Hello
I live in england and have been trying to research a mercedes diesel engine choice for a project range rover.I have had so much conflicting advice I hope someone on this forum can point me in the right direction.
I was advised to go for a straight six three litre turbo engine, almost no electronics - the code would be 630.960. might out of an E class.

Have already been offered a non turbo version which the seller said I could add a turbo to although as a non turbo I have been advised against that because the engine has no go in it.

I can get the adapters to the gearbox okay but they are for
250, 270, 290, 300 and 350
but how do I know which car has which engine - you can see why I am confused and then to add more confusion I understand certain engines should be avoided because of problems like bent con rods and blown head gaskets.

Thanks for any advice.
I started looking into this because I always thought mercedes engines went on forever.

The code is OM603. OM606 could work as well if you switch out the ip for a mechanical one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_OM603
Links from there go to the W124/W126 pages, which list which models have them.

The most respected for durability are the four cyl six sixteen and the five cylinder six seventeen.

The later sixes are more powerful and smoother but more finicky and less durable.

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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.

Thank you both for the advice. I never realised you could change over the electronic inj pump for a mechanical one on a mercedes. You learn something new every day.

I wouldn't bother with the 4 pot for a range rover, and I don't know many cars over here with the 5-cylinder engine except newer C-classes and the relatively rare E250D. We didn't get the same range of diesel engined mercs in the 70's & early 80's that the US did. The 6 cylinder non-turbo are what you'll find in most UK 124's, they're still 'old school' simple diesels; very robust and reliable with very little electronics. My car has the 24v om606 and has had no issues at 192k and counting. You should be able to pick up one of these fairly easily, or the engine before it which I think was the 603.

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1993 320TE M104
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past:

1983 230E W123 M102
1994 E300D S124 OM606 (x2)
1967 250SE W108 M129
1972 280se 3.5 W108 M116
1980 280SE W116 M110
1980 350SE W116 M116
1992 300E W124 M103
1994 E280 W124 M104
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"music and women I cannot but give way to, whatever my business" -Pepys

My recommendation would be an OM606.962 from the '97 (UK), '98, '99 E class W210 car. Fit this with an earlier injection pump from an OM603 or the later W124 with the NA OM606 like chazola's estate car above ^. This engine would maintain all of the class and character of the higher end Range Rover models.

Could be fairly pricy though but I don't know your budget constraints.

Second choice for me is the OM603 turbo. Still quite refined but only a 12 valve engine and a little less HP.

If you're working with an older vehicle, the OM167 is nice because it has legendary durability and more of a "plucky" character.

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-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250

I've heard of a lot of OM617 (5 cylinder 3.0L) swaps into offroad machines for their torque and low-end power. A quick search on google pulled up mostly Toyota and Land Rover swaps. Stay away from the 3.5L (350SD), those are the "rod benders" you've heard about. The other ones are all rock-solid for the most part.

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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

Thanks all for the advice. I'll bounce it off the forum as soon as I find out the engine code and before I part with the cash.

Funny, this is the 2nd time that this has come up today....


617 Into Range Rover
617 into a Range Rover Classic...advice please.

Why it came up
280GE....what should I expect?

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1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."