Oct 19, 2025
3 min read
This big 'Benz Drish causes criticism with its price after it was solved in the 90s, but are you big enough?
At $5,995, is the 1992 Mercedes-Benz 300 SD kind of big?
Although the brands are 300, the current good price engine replacement or no table, in fact, edible 3.5 liters.It's unique turbo diesel makes it one of the most exciting W140s.Let's think when we see the price tag of our choice.
Even though Morgan Motor Company still uses a lot of lumber for the body frames of their cars, it's all hidden under those bodies.These days, if you want the warmth of exposed wood on the outside of your car, you have to go down to the home center and buy a sheet of plywood for the roof strip.No car on the market anymore offers factory wood trim.
The 1985 Chrysler LeBaron we saw yesterday didn't just have the wood exterior (of the fake tree variety) that the company was famous for in the 1940s and '50s. The car had that '80s flair, with its chrome wheels and whitewall tires, but the $23,980 seller's price didn't inspire much excitement.A massive "no dice" loss of 94%
Around the same time Chrysler vintage radio fans were feeling good yesterday, Daimler-Benz was hard at work developing the next generation of its flagship S-Class models.The W140 series, introduced for the 1991 model year, surpassed Mercedes' top model in every way.The cars were bigger and heavier than their W126 predecessors, and offered touring technologies unlike anything before.It wasn't.Model by model, they also to They were significantly more expensive than the outgoing cars.
The result was a sedan line that was criticized for its excesses in the automotive press and lost sales to cheaper, cheaper cars to keep up with Japanese competition.
This makes cars like the 1992 Mercedes-Benz 300 SD one of the last great over-engineering exercises in Daimler's history.Not only are these cars large (over 16 feet long even in the shortest version), but they feature things like double glass doors and electric motors to move the seats, mirrors and trunk lid.Mercedes was concerned enough with the sedan's size that engineers added small chrome pillars at the corners of the rear fenders, which appeared when the transmission was positioned farther back.Suffice it to say that the W140 was a lot.
It is notable for having the OM 603 3.5-liter turbodiesel under the hood.For this model year, it had 148 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque.Mercedes diesel engines in the past have earned a lot of respect and admiration for their durability and longevity.Six-cylinder OM 603?Not so much.Early versions of this engine suffered from engineering problems with aluminum heads that could lead to catastrophic engine failure.Those issues were pretty much fixed when this car was built, and if the engine has lasted the 185,651 miles it's put on, it probably won't blow up any time soon.Out back is a four-speed Mercedes automatic with the company's signature console shifter.
According to the dealer, the car drives great and is "ready to take a cross-country trip or drive anywhere you want."It also comes with a new battery and appears to be a Michelin fixed set from the factory with eight-hole Alamax wraps.
Bumps and scratches
Now, that's a lot of miles under the belt on this Mercedes, and it looks like there were some issues with that mile.From the photos, the front bumper has dings and scratches and does not have a tow cover.The plastic covering the rear and covering the taillights appears to have suffered water ingress and there are signs of brown grime inside.On the plus side, the seller notes that the car is completely rust-free, having spent much of its life in sunny California.
There's a lot to like about the leather upholstery on the front seats, and the back bench looks like it's never been used.The extensive woods on the dash and door panels—yes, real wood—are in good shape for the car's age and mileage.The only glaring issue here is the aftermarket stereo head unit that sticks out like a sore thumb.
Now on sale!
With the W140 line now reaching the level of maturity where it can rightly claim a classic car title, the market for nice versions is relatively hot.Clean, low mileage examples usually go for five figures fairly regularly.This one is not as clean (well, undamaged) as we would like, but it comes with the big six diesel and is new enough that that engine does not offer significant problems.The seller says they have reduced the price from $ 12,995 to $ 5,995, which is a significant reduction, which indicates that such publicity is just to show.No one would pay thirteen grand for this car, anyway.That price of $ 5,995, however, is another matter.
What do you think of this Big Benz and that asking price?Is it a deal for a car that is tired but far from it?Or is it just a potential money pit not worth that initial outlay?
Boston, MA, Craigslist, or go here if the ad disappears.
Help me with NPOND.Contact me at [email protected] and send a tip for a fixed price.Remember to include your comment handle.
