[Vwdiesel] Mercedes diesel reliability

[Arkady Mirvis]

MB problems started when MB orientation from prestidious cars production has 
changed to mass one.
Anyone old shall remember how doctors and lawyers in the late eighties 
rushed to trade-in their MBs for Lexus. That was done often with great money 
loss but with following great satisfaction. On many occasions the Lexus 
drivers tried to start already running engine - this is how quiet the emgine 
was. So to prevent that Lexus put a tachometer.
In Portugal today MB is considered inferior to Audi. Too many problems!
Ark.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Doyt W. Echelberger" <doyt at buckeye-express.com>
To: <vwdiesel at audifans.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2010 12:04 AM
Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] Mercedes diesel reliability


> Hello Bill,
>
> I am a long-time collector of annual Consumer Report Auto issues, and I
> went into my collection to look at  owner-generated data addressed by your
> question about early 1990 and 1991 MB diesels.
>
> The problems with MB started earlier than that.....reliability
> deterioration started showing up in the 1985 models and by 1987 CR was
> rating the MB 300D turbo ENGINE reliability "below average to
> poor."  COOLING was another area that deteriorated, being excellent in the
> 83-84-85 cars and average in the 87's and by 1990 and 91 cooling was a big
> black circle, representing far more problems than the industry average.
>
> The 87's rated excellent in areas associated with the body and with the
> fuel system, and very good for steering, with average for everything else
> EXCEPT the engine, which showed far more problems than the average....at
> the very bottom of the engine pile.
>
> Summarizing the Consumer Report picture, it looks like anything earlier
> than 1985 was a legend, and past 1985 it becomes increasingly risky in 
> most
> of the evaluated areas, with 1985 being the last example of a car that
> would at least score highly in most evaluations and not have some really
> terrible areas of concern....except maybe the A/C.  There was insufficient
> data on the 86 models, but they were probably better than the 87's. CR 
> just
> doesn't have data on 1986 TD's. And the 85's were OK but moving away from
> the legendary Mercedes reputation. There are many CR annual auto editions
> after that which report the poor reliability of the 1987 MB 300 TD.
>
> I can not find the MB diesels as a separate category after the 1993 
> edition
> of the CR magazine, but the 1992 issue supports the above opinions.
>
> I am attaching the data from the magazines in a message to your off-list
> address. You can add them to your collection of replies on the question
> about MB diesel engines. I never owned one, but I drive a 2000 MB E-320 
> and
> can say that the body has not held up well in the Ohio salt belt, and I 
> had
> some expensive problems related to the electricals/stability controls. The
> engine is approaching 200k miles, in good shape, but the suspension is
> going to need new parts...tie rods, ball joints, bushings.
>
> Based on my CR's, if I wanted a greaser, I'd look for a candidate among
> early 80's survivors from non-salt belt areas, that has a few 100k miles 
> on
> it and is presently running well, that I could test drive, and with a
> documented history of maintenance and no serious accidents. Then before I
> handed over any cash I'd have it looked at by a trusted mechanic who will
> have to take care of it when big problems come up.
>
> Doyt
>
>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> At 06:34 AM 11/15/2010, you wrote:
>>Just last Friday, I hit a deer & fear my Ford Focus will be totaled. I
>>have been following diesel & biodiesel cars in the Sacramento & San
>>Francisco Bay area. One interesting car has been advertised for several
>>weeks which is a 1991 Mercedes 350SD for $3500 which is described as
>>"mint" with 140000 miles. However, I have heard early 1990 MB diesel
>>engines have had some problems. Any comments & should I stay away from the
>>newer MB diesels. I have heard 1885 & 1987 Mercedes diesels are the most
>>reliable. Since I have now found a reliable free source of waste vegetable
>>oil. Comments, please.
>>Bill Toensing, Nevada City, CA
>>_______________________________________________
>>Vwdiesel mailing list
>>Vwdiesel at vwfans.com
>>http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/vwdiesel
>
>
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