1999 Pro Max Questions

[doug7488]

Hey guys
I know this is a loaded question but how reliable are these old 300's?
i realize they are 20 years old, but are they worth pursuing?
i see some low hour pieces for reasonable $
i know they are gas hogs but the price is right
i had one back then, It ran great for the 2 years I had it.
or should I bite the bullet and get a 250 pro xs
thanks in advance for any insight!

[NICE PAIR]

Hey guys
I know this is a loaded question but how reliable are these old 300's?
i realize they are 20 years old, but are they worth pursuing?
i see some low hour pieces for reasonable $
i know they are gas hogs but the price is right
i had one back then, It ran great for the 2 years I had it.
or should I bite the bullet and get a 250 pro xs
thanks in advance for any insight!

I sold a pair with 425 trouble free hrs. only standard maintinence. I have owned and run several other 300 Pro max with the same kind of reliability. I firmly believe it is one of Merc's better motors.

Yes, they burn a lot of fuel. ;-)

If you can do it the XS motors are Merc's next best thing. (5 year warrantee on the 250)

No, they don't burn much fuel. ;-)

[CptAJ]

The whole EFI line, which includes the 300 PM are really rock solid motors. They are dead simple and very few things can go wrong with them. But they really do eat up that gas.

So I guess it depends on what you need. The XS will have trouble with the blower no doubt, much faster if you're in salt water so keep that in mind.

Run your numbers! How many hours do you usually boat a year? how much are you saving in gas with the XS? Its probably more than the blower is worth so just buy a spare for long trips and you're golden.

Both are good motors. The PM is reliable but also old. I think its either a coin toss or leaning in the XS direction nowadays.

[tux974]

I have owned 2 and both have been great reliable motors.
The down side like NP mentioned and as you seem to know they are thirsty motors when run hard!
Had one with 740 the other 620hrs. They both had good compression and leak down #’s but I rebuilt them just because.
If $ is no object the 250XS is a great motor, reasonably priced with a good warranty!

[doug7488]

Thanks for the input!
what to do...
what to do...

[NICE PAIR]

Thanks for the input!
what to do...
what to do...

I have mentioned my fuel "mileage" on my new 300XS's

I believe it was AZMDLYF that corrected it to fuel "Smileage"

Does that help? .............. a little?

[doug7488]

I know!
i am interested in the 300xs. $18k?
how you like them?friends are trying to scare me off because of the 3(?) year warranty
another die hard Mercury fan is trying to convince me to get a year old 300 Etec
im not to keen on that idea
any thoughts?

[NICE PAIR]

I know!
i am interested in the 300xs. $18k?
how you like them?friends are trying to scare me off because of the 3(?) year warranty
another die hard Mercury fan is trying to convince me to get a year old 300 Etec
im not to keen on that idea
any thoughts?

I haven't run a John-rude in years, I would have to imagine that if they are still in business they are competitive.
I've been running the 3 liter Mercs for more than 20 years. Yes, I've broke a couple, but I run the **** out of them.
I had an opportunity to step into a new pair of 300XS's and selling my super reliable 300 premaxes got me damn near the cost for one of the new motors.
I do my own repairs so after the warranty, they are my responsibility. (I only got 2 yrs on mine)

I "Love" them.

p.s. why would a 1 year old Etec be for sale?

[doug7488]

I haven't run a John-rude in years, I would have to imagine that if they are still in business they are competitive.
I've been running the 3 liter Mercs for more than 20 years. Yes, I've broke a couple, but I run the **** out of them.
I had an opportunity to step into a new pair of 300XS's and selling my super reliable 300 premaxes got me damn near the cost for one of the new motors.
I do my own repairs so after the warranty, they are my responsibility. (I only got 2 yrs on mine)

I "Love" them.


p.s. why would a 1 year old Etec be for sale?

he said he buys out sponsored teams
he quoted 14.5k for a 2017 300 with less 100 hours
he also quoted a new motor for 20k
i know a lot of people are turned off by their looks but I think that they're neat
and I do like the way they get rigged
my mechanic buddy has has nothing but praise for them

[NICE PAIR]

he said he buys out sponsored teams
he quoted 14.5k for a 2017 300 with less 100 hours
he also quoted a new motor for 20k
i know a lot of people are turned off by their looks but I think that they're neat
and I do like the way they get rigged
my mechanic buddy has has nothing but praise for them

"Cool" I put the Mercs on a 28 Skater ... I was told the Skaters will break out in hives if you put John-rudes on them.

[doug7488]

I'm sure!
my other so called friends said they would shun me for putting an Evinrude on a Progression!
Ill paint it black and put Merc decals on it

[NICE PAIR]

I'm sure!
my other so called friends said they would shun me for putting an Evinrude on a Progression!
Ill paint it black and put Merc decals on it

I've got "friends" that talk just like that.

These are actually john-rudes decaled to look like mercs. ;-)

Attachment 391267 tuff choice, you'll do OK

[Varmint]

I sold my 2011 250 pro xs after merc put a new warranty longblock on it at 192 hours. It always scared me with all the fuel rails,air injectors,compressor and xtra chit. I like simple and reliable. Thats why i bought a 250xb and put a 300pm ignition ecu and a 300 alien cowl on it. Dont care about fuel consumption. I like reliability. I live on a polar ice cap. 5 month boating season and can get good 91 octane gas w/out ethanol. No brainer to go efi for me. Plus i have had the later 2.5 efi with motorola electrics. Bulletproof

[bsumner]

You will have to run an XS or Pro XS a lot of hours before you will realize any appreciable $ gains over an EFI motor due to the up front cost differences.

[doug7488]

Exactly
Thats' all I hear about - compressors , injectors , filters
I'm gonna take a ride & check out the PM's
Hey NP - i have that same Latham set up on my 3.0 liter - so the same wing plate will bolt up to the Optimax? (just in case i go that route)