350 SDL vs 300 SDL - any opinions?
 

Planned on buying a 94-95 350SDL and eventually doing greasel conversion. In theory, I'd have the best of both worlds. Nice, solid large car and discounted fuel (and my employees to collect it for me...)

350 SDL bent rods - how common is this? Of those who've had the bent rods, is the block shot from elliptical wear?

Is it the newer engine in the 94-95 350SDL that is prone to this?

Is the older 91 and before 300SDL a better long term bet? Love the new body style but is it worth the risks?

350SDL parts costs. Are the parts for this S class much more expensive than say my '92 300TE? We are talking maintanence parts, etc.

How about 300 SDL parts?

These are great cars. How have your experiences been?

Thanks for anyones opinion.

all of the 3.5 liter sixes
 

have the tendency to bend rods. all of the cars you mention have this engine.

i have a 90 350. personally i like the 126 body a lot better because the 140 cars are (for me) too big and too complex.

the cars that bent rods under warranty got new engines from benz which are supposed to have stronger rods. but some folks here have suffered bent rods with them as well suggesting that weakness in the actual rod is not the problem.

on the other hand the 3.0 version of the 603 doesnt have the rep of bending its rods. but early versions tended to crack heads.

so, if mine ever bends a rod i will redo it with a 3.0 block.

i personally (and there is no clear consensus on the reason) believe that the 3.5 liter engine was bored out too much weakening the block so that it twists too much causing head gasket problems which lead to liquid in the combustion chamber enough to cause interference and bending rods.

there is also evidence to suggest the problem is carbon or tar in the combustion chamber doing the dirty deed. and some feel the rods are too weak and just bend.

hope this helps.

tom w

Do a search over in the diesel forum, this issue has pages of debate.

I think they made the 350sdl until 1991. There were 875 imported to the US.

Mine has 115K miles on it. doesn't burn oil, oil sampled each change, no abnormal wear in since I've had the car...Best MB I've owned...