I think I'll likely give the car back to my friend. He has 4 others, and he has a lot of sentimental value in the car. Putting a new motor in it would probably cost me around $1500 (cost of a motor, plus engine crane and other things). Plus the car still needs a radiator, tires, and other things that bring the total to get it back on the road to well over $2500.

I really liked the idea of owning a Mercedes diesel, but it doesn't seem to be in the cards for me yet. Perhaps another time. I'd really like to get one with a turbo diesel, but only if it had a manual transmission.