Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Diesel Discussion

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 03-05-2014, 06:48 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 4
1994 Mercedes S350 Diesel Opinion

I just came across a very clean 1994 Mercedes S350 Diesel with 192K miles on it. It is very straight with no rust. The interior has no rips or tears, the a/c is ice cold and everything works but the radio and one power window.

They're asking $5,900. Is that a decent price?

Thanks.

Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 03-05-2014, 07:09 PM
uberwgn's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: New England
Posts: 979
TX, welcome aboard! How familiar are you with the dubious rod bending technology fitted to these cars?
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 03-05-2014, 08:58 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 4
None at all I'm afraid. I'm more experienced with Dodge Cummins Diesel engines. I had the car looked at though and they said it is mechanically very, very sound with no issues.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 03-05-2014, 10:00 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Spokane WA
Posts: 163
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/217243-rod-bender-true-stories-how-broke-why.html
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 03-05-2014, 10:12 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Beachwood, NJ
Posts: 462
Not worth it, unless you enjoy driving a big diesel car. I owned two S350s and a long wheelbase S320. The S320 cost less to run per mile, ran better and had a lower purchase price.
__________________

Present
1987 300SDL
1991 300SL
1990 560SEL
2001 ML320

Past
1969 200D 1979-82
1983 300SD 1984-85
1972 250C 1982-02
1995 S350 2011
1997 S320 2012
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 03-05-2014, 10:28 PM
compu_85's Avatar
Cruisin on Electric Ave.
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: La Conner, WA
Posts: 5,234
If it's not burning any oil by 192k I would venture that the motor is ok. Look for any exhaust smoke, and look at the tail lights... the driver's side reverse light should be the same color as the passenger side I would also stipulate that because of the known engine problems with this model you should have 1,000 miles to return it if the motor turns out to be bad.

-J
__________________
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.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 03-05-2014, 11:36 PM
t walgamuth's Avatar
dieselarchitect
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Lafayette Indiana
Posts: 38,613
Unless the car is pristine and the engine has been swapped a 3 liter block in I would have to pass. If its the stock 3.5 its a ticking time bomb in my mind. If its a 3.5 liter which has had a new short block recently I would consider it.

The sign of the bent rod is a skip at idle. It will go away at high rpm or at least be hard to detect. You can drive them that way for a long time though with good care....prolly up another 100K and the problem will only get worse.

Look for a silky smooth idle or try to get it for about a grand imho.

Somebody will buy it at some price but it wouldn't be me at over 5K unless it had a fresh 3 liter block in it.
__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 03-06-2014, 07:29 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 4
Thank you very much for all of the input. I'll offer them $4500 and see what they say.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 03-06-2014, 01:34 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 4
I asked him what his bottom dollar was and he said he would take $3,995. Surely that's a good deal, right?
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 03-06-2014, 02:34 PM
Save the manuals!
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: .
Posts: 3,463
Quote:
Originally Posted by TXDieselFan View Post
I asked him what his bottom dollar was and he said he would take $3,995. Surely that's a good deal, right?
Eh that is a bit too much for me. Too risky with the engine issues IMHO.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 03-06-2014, 02:43 PM
Zacharias's Avatar
Not so amused
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: West Quebec
Posts: 4,025
Quote:
Originally Posted by gatorblue92 View Post
Eh that is a bit too much for me. Too risky with the engine issues IMHO.
To add to what others are telling you....

That chassis is called the w140, in Mercedes-speak. I am not sure what the market is for the diesels, but you can get the gas equivalents for less money.

The point I would make is, if you want a large Mercedes with a turbodiesel, for that money you can buy an older model (the w126 chassis, 300sd 5-cyl. or 300sdl 6-cyl.) that will most likely cost less to run, if kept well won't depreciate into the ground, and doesn't have the rod-bender gotcha possibility. Given where they started, the w140s dropped like a stone in a well, value-wise.

Just want to throw that out, as no one else mentioned it.

If you are in love with the car, it's your money, so go ahead but be forewarned. I would say at minimum, have a qualified Mercedes shop (dealer if it comes to that) inspect it prior to buying.
__________________


Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 03-06-2014, 03:04 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: The slums of Beverly Hills
Posts: 8,065
An OM603 turbo in a W124 body is slow, I can only imagine what its like when you pile on the extra 1000LB of the W140. But hey, at least its got a turbo. In Europe they sold a W140/OM603 NON turbo for a while.

The horror.
__________________
CENSORED due to not family friendly words
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 03-06-2014, 03:19 PM
Diesel Preferred
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Charleston SC
Posts: 2,788
A very nice fix (if the engine is bad) is installing the later OM606 turbo from a '99 E300. Keep your mechanical injection pump, but use the engine/turbo/intercooler from a '99. More power, far more reliable engine. May cost a few grand, but you'll have a better car.

__________________
Respectfully,
/s/
M. Dillon
'87 124.193 (300TD) "White Whale", ~392k miles, 3.5l IP fitted
'95 124.131 (E300) "Sapphire", 380k miles
'73 Balboa 20 "Sanctification"
Charleston SC
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:57 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page