Did the factory ever make an sl diesel? Anyone here done a conversion?

No, Yes.

Search around and you will find a few posts about this topic...been covered. Try searching under W107 chassis and diesel. Some problems are encountered with the height of the straight 4 or 5 cylinder engines since the hoods are lower on the SLs. That seems to be the biggest problem with the conversion.

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz

No.
YES.
search here, and you will find several examples of owners who put a 617 in a 107...

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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!

Since the 107 was offered with the 110 gasser I don't think the hood height will be a problem with the diesels.

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.

That's only a true statement if the height of the M110 gasser is the same or greater than that of the OM61X, but I don't know that to be a fact and I do know that people have stated they needed to cut in a "faux scoop" to accomidate the height of the VC on the OM engine so it would fit in the 107. Having not done it personally I cannot comment from experience, only from what I have seen and heard and I have seen at least one with a scoop which looked like it was needed for that exact purpose.

__________________
Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz

I wonder if the 603 would be a better fit? It SEEMS like the 603 in my SDL is sitting lower than the 617 does in the SD.

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"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy"

Current
Monika '74 450 SL
BrownHilda '79 280SL
FoxyCleopatra '99 Chevy Suburban
Scarlett 2014 Jeep Cherokee
Krystal 2004 Volvo S60
Gone
'74 Jeep CJ5
'97 Jeep ZJ Laredo
Rudolf ‘86 300SDL
Bruno '81 300SD
Fritzi '84 BMW
'92 Subaru
'96 Impala SS
'71 Buick GS conv
'67 GTO conv
'63 Corvair conv
'57 Nomad

I own cars with both engines installed in the 123 chassis and I have not measured it but I will bet a beer that the 110 is equal or taller than the 617.

Tom W

__________________
[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.

Yes and yes.

They made a SL400 CDI and a SL320 Triturbo CDI, both only prototypes that never went into production.

Several people have done Diesel conversions. The OM617 in the R107 requires a fake hood scoop or "power hump" to clear the hood.

this is not true.
I have SEEN at least 2 that were done without any external modifications.
search here for biodiesel and SL, I bet you find the thread where the lady had one built and a link to the page where it was done.

__________________
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!

They probably set the engine too close to the firewall.