Shop manual(published 1982) states that up until June 1978 all 240d 616 got an oil cooler. After July 1978 it was only put on vehicles with AC.

It doesn't say anything about a correlation with manual or auto transmissions.

240Ds W/oil coolers
 

Both my '79 keeper and '80 engine donor are 240Ds, have 4 speed man. trannys, had A/Cs and have oil coolers.

Sedecrem

Thanks for all the help and input guys!
we got it off the highway and trailered it home. I'll get a better look at it tomorrow but I did check the chain and it wasnt the chain.
The oil splatters are on the filter side of the engine. It didnt want to turn over last night but I tried it today and it would turn but it made a bad sound while it was turning. I looked under the car where it sat last night and it had a very small puddle of oil. I'll keep you posted on other findings.
The good news is that I already found a running 240D parts car that I can pulll the motor out of.

josh

also, I think the oil pressure was peaked out like usual but I'm not sure where it was exactly. it all happened really fast.

I know what you mean about the engine noise. My first, and my ears arent tuned to the noise yet. Hope I hear a fine tuned one in about a week!

Ffirst thing I did afer I got it home ( 400+ mi.trip) is drop the oil and pop the filter . I then cut the filter apart with tin ships and looked for metal fragments inside. I do that on my "high maintenance" 427, and it saved me from grenading the motor a few years back. ( would have been "spectacular" according to the machnist ). Put the same Rotella(Delo orPenz)/EOS mix in the Mercedes as has kept the 7200 rpm rat "metal flake" free for two years.

Oil filter will show a ton of evidence.

Only metal I found was a piece of a wrapper. Chinese writing. ??? Good thing, I guess.

And cool that you have a replacement lined up. Curious to see what the cause of death was. And then start unbolting stuff!

Are these engines expensive to rebuild or is it straightforward and simlarly priced to any diesel I wonder.

i have a 1981 240d manual 4speed it has a oilcooler.

My October '78 240D with manual transmission and NO FACTORY AC had an oil cooler. May not have been the original engine though with 300K on the clock.

Rubbish. My car has the 240 springs and still sits too high in the front for my tastes.

Broken Cam Bearing mounts
 

Well thats the update, I tore into the motor today and all 3 of the mounts are broken. So here is my questions....Does anyone know what could have caused that? Can I just replace the camshaft bearing mounts and move on with my life? Do you think that it tore anything else up? The motor turns freely. Thanks for all your help.
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That means the pistons hit the valves and pushed up on them hard enough to break the towers.

At the very least, I'd take off the head and check the valve faces to make sure none are bent.

Slack timing chain?

Slack timing chain, broken timing chain, failed chain tensioner, failed chain guide, loose valve lash adjuster(s), or over-revving the engine.

Yes yes. Sorry my mistake. Just spaced it. Mine also does indeed have an oil cooler.

- Peter.

I'll check into all of those things, I can safely say it wasnt over reving the engine. : )

Small block Chevys, fit rather nicely into those cars, and can be had, and converted a lot cheaper, than MBZ components...I did it to one of my 300CD's. Can you say "Sleeper"? :D