Comments on: Which is the slowest W126?

By: admin

admin — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 08:17:37 +0000

In reply to Jason P. Sounds like you've got the best of both worlds there. A 350, but with the reman engine and the update interior. And with less than 100k on the engine, plenty of life left in the car!

By: Jason P

Jason P — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 14:58:09 +0000

If you can find a 350 with a MB reman engine, they’ll run great. All 350s have cylinder heads less prone to cracking, the updated soft leather interior, 10 speaker stereo, and have available ASD + Limited Slip for 1991 models. They also have a larger capacity AC compressor and condenser than the 300SDL.

Two annoying thing: 1991 350SDs and SDLs (but not 1990 models!) have a unique 3 piece driveshaft with 2 carrier bearings. That makes finding remans difficult since they must come from another 350. Also, all 1991-1993 US market cars have the Becker Mexico 2000 stereo – which sounds great when it works but requires a quite a bit of rewiring to be replaced if it fails.

My personal W126 is a 91 350SDL. It got a MB reman engine installed around 150,000 miles, the odometer is at 230,000 miles now. The engine was produced in 2001, so it has all the latest parts. It uses perhaps half a quart of oil over 7500 miles! I have turned the injection pump up a hair, it does 0-100k in about 11 seconds.

By: admin

admin — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 05:28:57 +0000

Makes the 300SDL more attractive than the 350 based on that, especially the 350’s reputation for bending rods.

By: Jason P

Jason P — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 11:41:01 +0000

One thing to consider with the 85 300SD: In addition to the taller rear end ratio, they also got a higher stall speed torque converter. So around town they don’t feel much slower than the earlier models, and the engine is much less busy on the highway.

1985 was the first year you could get an SRS airbag in the US (Optional, standard in 1986), and ABS was available too (optional in 84 I think, standard in 1986). So condition aside, an 85 300SD is the car to get if you want a 5 cylinder diesel IMHO.

The 350SD/L is a bit slower than the 300SDL… 10 fewer HP (thanks to the 1200 RPM lower fuel limiter) and a slightly taller rear end ratio. At low speed the 350 is faster thanks to the extra torque, though.