My indie loaned me his 350SD- I took pics of it to assist him selling it, and he did a bit of work on my wagon. I gotta say WOW. I am impressed with this engine and how it works in the w126.

until it throws a rod

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1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

not all of them do this my friend. This one has not for 166K and burns no oil.

350SDL...A great car with a bad curse...

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Current Garage
2008 Mercedes GL320 CDI 188k mi Repair/Work in progress
1994 S350 160k mi Garage Queen & prepping for repairs
2005 E320 CDI 203k mi Healthy & Daily Driver
1994 S350 357k mi Retried as parts car
1984 300TD 214k mi Blown OM617 Poss OM603 Swap??

Sold
1987 300SDL 200K+
1994 S320 181K mi
2008 E320 Bluetec 127k mi
1999 S420 130K mi
1980 240D 360k mi
15+ Others that has come, stay and gone

GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
1995 E320 SE 220k mi
1984 300SD 350k mi

They do not have the same reputation in Europe. I've heard it's the poor diesel we have here that makes the difference.

They didn't sell them in europe till much later. My guess is by the time europe finally got the 603.971 (they never got any cars with the .970 motor) the rods had been fixed. IIRC the fix finally happened mid 1995.

-Jason

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1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

A 350SDL would be cool, but I'm not sure if I'd want it over a 300SDL.....a normal 603 with "improvements" done to it would probably be my first choice.

__________________
-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)

Makes a 240D or 300D from the 1980's feel like some primitive prototype that actually wasn't ever really offered for sale to anybody doesn't it? Even makes a 300SDL feel like some slow,awkward, ungainly antique in comparison. Too bad they have such a bad reputation. Mine never got the chance to bend a rod, guess it needed a few more miles?


'91 350SD 535,890 crashed 1/23/09
'87 300SDL 236,000
'94 SL500 45,000

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jcciem
'94 SL5000 60,000
'91 350SDL 545,000
'91 350SD 197,000
'00 E55 AMG 77,000

a heavily misunderstood car. 350sd production was less than 12 months. Only 768 were made. Of all the 603.971 cars, I find these to be the best.

This car was not sold in europe, either.
many of the engine failures were linked to stop and go city dirivng and poor quality diesel.
that being said, one can never be 100 percent certain, but the oil consumption should be 1 quart every 800 or less.

__________________
Pierre Hedary 1985 280SEL, 1970 111.026 in progress
Mercedes technical advice hotline: 407 765 2867
[servicing older Mercedes in the state of Florida with competence and passion].

From the standpoint of an honest MB technician, Vegetable oil is a threat to your diesel engine's mechanical integrity.

Here are the pics I took

Or the reverse like I now have.

A 350SDL with an updated head 300SDL engine.

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1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."

I have driven a 350SDL. It is the creme de la creme of w126 diesels. If I could find a nice 350SDL I'd probably pick it up as a second car. But it would have to have extensive records, maybe new motor, etc etc.

I'd be happy with a 350SD or SDL, but I'd put the more powerful 3.0L engine in it and want taller gears. It does get off the line pretty smartly with the short rear-screw though.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Does anyone know what changes they made when they went from the .970 to the .971? In the W140 the 350 has the same power as the 3l 6 in the W126. I'd really like to "restore the lost power" on my car. Though, the HP difference is mainly because of the lower redline of the 350.

-Jason

__________________
1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

The refinements came not in the engine, but in the later W126 models.

I believe a 1990 - 1991 350SD/SDL with a 3.0 liter engine, is the best Mercedes diesel since ever. The 3.0 liter may not be as punchy off the line, stock for stock, but it's nice that it does not die out at the top end, like the 3.5 loves to do.

The 350SD that I sometimes drive has ASD, a self-leveling rear suspension and a CD Changer, and the reinforced seating frames, with a nicer interior look. It's a 3.0 liter now and really scoots. Great car.

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1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)