OT: Looking for a diesel Mercedes, Can anyone give me some pointers? Options

[Dr Evil]

Some of you must know about old MBZ diesels. I am looking for one as a commuter/nice classy ride. I reacently looked at a 73 300D that was nice, but needed too much work for the price. Is there any years to look for? Stay away from? Things to take note of?

Anyone know what kind of milage to expect form a 4.5L 70s 6cyl reagular gas engine? Just for the hell of it as I have one that I want, but it will probably get crappy milage and that I cannot afford.

Thanks (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

[SP9146]

You definitely want a turbo diesel. During the 70s and 80s M/B put the 5-cyl. turbo diesel in the big S-class body. It was only offered in North America and sold like gang busters. They are a little slow off the line but fantastic on the open road, super comfortable and amazingly economical. They are also indestructible.

M/B built a few 300D turbo diesels. Those were the mid-sized body. The coolest one is the wagon but it is very rare.

The older M/B 4-cyl. diesels are all non turbo and really slow (but get great MPG). The 5-cyl. non turbos are faster but still a lot slower than the turbos and not much more economical.

There's a taxi company in AZ that has been buying a lot of the S-class turbos for their fleet, which is 100% M/B diesel. The reason is longevity and low operating costs, although things like A/C systems can fail after all these years and are expensive to replace.

You need to do your homework on anything after around mid 80s. I remember reading that M/B had one or two bad years where they were experimenting with particulate traps. Those engines are problematic.

The brand new E320CDI has the common rail technology. The common rail diesels are truly amazing... no smoke, smell and very little noise. They are powerful and economical and in my opinion a much better high efficiency solution than gas / electric hybrids.

At the Geneva show M/B showed their new V6-D in an SL of all things. This engine will replace their inline-6 and go head to head with BMW diesels, which are currently best in the world.

The V6-D in the SL (I think it was just a concept car) had three turbos... two side mounted small ones to reduce lag and emissions and a giant one on top for max power.

In 2006 the US will have low sulfur diesel fuel which will reduce the soot in diesel exhaust.

Pete (diesel fan)