I just bought a 79 300SD. The guy who was selling it seemed pretty knowledgeable and stated that "79 was acknowledged as the best year for diesels". Was he just blowing smoke, or is this really true?

Richard
81 300SD
79 300SD
79 240D

"Just because I am paranoid... it doesn't mean that someone isn't really trying to get me"

I tend to think in terms of an engine, so I like the 76-85's. If I'm not mistaken those are the bullet proof years. Someone else however can shed more light on the subject.

Don

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DAILY DRIVERS:
'84 300DT 298k (Aubrey's)
'99.5 Jetta TDI IV 251k (Julie's)
'97 Jetta TDI 127k (Amber's)
'97 Jetta TDI 186k (Matt's)
'96 Passat TDI 237k (Don's
'84 300D 211k Mint (Arne- Undergoing Greasecar Conversion)

SOLD:
'82 240D 229k (Matt's - Converted-300DT w/ 4 speed

However, some mechanics claim 85 as "the bestest" for it being the last of the 617.952 line, etc. These cars had upped horsepower (to 125) and a revised shift mechanism. I dunno, right now, every year is a "good year" for Merc diesels, untill they comeout with US spec CDIs....

NO, it was 1982, more specifically the cars produced on Dec. 4 of 82, those in the mid afternoon were especially nice.

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Paul
2004 E500 4matic; 72,000mi

Aw come on! Everybody knows the best diesel is the one you currently own, doesn't smoke a bit, gets 30+ mpg driving at 80+ mph and hasn't required any maintenance since you bought it.

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99 E300 133K
98 ML320 99K
87 Saab 900 Turbo Conv 123K

Last year for the W123 240D, and with few problems from the 300 series.

Really, everybody knows the '78 w123 was superior in all ways to the rest.... Well, except for that rock hard seat, and that cranky climate control. A little underpowered too. But still far and away the best ever!

Any of the cars that were the end of the line before emissions control equipment potentially caused problems.

That makes my 84 one of the better. The 85s had lots of problems with trap oxidizers.

(for the 123 chassis anyway).

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84 300TD - 235k - Farbe "Surfblau" bought at 213k
87 300SDL - 131k - Farbe "PimpGold" bought at 115k
00 Klepper Faltboot Expedition Double

This thread reminds me of a poll on a Corvette Forum that I monitor. They were asking which was the best engine. I thought it to be really interesting that everyone seemed to vote for the very same engine that was in their car.

The problem with this question is the word "BEST." When you ask which is the "BEST" something different pops into each different persons mind. To some this means the "BEST" fuel mileage, to others it means the "BEST" at long term endurance, to others it means the "BEST" as far as power goes.

Rather than wording the question in this general way, ask a question such as "which is the longest lived," or "which is the most powerful."

To me the "BEST" is the most durable that is the easiest to work on. So my "BEST" is CLEARLY the four cylinder diesels in the 123 chassis.

Have a great day,

A few questions:
1) Which 5 cyl diesels are the longest lived, and what years and models were they available in?
2) Which 5 cyl diesels are the most powerful and what years and models were they available?
3) Which 5 cyl diesels are the easiest to get more power of and what years and models were they available?

Thanks!

Andre (flaming newbie)

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Andre Shoumatoff
http://www.cisautoweb.com

I guess I'd have to vote for one of my former cars, the '80 240-D with the manual tranny. That car was a tank!! I really miss her.

Jim (engatwork), I can't believe you haven't chimed in!

IMO, 1985 was the best year for diesels.

stefano - you are going to make me say something on this thread .

Man, I don't know - I guess it is based on what I am driving at the time. Right now I would be hard pressed to say that anything is better than the 1985 300TD I'm driving. On the same hand L. Bible has some valid points concerning the easy access on the 240's but personally I don't see that much more trouble working on the W123 300 engine.

I just sold a 1980 300D (non-turbo) on ebay that, after changing the 1/2 shafts and taking it on the freeway seems to be a very good running car. The guy is coming down from Mich in a couple weeks to pick it up and I think he is going to be pleasantly surprised at how nice a vehicle he got for $1300 (plus about another $300 for newly installed rebuilt 1/2 shafts).

I am currently looking at picking up a really nice manual transmission 240D that is in excellent condition and low miles. I kinda like the simplicity of the manual transmission 240D. I think it is as close as a car can get to a forklift without actually being one and there is not much equipment out there that can take a beating like a forklift can day in and day out.

I can't comment on any of the diesels later than around 1985 because I have never driven/owned one. I have driven a 1998 model 300 diesel and although I was impressed with the engine/tranny the "feel" of the interior/body did not do much for me. Personally, I want to stay away from any and everything (diesel) with a "check engine" light as long as I can .

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Jim

The ease of maintenance/repair on the four cylinder shows up in three categories; If you're removing and replacing the engine, if you're doing something on the front of the engine, such as radiator, water pump, harmonic balancer, p/s pump, etc. and if you're doing something at the back of the engine, mainly removing the starter or the transmission.

I removed and replaced the 240D engine to put in a clutch and it was so easy to pull, that I did it in much less time than I had previously from underneath. That's how easy it is to pull the engine on a 240D. On my daughters 300D it was much more of a challenging process to get to the bellhousing bolts, the starter bolts, and all the stuff on the front of the engine.

In engineering there is something called the "KISS" principal. This stands for "Keep It Simple, Stupid." This principal weighs in heavily when I'm picking a 240D over the five cylinders.

Have a great day,

Larry, I always respect your opinion, but when your merging onto a highway a 300DT is "best" over any 240D.... But then again, a 500E is really "best" for that....

My cute and funny 2 cents....

And Surfblau, if you're referring to the Cali Spec 123s, you are correct, however, federal cars in 85 had no traps....