Was there ever a U.S. OM 616 Turbo?
 

I'm in talks with Force Motors to buy an OM616 Turbo engine from them; these are the ones used in the Tempo Trax vehicles. It's basically, a crate engine, made brand new but drop-in for our cars.

They said they didn't think they could sell it because it wouldn't meet EPA regulations over here...except, it's going into a car from 1983 anyway, and that engine may already have been passed.

Anyone have any U.S. 240D Turbo conversion stories or anything of the sort?

No OE 616 Turbo. People did put aftermarket turbo kits on them. What is Force asking for a crate engine?
I didn't know there were any regulations about selling engines as opposed to selling a whole car.

Didn't get a price from 'em yet, actually -- still trying to get that out of them.

Is it coming in from India?

I'd be surprised if their licensing agreement with MB permitted them to sell parts in the US.
Did I read somewhere that they converted the engine to direct injection? Gurkha?

Their new engines are all DI...I dunno about the old ones.

Since M-B isn't producing crate engines any more as far as I'm aware, I'd hope they don't have a problem selling them outside India.

My dealer gave me a price for a crate 617 engine a few weeks ago.

Looks like they sell IDI and DI 616's:

http://www.forcemotors.com/html/powerpack.aspx

It would be, yeah.

My only concern is if it is too heavily non-standard to fit into the hole an N/A 616 from the 80s fit into.

Having owned a couple of MB vans, I think the hole for the engine in the Tempo Traveller has to be smaller than the hole in a sedan. As long as they are fitting it in the traditional van doghouse, you should be ok I think.

They make both DI and IDI OM616 turbo, the DI meets latest Euro emission standards. The IDI does as well but at considerable expense compared to DI, IDI is strictly for export to Europe, that too in the Gurkha vehicle which is sold there. The DI turbo is not worth it as its not an MB design even though its based on OM616, it was done by AVL Austria. The IDI is total MB including all internals from oil gallery pistons and other 617 turbo parts. The engine fits perfectly with standard OE 4 speed tranny of 240D. They manufacture that tranny in India as well along with 5 speed. Force also manufactures other MB diesel engines like the OM611, 617, 617 turbo etc. as well as myriads of PUCH and ZF gear boxes. Force is also manufacturing MAN trucks in Asia.

The OM616 turbo was developed and used by MB for their 4xx series commercial vehicles as well as Tempo Traveler vehicles for sale in Germany and other parts of Europe. The factory turbo makes the engine quite peppy without compromising drive-ability or longevity and it returns excellent mpg as well.

Having no knowledge of this company, their agreements or products.

1. Is there a history to show the quality of the complete engine? There are those having fits with the injector nozzle quality made in India, as example.
2. Should parts be required will the same parts now used fit, or, will any maintenance and or replacement parts need to come from Force?

Thanks
Don

Force has been MB partners since 60s, their vehicles are supplied all over Asia and Africa. They have been making engines for MB since 80s. The OM616 built by them lasts as long as the German OM616. The OM616 in India gets severe use and on average even with poor, infrequent oil change and maintenance lasts on the average of 400,000km. As for the Indian made BOSCH nozzles, believe it or not, even though they got a bad rep in US, they outlast the German made counterparts in India with the atrocious quality of fuel available there outside the cities. They are noisier than German nozzles, thats a fact. I have them in my OM616 turbo Gurkha and even after 100,000km, they run fine, quarter turn start, no emissions problems.

That being the case (learning something here) are parts from or were complete engines used by MB in the assembly of the w123 and w126 series of cars for this or any other country?

Force was known as Bajaj-Tempo and therefore supplied Tempo with the engines. They bought the OM616 and 617 engine license outright from MB and began manufacturing them since early 80s. The supply of the engines and other associated ancillaries was mostly limited to commercial vehicles made by MB. As per my knowledge, no W123 or W126 cars ever got OM616 engines made by Force. However, all current day OM611 engined C-220 and few other diesels sold in Asia get engine and tranny made by Force.