New 3L CDI transplant
 

Hi guys and gals(thank goodness) I have been thinking about transplanting a new/reman 3L CDI in a 1995 E300 diesel 124 chassis. Your thoughts on the feesability,and some of the problems that one would encounter in such a project,Your comments please.
Tom Brown Va Section
E300 Diesel 1995 126+K
1995 C220 45k (HERS)

Where there is a will there is a way....if you have deep enough pockets.

Why not drop in an E300 turbodiesel engine? I'm sure it would be easier to fit. And then you could chip it. Fuel economy is nearly identical according the the EPA, CDI vs E300TD.

Sure,no problem.
Where you are getting this Engine.

I can think of 2 reasons not too:
1. It will cost at least $20k-$30k if you do the work yourself. (good luck finding a used CDI I am sure new ones run close to $20k.)
2. The NA 606 is an extremly good engine that should deliver plenty of power and excellent fuel mileage. Parts are cheap and it is a proven work horse.

I so no great gains in putting a newer engine in their. If anything you will lose resale.

Just buy an E320CDI it will be cheaper and much simpler.

How difficult would this be? I wanna build up a Merc turbo diesel for power, but the later W124s body/options are much more attractive to me than the 87s or the 2.5L turbos. So pull the NA 24V 606 and drop in the TD from a W210...hmmm...very intresting.

Direct Injection is sexy and all, but I agree that the effort/cost does not outweigh the benefits.

Actually it would be simpler then that. I have been told that the NA 606's use the same bottom end as the turbo models. If this is true all you would need is a turbo 606 intake manifold, custom intercooler, and the turbo, and IP.

However I wouldn't call a na 606 a dog, it is pretty quick. Stock hp is 134 you would gain about 50. But the turbo 606's are chip able.

A E300D would still beat it in a race though, the 5spd box would give it an edge.

Unless you have a pretty good knowledge of the OM648- you're going to be into one hell of a conversion trying to get that engine to work in a old 124.

Everything on the 648 is computert controlled and it needs signals from all sorts of other things on the car, are you planning on transferring central gateway and the engine can into the 124 as well?

The pistons on the 12 (6 cyl) and 10 (5 cyl) valve turbo engines have oil squirters and such while the NA 606 doesnt. Wouldnt the turbo engine have the piston cooling and sodium filled valves like the older engines? I dont have my W124 bible with me right now to confirm this.

Would be cool to keep the 5 speed auto in the swap. Could prove easier than putting a manual 5 speed in.

A 606 turbo can be made to run mechanically. The Finns have already done this, though it was not cheap. He is claiming over 400 hp with a much larger turbo and plenty of modifications.

The 606 is a 4 valve per cylinder engine not 2. I was told by someone who seemed to know this engine well that MB didn't change much in the na 606's. IE thats why they can last for an extremly long time, they were built for a turbo.

I know, I was refering to the '87 603 with 12 valves.

p162 of my bentley W124 bible says:

"The pistons on the normally aspirated OM606 engine are cooled by oil spray from below. There is no internal cooling duct in the piston as on the turbodiesels."

So I was wrong about the 606 not having oil squirters, but they do have a different piston than the 602 and 603. But the 606 is much different than the 2 valve motors, so I dont think that is saying much.

I would love to hear that the bottom ends are the same between the NA and FI (forced induction) 606s. I would buy a E300 in a heart beat and figure out getting the turbo on there later.