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#1
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No compression in one cyl - buy or not?
Hi everyone,
I am new here, as I have just discovered I have a passion for old MB diesel cars. So I started looking for an '80 - '85 300SD about a week ago (in the Los Angeles area) and after inspecting a few cars in rather poor aesthetical condition, I've just come across an '83 300SD Turbo Diesel that looks great both externally and internally, and priced at about $600. The catch is that one cylinder has no compression. I was told by the owner that the car runs but may need a valve job. Compression readings per cyclinder are 370,0,230,290,370. Transmisson seems good and the car is otherwise sound. What do I do at this point? If it takes only a valve job to fix the car, would it be worth it? How expensive is that? The car is otherwise a dream aesthetically... What do I do at this point, pass on it or go for it? Thanks everybody... Rino |
#2
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I would have the car inspected by a mechanic before buying so you know what you are getting into.
__________________
Bill Reimels Now down to one: 1972 300SE 3.5 W109 (Euro delivery) |
#3
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That is a very good price for the initial investment in this car..
Your mechanic should do a leak down test to distinguish between valve issues and potentials like holes in a piston. Unlike gas engines, where the only inspection hole is the sparkplug location.. these engines can have the precombustion chambers taken out and put back in with minor work. This can allow you to see if a piston has a hole in it. Do you have one of those prebuying mechanical checking services available ? Like ' Lemon Busters ' ? |
#4
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Thanks. What would you say is the average cost of doing a leak down test?
What's the best way to find out what prebuying mechanical checking services are available in my area? Is there some sort of directory or something, besides the phone directory that I could use? Of course, given a reasonable cost, it would be a smart test to have done on the 300SD before making any decision at all... Rino Quote:
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#5
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Does the engine start up and run ?
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#6
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Hmmmmm
First...
Does it run? Second... does it make any strange noise?>>>> I think I would remove the vale cover and take a peek. Maybe something broken like a valve spring. Sticking the valve open. I purchaced a vehicle the same way. 40 pounds in one cylinder. It ran good with a bad miss of course. After pulling the head I still could not find a problem??? Then after taking all the valves out...... There it was.... a big hunk of carbon stuck on the valve face! -AC Buy it any way! for that price..... |
#7
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$600!!!? I'd buy it even if it needed rebuilt-you could always buy a U-Pull engine for a couple hundred and rebuild it if you had to!
__________________
1982 300DT 190K (Diesel Purge + synthetic oil=smoothness at last!!!) 2004 Ford E-350 6.0 L PSD 227K 2006 Dodge Ram 3500 SRW HO Cummins 4X4 48RE 42K (brute force tow vehicle) 2005 Scion xB wife's rolling pop can 1993 GMC Sierra C3500 6.2 142K |
#8
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Yes, it runs, and yes, I could say it makes a strange noise but
I wouldn't know how to quantify or qualify it. Yours was certainly an easy fix, good for you! As for me, I don't really have any experience doing that type of work, neither do I have any specialized tools or space for a workshop at this time, but I'd be willing to spend an additional $700-800 max on it if I were to know that I would very likely end up with a nicely working car. So, given these circumstances, what do you suggest I do? Rino Quote:
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#9
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Interesting choice. Should this become necessary, what would you say it would cost me to have this work done by someone else? Where would I find a U-Pull engine?
Do these come with some sort of warranty or are they engines pulled out old cars that you are really taking your chances on? Quote:
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#10
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Based one your experience and the enthusiam of other posters I would list the address and phone number of the car's location and stand aside... You would be better off going for something that is mechanically sound if not cosmetically perfect.
__________________
Bill Reimels Now down to one: 1972 300SE 3.5 W109 (Euro delivery) |
#11
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No problem with this one. Just give me 24 hours to think it over
and see what can be done and if I can't use it myself I'll gladly post it to the group. Quote:
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#12
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$600 is a very good price, even if you have to pay someone $2000 to put a used engine in, you would be still coming out ahead if the car is in good cosmetic and mechanical condition other than the engine...
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#13
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600 bucks
rino, if you dont buy it send me a message with the phone number, i'll buy it if you dont. ive seen those valves streach causing valve not to seat.
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#14
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Quote:
__________________
Think Alternative Energy! 300CD '80 (now gone but not forgotten...) |
#15
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No need to wait any further. All considered, I think I'll pass on
this one this time. For those interested, the car is a 1984 MB 300SD Turbo Diesel with 172K miles on it. It runs up to 30 mph, black smoke. It is advertised for $690, and the guy's phone # is (310) 514-2955, located in San Pedro, California. Thanks to all who have contributed. Quote:
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