I have found a 1985 5-series BMW with a turbodiesel and a manual trans...well, rather, I was told about it. I havent seen it. A turbodiesel with a manual transmission....nice thought.
The car is apparently very nice, and priced well due to its' strangeness limiting the market for it.
So, it has piqued my curiosity. Were these engines as good as the 617? Is the 5 series as good as a 123? Or are they like the Volvo Turbodiesels which I have been advised against buying due to head gasket problems and weak cooling systems?


I have also heard that Ford also sourced these Steyr turbodiesels for use in some of the mid-eighties MkVI Lincolns. Has anyone ever seen one of these odd creations?

We've had some previous discussions of these cars several times. Personally, I'd love to find one which was rust free, since I prefer BMW handling traits, but haven't hit the right opportunity so far. I do have a Ford/Lincoln Mark VI and Continental shop manual for the BMW engine and ZF transmission they used, but I wouldn't want such a soft car at any price.

Rumor has it that the first '84 series had a bit of a head cracking problem, but not so the '85 and '86 models (only years sold in the USA). They do use timing belts, so it's absolutely essential to know when that was last serviced, and also to be careful if you start experimenting with vegoil fuel, since the extra viscosity can put extra stress on the belt through the injection pump.

I have done some research when I was looking for diesel cars. Since the field is limited I looked at the BMW 524TD's. They appear to be very good vehicles. Maybe not at the MB 123/126 level of reliability but better than VW's of the time and capable of great MPG's. The only issue I had was finding one, they are quite rare. I suppose that may make finding parts difficult too. That said, if I found a nice specimen I would buy it in a NY minute. RT

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When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K

The same engine was put in Vixen motorhomes, one of the coolest motorhomes built in the US. Got 30mpg according to an owner I talked to and they fit in a garage.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

One just sold on Ebay for $1100 - needed a bit of work but drove.

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1984 300Sd 210k

Former cars:
1984 300D 445k (!!) (Strider) Original (and not rebuilt) engine and transmission. Currently running on V80 ( 80% vegetable oil, 20% petroleum products). Actually not, taking a WVO break.
1993 300d 2.5 275k. Current 120/day commuter
1981 300SD 188k (Hans) Killed by a deer

How much are these things worth? I am asking because I know of a very clean 524TD in my town. It is red on tan or black I'm not 100% sure. But I have been driving by it for a little while now it seems to be very clean and used all the time. If I ever see a for sale sign I will let the forum know. That is unless I could snag it a manual trans in a BMW with a diesel engine would be a very tempting combo.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I have gotten some of my best deals by asking before the sign goes up.

I wouldn't pay as much for nice diesel BMW as I would for a comparable MB. So-so cars I would value about the same.

The car in question is a 524 and is rust free. I have not poked around at it too much due to a bit of a time con straint at that moment so do not know the mileage, nor do I know the service history. However, looking at the immaculate body & what I glimpsed from the interior (I was too busy looking at the manual stick) it looked very well cared for. Price in Vancouver BC - $4500. Probably not firm, I suspect, as it has been for sale for a few weeks now.

I loved my old 2002, until rust poked its ugly little head thru at the shock towers...I hear what you say about BMW handling. Hope the 5 series isn't as rust prone.

Ah hell, I just bought the SD two months ago, and the old 123 deserves some work. Just curiosity and wishful thinking.

A friend owns one of these and I worked on a few at a small independant BMW shop several years ago. The 524TD is a decent car, but they're harder to do routine engine maintenance on than a comparable Mercedes, the timing belt is an added maintenance headache, and diesel-specific parts are getting hard to find, even from BMW. When I worked at that BMW shop, we had one that needed a new vacuum pump and was told the replacement was the "last one in the US".
The parts issue is also a big problem for any other make, such as Toyota, that only sold diesels here for a few years, in limited numbers.
If you must have a BMW, get a gasser.
If you must have a diesel, buy a make, such as Mercedes, that sold a lot of them, and still (for now) supports their older cars.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW