I have two non-turbo 300Ds, a 1980 and 1981, both RHD. I am considering importing from the US a OM617A and installing it in one of the cars as there were no RHD 300D turbos imported into Australia.
I have two questions - leaving aside the LHD/RHD issues will the motor from a turbo bolt in to the non turbo engine bay? Is the automatic transmission that came with the turbo engine the same as the non turbo engine?
Are their any other issues of compatibility such as final drive ratios?
Thanks
Alastair

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Alastair from South Australia
1971 280 SE 3.5
1981 300D
1980 300D

The turbo cars have a higher gear ratio 3.07 or 2.88, but that's not a show stopper.

I do seem to remember someone talking about interference between the RHD steering box and the turbo/exhaust system. Hopefully, someone else remembers the details.

It will fit in the car but it will not clear the steering equipment in the RHD models.

As a guess, that's probably why "there were no RHD 300D turbos imported into Australia."

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

Thanks for these responses.
There are issues associated with the turbo exhaust fouling the steering in RHD cars, but these can and have been resolved in Australia.
http://www.mbspares.com.au/Gallery/W123300DFactoryturbosetup.aspx#
Are the transmissions in the turbo and non-turbo 300Ds the same?
Alastair

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Alastair from South Australia
1971 280 SE 3.5
1981 300D
1980 300D

Clearly, you know more about this than we do! If the citizens of Oz are clever enough to wrap the turbo plumbing around the steering box then there should be no problem adapting the transmission. It may not be exactly the same as the turbo tranny but at least should be a bolt-on installation. As was mentioned, the final drive ratio may not be optimum for the more powerful turbo engine.

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

Thanks Jeremy for your advice and elegant compliments . My concern was that the 50% HP increase might damage the internals of the standard non-turbo box. There is also a practical side to the question - if I can get away with only importing the engine, it is easier and cheaper from both a purchase and a shipping perspective.
Re the axle ratio, the 300D is 3.46 and the 300D turbo is 3.07. Both engines produce their maximum torque at 2400RPM and maximum power at about 4400RPM so a turbo engine installed in a non turbo car with lower final drive should improve acceleration - a lot. From Mr Nitske's reference book, it appears that the turbo engines changed between 1982 and 1985, with maximum engine speeds quoted for each year changing, ie
1982 4500RPM, 1983 4640RPM, 1984, 5000RPM, and 1985, 5200RPM. Is there an explanation for that? Are the later engines considered to be better than the earlier ones?

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Alastair from South Australia
1971 280 SE 3.5
1981 300D
1980 300D

You will want the lowest ratio you can find for all of those speed-limitless roads through the outback!

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

What is your source on that information? The 617 Can't even revv that high under a load, the pump starts taking away fuel by 4500rpm to limit max RPMs.

Sadly the last unlimited speed highways were limited this year by the killjoy Northern Territory Government. They were concerned about the road toll. Doing something about drink driving would have been more effective. Like the vast majority of Aussies I live in the city with occasional country jaunts where the speed limit is 100 - 110kmph.
Nitske's "Mercedes Benz Production Models Book". I was curious about it too - hence my question about whether the OM617A had had a number of changes over the years.

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Alastair from South Australia
1971 280 SE 3.5
1981 300D
1980 300D