[heckflosse]

Hi,

I'm thinking of swaping my '96 E220 for either a 280SLor 300SL.
Which would you say is the more reliable engine and how easy are they to maintain for the DIY enthusiast?
Also is their a year when engine management or CPU/computers were introduced (I'm asking because my past two modernish Mercs have been plagued with issues because of these)
Finally what kind of fuel consumption can I expect to get from a well maintained average mileage example (around 100,000 miles)

 

[JQ]

I would say go for the 300SL. From what I have heared, they are both relaiable engines, bu...

I would say go for the 300SL. From what I have heared, they are both relaiable engines, but the 300 is a much more modern design (even though the 280 has 2 camshafts). The 300 has more power, uses less fuel, and runs more quite.

I own a 300SL, and I have driven a 280SL, and the difference between the cars is like night and day. Appart form the new engine, the 1986+ models got lots of other upgrades, like the larger discbrakes, a nicer interior, and other components from the W126 S-class.

My 300SL (50,000km) needs around 11-13 liters/100km.
I used to drive a 1973 280SE (250,000km) needed around 16-18 liters/100km. My next car was a 300SE (also 250,000km) which needed 12-14 liters/100km.

Don´t know what all this translates into mpg, but the 280 was for sure much thirstier. Maybe it was because the Bosch D-Jetronic electro/mechanical (it uses manifold pressure as an input signal to the control unit for calculation of the correct amount of fuel delivery) on my 280 was not properly tuned (it was too complicated for me to understand, and I was too poor to leave the car to a garage). The later 280 engines (>1976?) got a new fully mechanical K-Jetronic injection.

Now a days I don't do much service by myself, so I can not really comment on the 300-engine.

 

[JQ]

I would say go for the 300SL. From what I have heared, they are both relaiable engines, bu...

double post...

 

[AJSM]

I've never driven a 300 SL, only a 300 E. What I can say is that my 280 SLC is a seventies...

I've never driven a 300 SL, only a 300 E. What I can say is that my 280 SLC is a seventies car. Has nothing to do with the eighties 300. If you drive the 280 at 120/130 km/h you'll get around 13 liters/100. Last weekend I drove mine for 400 km at an average speed of 160/170 km/h with a/c on and it made more than 19 liters/100.
On the other hand, the engine of the 280 is more classic (with the K-Jetronic) and most probably more reliable than the electronics in the newer cars. My father had always owned Mercedes diesels and the best was the W123 300D. After that (E250TD W124 and E300TD W201?) the electronic problems came and he had more and more trouble.
Anyway I think it's a question of luck!!

 

[Greg in Oz]

See my reply on the W124 forum

See my reply to your post at:
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/messages.asp?messno=54646&id=11&view=t