Dear friends:

I've read in some books about Mercedes diesel cars that
W116 300SD (1978-1980) are much worse than W126 300SD (1981-1985) because W116 300SD are very much rust-prone, and most of them have problems with water pumps, climate control, cruise control, and many more. One of their conclusions is like this: "Unless you've just got to have a W116 300SD, there is no compelling reason to own one.... The 1981 and later W126 300SD were miles better.".

What are your comments and opinions about W116 and W126 300SD cars?

Thanks a lot.

Best regards,

Eric

Don't start that. The W116 fans out there are worse than Raiders fans in terms of fanaticism. I'd rather have another oil thread

Sixto
95 S420
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

How about this. Any purchase of a 20+ year old car is a "just gotta have" personal decision. Different people prefer different models.

__________________
Rick Miley
2014 Tesla Model S
2018 Tesla Model 3
2017 Nissan LEAF
Former MB: 99 E300, 86 190E 2.3, 87 300E, 80 240D, 82 204D Euro
Chain Elongation References

yeah, i like my old W116 better than the current W126. my personaly opinion is that they are built a lil better. they are both great cars tho.

__________________
198? 300D ???K - Future DD
1989 300TE 285K - traded in '12
1984 300SD 186K - Sold in 08
1978 300SD 330K - Died in 05

Is there an internal size difference between the two? I don't think I've ever seen a 116 and a 126 parked side-by-side, buit it always seems like the 116's are smaller than the 126's...or is that an optical illusion?

i don't notice any difference when i switched to the w126. i'd be interest in knowing this too.

how ever, and this might be just a feeling, i feel the w126 has a wider turning radius.

__________________
198? 300D ???K - Future DD
1989 300TE 285K - traded in '12
1984 300SD 186K - Sold in 08
1978 300SD 330K - Died in 05

Comparing the two is night and day really. What you have to do is stop reading everything Frank Barrett says as gospel. He made a pretty good book but his summaries on everycar are not how do I say? Everything?

Comparing the w116 to a 126 is like saying, who was a better ball player? Joe D or Derek Jeter? Two different cars, two different times. The 116s were built well (as were the 126s) however their construction and steel were prone to rust. Thinner steel, crumple zone construction and (I've heard) "bad" imported steel give way to rust. Many 116s are quick off the line and give a nice sporty ride for such a big car.

The new 126s are miles ahead technology wise. I wouldn't say the quality went down, just the use of chrome and the like. Now if you're taking w220s, I'd say yes, the quality went down.

Do W116 300SD cars use filament-type (series) glow plugs?

Eric

I think they use the more modern, pencil types? I could be mistaken of my terminology...

Check this thread:

http://www.peachparts.com./shopforum/showthread.php3?threadid=67455

www.peachparts.com./shopforum/showthread.php3?s=&threadid=67455

__________________
'91 300D 2.5 Turbo 330K
'00 VW TDI Golf, 190K
'67 BMW R50/2
'73 Norton Commando Interstate

I think the W116 is just like a heavier more chrome-laden W126 body. They both ride the same, use very similar suspensions, but the W126 has better rust protection.

If I lived down south of New England, I wouldn't care what I drove, be it a W116 or a W126. Although the climate control system can be a problem at times in the W116.

Honestly, I've got to say the earlier W126's exterior look a lot like the W116's, bulked up a bit, less chrome, and different headlights.

There are no strikes against the W116 except rust and the climate control. It was every bit as good a car as the W126 was, and was the 'original S-Class'.

__________________
1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)

Dear Dana B.:

Thanks a lot for the great links! They clear up my confusion a lot!

Best regards,

Eric