I am looking at a 1995 300D. First of all, I have driven MB for 28 years, and have owned diesels and gas models - I perfer diesels, especially the 300 five cylinder turbo and non-turbo versions.
I have examined this car's build date and initial ownership paperwork, and it appears to be a "1995" model. Robert Nitske's book, "MB Production Models Book 1946-1995", lists this model as stopping in 1993, and this MB forum lists 1994 as the end of the W124 models. Does anyone have any insight into this issue?
The second question has to do with this non-turbo engine (six cylnder). I know the 350 diesel had some problems with piston length and bore wear. I know next to nothing about this six cylinder, and was this engine the six cylinder (as a turbo) used in the W126 model around 1986-7 or later?. It is smooth running and very low mileage.
I like the car, and it has had good care - oil changes every 2500 miles or so. What is the history of this engine over the long term. Any issues for concern? Does it, for example have a steel block and alloy head?
A little more Nitske book research shows production in 1994 being 11,552 units, so the chances of some being produced in 1995 is likely - perhaps excluding CA.(?)
The is a turbo version of the OM 603, with the suffix "A". This appears to be an engine that had a fairly long production run. Head appears to be alloy. [:(]
I have a 1995 300 Diesel 6 cylinder w124. In the UK where I live the saloon W124 stopped being imported in 93 or 94 however the station wagon W124 (which I have) continued until 95 or 96 until the new shape station wagon came out. This may be similar in the US. The later model 6 cyl 124 does have an alloy head and has 24 valves. This model can be identified by the additional side grill on the right hand front wing. I have had mine for 3 years and love it. Its incredibly quiet and smooth for a diesel , admittedly only has 135k on the clock so I intend to run it to 300k at least. Mechanically I can't fault it however as for electrics ......
Problems so far include electrical trunck catch failure which also fused out other things. ( i just disconnected this and now slam the trunk like non merc owners have to). Aircon is a well know trouble spot with all W124s i believe and mine is no exception. Its a complex system with several points of failure - much is written on this forum so search on W124 aircon.
All told due to the bullet proof mechanicals and engine I would definitley recommed it especially if its been regularly serviced.
I assume its an auto you are looking at as the auto is much better than the manual.
Other very minor things that have caused me expense are that it eats heater plugs fairly regularly and there have been some recently in the UK that weld them selves into the head. I have one which wont budget howver my mechanic rescued the other 5 which is enough to start the engine when the stuck one finally goes.
Talk to any taxi driver in europe and they swear by the 5 and 6 cyl W124 D's as being the best ever made. I would concur and expect mine to run for years.
If you have any other specifics feel free to ask [:)]
This is by far one of the best sedan engines in the last decade. We owned one from new and loved it! Traded for a 1999 E 300 Turbo Diesel first year out with the new body and the turbo, but in my opinion it was not the car the 1995 model was. Interior room was smaller. The range on the 23 gallon optional tank was somewhere in the 750 mile range with the 1995. The 1999 Turbo was still good, but down around 550. The interior door side pockets kept coming unglued. Covered under warranty. Radio acted up once. Replaced under warranty. I would buy one again for sure.
That was the first year for that diesel engine. It was introduced in '94 as an early '95...
That was the first year for that diesel engine. It was introduced in '94 as an early '95 model. This was the first 24 valve diesel that was electronicaly controlled. The result was a very smooth running engine that had good power and fuel economy. It was in '98 that the turbo was slapped on to get more power. I would go for it because that year is the last for the 124 chassis and as a result the best. The engine will last forever and since there is no turbo you won't have to deal with that.
This engine (mechanically) sounds great. I have always had some anxiety about an alloy-head diesel but if the alloy is correctly forumlated and with 24 valves things should stay cooler...it might be just the right combination. Also, a non-turbo set up means that things may run cooler and have lower pressures to contend with internally.
I have hear similar comments about the electrical issues on these cars. The dealer is still tracking the work history for me because I want to know what has been done until now. The only other thing that distrubs me about the car is that someone has installed a set of really flaky aftermarket or other model MB wheels. They have the correct size, off set, and wheel center MB star, but they just look odd. I could not find anything in the maintenance log that offered insight into why the previous owner changed the wheels. He did have to replace all four rotters once at 45,000 miles. Something may have heated up the brakes and wheels?? These newer styled wheels have lug locks, suggesting the others may have been taken by someone...
The pealing door pockets are present and peeling. I have repaired these once on another MB.
Also, the previous owner replaced the struts and rear shocks at 43,000 miles. I thought that was rather early, and have never replaced anything Bilstein on any MB that early. The dealer claims to have alined the front end, but it still pulls modestly to the right. I am suspecting other front or rear (five link) suspension issues - along with the need to check lots of other frontend items.
I will look at the car once more tomorrow. Likely trading a very clean low mileage 190E 2.3 1993, that is nearly perfect in every respect. In fact, I just bought struts and shocks for the 190 this week - before I found the 300 diesel. Dang!
The owner probably just wanted to update the stock 15
The owner probably just wanted to update the stock 15" wheels with something newer.
What lovely cars these E300s are. When I was looking for W124s my choices came down to either the E420 or the E300 Diesel. However, at the time the availabe E300s were more expensive and not as well equipped either.
Sometimes I still wish I had a diesel when I notice the mileage the E420 gets even compared to my 20 yr old 123 diesel ;)
Good luck with the car!
btw,
When I was in Singapore for holiday this summer, there were still so many W124 taxis running around and they were all E250s with the 5cylinder version of the E300's engine (4-valve / cyl.).
Those 124 cabs all show 100,000+ km on them... but... I the drivers told me they were more like 1.1+ Mil. km. some even had 1.5M km (almost 1M mi.)
and compared to the W210 cabs (especially the newer 210 CDIs), the W124s seem to hold up the best! Some of the 210 CDIs were already smoking badly.
one of the cab drivers told me that these cabs were previously used elsewhere and were bought as used cars for use as taxis in Singapore. They were cheaper to buy than the ugly Toyota Crowns (majority of the cabs)
You are correct, all diesels are not created 'equal'.
Even Mercedes (DC) gets it right about 2/3's of the time. The 350 diesel and maybe the 400 are examples of designs that seem to be good for some applications, but not all. The diesel Gwagens are a case inpoint where the 300diesels have all been great. However,the 400 diesel is fine for highway application, but seems to be very dust sensitive when used off-road. Engines like the 270 direct injection diesel seem to be, like the 617 series, excellent engines. The 270 is used everywhere - Sprinter, Freighliner, Dodge vans, and the other day I saw here in WA State, a(n) MClass with a 270 engine (Canada vehicle). I am new to the six cylinder family of MB diesels, and it seems as though the OM 603 and perhaps the OM 603A, are among the good diesel designs.
Linear Mode
