.

Their were a lot of updates to the W126 from 85-86.

A W126 is a W126 it doesn't matter whether you are talking about a 560SEC or a 300SD. They are all pretty simple to work on and user friendly.

The SD's make a sweet around town car, 617's don't need to be glowed as long and can be started up driven a mile and shut down. They don't seem to mind around town service, like the 603's do.

After have owned and worked on both for awhile personaly the SD isn't a bad car but if I were looking for another W126 I would prefer one with a 603.