hey guys I've been reading the posts on the SD's getting around 300k miles.. can I expect this from my 93 300SE?? I currently have 146 k miles on it.. atleast 750 miles a week... oil changes every 2 weeks.. the car has held up well so far except for the usual early w140 prob.. hey my AC still works.. (knock on wood) new tires and struts.. tran rebuilt at 133k miles.. what else can i expect??? can i do any preventative maint.???

Still might go for a newer W140 for the wife,,


Thanks

Here's my $0.02.

You're doing all the right things to make your gas car run as far as it can possibly go. I have driven gas and diesel MB's. It wouldn/t surpricse me to see you go 300K. But I believe that the odds of seeing 300K on a gas engine are considerably lower than seeing the same on the comparable diesel engine. I have a 240D that went 516K before coming apart, I'm now changing engines as we speak. I have never gotten close to this with a gas engine even though I take just as much care.

Here's why. Basically gasoline is a solvent, diesel fuel is a lubricant. The combustion byproduct in a gasoline engine is carbon, a mild abrasive. The combustion byproduct in a diesel engine is an oily substance with some soot, not as abrasive.

Also there are certain ills which you see in gas engines that you rarely or never see in diesel engines, such as burned valves and the like which cause the engine to be taken apart. A diesel engine tends to keep going even when it gets so worn out that you can hardly keep oil in it. The difference here is that a diesel engine BURNS the consumed oil rather than having foul spark plugs and the like.

Basically diesel/gas is like orange/apple.

Please don't let any of this discourage you. Your are changing oil often and keeping an eye on your engine. It also sounds as if your miles are CRUISE miles. I drive 1,000 miles per week myself, and change oil every 3,000 miles in my gas and diesel cars. If you maintain your dilligence(and thus your car) I think 300K and beyond is attainable. A lot of it has to do with luck as well. Remember you have one of the best gasoline engines in the world.

Good Luck,


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Larry Bible
'84 Euro 240D, 516K miles
'88 300E 5 Speed
Over 800,000 miles in
Mercedes automobiles

There is no reason to replace the oil that often. Oil will last at least 8000 miles, if you don't have worn piston rings or cilinders.
My old 280S got 10.000 mile oil changes and lasted 350.000 miles without any bearing or compression problems. The next owner used it for another 100.000 miles.

Can I do any prev. maint. on the car?? it still has the orig. Timing belt but the belt tensioner was replaced at 133k.. I just replaced the micron and air filters.. the only prob i have is the close assist pump.. can I attempt on rebuilding this unit??? anyone have instruction on how to remove it and where it is located?? I recently replaced the blower control regulator but when i put the control to high the fan works at a high speed but i do not get the amount of air that I intend on blowing out at that speed .. what could be wrong???


thanks again...

You can't rebuild the closing assist pump....I have tried. It is located behind the panel in the trunk located toward the back seat on the left side. The engine in your car is a goooood one, and I don't expect to be rebuilding them anytime soon as long as they don't overheat.

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Benzmac:
1981 280GE SWB
1987 16V
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
SERVICE MANAGER FOR 14 BAY FACILITY
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 8 YRS
PARTNER IN MERCEDESSHOP.COM