Which Mercedes diesel engines should I stay away from? - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

winmutt · #31 07-29-2011, 11:00 AM

I drove my 123 in to work today. Its alot of fun, but its noisy. W124 is way more refined. I am a big fan of the 87 300d. I like the 98 e300d engines, but the cars look god awful.

GregMN · #32 07-29-2011, 11:54 AM

Avoid anything run on alternate fuels buy someone who doesn't know what they are doing. Since you cannot tell who knows what they are doing....

The biggest problem with alternate fuels is the unknown quality of the fuel. Different methods of preparing the fuel can result in different quality outputs.
The same method of preparing the fuel can result in different quality outputs due to variances in the raw fuel feed stock.

The next problem is with the set up of the fuel system on the car to provide adequate filtering and, if required, adequate heat.

The next problem is with the operator. If required, did they purge before shutdown every time. If required, did they wait for the system warm up enough before switching fuels. Did they change their oil frequently.

Please note that I have run over 200,000 miles on WVO with no VO related issues on my engines. I just took an engine apart from someone else who ran VO for one year and the rings had to be chiseled out of their grooves in the pistons. The longer they have successfully run the same car on their alternate fuel, the more likely they know what they are doing and have not damaged their car any more than putting the same miles on it running diesel.

w123fanman · #33 07-29-2011, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixto

120-ish.

Sixto
87 300D

Ahh that is quite nice, and there would be no turbo lag to speak of... That is the OM606, so the NA version has 134hp, according to wikipedia.

winmutt · #34 07-29-2011, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by w123fanman

Ahh that is quite nice, and there would be no turbo lag to speak of... That is the OM606, so the NA version has 134hp, according to wikipedia.

I've driven 2 of these. Both were kind of scary merging into interstate traffic. 240D auto scary. Just my experience. IMO turbo is always worth it.

Zacharias · #35 07-29-2011, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winmutt

I drove my 123 in to work today. Its alot of fun, but its noisy. W124 is way more refined.

LOL have to agree. The w123 is a whole lot more, err, entertaining, sound-wise, than a w116 or of course any w126.

Also I find the factory setup for the rear suspension a bit sloppy. My previous w123 must have had either Bilsteins or some sort of very HD Sachs as it rode much firmer.

My '85 is a doll of a car but I find it wiggles its butt too much for my liking on choppy roads or if I take a bump on a fairly sharp bend in the road.

Zacharias · #36 07-29-2011, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by w123fanman

So obviously not all of them can be miracle engines that will do hundreds of thousands of miles

Other respondents have sussed where you may be coming from....

Are MB diesels great? Yes.

Are MB diesels trouble-free? Not necessarily.

Many people (as I was) are attracted to diesel because of its simple elegance of function. That, however, does not mean that ownership is simple or elegant

The very youngest of the cars being suggested to you here is some 15 years old, the oldest are in the 30-year range. The very best of engineering won't give you assurances of a trouble-free ownership experience at that age, unless you buy the car new and care for and nurture is through its life.

The further you move away from that, the more it all turns into a poker game.

Zacharias · #37 07-29-2011, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by w123fanman

Yea I was in Atlanta and there was an abandoned W123 300D Turbo on the side of the road... I wonder what went wrong? Surely could have not been the car...

Dunno about that. I've damn near abandoned mine, once or twice, just over trying to put the fusebox cover back on.

I mean, REALLY, did someone forget the car would have a brake booster?

Jeremy5848 · #38 07-29-2011, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winmutt

I've driven 2 of these. Both were kind of scary merging into interstate traffic. 240D auto scary. Just my experience. IMO turbo is always worth it.

While I prefer my '87 300D with its turbo 603, my wife's '96 E300D (W210) with the OM606NA has no problems merging with anything. At 134 HP it is quicker than the OM617 turbo and there's no comparison to a 240D auto, sorry. Sometimes you have to put your foot in it and kick down to 3rd but it moves right along if the engine is given a chance to wind up (max RPM is 5450). The mistake people make is trying to lug it like a turbo engine or a big V-8; at low RPMs performance is definitely lacking.

The '95 E300D (W124) uses the same engine and additionally has a huge fuel tank; Mercedes advertised it as having a 750-mile range. I'd like one of those fuel tanks for my '87. It will fit any 124 chassis but you lose 2 inches from your trunk space.

Jeremy

winmutt · #39 07-29-2011, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zacharias

LOL have to agree. The w123 is a whole lot more, err, entertaining, sound-wise, than a w116 or of course any w126.

Also I find the factory setup for the rear suspension a bit sloppy. My previous w123 must have had either Bilsteins or some sort of very HD Sachs as it rode much firmer.

My '85 is a doll of a car but I find it wiggles its butt too much for my liking on choppy roads or if I take a bump on a fairly sharp bend in the road.

You should take a ride in my 85

Its amazing what HD bilsteins, lowering springs, fat tires and a fat sway bar can do for these cars.

winmutt · #40 07-29-2011, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zacharias

I mean, REALLY, did someone forget the car would have a brake booster?

Once you learn how to do it right its a cinch.

engatwork · #41 07-29-2011, 02:36 PM

I've never had any acceleration issues in our E300's.

TheDon · #42 07-29-2011, 02:48 PM

I love my om603 300D.. But I do miss the w123 300D with the 617 turbo.. Nothing like driving a car that sounds like a tractor.

w123fanman · #43 07-29-2011, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

I love my om603 300D.. But I do miss the w123 300D with the 617 turbo.. Nothing like driving a car that sounds like a tractor.

I might be going for that sound, I loved my dad's 240D cause I could here him approaching the house from half a mile away, and that was always nice cause he wasn't around much... My favorite thing about that car was the sound and the smell of the leather

Tanksowner · #44 07-29-2011, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by w123fanman

I might be going for that sound, I loved my dad's 240D cause I could here him approaching the house from half a mile away, and that was always nice cause he wasn't around much... My favorite thing about that car was the sound and the smell of the leather

Everyone always knows when I'm arriving anywhere. But the aluminum engines are definitely peppier, and more refined. Plus, NO VALVE ADJUSTMENTS.

I've heard that the 190D's 2.2 engine isn't the best for longevity. Am I wrong?

w123fanman · #45 07-29-2011, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tanksowner

Everyone always knows when I'm arriving anywhere. But the aluminum engines are definitely peppier, and more refined. Plus, NO VALVE ADJUSTMENTS.

I've heard that the 190D's 2.2 engine isn't the best for longevity. Am I wrong?

Nice that there are no valve adjustments, but I do have a concern about the 190D: How much leg room is in the back? I might have to drive for some people and many of them are all around 6', one of them is 6'3".