Ive modded played and loved various diesels for years. Mostly dodges and volkswagens. Ive made my own bio for over six years and have over 300k miles of running it in these cars.

I need a very large sedan (to fit two babyseats turned backwards). My idea is something around 15 years old, makes good power, and easly to work on and modify.

Im not put on the various models. Point me in the right direction.

Welcome!

I would suggest the W126 300SDL. A beautiful, top notch sedan that fits all of your specifications. Not sure of the exact years they were made. Late '80's I think until the early '90's.

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-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250

Get a 98/99 e300 sedan or a 86/87 300SD or the 87300TD. The older versions have the om603 6 cylinder diesel about 150hp stock and the newer have the om606 diesel, a newer variant of the same engine. Both can be heavily modded to produce upwards of 400hp. The older ones a bit more easily as they have less electronics. The newer is the 96-03 "E" class while the older SD is a s class sedan and the td is a wagon. Not many nicer wagons left.

The SDL has the troublesome "rod bender" 3.5 version of the 603. Avoid it. The 86/87 has the 3.0 version.

Only the 350SDL as I remember. I thought the earlier ones were the good old reliable 3.0l version.

__________________
-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250

Yep, that's correct. The 86/87 came in both the SD and SDL version. I forgot; was thinking of the genI w126 which only came in SD versions, and of course with the om617. Thanks for catching that.

SD is the chassis a few inches shorter than the SDL for the OP.

300SDL ahs the 3.0; the 350SDL has the 3.5.

__________________
"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

My thought is get one old enough that it does not have anything Computer controlled or need expensive Fuel Injectors.
Without the Computer Fuel milage won't be as good but you will have something easier to trouble shoot and less expensive to fix.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I own a 1987 300SDL with the 3.0L, as well as a 1991 350SD, and a 1990 350SDL, both of which have had the troublesome 3.5L's removed, and are running the 3.0L engines. My opinion, they are the best of the W126's. Last generation refinements, with the most solid powertrain components swapped in. Are are for sale BTW.

Here's a few pics of them. The 350SD is the dark grey one, the 350SDL is the champagne one.

Attached Thumbnails

         

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1987 300SDL #1, 1987 300SDL #2, 1980 240D, 1982 300SD, 1994 S350, 1990 350SDL, 1991 350SD, 1985 300D, 2005 E320CDI

Gone, but not forgotten: 1981 300SD, 1982 300SD, 1987 300SDL, 1983 300TD, 1980 300CD, 1981 300SD #2, 1987 300D, 1987 300TDT, 1980 300D

A bit of the 350SD interior.

Attached Thumbnails

         

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1987 300SDL #1, 1987 300SDL #2, 1980 240D, 1982 300SD, 1994 S350, 1990 350SDL, 1991 350SD, 1985 300D, 2005 E320CDI

Gone, but not forgotten: 1981 300SD, 1982 300SD, 1987 300SDL, 1983 300TD, 1980 300CD, 1981 300SD #2, 1987 300D, 1987 300TDT, 1980 300D

A few of the 350SDL bringing it home with a bad 3.5L in it...

Attached Thumbnails

         

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1987 300SDL #1, 1987 300SDL #2, 1980 240D, 1982 300SD, 1994 S350, 1990 350SDL, 1991 350SD, 1985 300D, 2005 E320CDI

Gone, but not forgotten: 1981 300SD, 1982 300SD, 1987 300SDL, 1983 300TD, 1980 300CD, 1981 300SD #2, 1987 300D, 1987 300TDT, 1980 300D

One more, and one of the car receiving it's 3.0L heart transplant...

Attached Thumbnails

   

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1987 300SDL #1, 1987 300SDL #2, 1980 240D, 1982 300SD, 1994 S350, 1990 350SDL, 1991 350SD, 1985 300D, 2005 E320CDI

Gone, but not forgotten: 1981 300SD, 1982 300SD, 1987 300SDL, 1983 300TD, 1980 300CD, 1981 300SD #2, 1987 300D, 1987 300TDT, 1980 300D

W123's are simpler than W126's, and I believe a bit more durable. But, with the extra room you require, a W126 is in order.

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1987 300SDL #1, 1987 300SDL #2, 1980 240D, 1982 300SD, 1994 S350, 1990 350SDL, 1991 350SD, 1985 300D, 2005 E320CDI

Gone, but not forgotten: 1981 300SD, 1982 300SD, 1987 300SDL, 1983 300TD, 1980 300CD, 1981 300SD #2, 1987 300D, 1987 300TDT, 1980 300D

Depending on how [in]flexible you are on age, you might be 'stuck' with a 98-99 E300. It's a good size car but if you're tall, there won't be sufficient rear seat room to recline a rear facing car seat. You pretty much modify these cars with chips. Look out for botched glow plug replacements and rusty front upper spring perches.

You might step back a few years into a 92-95 W140 SD (92-93 300SD or 94-95 S350, same car). A SWB W140 has good rear seat legroom and sufficient width to swallow a passenger or third child seat. The LWB W140 wasn't offered in the US with a Diesel engine. A lot has been said about the 3.5 liter engine but a 3.0 liter swap is a weekend of turning wrenches with no fabrication. If the 3.5 was running properly aside from a couple of bent rods, you'll notice the loss of torque. The 3.0 revs higher, though. The 24-valve turbodiesel of the 98-99 E300 isn't a difficult swap into a W140 for 3.0 with a twist. There is some fabrication involved if you keep the intercooler, and you have to decide whether to transplant electronics to keep the fly-by-wire 98-99 IP or live with a slightly smaller mechanical IP. The mechanical IP can be upgraded to flow like and even outflow a fly-by-wire IP. Figure $2000 for that mod alone. If you transplant the fly-by-wire IP, you'll be that much closer to keeping the 5-speed AT which is a quantum leap improvement over the 4-speed AT. There are other ways to make the 5-speed AT work without OE electronics.

Going 25 years back in time is the W126 SDL already described. Most of these cars are LWB since the only SWB option is the '91 350SD. No SWB W126 Diesel was offered in the US in 86-87. 3 child seats will squeeze into the back seat of a W126 but you'll hurt your hands with the buckles and a passenger won't get a proper MB experience. A LWB W126 has more rear seat legroom than a SWB W140 but the difference is like holding off buying a lottery ticket with a $150M jackpot for a $200M jackpot.

IMO, and I'm not tall by any measure, the W124 doesn't have enough rear seat legroom for a rear facing child seat. There'll be a compromise between driving position and how reclined the child seat can be set. The youngest W124 Diesel is 19 years old, the youngest turbodiesel is 21 years old.

Sixto
87 300D

its hard to beat an 82 to 85 126 diesel. still fairly simple to work on and the engine wears like an anvil once sorted. find a rust free one and buy the best you can afford.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.