hello all, i just signed on to this forum. my buddy picked up a MB diesel a while back and i am hooked on these things. i have been looking around for 2 weeks now and saw a few nice ones online. one that caught my eye is a 93 300D. i hear and read forums about a certain batch of motors with "soft rods" that are destined to fail, causing the need for major and high dollar surgery. Does this particular year and model fall into that soft rod category? the vehicle is on e bay now. #300078562603 is the link. sorry for not having the actual link you can click on. i am a little techno challenged. thanks in advance. jim 95 range rover classic lwb 97 TLC 99 Ffffffford expedition

from what I know, that was the OM603.970 used in 90,91 and OM603.971 engine used in 92-94. that is a 3.5 L six cyl.

as far as i know, the 603.970 were used in 300sd(92,93) or s350 (94)

and the 603.971 was put into the 90,91 350sdl

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1984 123.193 372,xxx miles, room for Seven.

1999 Dodge Durango Cummins 4BTAA 47RE 5k lb 4x4 getting 25+mpgs, room for Seven.

Someone just told me today that the electrical wiring MB used in 1993 was some cheaper stuff, and the insulation came off the wires, then you had a bunch of electrical problems, and it would need a new wiring harness, costing about $900.

Good luck.
1991 300d, 101k

This applies to the 1993 300E with the M104 (gasoline) motor, not to any diesels.

Do a search on this site for "Rod Bender"

This is the W140. The 3.5 diesels in these are often VERY troublesome. researchmore, but I personally would stay away from this car. This auction
is for a car that could very likely be a HUGE money pit no matter how nice the car shows cosmetically

The ebay BIN price is about double what it should be. These cars are comfortable and safe and stylish, but have MANY things that can go wrong, for example the air conditioner, the evaporator repair is about a 30 hour job at the shop, the entire dash needs to be removed, it can be $3000 job, easily. I would avoid these cars for sure.

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

The 93 300D 2.5T (the W124) is a good car. Not many huge things go wrong on these. I've got the '90 version, and I love it. The only thing I don't like on it is the EDS computer which controls the turbo wastegate. If it finds anything wrong with any sensor on the car, it will hold the wastegate open and the car will be very slow.

The other diesel made in 1993, the 300SD, does have the rod bender engine, and has all the problems that come with the W140 chassis. I wouldn't recommend a 603.970 car. However, if somebody transplanted a 603.96 engine in there, (or even better a 606 turbo) it would be a great car.

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Dale

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g1...MG_2277sig.jpg

1990 300D 2.5 Turbo -155k
2000 E430 - 103k
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ecodiesel 4x4 - 11k
2014 VW Passat TDI SE - 7k Bro's Diesel
2006 E320 CDI - 128k Pop's Benz

Pre-glow - A moment of silence in honor of Rudolph Diesel

Wow- lots of advice here- and most of it is in MB experienced "code". If this guy is new to mercedes diesels- he doesnt know what a 124 is- or a 140. He's thinking 300SD- and in his case he said 300D, but he was wrong- it is a 300SD. (w124/w126/w140 are all chassis designations- several models are on the same chassis, so folks frequently call them by the chassis name.) This chassis on ebay is a w140. It has the 3 liter engine- not the one he is worried about- the 3.5. So the quick answer- the car on ebay should not worry you about the engine in regards to soft piston connecting rods. The w140 is a car that Mercedes intended to complete with Bently/RR. It's repairs are very expensive compared to earlier models, but if they are previously completed, then the car is much better off. Let's give advice specific to this year(s) and chassis. For a first MB- MB/diesel, you might be better off with another chassis/model if you ask me.