The single most important thing about getting a used one for us is dependability. Assuming the cars are in normal condition for their age, which is the better bet: a bigger one that's older or a smaller newer one?
For example, are the 190's more reliable than the 300's?
Thanks,
elf
speaking from my own experience only. I've got a '89 300e that has 240k on it and, except for routine maintenance, has reuqired no repairs whatever... well the 2" hose to the water pump is leaking a bit, but I'm not going to do this 'major', really!, repair. A 190e, on the other hand I've just purchased has had a veritable plethora of repairs done to it (it's a '93) and I hope I've bought an essentially new car cheaply :-)
guenter
Still happy with your new 190E, then?
DAS
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Dori, I haven't driven it yet. Just got io licensed today and hope to have oil/transmission fluid/brake fluid, etc changed on weekend and start driving it. I will report back on how it feels compared to driving a 300e.
best regards
elf,
If you want reliability, ease of maintenance, and economoy you should look at a diesel.
I would suggest 300SD in your price range. Diesels have their quirks but once you find one that is in decent shape (and in your price range...shouldnt be a problem), you will be very happy.
anil bharucha
1985 300D Turbo 205,xxx mi
From Illustrated buyer's guide, Mercedes Benz:
A 300E (124) is your best overall buy in a used MB. Period. End of discussion.
My wife have one, now with 280.000 km on the clock. It's still very good for long rides with 160 to 180 km/h. (100 to 105 miles/h).
Parts that are used, as on any other car, are cheep. Motor repairs are expensive.
Good luck Michael Denmark
-- Hilsen Michael Buus Sørensen
+45 2068 6810 "`Elf" skrev i en meddelelse news: snipped-for-privacy@comcast.com...For $7500 I'll sell my 6.9 and you will get a big solid rocketship built for cruising!
whats a 6.9? KH
It was the ancestor of S-Class, the Mercedes flagship based on 450SL with a big block 6.9L engine by the end of the '70s. I love that conservative design.
Parts prices on those 6.9 cars can be bad. You also have to live with that Chrysler designed climate control servo. But the 6.9 engine was so low compression that mileage suffered even more than it might have had with reasonable compression. I think the compression on that engine was only 7.9 to
1 and that's without a turbo. I never could understand why the designers went with such low compression. Still it was a great engine with dry sump lubrication and all those engines were extensively tested at high rpm on stands before they went into the cars.
Based on 450 SEL
Produced from September 1975 until May 1980. Internal designation is W116.
Have you already looked at my pages about the W116 ?
Juergen
Sounds like an invitation for someone to bolt a turbo on. Wonder if anyone's ever done so? If it was properly engineered, I imagine a turbo
6.9 would definitely get one's attention, to say the least.Dave
I know a guy with a 6.9 turbo. he said it is a dog. Parts are no higher than any other MB. I have had no problems unique to the 6.9, all mine are usual 116 stuff. The CC servo is easy to change out, no biggie. And its LOTS faster than the 450SEL. Crappy gas mileage though.
aye, especially powering out of a corner. in the rain.
I must be confused. I thought the W108 was the "Classic Design".
Wasn't the W116 when rivets started replacing screws? :)
Howard
OEM 1972 280SEL 4.5 225K still a daily driver without major drivetrain or body work.
A W116 S-Class is an ideal rally car:
Juergen - the wild days are over
Everything after the classic 770K
Juergen -
1982 W123 last MB model with chrome bumpers and steel hubcapsWhat are doing at 160+ km/h in DK??? Or are you heading through Germany....?
;-) DAS
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Turbos are good for diesels, not for petrol cars, especially not with big engines.
What's the point?
DAS
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Great site!
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