Boz Mon

I have been researching the purchase of a diesel Benz now for quite some time. I have looked at a few cars, but nothing met my requirements yet. I found a 300TD locally that seems to be a good price. When I started my search, I really wanted the TD and I still do, I have just opened up to a few more models.

The car in question seems to look solid. I havent had time to check it out yet. It has 265k miles on it. The issue is, the owner says that one of the rear shock mounts is broke, and I'm not sure if this is easily fixable or not.

I think I remember reading somewhere that the TD has some sort of air suspension in the rear which often goes out, so I'm not sure if this is the case or there is something physically broken.

If anyone knows anything about this, or has just general tips for purchasing a diesel, I would love to hear.

Plutoe

Although the later W210.025 (turbodiesel) is a solid car -the front\rear suspension is easy to work on if in fact the issue is the suspension----you will be forced to really learn the car because most repair shops haven't got the foggiest idea how to diagnose a diesel therefore go to a truck stop and find a good diesel mechanic.

265K is low mileage,however for me is way to high---I'd look for an early inline six W211 CDI also easy to work o----good luck--you will love the drive!!

Glyn M Ruck

Plutoe ~ please temper the nature of your comments. You have been previously warned in this regard!

OM617.95

At 265k, its near the end of its useful life.

Avoid ANY 300TD with rear suspension problems! They are extremely expensive to fix.

marc hanna

Personally, I wouldn't even consider a gasser at 256k near the end of its useful life. For a conventional diesel, I agree with Plutoe, that's fairly low mileage. I bought my 87 300D with 240k on it, and drove it as a commuter vehicle for years before I sold it.

My main concern would be the transmission, people tend to neglect them. Second concern is rust.

OM617.95

Thats because you don't know about that model's complex and expensive hydropneumatic suspension.

marc hanna

We don't know of a certainty which variant the OP has because he hasn't replied since his original post. We don't even know what country he's from. One would assume he's in the US because he refers to miles, but then many Canadians and Brits still use miles also.

OM617.95

That is false information.

marc hanna

Saying it is false doesn't make it so.

The model is 300TD, but we don't know how it was configured.

OM617.95

Thats why I cited my source and proved you wrong.

marc hanna

I don't think you've proved me wrong.

OM617.95

How cute!

Glyn M Ruck

Benz diesel engines frequently do 1 million Km's in taxi service!

OM617.95

That is false.
The source that 1million km figure came from is ONE Greek 240D taxi, that had 3 spare engines changed out 11 times in it's 4.6m km's.

That averages out to 418k km each before rebuild.

Carsy

If my old Peugeot 504 can do 450,000 km on one engine & still be as strong as a bull with stop start normal use, surely a diesel taxi can more than double it on the one engine.

Here is a Ford Mondeo that can do a million MILES on the original motor :- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-old-Ford.html

OM617.95

That is completely wrong.
Taxi service is far more severe than any daily driver/commuter.

"Now, 16 years later, he has completed the 120-mile return journey from his home in Preesall around 8,330 times."
"There's only me that drives it which helps and I don't put my foot down"
"I go between 60-65 miles per hour which is fast enough and sticking to that speed is better for the engine."

All highway miles. Its common for over-the-road trucks to reach 1m miles.

Carsy

I understood that most wear occurs in an engine when it is cold & gaining operating temperature. Some taxis never cool down as they are driven 24 hours a day. I would have expected taxi engines to last a lot longer .

Anyway its is time you were in bed in Denver !!Midnight.

Glyn M Ruck

My good man. I have been working with Benz from my major oil company global technical job for decades. A huge number of Benz diesel engines in Taxi service do over a million Kms. It is well recorded. A colleague in Malaysia runs a Benz only fleet of about 50 taxis from the airport into KL hotels. His C240 M112 gasoline fleet & all of his diesels run/ran 1 million Km's before replacement with no major repair. One hell of a lot of brake pads & tyres. They are 80% on highway & mainly fully warmed up. All units are serviced by the book at Cycle & Carriage in KL as just one example!.


Please do not make arrogant & uninformed statements.

Glyn M Ruck

JC ~ your Ford & Holden taxis in places like Sydney do huge mileages. All I noticed when assigned there was that the diff pinion bearing would lose preload at about 800,000 Kms & whine between positive & trailing throttle which can be forgiven. Our E Class airport Taxi at the office has done 830,000 Km's as of a couple of weeks back. Zero major repairs & drives like a new car. Also now just the slightest of diff whine/harmonic at exactly 90Km/hr ~ otherwise silent. Taxis around the world & especially the ubiquitous Benz Taxis do huge mileages because many operate in pretty ideal conditions & fully warmed up. Interestingly Benz did a running upgrade to the first to second gear one way clutch on the 722.6 because it proved a failure component in Taxi service at about 650,000Kms after just too many high torque changes.