Okay let me first say this is all my fault, I bought a 1989 190E recently and thought I had everything that the car would need to have done figured out oohhh man ohhh man was I wrong. This car needs everything redone, even with new plugs, wires, cap, rotor, oil change, rad flush, new thermostat, trans fluid change, new exhaust (from the cats back), and new tires, it still needs brakes and still runs like crap. The lesson here is only buy MB diesels!!!!!

That all just sounds like deferred maintenance to me. Most of those items on your list would still be needed if the car was a diesel.


How much did you pay for this peach? I would suggest selling before spending a bundle on a car that's not worth it, unless its in otherwise excellent condition. Then find another one with some records, so you're not left holding the bag from a previous neglectful owner.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

I agree, deferred maintenance.....a diesel can have plenty of its own issues. A properly maintained MB gasser/diesel will be about the same in reliability....the gasser may just need slightly more parts to do it.

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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)

Paid 1250 for it again my fault, the body is in good shape (straight some paint chipped off and a little surface rust, a few dents but only surface) and the interior is in very good shape (some tears in drivers seat due to use and a few stains on the ceiling) but just getting mad, can't seem to get it running right Wife loves the thing can't get her to do diesel says they are too slow. Tried to tell her give me 500 dollars and it won't go so slow . but just needed to vent. Will try to fix it and see what happens, now we can't afford to get another car cause of all the money spent on this one. Doing all the work I can myself to save money, but that only helps so much.

Sounds like you are replacing the wrong parts!

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Current cars:
2000 ML55 AMG, 174k miles
2003 C240 T-Modell, 202k miles
1995 S320, 207k Miles

You paid $1250 and spent how much more fixing it?

From your description, I would not spend another dime on it and start saving for somthing else.

If you're not at a point financially where you can't afford to buy a decent specimen or pay for the upkeep, then you have no business messing with one of these cars. I know this because I have felt the strain myself at times.

When the SL was given to me at 16 years old, I inherited alot of neglected maintainence and major mechanical issues, including warped heads. Without my parents bailing me out on many occasions, I would have bankrupted myself.

You need transportation and this car obvously isn't cutting it.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

sad but true. i have just let go of my w126, after letting to of my w108, and after seven years, i have finally realized what everyone has been trying to tell me: these cars are an expensive hobby. it will be difficult (understatement?) to drive something else, but unless you have money, time, tools and a place to work on them, it just ain't in the cards.

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"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."

your calling a 1989 vehicle you bought for 1000 bucks a lemon? Serious?

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1981 300SD 512k OM603

Yeah yeah I am, bought my 300CD that now has over 325,000 miles on it and the only thing I have ever had to do to that car is replace injectors and routine stuff, I only paid 200 for that car it has been great.

It really is a coin flip, isn't it?

I suppose records and a PPI help determine whether its a Harvey Dent or Two Face, but it really more a matter of luck than we care to admit.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

This is true.

My 300CD was is really sad shape, but it ran perfect, and I drove the living crap out of it, and it never gave me a problem, or even complained. It had close to 200k miles and looked like hell.

My 300D on the other hand was the nicest W123 I have ever seen...118k original miles, everything looked and felt brand new. It wouldn't stop breaking...I drove that car less than 1k miles before i sold it because I just couldn't keep it on the road long enough to actually run it.

You really don't know how a car is going to behave...service records just increase the chances that it will be a good car, but even those cars can be gremlins.

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Current cars:
2000 ML55 AMG, 174k miles
2003 C240 T-Modell, 202k miles
1995 S320, 207k Miles

Didn't it sit in a garage for many years? I'm sure you disclosed this to the next owner, right?

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

My 300CD sat in a carport for 10 years with the windows half way down!

The 300D sat for 8 years, covered.

I told the new owner about it being stored, it had a few problems when I sold it, (nothing serious) but he got an insane deal on it, so I don't feel bad.

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Current cars:
2000 ML55 AMG, 174k miles
2003 C240 T-Modell, 202k miles
1995 S320, 207k Miles

That doesn't mean the 190E is a lemon ... it more likely means it was poorly maintained by the previous owner. If you buy a diesel that is poorly maintained it likely will have lots of problems, too. Certainly the 616 and 617 are especially robust to mistreatment as compared to other engines, but lack of maintenance and care can lead to plenty of problems on them, too. A lemon is a car that is faulty from the start regardless of how it is cared for. Your 190 may have been just fine its first few years. Bummer for you, but I wouldn't take it out on all gasser Benzes.

Sounds like you got a heck of a deal for that CD, though ... sweet.

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1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)

not really

those items mentioned you mention are routine maintance that wasnt done, dont blame the car.

Im parting out a 300D that was literally abused, motor blown at 145k because the previous owner never changed oil etc, and to top it off he let body work slide so car rotted it in many places.

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1986 300SDL, 211K,Dealership serviced its whole life
1991 190E 2.6(120k)
1983 300D(300k)
1977 300D(211k)