1984 190D 2.0 5-speed manual

[Chewable]

I just picked up a 1984 190D with the 2.0L engine. It has a manual 5 speed.

The previous owner lowered the car. He gave me the stock springs so I can reset the height.

I bought it mainly for the transmission - the automatic is going out on my 1987 190D and I figured I could at least do a transmission swap.

Now that I have the car it is pretty sweet all around. All manual windows (needs a little work), manual sunroof, and decent interior.

The engine is smoking something fierce. The oil was very low. I added just about 2 quarts and it is still showing low on the dipstick. The coolant level is low as well.

When the car was going up on the tow truck there was noticeable oil coming out of the exhaust pipe.


I am debating putting my 2.5 into this car and scrap my 1987 or go through everything to try and get this 2.0 back into shape?

I also think that getting everything parts wise for the 2.0 may be a pain since it is a pretty rare engine in America.

[Lucas]

What mysteries does this chassis hold? How old are ball joint, bearings, brake lines, calipers, master, tie rods, steering box, differential, etc.

Lowering or raising a car can put different stresses on the chassis it wasn't built for. No matter how hard someone thought about it, I have doubt in someone beating an entire car built from scratch by a team of engineers, with decades of experience.

Mystery car with custom work and a smokey motor?

But hey look at my pos. most people would crush it.

[Chewable]

The PO was the 3rd owner. It came with a ton of early paperwork and even though he lowered it the PO only had the car about 9 months.

[Lucas]

Why's it smoking?

[Chewable]

I wish I knew. If it was a turbo I would guess it had a bad seal, but since it is NA I have no idea.

I will have to get a compression tester I guess.

[Lucas]

Yeah ideally diagnose what's wrong with it I guess. Leak down helps too with checking the head gasket. I got harbor freight compression tester, works good. I got leak down tester, not so good. Doesn't let enough pressure through. I found it more beneficial to rig some air fittings and put about 25 lbs through with my compressor and just listen.

[kg6mov]

Originally Posted by Lucas

No matter how hard someone thought about it, I have doubt in someone beating an entire car built from scratch by a team of engineers, with decades of experience.

The stock suspension is very good at a lot of things, but great at none. The ride quality is pretty good, the comfort is pretty good, the handling is pretty good.

Modifying the suspension isn't trying to improve on the suspension as a whole, it's intended to focus it on one area, usually handling. A modified suspension focused on handling on the track will be much better than a stock car, but lord I wouldn't want to drive home in it.

[dude99]

You sure it was oil coming out the tailpipe and not just black sooty water?

[Lucas]

Originally Posted by kg6mov

The stock suspension is very good at a lot of things, but great at none. The ride quality is pretty good, the comfort is pretty good, the handling is pretty good.



Modifying the suspension isn't trying to improve on the suspension as a whole, it's intended to focus it on one area, usually handling. A modified suspension focused on handling on the track will be much better than a stock car, but lord I wouldn't want to drive home in it.

In the simplest terms, your ball joints ride vertical at stock height. Caster, camber, toe in, all factored in. Altering height for performance or appearance changes all these things. All the angles change, and when someone did that work they didn't reengineer the front end. Bending and reshaping control arms, adjusting caster by modifying control arm mounts, etc.

Interestingly enough, you notice high performance vehicles have really long control arms, almost touching at their inside brackets. Less camber change in high articulation, and usually engineered for zero caster and toe in change.

It's not too big of a deal. Most of our vehicles sag anyways. Mines technically lowered almost 4" in the back by nature.

I'm just not a fan of the change.

[Lucas]

Originally Posted by Chewable

The PO was the 3rd owner. It came with a ton of early paperwork and even though he lowered it the PO only had the car about 9 months.

Alright I thought of something easy to diagnose. With it cold, open the radiator cap and start it up. Check and see if it bubbles. Let it warm up a bit. Watch your nose.

Also look for oily residue in there. Or grey oil.

[vtmbz]

I think I would sooner drop in a 2.2 for the mileage; in any case, the manual windows (cloth interior?) (steel wheels) is a keeper; this is the econo Euro model I suppose. I've never seen one offered in NA. I cant imagine how slow this baby would be. Hopefully you live in a flat place.....

Check timing chain stretch. How many miles on the odo?

[DieselPaul]

Originally Posted by vtmbz

this is the econo Euro model I suppose. I've never seen one offered in NA. I cant imagine how slow this baby would be. Hopefully you live in a flat place.....

What?

Your info says you have an '85 190D. Which would be a 2.2L N/A. There are no turbo 4 cylinder 190Ds. And the Euro 2.0L with no emissions was rated at the same HP as the US 2.2L with emissions.

[Chewable]

I am sure it is oil coming out of the tail pipe.

I did not really get a chance to look at it this weekend. I will check the radiator this week or this coming weekend.

It also looks to me like it has the wrong belt on it - it is too skinny.

I will post some pictures this week...

(I tried to post this earlier but the photo was upside down so I deleted the post)

[Lucas]

Man you should leave that suspension alone and put some big wide slicks on the back and a wheelie bar. Vrooom!

[bsharp8256]

Probably a stupid question, but have you checked the air filter? Mine smoked really badly when I went to buy it--turns out the filter was from 1996 and absolutely filthy!