Hey All,

I have a good-looking parts car (300D) for a very good price that I am lined up to buy. Body is great (I need body, not engine), but the engine has a definite knock as I'm told on the phone...

Owner says a previous owner ran it low on oil and it is probably a spun bearing...

So, I'm wondering how feasilble it might be to "limp" this car home a distance of ten miles or so? Could I do it in short hops and let it cool every one two or three miles? I've never had one of these with a definite knock, so I don't know what might be feasible. I'm just trying to be cheap and avoid a towing truck expense, to tell the truth.

My other thought was to perhaps rent a dolly and try to tow it with my good-running 300D that has a tow hitch? This would be through city-streets at low speeds, not any highways.

Ideas or warnings for me, anybody?

Thanks.

low rpm, you'll be fine.... depending on how far gone it is. If it is a turbo, avoid spooling. It is too late to worry about heat.

try to figure out which injector corresponds to the dead cylinder and loosen the nut on the injector for the ride home.

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I've towed at night a few times w/ a tow rope and driver in both cars. Run flashers in the back. Drive slow, be aware the brakes are unboosted. Your mileage w/ the law may vary.

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CC: NSA

All things are burning, know this and be released.

82 Benz 240 D, Kuan Yin
12 Ford Escape 4wd

You're four times

It's hard to

more likely to

concentrate on

have an accident

two things

when you're on

at the same time.

a cell phone.

www.kiva.org It's not like there's anything wrong with feeling good, is there?

If it were me, (and I'm weird) I'd just rip it home as fast as possible and see just how far it'll go..

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RIP: 80 300SD
RIP: 79 450SEL
2002 E430 4matic (212,000km)
2002 ML500 'sport'

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FACEBOOK: PANZER450

You might make it all the Way.
AND then you might only make it 50ft.
(If it's "Thumping" it's only a matter of time before it spins a Bearing(s) AND
Next is "Rod Through the Block time".)
Too Much gambling for me!

Be Very,very careful towing one 300d with Another,these are passenger vehicles.Go Very Slow!
The dolly idea's not a bad one...
Disconnect the Driveline at the Front of the Differential and support it out of the reach of the "Diff's" fittings.
('Otherwise you'll burn up the Tranny)

Somewhere here on the Forum are pictures of one member's near catastrophe
when one W123 got out of control whilst being towed by Another on a Dolly.

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'84 300SD sold
124.128

whats the worse that can happen? Rod through the block? This doesnt sound very dangerous...


How much energy does a rod have? I cant imagine it somehow reaching the passengers

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1981 300SD 512k OM603

I've been doing that for the last 6 years!

Passengers are not a worry, metal to metal sparks igniting the engine oil is.

I would caution against the use of a tow dolly on a car that has a good body. I found that on turns it damaged my body work....I was towing a fifties caddy though which is pretty wide.

I would also be reluctant to drive it and risk ruining the block with a thrown rod. If you throw a rod you will almost certainly put it through the side of the block. The block has value even if you don't need it.

I would beg borrow or rent a trailer or rope a dope it home.

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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.

IF you need the body....and you got it cheap....then just spend a little more and get it hauled home. I have a guy that hauls cars short distances......for.....$50.

It eliminate all the "WHAT IF" s

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daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
Cluster Needles Paint
New Old Stock (NOS) parts

Past:
3/2008 1986 300SDL "Coda"
04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more

With a 300 D the best way to tow with a dolly is the following, drive it onto the dolly, Strap the front tires down, block the wheels, Pry off the center caps on the rear wheels, Undo the center nut and remove, Jack up the rear and using a wooden dowel or large brass drift pound the rear axels out and tie them out of the way. You can now tow the vehicle safely on a dolly at high speed.

This doesnt work on SECs or SELs for some reason as I havent been able to get the axels out But works well on 300 TDs and Ds W123 chasis.

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1984 Euro 300SDC, (4spd standard)
1986 Toyota Landcruiser Diesel HJ60 5spd X2

Gone but not forgotten (some sold, some stripped)
1983 300 SD, 1985 300 SD, 1983 240D, 1986 300 SDL, 1985 300 SDL, 1983 300 D, 1984 300 D, 1985 300SD, 1987 300 SDL, 1983 300 SD, 1985 300 TD Euro, 1983 380SEC, 1990 300 D, 1987 300D, 1982 300D, 1982 300D, 1994 E420, 1987 300 TD, 1987 300 D, 1984 300 D

10 Miles eh? just top up oil and drive. Dont do it during rush hour or anything. but 10 miles it will probably make it, and 10 miles no real need to drop the driveshaft for that distance (or Rear axels). Have some follow you in your 300 D with a tow rope just in case. but its only 10 miles....

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1984 Euro 300SDC, (4spd standard)
1986 Toyota Landcruiser Diesel HJ60 5spd X2

Gone but not forgotten (some sold, some stripped)
1983 300 SD, 1985 300 SD, 1983 240D, 1986 300 SDL, 1985 300 SDL, 1983 300 D, 1984 300 D, 1985 300SD, 1987 300 SDL, 1983 300 SD, 1985 300 TD Euro, 1983 380SEC, 1990 300 D, 1987 300D, 1982 300D, 1982 300D, 1994 E420, 1987 300 TD, 1987 300 D, 1984 300 D

For 10miles, just tow it as-is under 30mph. Even Mercedes says it can be towed 75 miles this way. They didn't put a pump in the back of the tranny for nothing.

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this isnt in CT is it? Guy I bought my 300SD from had a 300D that had the oil pan knocked off of it, and developed a bad rod knock...he tried selling it to me as a parts car, I wouldn't go near the thing.

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

I just scrapped a 617 block and head....don't tell me they were worth something.....they appeared to be "fine" but the engine was running horribly and belching/burning/leaking oil (314k on it) when we got the car.......oh well. If anyone knows of someone that pays $$ for them let me know and next time I'll sell!

If its knocking I'd probably just drive it slowly home. Pulling it with a rope with the other car is a possibility too. We did this with my dad's SD when the alternator locked up. I dragged it home 12 miles with my SD....no problems. A cop pulled us over to ask what we were up to, but let us go and said "be careful". We were only a few miles from home at that point.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Where do you live, got a friend with a truck? If you were near me I might be able to help. Rent a trailer or dolly, friend with truck, cover his fuel. Got it home for cheap. He may even have access to a trailer?

Look at all options.

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83 300SD Dark Silver Dark brown inside