[QUOTE=fahrgewehr2;1686557]What model?

300SD, Stuttgart edition, special order with leather seats.

m110 owners don't defer maintenance. Ever.
And as for the cast-iron block 3.5 and 4.5's, the early ones had aluminum-backed rails. Mine has 145k on the original rails and I will NOT ever replace them at this rate. MAYBE I will have them professionally recoated, but they will not snap unlike the plastic ones.

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Current:
2021 Charger Scat Pack Widebody "Sinabee"
2024 CR-V Hybrid

Previous:
1972 280SE 4.5
2018 Durango R/T, 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited "Hefe", 1992 Jeep Cherokee Laredo "Jeepy", 2006 Charger R/T "Hemi"
1999 Chrysler 300M - RIP @ 221k

1976 300sd?

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'90 300SE 298k
-300K and it gets put into retirement.
'80 300D 255k Purchased new by family in 1980.

Had a:
1973 220 (gas)
1980 300SD
1992 400E

Don't know how the "S" got in there.

It's a 300D, naturally aspirated.

That chain was really the only major downfall of the V8 engines in the W126 models, even the 380SE model. That was exactly why I sold my 1985 380SE. I loved the car, but the date/mileage of the last timing chain/tensioner/rails/guides was unknown, so I sold it. It was too old and had too many miles to sink hundreds of dollars into for this repair, especially since I had developed an occasional stalling, which I was informed was bad injector seals.

Too bad MB did not make these "non-interference" engines, or have designed the engine to have not had the "crumbly with age" rails. I think alot of that junk could have been eliminated. Take Lexus for instance... from 1990-97, the 4.0L V8 was a non-interference engine. If the timing belt was to break, no engine damage would occur. I had a 90' LS400 with 252K and AFAIK, it still had the original timing belt - engine was still super smooth and quiet and very powerful. I would have to look down @ the tach to see if the engine was still running, it was so quiet.

However, in 1998, they (Lexus) switched to a VVt-i engine, which was an interference engine, as was the 4.7L V8 in my old Toyota Tundra truck. Why they did that, I have no idea. I mean, why unnecessarily add risk of major engine damage if its not necessary?

To the guy that also has the SD models... unfortunately, from what I have heard, these cars have interference engines as well. If something in there breaks, the engine is likely ruined.

Good luck!