Hey folks, I have a nice low mile 87 300SDL that had an engine fire(minor-between the firewalls under hood) and I just purchased a sweet 91 350 SDL. I have read a lot on here about 350 engines being rod benders. Mine seems to run quite well at 305 k and I am starting to wonder if I should parts the 87. The 87 just had major work done,IP,timing chain,injectors and was a leak free nice running car( with the crappy head-a 17 casting?). I love my big sedans but I guess I am in the minority.So do I start parting out the 87 or should I keep it intact and wait for my rods to bend? All opinions are welcome.

No, that #17 head is good!! The #22 is the best, but the #14 is the only one that had issues, that I know of.

At 305k, many here would suspect that you won't be bending any rods. It seems like that type of thing occurs well before 200k if it is going to. This is not to say that it won't still happen.

I'd hold on to the '87 engine. Unless you want to sell me the head, lol. (Just kidding, I don't have the money for that right now) However, you could still sell the head off of the 87 because the head on the 91 will be the same, and would probably still be good if you did end up bending rods.

You never know..305k can still have a lot of life in it, but sooner or later, you'll probably be looking at major work. It would be nice to have a spare that you can just throw in there!

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Dan
2005 E320 CDI - 246k
1987 300SDL TD05-16g, Herlevi pump, Elbe manifold, 2.47 LSD - 213k
Past: 1987 300D - 264k

If your worried about the head on the 87 then drive the 91 until it self destructs (Odds are that one day it will) When it does the head should still be fine. Its the bottom end that goes on the 350s

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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."

Many 350 blocks were replaced under warranty if they failed by M-B and later 350's had revised rods that were stronger. If you don't have all the service history maybe your local dealer can tell you if your block is a later version or not. I agree with 'awsrock' if the engine hasn't bent its rods by now, it is unlikely to do so.

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1991 M-B 560SEL Arctic White/Grey 99,000 Miles
1987 M-B 300SDL Ivory/Palomino 229,000 Miles (sold but never forgotten)
2006 Volvo XC70 Blue/Beige
1999 Porsche Boxster Arena Red/Savanna Beige
1986 Porsche 928S Goldweiss/Brown

thanks for the advice,all. I am wondering if there is a place on here to post parts? I am going to make my zoning peeps happy and get rid of my burn car- Smoke silver-maroon leather-170 k car in nice shape before it baked. Thanks Brian

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/forumdisplay.php?f=8

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Dan
2005 E320 CDI - 246k
1987 300SDL TD05-16g, Herlevi pump, Elbe manifold, 2.47 LSD - 213k
Past: 1987 300D - 264k

Don't put your faith in em. At any mileage. They will die. They always do. And when it happens, it's 100% failure rate. At least with the 300 you eliminate those potential catastrophic circumstances.

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1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)

Spoken like a true 924 owner-Rabbit front suspension,beetle rear and a bad ass NSU truck engine- I think I will take my chances till it grenades. How is YOUR electrical system??

Now that's funny!

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BENZ THERE DONE THAThttp://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...c/progress.gif
15 VW Passat TDI
00 E420
98 E300 DT
97 E420 Donor Car - NEED PARTS? PM ME!
97 S500
97 E300D
86 Holden Jackaroo Turbo D
86 300SDL
(o\|/o)

MOST, meaning somewhere around 2/3 to 3/4 of the #14 heads are still going (or if they're off the road it could be for another reason.)

IF the trap. ox. was removed fairly early along and the car was not run while over heated it could still go for a good while. Also the under body trap. ox. is not too hard to run in test pipe mode (for diagnosis only.) Maybe it's psychosomatic but that also seems to lower the coolant temp just a tad. Mine has 230K and coolant and oil look good. No steam in the exhaust or super pressurized radiator hoses. I have not done an oil analysis for a good while but will soon. I DO need a head gasket since it began seeping oil after I changed to full synthetic 5W-40 but those pesky tappets sure did quiet down.

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1987 300D (230,000 mi on a #14 head-watching the temp gauge and keeping the ghost in the machine)
Raleigh NC - Home of deep fried sushi!

Are you related to Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh by any chance?

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1991 M-B 560SEL Arctic White/Grey 99,000 Miles
1987 M-B 300SDL Ivory/Palomino 229,000 Miles (sold but never forgotten)
2006 Volvo XC70 Blue/Beige
1999 Porsche Boxster Arena Red/Savanna Beige
1986 Porsche 928S Goldweiss/Brown

The failure rate isn't 100%; its just common knowladge ammong the community that 350s are known for doing funny things.


Anyone here have DMV connections who would be able to find out how many 350s are still registered?

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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."

The 100%, if read carefully, is coming from a personal perspective. Sure, one can read statistics on a sheet. I think it's 50/50. It's another deal to own one and experience things firsthand. Name for me one 350 that has simply worn out evenly due to normal operating service.

The 924 is off topic. Believe what you want about the car, I don't care. I know what it is. Using it as leverage to layer insults against others reflects back upon your character.

I own three W126 diesels, all OM603's thank you very much.

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1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)

I've been meaning to post these...

a 350sdl just popped up in my local salvage yard... I got to start it up, and it leaves an incredible smoke trail. Unbelievably large actually. 218k and in decent shape otherwise.

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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!!!

Looks like it has been WVO molested. Will they let you drive it? If so try romping on it up to 60, my SD smoked like crazy until I drove it hard.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine