Why are MB diesel engines so darn reliable?

1. Because many MB diesel owners are meticulous about the maintanance of their vehicle?

2. Because the German engineering at the time (up to 1985 as some say) was second to none?

3. Because diesel engines are just more reliable than gas engines?

4. Or all of the above?


Which leads me to ask...Are/were the American diesel engines any good? How about VW diesel engines?


Just a question that has been occupying my days as of late.

I received my first MB, 1981 300d, about six/seven years ago. When my Mom first bought that car "used", I said to her, "what are you crazy! Your'e going to dump a bunch of money into it. And it's expensive to maintain" It had about 150,00 at the time and I was unfamiliar with MBs. Well, she later gave me the car with 200,000 miles, I bought it because money was short and the price was right, not because I had a love or understanding of MBs. At the time, I was skeptical, I just needed a "station car".

Well I'm on my second one now. I lost the last one because of a guy hitting me in the right pass tire, bending the control arm and sway bar (not woth fixing). The car had 250,000 and probably would have gone another 250,000 if not for the accident.

Of course owning one, I had to get another and ended up with an '83 with 124,000 miles, clean as a whistle.

Anyway, getting a little carried away with the history, but you can't beat these cars. As long as it is maintained, it will be your best friend. Besides of course your dog, wife and kids...not necessarily in that order. it's a shame they do not make them like this anymore!

Any thoughts on the reliability of the classic diesels.