300SD or E320 which is better... - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Actros617 · #16 04-05-2009, 12:01 AM

The E320 dose not have ARS (Thank goodness) I heard that had an major issues when it goes out, as for the wire harness i have to take a look, the tranny used to slip but after a vaccume adjust it stopped and its still wont shift past 2400 RPM, i was thinking that if i could sell my 300SD for at least 1500 i could get the tranny rebuiled...

Skid Row Joe · #17 04-05-2009, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Actros617

So, my brother is getting fedup with his 1995 E320 and wants to give to me for FREE!!! But here is the catch, I have to sell my 300SD,

Explain why........

Skid Row Joe · #18 04-05-2009, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

Easy there... My E320 has taken over city driving, which my diesels are not best suited for.

Diesels are actually much, much better suited for city driving than gassers.

Where did you get that they weren't from?

Skid Row Joe · #19 04-05-2009, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

You're honestly asking this question in Diesel Discussion?

LMAO! That's exactly how it struck me too!

Oracle12345 · #20 04-05-2009, 12:57 AM

the V6 E320s with the M112 have most of the bugs worked out from the first gen starting with the w124. IT also has gotten some good reviews as well unlike the first generation ones

pawoSD · #21 04-05-2009, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babymog

I'd take the E320 "hands down" if the transmission were straight. The non-functioning transmission is a bit of a wild card though.

The E320 has about 150hp more than the SD, will hit 60 before the SD gets its boost on. The fuel mileage is pretty close but the E320 burns (currently more expensive) premium.

The 126 vs 124 thing is up to you, kind of like 123 vs 12x, it's all about taste. I like all three bodies to look at, but the 124 is clearly the driver's car of the three, will outrun/outcorner and even rides as nice on proper tires and shocks/struts. The 124 is not as heavy a car as the SD, but the active and passive safety refinements from the 126 to the 124 are many (yes I'm an Engineer, yes I did design/engineering work on the 124 as well as much testing and prototyping). My non-ASR cars will spin both wheels to smoking on dry pavement for a good 200', plenty of power on tap (my Daughter's '94 has generic tires, I love to play with it. Hey, I buy her car and tires, ...).

Now I'm a dieselhead, so this is a tough one, but I currently have in the fleet 3 124-body E320s. The '94 was the BEST 124 made, best body/interior/trim/seats/lights/equipment, '95 close except for a few "thrifted" items like the headlamp wiper/washers and 2-tone paint, ... but not available in a turbodiesel. I wouldn't cross the street for a free W210 E320 of either engine, the only reason to buy a 210 IMO is for the 606 turbo, not the chassis, but that's another story.

So I'd snap up that swap in a heartbeat if the transmission were a simple fix.

As far as the transmission: If the shifts are solid, no slipping in any gears, shift points are usually an external issue (vacuum, shiftdown/bowden cable, or downshift button/switch) not an internal one. The 722.4xx is a good transmission if treated well IMO, just that so many of them are neglected by the time the car is 15-25years old. Get that straightened out and you'll wish it were a diesel, but love driving it just the same.

Oh, is it an ASR car? I love the ASR, with the torque of that setup, it saves a lot of wheelspin. It does come with a price though, extra complexity and failure possibilities such as the electronic throttle. If the engine wire harness hasn't been replaced (white tag should be visible between the battery and inner-firewall with a fab-date on it) you're possibly in some expensive trouble on a Mercedes built in the early '90s (any body).

A matter of priorities and emotions, left-brain vs right-brain thing IMO.

The 300SD does not have 150hp less than an E320! Its not a 240d!

The 300SD has 125ish hp.....I doubt an E320 has 275.......

The thing is, those 125 horses are like farm horses, long lived and tough. The E320 horses are like thoroughbreds with a heart condition.

I will admit that the W124 is a drivers car, and I do enjoy it.

But the W126 just....has a feel to it that the W124 is missing....its that "king of the road" feel....the W124 is smaller.....and lighter....less tankish. The W126 can pull off some pretty impressive handling and maneuvers if you like to live on the edge.

I've taken an intersection turn at 43 mph before....plenty of wheel squeal! No handling issues though, it did it fine aside from tons of body roll.

Actros617 · #22 04-05-2009, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babymog

. If the engine wire harness hasn't been replaced (white tag should be visible between the battery and inner-firewall with a fab-date on it) you're possibly in some expensive trouble on a Mercedes built in the early '90s (any body).

A matter of priorities and emotions, left-brain vs right-brain thing IMO.

i saw a white tag that said delphi or something and it had a part number, is that the indication of a new engine harness...

babymog · #23 04-05-2009, 01:49 PM

Probably is a new harness, look for a fabrication date on the tag: FB or F-something is the fabrication date, it's been covered recently in the tech forum.

Sorry about the exaggeration Paul, I guess it's closer to 100hp. It is a robust 100hp though with a much flatter power curve than the M103 as well as the additional hp.

I know he asked opinion, and that's pretty much what you get when you compare a late gas-124 with an early diesel 126. It's kind of apples-to-oranges with one being more modern and practical, the other more classic and friendly. The earlier Mercedes are an emotional attachment, which I have found to exist in the 124 series also, but it's like your first good sex I guess, always remembered with a smile.

As far as ASR, (knocking on wood) I've never had a problem, didn't with 1st-gen 4matic either though. Since I have several of the same car, with and without ASR, it is an inconvenience to drive without it once you're used to the car having some intellegence, I'll take a (well maintained) ASR car any day.

I think you're on the right track with the transmission. If it short-shifts I'd be looking at the Bowden cable and whether it is actually connected on both ends. You can move it manually to see if it seems to be working correctly.

Last, if the SD is in good condition and not giving you any trouble, seems like a good idea to keep it. If it is needy and you can sell it, that's a different situation. It will almost always cost more money to change cars than to keep one that you know well and has been maintained.

Actros617 · #24 04-05-2009, 01:55 PM

Well here is a picture of the tag

Actros617 · #25 04-05-2009, 02:00 PM

Here's a pic of our E320

Actros617 · #26 04-05-2009, 02:02 PM

and the 300SD

TylerH860 · #27 04-05-2009, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

Diesels are actually much, much better suited for city driving than gassers.

Where did you get that they weren't from?

Perhaps your W210 diesel, but we're talking a W126 vs. a W124. The M104 has much, much more accleration and easier to turn, park, maneuver in traffic. The 300SD is a great car, but in the city it will take longer to get from A to B.

Skid Row Joe · #28 04-05-2009, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

Perhaps your W210 diesel, but we're talking a W126 vs. a W124. The M104 has much, much more accleration and easier to turn, park, maneuver in traffic. The 300SD is a great car, but in the city it will take longer to get from A to B.

Actually, it would be all diesels. The torque of a diesel, and it's idling capabilities in stop and go driving is not only much better suited, it turns in much higher mpg figures than a gasser in city driving. The dismal fact about gassers is they suck at city mpg driving. Diesels do everything well, especially the turbo-boosted ones, if your settings are done correctly, that's the real beauty of them. My '83 300SD was outstanding in city driving and performance in the city too. He may not know it, but his 300SD is perhaps one of the best cars money can buy for total value out there.

Bio300TDTdriver · #29 04-05-2009, 02:52 PM

After viewing the pictures I would like to change my vote to the gaser.

TylerH860 · #30 04-05-2009, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

Actually, it would be all diesels. The torque of a diesel, and it's idling capabilities in stop and go driving is not only much better suited, it turns in much higher mpg figures than a gasser in city driving. The dismal fact about gassers is they suck at city mpg driving. Diesels do everything well, especially the turbo-boosted ones, if your settings are done correctly, that's the real beauty of them. My '83 300SD was outstanding in city driving and performance in the city too. He may not know it, but his 300SD is perhaps one of the best cars money can buy for total value out there.

8 second 0-60 vs 14??? I own a few very sorted diesels, and love taking them on highway trips, but its much easier to take the E320 around town. I think you may be a little biased.

Fuel economy is always going to be better, of course.

Like I said before, if I had to choose between the two, I would keep my diesel hands down. When you tally things up its a better car overall for my needs