What 140 is the most reliable?
01-13-2007, 12:39 PM
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What 140 is the most reliable?
After reading many post. I cant determine the best 140. Would it be the 300SD? Not trying to upset anyone. Would just like to hear opinions.
Nickel
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01-13-2007, 12:56 PM
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1993 300SEL/S320
I'd buy any other than the SD, the engine in that was the only engine in the W140 that was completely useless, engine problems aside from the wiring harness are rare in these cars, it's all the electronic gizmos and the self leveling rear in the larger engined cars (500, 600) that give problems, so there is no engine that is any more reliable than the other, some say the V8 is the best as it does not suffer from the head gaskett issue that the I6 has.
01-13-2007, 06:10 PM
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You can puah the V8 and the V12 hard without much issues. All these motors ask for is the best gasoline and the best motor oil. In return, they give solid reliability and performance. Now, while there have been a few examples, the MB motors from the previous era are "bulletproof." S320, S420, S500, S600...all the W140's are stunning cars with exceptional build quality. Have fun with the test drives, and see which suits you best. 
01-13-2007, 09:28 PM
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You can puah the V8 and the V12 hard without much issues. All these motors ask for is the best gasoline and the best motor oil. In return, they give solid reliability and performance. Now, while there have been a few examples, the MB motors from the previous era are "bulletproof." S320, S420, S500, S600...all the W140's are stunning cars with exceptional build quality. Have fun with the test drives, and see which suits you best.
01-14-2007, 12:22 AM
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I'd buy any other than the SD, the engine in that was the only engine in the W140 that was completely useless, engine problems aside from the wiring harness are rare in these cars, it's all the electronic gizmos and the self leveling rear in the larger engined cars (500, 600) that give problems, so there is no engine that is any more reliable than the other, some say the V8 is the best as it does not suffer from the head gaskett issue that the I6 has.
I just bought a new 07 MB E Saks 5th Avenue Edition I have never owned a MB until 60 days ago. Now I want to buy an older MB for fun. Just cant decide on a 126 or 140 or maybe an old 123. I want a diesel.It may sound strange but I like the sound of one of those older MD diesels.
Nickel Mania-Dal
01-14-2007, 04:31 AM
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1993 300SEL/S320
NZ Benz, After reading many post,I thought the 300sd (126) was a fantastic car and had a great motor. Was the 300sd (140 ) different? I know the stlyle was very different but what about the drive train? I have noticed there a lot of 126 diesels, Why are there not many 140 diesels? Where the 140 deisels bad compared to the 126 deisels?
I just bought a new 07 MB E Saks 5th Avenue Edition I have never owned a MB until 60 days ago. Now I want to buy an older MB for fun. Just cant decide on a 126 or 140 or maybe an old 123. I want a diesel.It may sound strange but I like the sound of one of those older MD diesels.
Nickel Mania-Dal
I just bought a new 07 MB E Saks 5th Avenue Edition I have never owned a MB until 60 days ago. Now I want to buy an older MB for fun. Just cant decide on a 126 or 140 or maybe an old 123. I want a diesel.It may sound strange but I like the sound of one of those older MD diesels.
Nickel Mania-Dal
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01-14-2007, 01:04 PM
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Nickel
01-14-2007, 04:38 PM
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I used to do business with a few folks from NZ. One of the guys names is Brent Arkel. He used to own a Indoor Grand Prix go kart track in NZ. Do you know of him?
Nickel Mania
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mpekmez (06-09-2023)
01-17-2007, 02:26 PM
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1997 S600 - Bentley Turbo R (black/black)
well the most reliable w140, in general terms would be those produced toward of the end of
w140 era, i am talking 97-99, and of course with lower miles.
I own a s600, and people talk about the unreliability of those cars, i have never had any problems with the engine itself, but with other items such as shocks, window regulator, battery, which could happen on any model, s420,
s500, and they happened on my previous s500 w140.
So, to answer your question, the most reliable w140, would be a clean well maintained w140, that could be s320, or s420 or s500. That is more important to me, then the actual model.
w140 era, i am talking 97-99, and of course with lower miles.
I own a s600, and people talk about the unreliability of those cars, i have never had any problems with the engine itself, but with other items such as shocks, window regulator, battery, which could happen on any model, s420,
s500, and they happened on my previous s500 w140.
So, to answer your question, the most reliable w140, would be a clean well maintained w140, that could be s320, or s420 or s500. That is more important to me, then the actual model.
01-17-2007, 08:07 PM
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well the most reliable w140, in general terms would be those produced toward of the end of
w140 era, i am talking 97-99, and of course with lower miles.
I own a s600, and people talk about the unreliability of those cars, i have never had any problems with the engine itself, but with other items such as shocks, window regulator, battery, which could happen on any model, s420,
s500, and they happened on my previous s500 w140.
So, to answer your question, the most reliable w140, would be a clean well maintained w140, that could be s320, or s420 or s500. That is more important to me, then the actual model.
w140 era, i am talking 97-99, and of course with lower miles.
I own a s600, and people talk about the unreliability of those cars, i have never had any problems with the engine itself, but with other items such as shocks, window regulator, battery, which could happen on any model, s420,
s500, and they happened on my previous s500 w140.
So, to answer your question, the most reliable w140, would be a clean well maintained w140, that could be s320, or s420 or s500. That is more important to me, then the actual model.
01-17-2007, 08:08 PM
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01-19-2007, 06:36 PM
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1993 300CE Sportline
older 300D can be fun
I had a 1979 300D, I paid a few dollars more than most but it was like new! While I like a newer benz for everyday driving, the older 77hp and the noise, smoke, it was always more interesting to drive. Slow, kind of a state of mind...it was a good thing. Plus my investment was really quite minimal, under $5,000 for a peach of a car.
kurt
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01-19-2007, 11:01 PM
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I had a 1979 300D, I paid a few dollars more than most but it was like new! While I like a newer benz for everyday driving, the older 77hp and the noise, smoke, it was always more interesting to drive. Slow, kind of a state of mind...it was a good thing. Plus my investment was really quite minimal, under $5,000 for a peach of a car.
kurt
kurt
Nickel
01-20-2007, 10:38 PM
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S400CDI 2002
I don't really understand why so many people have opinoins about the W140 diesel engines and no one seems to know exactly what the problems are or have any experience of owning one.
I drove a S350TD 1994 for four years, from 200 000 km to 360 000 km, without any major engine problems except for a bursted cylinder head gasket at 260 000 km. This ought to be quite common since there is a weak spot, which I can describe technically if anyone is interested.
While having the cylinder head off for replacing the gasket i naturally took the opportunity to get it totally overhauled as well as the injectors checked (perfect condition!) since the car wasn't brand new.
The following 100 000 km it ran quite well mechanically, but I experienced an annoying intermittent electrical problem that caused the turbo pressure to drop, but it was always easily cured by simply restarting. Hence I never bothered to find out whether it was one of the numerous temperature and pressure sensors that was faulty or the ECU itself.
The performance isn't sportscar like with full turbo pressure considering that you've got about 150 hp to move a heavy car around, but with the wastegate fully open (and, I guess, about 85 hp) trucks and buses beat you off the red lights...
It is a very nice and comfortable car though, and from 1996 on there is an improved and more powerful 3 liter engine replacing the bad reputated 3,5 liter engine, I have no experience of that engine but it is said to be more reliable.
The electrical problems will probably occur no matter what engine you choose since there are more than a few electric gizmos in these cars and those things seldom age like a fine wine (rather like milk, I'd say), keeping in mind that the W140 series is growing old now.
My advise would be to find a well kept car with everything working and preferrably a completwe service record and then hope for the best, since these cars can be tremendously expensive to repair.
I drove a S350TD 1994 for four years, from 200 000 km to 360 000 km, without any major engine problems except for a bursted cylinder head gasket at 260 000 km. This ought to be quite common since there is a weak spot, which I can describe technically if anyone is interested.
While having the cylinder head off for replacing the gasket i naturally took the opportunity to get it totally overhauled as well as the injectors checked (perfect condition!) since the car wasn't brand new.
The following 100 000 km it ran quite well mechanically, but I experienced an annoying intermittent electrical problem that caused the turbo pressure to drop, but it was always easily cured by simply restarting. Hence I never bothered to find out whether it was one of the numerous temperature and pressure sensors that was faulty or the ECU itself.
The performance isn't sportscar like with full turbo pressure considering that you've got about 150 hp to move a heavy car around, but with the wastegate fully open (and, I guess, about 85 hp) trucks and buses beat you off the red lights...
It is a very nice and comfortable car though, and from 1996 on there is an improved and more powerful 3 liter engine replacing the bad reputated 3,5 liter engine, I have no experience of that engine but it is said to be more reliable.
The electrical problems will probably occur no matter what engine you choose since there are more than a few electric gizmos in these cars and those things seldom age like a fine wine (rather like milk, I'd say), keeping in mind that the W140 series is growing old now.
My advise would be to find a well kept car with everything working and preferrably a completwe service record and then hope for the best, since these cars can be tremendously expensive to repair.
01-21-2007, 03:38 AM
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1993 300SEL/S320
I don't really understand why so many people have opinoins about the W140 diesel engines and no one seems to know exactly what the problems are or have any experience of owning one.
I drove a S350TD 1994 for four years, from 200 000 km to 360 000 km, without any major engine problems except for a bursted cylinder head gasket at 260 000 km. This ought to be quite common since there is a weak spot, which I can describe technically if anyone is interested.
While having the cylinder head off for replacing the gasket i naturally took the opportunity to get it totally overhauled as well as the injectors checked (perfect condition!) since the car wasn't brand new.
The following 100 000 km it ran quite well mechanically, but I experienced an annoying intermittent electrical problem that caused the turbo pressure to drop, but it was always easily cured by simply restarting. Hence I never bothered to find out whether it was one of the numerous temperature and pressure sensors that was faulty or the ECU itself.
The performance isn't sportscar like with full turbo pressure considering that you've got about 150 hp to move a heavy car around, but with the wastegate fully open (and, I guess, about 85 hp) trucks and buses beat you off the red lights...
It is a very nice and comfortable car though, and from 1996 on there is an improved and more powerful 3 liter engine replacing the bad reputated 3,5 liter engine, I have no experience of that engine but it is said to be more reliable.
The electrical problems will probably occur no matter what engine you choose since there are more than a few electric gizmos in these cars and those things seldom age like a fine wine (rather like milk, I'd say), keeping in mind that the W140 series is growing old now.
My advise would be to find a well kept car with everything working and preferrably a completwe service record and then hope for the best, since these cars can be tremendously expensive to repair.
I drove a S350TD 1994 for four years, from 200 000 km to 360 000 km, without any major engine problems except for a bursted cylinder head gasket at 260 000 km. This ought to be quite common since there is a weak spot, which I can describe technically if anyone is interested.
While having the cylinder head off for replacing the gasket i naturally took the opportunity to get it totally overhauled as well as the injectors checked (perfect condition!) since the car wasn't brand new.
The following 100 000 km it ran quite well mechanically, but I experienced an annoying intermittent electrical problem that caused the turbo pressure to drop, but it was always easily cured by simply restarting. Hence I never bothered to find out whether it was one of the numerous temperature and pressure sensors that was faulty or the ECU itself.
The performance isn't sportscar like with full turbo pressure considering that you've got about 150 hp to move a heavy car around, but with the wastegate fully open (and, I guess, about 85 hp) trucks and buses beat you off the red lights...
It is a very nice and comfortable car though, and from 1996 on there is an improved and more powerful 3 liter engine replacing the bad reputated 3,5 liter engine, I have no experience of that engine but it is said to be more reliable.
The electrical problems will probably occur no matter what engine you choose since there are more than a few electric gizmos in these cars and those things seldom age like a fine wine (rather like milk, I'd say), keeping in mind that the W140 series is growing old now.
My advise would be to find a well kept car with everything working and preferrably a completwe service record and then hope for the best, since these cars can be tremendously expensive to repair.
01-22-2007, 02:12 PM
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is a German Tank
Aside from its legendary reliability, it was the only year that MB offered a 3.0 Diesel powerplant in a w124.
01-22-2007, 02:13 PM
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The 300SD W126 used the 5-cylinder OM617 turbodiesel, which was extremely reliable. I had one for 250K miles with no problems whatsoever. When MB switched to the 6-cylinder OM603 engine for the 1990 350SD, the problems started. They are well documented. See "Problem Models" in
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_W126
The W140 continued this engine. The many happy W126 owners were because of the 5-cylinder engine.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_W126
The W140 continued this engine. The many happy W126 owners were because of the 5-cylinder engine.
01-23-2007, 10:02 AM
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01-25-2007, 07:19 AM
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S500L, 1995
01-25-2007, 08:40 AM
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Mercedes made 3 different 3.0L diesel engines, all of which were in a car called 300SD or 300SDL at some point.
The 3.0L 5-cylinder 300SD engine in the 1981-1985 W126. This engine, aside from some turbo/trap issues, is good.
The 3.0L 6-cylinder 300SDL engine in the 1986+ W126 is also a great engine.
Both of those two are completely different engines than the 3.5L diesel found in the W140 and the last of the W126s. The 3.5L W140 diesel (300SD) is the same engine that was in the 350SDL 1990-1991 W126. That is to say, the W140 300SD has the same rod-bending issues as the 350SDL.
The 3.0L 5-cylinder 300SD engine in the 1981-1985 W126. This engine, aside from some turbo/trap issues, is good.
The 3.0L 6-cylinder 300SDL engine in the 1986+ W126 is also a great engine.
Both of those two are completely different engines than the 3.5L diesel found in the W140 and the last of the W126s. The 3.5L W140 diesel (300SD) is the same engine that was in the 350SDL 1990-1991 W126. That is to say, the W140 300SD has the same rod-bending issues as the 350SDL.
