UGH just found another benz, what to do?! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JordaanDMC-12 · #1 03-19-2010, 03:05 PM

Okay, the point of selling my 86 300E back in 2008 was to get a diesel w124, instead I went through a 83 240D, 85 300TD, 70 220D and now a 91 300E which I have been 100% satisfied with and have been getting attached to.

Went by our local indy for some advice on the front flex disc removal/part ect... and what stares me in the eye? A white 91 (92 year model?) 300D 2.5 Turbo in GREAT condition! very clean with only 111,000 miles and a one owner car, I was checking it out and noticed it has the vent on the right fender which I love! I am then told the owner wants to sell it, the indy just got done putting new motor mounts in and a sender or something and that a certain window is having issues going up and down so it has a minor electrical problem with the window but other than that, he said it's a clean car.

I want it so bad!! But I just got this 300E and was starting to get attached, ugh... But this 300D is what I wanted in the first place and it was staring me straight in the eye when I was there. What do you all think? Should I sell my 300E to get this 300D? I have already fallen in love with the 300D due to it being a w124 diesel and the MPG!!! mid 30's on the freeway with a w124 is a dream come true! But I'm sad to just drop and sell this 300E, man I got to stop thinking of cars as living things with feelings LOL

So pretty much, overall YES I want this 300D because it's what I wanted from the get go, but I "feel bad" for getting rid of the 300E already and so soon. I should probably sell the hell out of the 300E for this 300D, what do you all think?

Fulcrum525 · #2 03-19-2010, 03:13 PM

Congratulations, you've been bitten

I don't know much about the OM602 5 cylinder but they are very similar to the OM603. I don't think the 300D your looking at is turbocharged but I might be wrong. Either way you might want to actually try driving it first. Beyond that I would go for it (Also is the interior leather or MB-Tex and what is the interior of your 300E?)

Joseph_Conrad · #3 03-19-2010, 03:14 PM

Sell the 300e and get the diesel. They're only cars and the 300d sounds like the better one. You'll be happier in the long run, I bet!

jcyuhn · #4 03-19-2010, 03:53 PM

The engine is a cousin of the OM603 - essentially 5 out of 6 cylinders are present and accounted for. And yes, it is turbocharged. (Euros could get it NA - this was the defacto taxi engine overseas.)

Have you driven one yet? A 124 is pretty much a 124, but the power is quite modest here. Only 121HP, and it has turbo lag, and this particular engine always seemed especially down on power when cold. Give it a shot - you might like, you might be surprised that for you it's better in theory than practice.

I always wanted one, but could never scare up a decent example when I needed a car. They are getting rare, especially with that kind of low miles. How much are they asking for it?

Fulcrum525 · #5 03-19-2010, 03:56 PM

Hey! I like turbo lag

Pooka · #6 03-19-2010, 05:17 PM

I had one of these, a 1992....

The engine is good for about 200,000 miles. I would get 36 on the highway and around 38 in city driving.

The vent in the fender is the air intake. This takes an air filter that is unique to this car, but K&N makes a filter for it. You might have to order it through Autozone as they are never in stock.

I never had any issues with it beyond what you would get with any 124. The A/C control head burned out, but they are easy to replace. The headlight switch went, but I pulled one out of a 126 in a wrecking yard and it swaped out. The Cruse Control module tends to fail...

The worse thing I ran into was replacing the aux cooling fans. If you need to replace one then replace them both as they are very difficult to swap out. I mean, I have replaced a lot of these on 108, 114, 115, 123... This one is a little bit different.

But all in all it was great. I could cover 600 miles a day and still not be tired at the end of it. I was rear ended so it went off to the scrap yard, but I would love to find another.

retmil46 · #7 03-19-2010, 07:12 PM

As the saying goes, "Once you go black (as in diesel soot out the tailpipe), you never go back".

JordaanDMC-12 · #8 03-19-2010, 07:16 PM

Fulcrum- Yes, I have been bitten LOL ahhhh man... It does have the turbo charged motor.

Joesph Conrad- I think that's what I am going to do, the indy was going to call the owner and call me back to let me know all the details, price ect..

jcyuhn- I haven't driven a w124 diesel before, but I think I have a good idea and what to expect, having driven a auto 240D, a 65hp 220D and a 5 cylinder w123 Turbo Diesel. Power is not an issue for me at all, 121 horses is all good with me. Not quite sure on the price yet, but will hopefully get a call soon with all the details.

Pooka- The engine is good until 200,000 miles?

Really? Is that like a head gasket type thing or does the engine just fall apart slowly? I though it would last even longer than a normal 300E engine due to it being a diesel! That mileage is amazing, although I admit it's interesting you got better mpg in city than highway, I thought it be the other way around. From your despription sounds like it was a pleasure to drive, I'd really like this car, it's what I've been looking for all along and it's in great condition and has low miles. I think I can see it going to Texas with me

Fulcrum525 · #9 03-19-2010, 07:34 PM

200,000? I would think that it can run a damn site longer then that if you properly maintain it.

Pooka · #10 03-19-2010, 08:00 PM

I would have expected it to last longer, too, since I once had a 240D that went 400,000, but the head gasket blew and I had to decide what to do....

I checked with some shops I trust and got the same answer from all of them about how long these last. Mine really had about 216,000 on it and I started to notice the compression was getting low since it died when I came to a stop after crusing at 75 mph. It started right back up, and I thought, "Uht, oh!" I solved the problem by dropping in a used engine with about 110,000 on it.

The engine itself never gave me any trouble but for the head gasket thing. I know it was a head gasket because I sold the engine and the fellow I sold it to dismantaled it and told me the head was totally warped. I just refunded his money. I did have a fuel leak below and behind the injection pump. I can't recall just what the thing was, but it only cost $42 for a new one at the dealer.

The vaccume pump is supposed to be replaced at 200,000 as there is a metal flange in there that holds a roller bearing that seems to crack. From what I have been told these should not be rebuilt but should be replaced. I never had any trouble with mine, but this is supposed to be a weak point. When I bought the car it appeared the pump had been replaced since it had an updated part number on it.

The higher miles in town was new to me, too. I once got 42 mpg in city driving, and I think it is because the RPM was a bit lower than it should have been. The worst I ever got was a trip from Tulsa to Austin. Most of the trip was at about 85 and the mpg was 29.

I did change the oil as I should, but I bought it with about 190,000 on it, so I cannot know what the previous owner put it through. There were no records with the car (always bad when buying a diesel) but I got a real deal on it even after dropping in the new engine. With the shop I had at the time an engine swap was no big deal.

If you have any more questions I will be more than happy to see if I can answer them.

pawoSD · #11 03-19-2010, 09:10 PM

I like my 300E....it is smooth, quiet, and fast. And gets almost as good of MPG's as my diesel.... the M103 is a great motor. Ideally I'd want it with a 5 speed, but its ok with the automatic too.

A 300D 2.5 would be tempting, but I'd have to drive one first.

JordaanDMC-12 · #12 03-19-2010, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pooka

I would have expected it to last longer, too, since I once had a 240D that went 400,000, but the head gasket blew and I had to decide what to do....

I checked with some shops I trust and got the same answer from all of them about how long these last. Mine really had about 216,000 on it and I started to notice the compression was getting low since it died when I came to a stop after crusing at 75 mph. It started right back up, and I thought, "Uht, oh!" I solved the problem by dropping in a used engine with about 110,000 on it.

The engine itself never gave me any trouble but for the head gasket thing. I know it was a head gasket because I sold the engine and the fellow I sold it to dismantaled it and told me the head was totally warped. I just refunded his money. I did have a fuel leak below and behind the injection pump. I can't recall just what the thing was, but it only cost $42 for a new one at the dealer.

The vaccume pump is supposed to be replaced at 200,000 as there is a metal flange in there that holds a roller bearing that seems to crack. From what I have been told these should not be rebuilt but should be replaced. I never had any trouble with mine, but this is supposed to be a weak point. When I bought the car it appeared the pump had been replaced since it had an updated part number on it.

The higher miles in town was new to me, too. I once got 42 mpg in city driving, and I think it is because the RPM was a bit lower than it should have been. The worst I ever got was a trip from Tulsa to Austin. Most of the trip was at about 85 and the mpg was 29.

I did change the oil as I should, but I bought it with about 190,000 on it, so I cannot know what the previous owner put it through. There were no records with the car (always bad when buying a diesel) but I got a real deal on it even after dropping in the new engine. With the shop I had at the time an engine swap was no big deal.

If you have any more questions I will be more than happy to see if I can answer them.

Thank you Pooka for all your information regarding this, if I have any more questions i'll be sure to ask! If I do happen to get this 300D I'll be sure to keep the cooling system in top shape so the head doesn't get too stressed by heat. A warped head is a big fear of mine with aluminum heads, wish they would of kept cast iron ones

JordaanDMC-12 · #13 03-19-2010, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

I like my 300E....it is smooth, quiet, and fast. And gets almost as good of MPG's as my diesel.... the M103 is a great motor. Ideally I'd want it with a 5 speed, but its ok with the automatic too.

A 300D 2.5 would be tempting, but I'd have to drive one first.

Oh I love my little turquoise 300E, don't get me wrong, but as a previous poster stated, once you go diesel, you never go back LOL Well, they said it in a way more fun way haha

I love diesel engines and I love the fact it's possible to get 38mpg in a w124. As mentioned before speed is no issue with me, just as long as it can make up a hill without bogging down. A diesel engine would be more practical for myself especially for my long trips I plan on having in the future.

I really want this 300D but I don't know what the price is and if I'll be able to afford it, I don't want to eat it on the 300E if I sell it either. Be amazing to get it, but if it doesn't happen I'm still cool with my 300E. My goal was to one day (when I can afford it) remove the m103 and replace it with a diesel motor. I would clean and send out the m103 to be refurbished and store it.