Quick value question on 1995 MB S350DL
 

My brother r has a client with a pristine MB S350DL. All service records since new, 140K miles. Everrytthing works. ABS light is on but braking seems fine. Owner says may have a leaking injector that that causes it to run slightly rough until warm if parked overnite.. New Michelins, oil changed every 5K miles w/synthetic. A/c frigid etc.

Value? Things to be wary of?

He can pick it up for $4,000.

Owner

That's a lot of car for the money.

ABS - sounds like a dead sensor/encoder, but could be something else. The traction control may not work.

Leaky injector? hmmm... my gut tells me that's not the problem.

The biggest issue with the W140's is that (in an effort to be 'green') the insulation on exposed wiring can degrade prematurely. I just last week had to fix a side-view mirror on my wife's 97 S320. -dead due to disintegrated insulation.

Ask Speeder.

That's hands-down the WORST engine Mercedes ever made. They call them "rod benders" as they WILL fail. Horrid motor.

Thus, they have almost no value unless everything is perfect. Even then, they are only worth as much as their gas counterparts... unheard of for a Benz diesel. They're simply not worth buying.

THE 350d HAS HAD SOME MAJOR PROBLEMS

it is not the old reliable 5 cyl diesel but a new 6
go to a old M-B board and check out the horror storys
PIP is a must

That motor is a nightmare. Get used to the word 'Thermactor'.

You can find a pristine 380SE OR 450SEL for that money that will run forever.

My last two had 300k+ when I got rid of them.

I'd pass no matter the price.

I think that the correct nomenclature for the car you are referring to is "SD350". The 3.5 version of the OM603 engine has a bad rep, as stated above. They punched the displacement out too far and the pistons oval the cylinders and bend rods. The beginning symptoms are oil consumption and a rough idle due to loss of compression in one or more cylinders.

The 3.5 OM603 is possibly the worst engine ever foisted on the public by MB and the only bad diesel they ever made. I have a 3.0 OM603 in my 1987 300SDL, those are not affected by the bottom-end issues of the 3.5 and have good reputation. My car has 186k miles and the drivetrain is in close to brand new condition with zero blow-by or oil consumption. It runs clean and quiet with great torque and fuel economy, (about 30 mpg highway in a long-wheelbase w126 body).

I've seen people drop a 3.0 in the later 3.5 cars and make a great car, but that's more trouble than it's worth unless you have a spare 3.0 OM603 laying around. I do happen to have an extra and am on the lookout for a car to put it in.

Probably should get a PPI as well.