The 1990 350 SDL I bought recently was advertised as a 3.0 liter, the car came with a 3.5 liter. Where is the stampnig on the motor so I know which it is? I see there have been problems with 3.5 engines. This engine runs well and car is in excellent condition with 179K, just would like to know what engine it has in it.

its a 3.5 and you just bought yourself the worst diesel in mercedes history, good luck keeping it in top shape! Should have looked for a 300SDL or a 300SD but the 350's cant be trusted they just love bending their connection rods and all kinds of other things that lead to catastrophic engine failure.

__________________
Current:
05 E320 CDI
07 GL320 CDI
08 Sprinter
05 Dodge Cummins
01 Dodge Cummins

Previous
2004 E55 AMG
2002 C32 AMG (#2)
1995 E300
1978 300D
1987 300D
2002 C32 AMG(blown motor :[
1981 300SD
1983 300SD
1987 300SDL
2002 Jetta TDI
1996 S420
1995 S500
1993 190E 2.6
1992 190E 2.3
1985 190E 2.3 5-Speed

Well, a quick, and user-friendly way to find if you have a 350 is to drive the car at WOT from a stop, where you can. If the kickdown switch works, it should shift at about 4400 rpm if a 350, and 4800 rpm if a 300. Or, you could have a look underhood at the injection pump stamping numbers (PES 6M 55C 320 RS 178 = 350 engine pump). Or you could look on the side of the block for the casting. Usually the EGR is different too, an integrated into a computer that cuts boost when disabled. Try that.

If its a 350, its not the end of the world, but ANY type of oil consumption in these things should be cautiously monitored; as you will find upon reading through the archives.

__________________
1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)

Also keep in mind, if this engine is one of the rod-benders, there is a good chance it would have already done so. So, if it did ever bend a rod, one of the PO's would have fixed it because it would be bellowing smoke if it currently has bent rods.

Thanks
David

__________________
_____________________________________________

2000 Honda Accord V6 137k miles

1972 300SEL 4.5 98k miles

_____________________________________________

Well I'll be damned. That explains why mine short shifts 1-2. I know my kickdown switch is bad but wasn't aware it caused that problem too.

__________________
I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

That sounds more like a method for determining if the car has the original tranny than if it has the original engine.

That's better.

That would be more definitive.

__________________
'79 300SD W116
'86 190E 2.3-16V W201
'92 300D 2.5 W124
'99 E320 4MATIC S210

The injection pump is calibrated by the governor to allow a certain peak engine speed to be obtained. Those engine speed numbers are pertinent to their configurations. I mentioned if the kickdown switch actually worked, and shift points were consistent in operation, that would be the case.

__________________
1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)

Back in the late 90's I had a used car dealer buy a 350SD W140. It was billowing smoke and buring oil badly. Bent rods were diagnosed after ensuring no other problems. It had less than 50k on it so he took it to a dealer to get it warranteed. Word got back from the dealer that MB had started using lighter connecting rods to increase the efficiency of the engine and that it ended up backfiring on them. I seem to recall the fix was to put the "original design" rods in place of the bent ones.

I have to say I love the 603.985 diesel motor. I'd love to drop that over into a 124 350D I've been on the lookout for a crankshaft out of a 350 for a twin turbo gasser project. I will pay cash for your 350 core

I have heard of the rods but what "all kinds of other things"?

__________________
82 300D....went to MB heaven
90 350 SDL....excercising con rods

over heating these engines i belive have an aluminum head unlike the 617's that have cast iron or something not aluminum

Your only issues you need to worry about are the bending of rods and the overheating of the car and likely cranking of the head.

If you use no oil or water...you are set

If the PO has already adressed the rod issue...more power to you. The 350 is a powerful engine when you get that rod issue taken care of.

What sort of oil use/water use are you looking at thus far?

My 350SD is the quietest diesel I ever heard .......i have never had a problem.
Just keep the oil changed.....

__________________
2003 SLK 230 (85000)
1999 E300 Turbo Diesel (388,000)
1991 350SD Turbo Diesel (185,000)