Although some owners (& Mercedes lovers) may rave about the capabilities and quality of their beloved Benz('s)...one thing they absolutely will not do is float! In testament I am the perplexed owner of an '87 124 chassis 300D 3.0L 6 cyl. Turbo Diesel that has been submerged (12' of water) and is because of my stubborness still alive on the roads today. Am really in need of tech help. The only reference info I have is a 2 CD series maint. manual purchased on ebay...not nearly enough info for this project! If anyone out there can help with the following...drop a line. Listed will be brief discriptions of some of lthe patients ailments...not all...not lenough time in one sitting.

Brakes - Bled all 4 whls. & replaced w/synthetic fluid. ABS light On, petal brakes some-then gives-then brakes. Vehicle stops OK but system is not right. Have replaced major ABS controll module behind battery w/no improvement. ABS light seems to work/go off occasionally in conjunction with the tach working/not working. Replaced tach w/non-diesel tach, cleaned sending unit, & no change.HELP!
A/C Unit - Am in need of a climate controll unit #124 830 18 85. Then diagnosis may begin.
Engine Controlls - Glow plugs not working (recent failure). May need new module..Have not tried diagnosis...HELP!
Engine Controlls - Engine started but idled/ran irratically. Un-plugged ?transducer? & runs fine, idle a little low...but needs addressing...HELP!

More to come some other time. All schematics ( vac, fuel, elect, brakes, etc.) welcome! What I've got ain't much. Thanks! etomt ettabor@earthlink.net

You will have to strip it down completely, replace the entire wiring harness and all components, and scrape the sound deadening off and replace it.

Not worth the effort -- once you get water into the electronics/wiring, unless you remove it ALL at ONCE (within a few days), you will be plagued with shorts, intermittant connections, and various feedback problems forever.

The entire interior is watersoaked, and will rot, making a horrible stink. You will need to replace everything.

Engine likely has water in it, you MUST remove the injectors BEFORE attempting to rotate it AT ALL or it will bend a rod instantly and probably wreck the tranny, too.

Find one that hasn't been dunked, you won't regret it.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

my first reaction to your post was as above... forget it. but you might be able to fix everything. your list of problems does sound daunting. i would think that your mechanical stuff would likely be ok with fluid changes. if worse came to worse you could buy a car with a blown motor and switcho. you do know your car and how it has been maintained... but in general i would avoid buying just two catagories strictly... floods and burned.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Ahhh it is just like a boat that has sunk. Frankly I wouldn't touch such a boat or car with a 10ft pole unless their was some special reason.

All the wireing needs to be replaced, or you will be chasing electrical problems forever.

The interior wil probably start to stink. These cars have foam under the carpets that loves to soak up water. Figure on a new interior one way or another.

I hope you got the engine started right away! When an engine is dunked you need to get the oil changed and it running within hours of it being pulled out. If you cannot do this leave it underwater! Water will sit on the bearings and pit them, then it is all over.

For a dunked 603 I would:
Change oil
pull the injectors and put some light oil in the cylinders, after blowing the water out of them.
Then bypass the fuel in the cars tank and hook a clean source right up to the IP direct.
Don't forget to change the air filter, but just pull that off for now to get it running

Again time is the enemy water works fast, if you cannot do this the same day I would leave it under water. Just re dunk it in fresh water if it is currantly in salt water.

Trans hate water as well, at least a flush is a must.

The rear end has a vent and that fluid will need to be changed before you can drive the car.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I remember when the 300SD was in a flood, the whole interior had to come out and let all the wires and electronics dry out, maybe they did some work on the engine and transmissions, although I'm not sure, the water came up to the doorsills and a little seeped in.
-Joe

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.