Decent Reliable MB Diesel

[mancub]

Can anyone recommend a used Mercedes Diesel. Currently have 1988 300E which runs quietly on motorways. This would be my first diesel and they sound like taxis when starting up.

Only reason I am after diesel is fuel economy and this would be my first diesel as well.

Looking for atleast 3.0 diesel. Like W210 but they have rust problem

Thanks

Mancub

 

[Stratman]

Modern MB CDIs are pretty quiet once they have warmed up. This is especially apparent on motorways as the high gearing means lower revs. Your target car depends on your budget, but if you want a good economical one with surprising performance then you could do a lot worse than a 270 CDI. It's a 5-pot turbo and is in both the C and E classes. If you are set on 3L+ then you are looking at the 320 CDI which is a V6.

 

[nick mercedes]

Can anyone recommend a used Mercedes Diesel. Currently have 1988 300E which runs quietly on motorways. This would be my first diesel and they sound like taxis when starting up.

Only reason I am after diesel is fuel economy and this would be my first diesel as well.

Looking for atleast 3.0 diesel. Like W210 but they have rust problem

Thanks

Mancub

W210 300 Turbos are a jolly good car, loads of torque and strong engines, without all the costly problems Cdis can have.

Rust is always a bit of an issue, but at least the rusty reputation has sent prices tumbling...

 

[Dieselman]

First question. How much do you want to spend??

Both late W124 and all W210 have rust issues unless they've been sorted. If a careful owner has had all the problems dealt with and has looked after the car with extra rustproofing and underseal then a W210 E300 is a great buy.
Start-up noise isn't a problem with the indirect engines, that's why MB kept them for so long instead of going for direct.
Go for a six banger and you won't be dissapointed.

These really are the most reliable cars MB made...and I'm not joking.

 

[BenzComander]

We loved our 300TD W210. Fast, quiet and frugal:bannana:

 

[Dieselman]

We loved our 300TD W210. Fast, quiet and frugal:bannana:

You missed comfortable off the list.
Only yesterday was I trying a W211 for size. Two immediate observations with the drivers seat. The backrest doesn't go as high so the headrest is too low on max height and digs into your shoulders, and the seat just isn't as comfortable....

 

[mark.t]

my E300 ELEGANCE ......well I still can not think of a reason to get rid of mine ....comfortable ..powerful ...wafts along ....pulls like a dream (caravan) packs a punch ....very under stated but drop your right foot and whoosh away you go...I still smile at the faces on people when I pull away from the lights with my top box and tow bar on they just give up ...Even BMW 33O D'S ... they do run out of steam at the top end of the rev band but there are products on the market for diesel tuning ...(TD TUNING) that may help but believe me you get there fast enough ... all my rust problems where sorted through Mercedes ..possibley the best car I have ever owned pound for pound .....oh by the way on start up mine just mermers ...no clatter mybr on very cold -0 mornings ....just remember decent fuel and millers diesel power +

 

[BenzComander]

my E300 ELEGANCE ......well I still can not think of a reason to get rid of mine ....comfortable ..powerful ...wafts along ....pulls like a dream (caravan) packs a punch ....very under stated but drop your right foot and whoosh away you go...I still smile at the faces on people when I pull away from the lights with my top box and tow bar on they just give up ...Even BMW 33O D'S ... they do run out of steam at the top end of the rev band but there are products on the market for diesel tuning ...(TD TUNING) that may help but believe me you get there fast enough ... all my rust problems where sorted through Mercedes ..possibley the best car I have ever owned pound for pound .....

We were in the market for a w210 estate, would have been nice to get a diesel, but the 320 petrol came up at a good price, so we dived in. I often do an autotrader search just to keep an idea of the price that the 300TD are now going for. Would be tempted by a late well speced, lowish mileage one