190D or Time Bomb?

[Mark DiSilvestro]

A friend recently bought a 1985 190D at auction for $600. The body/interior are immaculate but the odometer is showing almost 400,000 miles! At the auction, it started and ran OK but the broken vacuum pump was in the trunk. It was fascinating to watch the timing chain and gear spinning as it sprayed oil out of the hole in the engine where the vacuum pump was supposed to be! In the bag, with the pump, were some bits of bearing race and cage, a few balls and a broken roller. I warned my friend that this was a big gamble but he bought the car anyway. He had the car towed to my place and supplied a used vacuum pump which I installed, after fishing aroung with a magnet in the pump 'hole'. I changed the oil and also snaked a magnet through the drain but found no additional fragments of vacuum pump. I hope the P O got the rest of the bits out of there. My friend has been driving the car for 2 weeks now without problem. My questions are -

Is it unusual for these 2.2 Diesels to go up to/over 400,000 miles? (Car has a 5 speed)

Can someone tell me, from experience, about problems with these vacuum pumps?

Thanks All,
Mark DiSilvestro
1972 250
1972 250C
1961 180b
1960 220Sb
No diesels yet.

[kweimer]

I've had one vacuum pump come apart (the cam follower which is essentially a ball bearing---came apart). I have had no problems since replacing the pump and think I got all the old parts out.
On the other hand, an individual told me of a similar experience where a very small piece of metal (looked like a key from a shaft keyway---but very small) got past the filter screen on the oil pump, got into the pump gears and stopped the oil pump, with the result that no oil to engine---engine locked up and required rebuild. Just to be safe I believe that I would, at the very least, drop the lower section of the oil pan and make sure no small pieces were in the pan or up next to the oil pump screen trying to find a way past the screen.

[CJ]

I have seen many 190D 2.2 and 2.5 (same motor as my car) with over 500K without ever being opened up.

[Mark DiSilvestro]

I knew that the older 4 and 5 cyl diesels in the 123-240D/300D were supposed to be very long lived. I had not heard much about the newer small 190 diesels exept that they were less popular (Thanks to Oldsmobile!) then the gas versions. I have heard of problems with the larger MB diesels, particularly the 350SD.

My friend doesn't want to pay to drop his oil pan so, for now, he'll keep on gambling.
(Especially as he's letting his wife use the car!)

Happy Motoring,
Mark

Originally posted by Mark DiSilvestro
I knew that the older 4 and 5 cyl diesels in the 123-240D/300D were supposed to be very long lived. I had not heard much about the newer small 190 diesels exept that they were less popular (Thanks to Oldsmobile!) then the gas versions. I have heard of problems with the larger MB diesels, particularly the 350SD.

My friend doesn't want to pay to drop his oil pan so, for now, he'll keep on gambling.
(Especially as he's letting his wife use the car!)

Happy Motoring,
Mark

Not sure how much difference there is between the setup in the 124 vs. the 123 chassis. If the lower oil pan is as easily accessable as it is on my 240D, then he is a fool (yes, I'm being blunt) to not drop the lower pan. Absolutely nothing obstructs the bolts to the lower pan housing, and the cost of an oil change and a gasket are MUCH cheaper than the engine. Only thing I can see to make the job easier is a second set of hands to hold the pan in place or set some of the bolts on reassembly.

[Mark DiSilvestro]

I won't argue with your 'blunt' comment.
As to the 124-190 diesel, it is a different engine than the 123-240D. It has an aluminum crossflow head and somewhat resembles the 4 cyl gas engine these 190s had. As I recall it has a one-piece aluminum oil pan, without a separate removeable sump.

Happy Motoring,
Mark

[Mark DiSilvestro]

The 'Time Bomb' went off this week! My friends brother in law was driving the 190D and there was a loud noise and the dash lights came on followed by clouds of smoke.
I lookd at the car today and apparently some stray fragment of the late vacuum pump must have wedged between the timing chain and the front cover. Now there's a fresh hole where the chunk of timing cover, that holds the serpentine belt tensioner, used to be.
The engine still starts and runs but it sprays much oil and there's no way to drive the alternator or waterpump. My friend will park it until he decides when or if he can afford a new timing cover, etc....
(GLad it's not my car!)

Happy Motoring,
Mark

[loubapache]

When I saw your first post, I thought that $600 price was too good to be true for a Mercedes (any Mercedes) in a reasonable condition.

Sorry to hear that problem (big $, I heard). Apparently this is one of these expensive cheap Mercedes.