75 240D blown engine- $400
 

I'm going to look at this car and wanted to ask a rather rethorical question. Its a virtually rust free decent condition car I'm told. The question: Is 400 a good deal if the engine needs rebuilt? Are OM616 engines hard to come buy? I've had 220D's and now my 300 so I have a rough idea. Just wanted some advice from you folks on my, seemingly, emotional potential purchase:dizzy2:

Depends on many things, but in general, I'd say yes, it could be a good deal.

Seems like a fair price if the rest of the car is in good shape.

Here are some pics of this car. Fella wasn't home today so a closer look on monday...
http://s161.photobucket.com/albums/t219/dbn1066/1975%20240D/

Do you have barn/garage space over the winter? Next few months is buying season for MB diesels, might find a rusted out donor car with decent engine you can buy for peanuts. After baggin a rust-free $400 115 body shell, thats what I'd look for next. Knowin engine swap will be piece of cake.

Sounds like you're getting good advice. I'd have to think $400 is very fair if the rest of the car is as good as the body (minus the engine of course). Surely you can find a decent engine for another few hundred and make the swap.

Good luck!

I have an idea...
 

I have been reading that 616 engines are harder to get than 617's. How about getting this car for $400 and looking for an OM617 turbo to put in it. I am sure that there will be some modifications to be done (motor mounts and oil filter location comes to mind) but then you can have a much faster more efficient car with that classic shape. Decent 617's go for 500~900 bucks and are easily available.

Just a thought...

Here's the rub - none of the '77 and newer engines will bolt straight across into 115 chassis without modifications.

Another possibility is the engine aint blown at all. Wouldnt be the first time we've seen diesels misdiagnosed generally by gasoline engine mechanics as bein dead when they've got plenty of life left in em.

DieselDog is very correct. You will need a 240 engine from another W115 chassis. All that modification takes it from being a fairly easy swap to one of those never-ending projects.
If trunk, floor pans etc... aren't rusty, that is a heck of a deal for a very clean W115.
How is the interior?

I totally agree that the engine may have life left in it, especially if the claim of 90k is indeed acurate. I won't know until I look it over in more detail on Monday. The owner did tell me on the phone that he has no clue about diesels in general and this one in particular. His friend, a "gas engine guy who knows a little stuff" diagnosed this piston or bad head issue as the problem. This is encouraging. The only real interior issue I noticed so far is the front passenger seat- a major tear around the lower front. Its a blue interior and if it turns out to be real bad I have a line on 115 tobacco brown interior that would work fine with the ivory paint. I will likely buy the car monday anyway. Heck, I could part it out and make some profit @ $400...
If the engine is shot, I would like to use it as my first rebuild attempt. A good winter project:D

Car looks nice. Easily worth $400 in my opinion. Rebuilds on MB's can be very expensive. I'd be looking either to work on the head, valves or headgaskets if the problem lies on the upper end, or look for a replacement engine to swap in. I think you might able to swap in just about any 616 if you use the remote filter adapter plate made by our Land Rover guy on this forum. Others will correct me if I am mistaken.

Be Warned...This type behavior can lead too a serious addiction. next, you find a 240 with a good engine that just needs a fender and you buy it cheap, next your looking for an interior for the one you fixed the fender on and your hooked:D Yah, 3 or $400 is a good price, the 616 can be rebuilt, new pistons, the works, for under 2K, and you have a sweet car. They are getting harder too find in yards but they are still around. Good luck.

Well, snagged her for $350. Engine is not blown, but I did not tell the PO this. To put it to you quickly, his mechanic, and I use that term loosely, told him that since there is oil in the air cleaner- the engine is certainly blown. Yea, its still the original OIL bath unit...unbelievable. In this case, their ignorance is my bliss:) I do feel for the guy, he is in the midst of a divorce/custody ordeal and all, but, sorry, I can't let this 'virtual gift' get away...

There are, however, a few ???'s coming ya'll's way once I get this old girl home as there are some things I'm not familiar with going on...

so what is wrong with it that caused them to think it was "blown"?

I think it runs fine but since there's oil in the aircleaner the Previous Owner thought it was dead? WOW. Why can't I find something like that?! :freak:

A puff of smoke out the right front of the car and a loss of power, I'm told. Engine turns over but the battery was near dead and we couldn't get it to start. I did not push the issue at the time because after seeing it WANT to start, the lack of any bad sounds while cranking, and the generally good look and sound of the engine. The thing that I first need help with is this: lots of diesel fuel everywhere on the left side of the engine. Related to the smoke and power loss??? The #4 injector is in a puddle of fuel. All of the lines are leaking fuel so I can't tell a definite source for the fuel everywhere... I'll know more once I get the car here and go over it thoroughly at my own pace. PO is of no help in diagnosing the issues here. He is::confused:

Sounds like a good deal! It sounds like the return lines are worn away and leaking badly.

I do laugh when people panic about oil in the air filter...becuase that's nothing, look at the intake and anti-backrunning valve :D

Wow, good find. I ran across a similar thing a few years back, picked up an old 75 FJ40 Landcruiser for $1k, rust free clean and intact "it's spitting oil out the tailpipe and only barely runs on one cylinder" he says. I knew the body alone was worth his price. got it home and the next morning drained the EXTRA 5 GALLONS:eek: of oil out of it, new plugs, and she fires right off on a 1/4 turn:D
Amazing how much better they run when the oil level is below the piston skirts.....

That guy must not have known what a dip stick was for. :D:rolleyes:

5 gallons EXTRA? Did they stuff a semi motor in the FJ??

Definitely treat it like a normal diesel engine then. Filters, valves adjust, etc. Maybe IP timing to compensate chain stretch. You know the drill. I'd replace the entire rack of injector pipes too. Betcha there's been alot of unnecessary fiddling with injectors, will need new inj seals for sure. Generally injectors and glow plugs (treated like spark plugs) is all gasoline mechanics know about diesels. Sucker game is when they sell you complete set of injectors and plugs, callin it a tune-up. With bad inj seals and possibly cracked pipe fittings it'll be leaking at precombustion chambers and can never run right. Separate independent sump on the 115 bosch injector pump too. And the priming pump gotta be leakin if its original.

For passenger side puff of smoke look for blown exhaust manifold gasket. Generally you can see it spitting tiny little puffs of black smoke if its shot. Manifold gaskets sometimes crack at #4 cyl manny bolt holes, narrowest point. Coulda happened if the car was overheated. An easy repair, you can even use a good dry used gasket from junkyard car. Possibly one from 123's will interchange. 1/8" thick asbestos with metal gasket never use gasket glue and torque it evenly at about 26-28 lbs.

And the oil bath filter is considered better than regular air filter by most people for trapping dust. Sounds like you've got one helluva deal.