What models did Mercedes put a diesel in?

[CRSmith]

Kind of looking for the next addition to the fleet. What models did Mercedes put a diesel motor in? Were they good? Of course, can't afford a new one, but the late seventies to late eighties models should be reasonably priced by now.

 

[Pit Bull]

240D, 300D, 300SD. Built like tanks. Talk to a local independent Mercedes diesel mechanic, they can put you on to the right model and year. Maybe even the right vehicle?

 

[illflem]

I've worked on many early '80s MB diesels with 300k+ miles, still going strong.

 

[Diesel Freak]

I ride mountain bikes with some Mercedes Techs from Rasmussen Mercedes in Portland.



their suggestion to me about a mercedes diesel... ... stay away from them unless you like expensive repair bills..... Mercedes is tight lipped about giving out Tech info on the engine and fuel systems (Bosch) when it comes to the US Market..... the only place to service them is the dealer.

 

[Skydiver]

I loved mine!

I started out with a 1972 220-D. Bullet proof is an under statement. My second one 1981 300 D (which is for sale) is just as good. My problem was that I went to a shop to have my timing chain replaced at 115,000 and they did not crimp (or brad) the master link properly. The timing chain broke 5 years and 50,000 miles later. I was told by many that the chains were good for over 200,000 miles. The basic servicing is easy.

The only bad diesels were the aluminun head models on the 350 6 cylinder.

All the 4 and 5 cylinder models are fine if they were serviced properly.

Tim

 

[CRSmith]

Now for the more important question. Can you bomb them???

 

[Bob Beauchaine]

They've got a 2. 7L common rail in Jeeps in europe and from what I've read they are better than the 4. 7L the US now uses - 20+mpg.

Happy trails

Bob

 

[Motorhead]

We have two 300d turbos. the 123 body is the standard sedan that you see alot of(240's are a 123 body). Don't... I repeat don't buy anything but a turbo. Its not just that it is a turbo with more power, it is a better engine inside. Buy a '82thru '84 if you can find one. The '85 atleast for Calif has a cat on it and is de-rated in hp. My wife has a '84 wagon with 200k on it... runs perfect and doesn't use any oil. My daughter has an '85 sedan with the cat. We bought it because it was low mileage and I tweaked the pump a bit and it runs well.



A good test to perform when you look at one is to pull the oil cap off at hot idle and see if it has alot of blow-by. They will have some, but not alot. You can find old 240's and non turbo 300's but they didn't have as good of rings in them. You can do the oil cap ck and they will blow the cap up when you loosen it... but they will still run. The problem with the older ones and alot of blow-by is they won't start when cold.



The later ones 82to85 have the better climate control (heating/ac). The early ones are hard to find one that still works. They had a BUNCH of vacuum lines and were hard to fix right.



A good running 300turbo is a pleasure to drive. Any other questions... e-mail me Chris

 

[Blakers]

We've had 14 Benz' over the years - all diesels. 1962 190D to 1981 300SD. They are all relatively easy to work on - I never found the engines to be expensive to service.



The non-turbo engines are dogs, but the turbos will really move. When you open the fuel flipper door and read "add 6 more psi of air pressure to the tires when exceeding 100 mph for extended durations of time" you know they like to go. These are the turbo cars. My 1967 200D would only go 82 mph wide open.



When they are worn out they are hard starting when cold. We had one that would start better when cold than hot though - had to tow it to get it going when hot.



Blake

 

[WadePatton]

anything that ends in "D". "###D"

 

[Doc Tinker]

http://www.dieselforum.org/inthenews/WSJ_073102.html





"DaimlerChrysler AG's Mercedes-Benz unit plans to offer a diesel powered version of its 2004 model E Class sedans, reintroducing passenger car diesel engines to the U. S. market after a gap of several years"