MotorWeek Takes a Look Back at Turbodiesel S-Class
As you’d expect, Mercedes made one of the finest diesel-powered cars in the 1980s.
It may be dated now, but the Mercedes 300SD stood out in a considerable way from the rest of the Mercedes offerings. It wasn’t the first or only car to fit a diesel engine in a luxury car, but one must considering the era which it was done.
Diesel cars from the 80’s, specifically those from GM, essentially killed any positive public perception of a gasoline alternative. Mercedes’ 300SD suffered no such criticisms, which is why we still adore it.
Powered by a 5 cylinder, 120 horsepower engine, acceleration wasn’t going to throw you in the back of your seat. However, the engine was noticeably lacking the usual diesel clatter, and returned over 30 mpg. For the early stages of fuel injection, and the aerodynamics of a brick, that’s quite impressive.
Fast forward to today, and many of these turbo diesels are still well-loved and racking up huge mileage numbers. Oil-burner engines are typically made with high strength internal components, and turbocharged versions are even stronger. It has led to many owners simply keeping the cars around far longer than they expect, and in some cases converting them to run bio-diesel for some creative penny-pinching.
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