There is an ad in the Atlanta Craigslist about a 78 300CD for $4900. The guy says someone ran gasoline through it and it started running rough so he replaced the cam and cam bearings. He says it just ran rough because of the cam. He hasn't started it up since he replaced the cam, but since it ran before, it should run just fine now and he wants $4900 for a car that, should run okay.

I certainly don't claim to be an expert mechanic, but I don't see how running gasoline through a diesel would only mess up the cam and bearings. Any thoughts?

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Wayne

the triumph of evil requires only that good men stand by and do nothing

13 Audi A3 TDI, the Wife's!
85 190D 5 speed, 195,000 miles
75 Triumph TR 6 w/Toyota 5 speed
2000 Ford F-250 powerstroke
03 Ml500, 109000

uhh.. no way

Either the seller is a moron or he thinks you are.

Gasoline in a diesel engine will mess up the fuel system long long long before anything would happen to the camshaft.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

I'm not even considering the car, I just saw the ad and thought I would bring it up for discussion.

__________________
Wayne

the triumph of evil requires only that good men stand by and do nothing

13 Audi A3 TDI, the Wife's!
85 190D 5 speed, 195,000 miles
75 Triumph TR 6 w/Toyota 5 speed
2000 Ford F-250 powerstroke
03 Ml500, 109000

For only thirty eight hundred I have a car that should run after you purchase it as well. Actually the camshafts were softer in the earlier 123s. So general wear of lobes more common.
That vendor is probably on something I think. Just not a solution of his problem though.
As you already suggested it would be almost impossible in my opinion as well for a load of gas to do that. It could do a lot of other miserable things though in my opinion. Does this amount to big bucks for non running 123ds?

Maybe he meant gasoline in the crankcase instead of oil LOL!

"There is no filter in the gene pool."
- me

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

If cars ran just because they 'should' we wouldn't need this forum at all.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

hey, if it should run, he should get 4900 for the car...

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

I think the operative attitude when someone is selling a car that "should" run is to just remember that it DOESN"T run.

And as long as you pay a price appropriate for a car that does not run you are fine.

Tom W

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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.

The seller must be on crack, $4900 is pretty high for a broken down non-turbo 300CD.

The truth is that the cam and cam bearing were replaced because they were not hardened properly and wore out. A real issue with pre-1981 or so diesels.

If the person who replaced the cam and whatnot messed up, that's why the car doesn't run right.

Sounds like a $300-$500 car to me.

I think it's the whole CD thing... I mean it's a coupe, and a diesel... too bad it's so old. I wonder if it's condition is exemploary? I mean, is it pristine? is it leather interior with perfect seats and dash? is the headliner perfect? is the carpet all there? how is the suspension?

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

The seller is either a moron or a liar. There is no way gasoline in the fuel could damage the cam unless alot of it bypassed the piston rings and contaminated the oil.

Not worth a gamble at $4900. Knock off the 4 and it would be worth a look.

Yet we are all related to each other.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I just wonder what kind of person does major work on an engine and then never gives it a test run. It's like mechanicus interruptus! Personally, I can't wait to hear an engine come back to life after a repair.

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-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250

My question is: If he spent the time and money to replace the camshaft, why didn't he finish the job and get it running? Hmmmmmmm.