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

All engines can if properly maintained and operated.

That is correct. All of them are bullet proof. If you want more proof, just read the ad's on Ebay. All of them get between 35 and 40 mph, doing 80 and pulling a trailer. All of them go 500,000 to a million with only an oil change or two and one valve adjust. Most of them will float if not walk on water. They are truly miracle engines.

__________________
Junqueyardjim
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. C.S. Lewis



1983 Mercedes W123 240D 4 Speed 285,000 on the road with a 617 turbo, beautiful butter yellow, license plate # 83 240D INDIANA

2003 Jaguar Type X, AWD. beautiful, good mileage,
Mom's car, but I won't let her drive it!

Stay away from engines that have been abused by hard use and lack of maintenance. Oil/filter changes especially are important in an engine's health. The engines that see the most traffic on this forum are the OM60x series and the OM61x series. For these engines you will have the best forum support, which can be critical to a new owner. Engines older than these are still good but parts may be harder to get and there will be less support. Newer engines are better in terms of smooth, quiet operation, more power, and better emissions control, but will be more electronic, possibly harder to diagnose, more expensive to repair or get repaired, and more expensive to purchase.

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

The 350SDL

350SDL OM603 mechanical and diesel injection links
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=173492

and

MB Wiring Harness Failure
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=128181

Just forget about the whole thing. Otherwise you'll spend all your precious free time surfing this forum and lie awake at night agonizing over your next repair/mod/upgrade. Buy a Honda and don't look back!

Plus, when properly tuned, they run so smoothly they'll probably lull you to sleep at the wheel. Especially on the freeway at about 75 mph. Nightee nite!!

Jay

__________________
On the road, currently:
'83 300D (German spec.) 168k mi. - - Wolfgang (tucked snugly away for the winter!)
'87 300D 375k mi. - finally went over to "The Dark Side"
'87 300TD 225k mi.
Cannondale 66cm CAAD5 w/Campy/Jamis Aurora
Hujsak Custom Fixie/Landshark Track Shark Custom/Ahearne Custom 29'er

Yeah - my man - tell it like it is!

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

if my car was going 75 mph on the freeway i would automatically KNOW i'm asleep and dreaming.

Well the 616 car will walk on water if it is hard enough. As hunter is saying basically stay away from the 3.5 engine. Unless you are short on boat anchors.

Also the lower a true milage example that you aquire that has been taken care of along the way. The better off you should be. I really dislike cars with endless issues that should be dealt with. A few now and again is not so bad. Find the right car and pay the required premium. It should pay off over time.

Yea I'm not looking for car to help me fall asleep at the wheel, especially if I probably will never wake up after that

All are good. The 350SDL is known to have issue, but a 300 can be swapped in.
What is your budget? Buy the nicest car you can afford, not the MOST car.

As the Non-sarcastic posts above state, all motors well cared for are capable of going the distance.

Read this forum more, this question has only been asked a hundred times or more....

__________________
85 300D 3 pedal. Current project.
83 300TD (need rear wiper assembly dead or alive)
84 300SD Daily driver
85 300TD almost 400k miles and driven daily.
98 E300D *sold
86 300SDL *sold and made flawless 10 hour journey to new home.

My accord puts me to sleep. No lovin' touch required, No feather and float of the accelerator between gears or letting the clutch out. No thinking 3 moves ahead to merge. Heat that works. Doesn't make me think of Janis Joplin or Lady Day. No tang of diesel & grease. It's not like riding a melody. Leave while you still can.

__________________
CC: NSA

All things are burning, know this and be released.

82 Benz 240 D, Kuan Yin
12 Ford Escape 4wd

You're four times

It's hard to

more likely to

concentrate on

have an accident

two things

when you're on

at the same time.

a cell phone.

www.kiva.org It's not like there's anything wrong with feeling good, is there?

Nah I think I'm going to stay with this idea.

I truly love my 300D. Drives so nice and smooth. Maintain it and you'll get many, many miles. If you don't, it makes for a great paperweight.

__________________
Never be ashamed to ask for help.

1985 300D
1987 300SDL
1970 Jaguar E-Type OTS
2002 Dodge Intrepid (Traded In)
2011 Ford Crown Victoria

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...