When Mercedes came out with the 140 chassis in '91, I wasn't too fond of it, but since grown to like it. Like ome have mentioned here, it was the last of the big Benzes. These cars are tall and wide. Eitherway, I know they made diesel versions and was wondering in what years and were there any problems. Did they continue to use the "rod bender" engine from the 126 series? My MB independent garage is selling a S320. I know it's not a diesel, but I walked over to it for a closer look. It appeared to me that the side windows were real thick. Didn't Mercedes come out with double pane glass for the side windows? Those must be very expensive to replace. Maybe when we are done paying for our Passat I might step up a "few" years in my diesel Benz ownership.

__________________
1999 MB SL500 (110,000 mi)
2004 Volvo V70 2.5T (220,000 mi)
2014 Tesla Model S 85 (136,000 mi)
MBCA member

They were all rod benders. The 140 had double-pane glass filled with argon.

126 - '90, '91 - 350SD, 350SDL
140 - '92 to '96 - S300, S350, 300SD

The 140 is really a beautiful car, maybe I will own one someday.

W140 diesel production by year: USA models
300SD - 1992 - 1131
1993 - 1005
S-350 - 1994 - 672
1995 - 425
The car was made in Germany from 1991 to 1996.
Total production - 20,518 worldwide
These figures came from Mercedes. My car was one of the last ones to come in. Arrived here in states in May 1995. Mine has double pane side glass and has not bent a rod yet (fingers crossed).

__________________
1995 S-350
370K + SOLD
1952 220B Cabriolet
39K kilometers + SOLD
1998 E300D
310K +
2012 E350 BlueTec
120K

I was looking at gas W140 models too, but after reading all the threads about how complex these cars are, and how expensive they are to maintain, I elected to stay with the 1998 E300 TurboDiesel.
I would never take another chance with the 3.5 liter turbocharged in-line 6 that I got with the 1991 350SD, so I was looking at the S320 because that engine gets generally favorable reviews here. The mechanical and electrical complexity of that car are beyond the typical do-it-yourselfer in terms of tooling and experience needed. Based on input from this site, I have written off the W140 series of cars.

I am very impressed with the E300 TurboDiesel. It gets 33 miles per gallon running at 70 mph on the highway and some city travel. And it is very responsive, so responsive in fact that I bet it would get better mileage if I wasn't giving into the temptation of exploring its responsiveness all the time.

Used to be Mercedes-Benz machines were uniquely mechanically superior. In the last twenty years the edge has been eroded in the mechanical lead by imitation and well funded initiatives by the competition to achieve better mechanical performance. Mercedes-Benz has been focussed on competing in the styling and gadgetry worlds, and kind of conceding the mechanical leadership as it seems the cost to earnings ratio to maintain the role has become difficult to justify.

I recently wrote to "The Star" as I am an MBCA member, and critiqued the article on the decision not to bring the CDI family of "C", "E" and "S" Class Diesels to the US. Here was an opportunity to lead an initiative that takes new technology and vastly improves fuel efficiency and environmental emissions performance. The obstacle was the trucking industry and the cost impact of removing sulfur from our Diesel fuel. These new Diesels get much better mpg figures than their gasoline powered counterparts, should have the legendary reliability and longevity of the M-B Diesel (minus the 350SD excursion into poor mechanical design practices) and with the cleaner fuel, should improve the environmental performance of the huge fleet of commercial, industrial, utility and marine Diesels as well as the automobile fleet. Instead they took their experience at bat on this subject from Europe, where cleaner Diesel won approval across all of Europe, and elected not to step up to the plate. They quit. Daimler-Chrysler missed an opportunity of a lifetime if you ask me. But I guess you didn't so I'll get off my soapbox. Have a great day, Jim

P.S: I got a letter back from "The Star" that indicates they missed the point I tried to make, but asked me where all those Diesel fans were in 1999 when the E300D TurboDiesel was available? While I am certain they sold more E300D TurboDiesels in 1998 and 1999 (probably several thousand each year) than C43's and E55's combined, I would concede they make less profit on the lower priced models. Which is the basis for the decision to eliminate Diesels in the future.

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)

Rick,

The 140 is a very well rounded car.....however it is very complicated and thus the expense to repair can be rather extreme
If you are looking at diesel ..look very careful at the history and have it checked out by an MB....even a non-diesel car should be checked out ESPECIALLY AC components as this can cost you thousands......also check all electrical items...closing assist,window regulators etc.....
and DO BUY the extended warranty if there is one available....this is a car where you have almost a 100% guarantee of recouping the monies for the extended service
Also you will probably want to look at cars with long detailed service history...the premium you pay will serve you well

All that being said I think you will find the 140 to be one of the most sophiticated autos on the road....great looking in and out

happy hunting

Warren
1992 300SD 127K
Columbus Ohio

Rick,

The 140 is a very well rounded car.....however it is very complicated and thus the expense to repair can be rather extreme
If you are looking at diesel ..look very careful at the history and have it checked out by an MB Dealer....or a tech who knows a lot about 3.5 litre diesel...even a non-diesel car should be checked out ESPECIALLY AC components as this can cost you thousands......also check all electrical items...closing assist,window regulators etc.....
and DO BUY the extended warranty if there is one available....this is a car where you have almost a 100% guarantee of recouping the monies for the extended service
Also you will probably want to look at cars with long detailed service history...the premium you pay will serve you well

All that being said I think you will find the 140 to be one of the most sophiticated autos on the road....great looking in and out

happy hunting

Warren
1992 300SD 127K
Columbus Ohio

Was a long wheelbase 140 Diesel available in the US?

Sixto
91 300SE
81 300SD

No, sixto.

__________________
1995 S-350
370K + SOLD
1952 220B Cabriolet
39K kilometers + SOLD
1998 E300D
310K +
2012 E350 BlueTec
120K

Jim,

I think that article in the Star also stated that when the modifications were made in the 2000 E Class the diesel engine would have required modifications to be accomodated in the lower hoodline....I guess when MB looked at the volume that the car was sold in 98-99 they could not justify a a major rework for a low volume car...plus maybe there was some emissons handwriting on the wall(?).I am not sure what the CDI does in regard to emissions. in other parts of the world?.....but anyway it seems that MB didn't sell a lot of diesels in the 90's . I used to have a 300D 2.5 when I lived in Dallas and those are a rare bird also even in a city that has a very large MB population and one of the biggest dealers in the country......maybe people are looking at the short term in regard to ownership these days...hence one of the big advantages of a diesel is gone when you have no plans of ownership past 3-4 years


great looking car Old South by the way...I need to post mine

Warren
1992 300SD 127K
Columbus Ohio

Warren,

The new CDI engines were designed to fit under the new hood, and M-B sells a pile of them in Europe. The emissions performance with new electronically controlled injectors and induction system modifications, along with a catalytic converter and trap oxydizer, and the low sulfur fuel, makes the emissions performance superior to gas cars in many respects. The catalyst and trap oxydizer cannot handle the high sulfur though as it poisons and corrodes them. These cars get phenomenal economy, low emissions and great performance.

Most people spending the big bucks on cars these days probably do not care about the economy of the Diesel models, or their longevity as you noted. But I already know I am not the average customer M-B has, as I would like the car with the safety features, the Diesel, and none of the electronic stuff. Well, ABS and traction control, and maybe ESP, but you can keep electric seats, windows, mirrors and fancy automatic climate controls and automatic transmissions.

Jim

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)

yes I have seen the european magazines with the CDI cars...the specs sound very nice...but I have also seen a shortwheelbase 220(new s-class) car that is available with the 3.2 litre 6 that I am surprised that they don't sell here in the states....seemed the 6 cylinder 140 was the best seller so it would make sense, to me, that they would bring the 220 in a 6 cylinder

Jim in terms of your earlier thread about writing off the 140 as too complex...I agree......however driving the car day to day is a dream...in the past I have owned a 1985 300SD and a 1992 300D...even the dealer where I patronize has E320 loan cars and I still can't wait to get my car back to drive...something about the ride/drive and the quality of the interior that I have always loved

Warren
1992 300SD 127K
Columbus Ohio

I love threads like this one. Jim, I agree with you about your E300TD assessment as I own a 1999 version. It is almost a 'perfect' car. You may have seen me cruising Rt. 95 as I also live in SE CT. We bought it because we never want to buy another sedan again. I think that maybe the tendency to lease vehicles and then get rid of them is the reason why people aren't interested in diesels today. Longevity is not an issue if you lease a new vehicle every two years. Personally I'm in it for the long haul.