w124 300D fuel pre-filter, straight or 90deg? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

alryjul · #1 07-03-2013, 03:11 PM

I drive a '91 300D with an OM602. I recently ordered a service kit from a well-known MB-specific retailer and youtube celebrity. I was upset to find out that the w124-specific service kit came with straight fuel pre-filters, not the 90 degree units my vehicle requires.

The company refused to acknowledge in a heated email exchange that the 602 requires a 90 degree filter. In fact I was told, "All of the 601 602 and 603 engines use a straight pre filter and ALWAYS have - we have sold thousands of pre filters over the years for this engine and you are the first person to distrust our expertise."

I sent pictures of my fuel line routing and a PDF from the factory service manual which proved my point, and they refused to acknowledge what I think is a glaring error.

So my question is, am I wrong here? There's no way to adapt a straight pre-filter to my engine without some wonky, inefficient fuel line routing. Apparently I'm the first person to ever have this issue. Am I crazy?!

capflya · #2 07-03-2013, 04:12 PM

My 124 300D is an OM603 and when I ordered a replacement I used a 90-degree filter like my old 123 300D used, same filter actually since I had it laying around as a spare. A local MBZ mechanic who is a friend of mine thought I got the wrong filter because he thought it should be straight through. It fit on without issue and the old filter that was on the car was also a 90-degree one.

Either way both should work AFAIK. May just need a little extra fuel line or something to fit it in there. I can't imagine that the 602 is that much different but I suppose it is possible.

Jeremy5848 · #3 07-03-2013, 04:59 PM

Either filter will work -- the fuel will not mind. It may be that someone "rewired" the hoses in the OP's fuel circuit such that the fit is better with a 90 degree bend in one of the legs of the prefilter. The OP will have to specify that kind of prefilter in the future or add longer pieces of hose to accommodate the straight-legged prefilter. I used both kinds in my older Benz diesels without problems.

Jeremy

shertex · #4 07-03-2013, 05:04 PM

You're right...the 90 degree filter is the correct filter (even though the straight one will work).

Does said Youtube celebrity by any chance hail from Washington state?

alryjul · #5 07-03-2013, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capflya

My 124 300D is an OM603 and when I ordered a replacement I used a 90-degree filter like my old 123 300D used, same filter actually since I had it laying around as a spare. A local MBZ mechanic who is a friend of mine thought I got the wrong filter because he thought it should be straight through. It fit on without issue and the old filter that was on the car was also a 90-degree one.

Either way both should work AFAIK. May just need a little extra fuel line or something to fit it in there. I can't imagine that the 602 is that much different but I suppose it is possible.

I temporarily rigged up the straight filter until I could get a 90deg replacement -- it looked ridiculous. There just simply isn't enough room for the straight one without seriously bending fuel lines, inhibiting fuel flow.

The service manual shows 90deg filters. I have no idea where this rumor took off. I just can't even imagine a straight filter fitting. If anyone believes otherwise, I'd love to hear about it.

alryjul · #6 07-03-2013, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shertex

You're right...the 90 degree filter is the correct filter (even though the straight one will work).

Does said Youtube celebrity by any chance hail from Washington state?

Haha, you bet! His daughter is a firecracker. She refused to believe me, even after I sent her the service manual and pictures of the proper setup.

shertex · #7 07-03-2013, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alryjul

Haha, you bet! His daughter is a firecracker. She refused to believe me, even after I sent her the service manual and pictures of the proper setup.

Haha, that's hilarious! I emailed back and forth with her a while back about sourcing Monark injector shields. Wasn't at all contentious, but she struck me as very, ahem, direct.

What you need to do is find one of his videos where there's a view of a 602 engine compartment and take a screen shot!

alryjul · #8 07-03-2013, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shertex

What you need to do is find one of his videos where there's a view of a 602 engine compartment and take a screen shot!

I like the way you think. Funny how angry I am over literally the cheapest part in this car.

shertex · #9 07-03-2013, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alryjul

I like the way you think. Funny how angry I am over literally the cheapest part in this car.

It's the principle of the thing....and that they would fight you on it, that's bad form.

Shortsguy1 · #10 07-03-2013, 06:49 PM

I recently bought a glowplug reamer from the same SOURCE for my OM603. It scraped metal in every cylinder before I was able to complete the reaming process. I could see the metal shavings on the reamer. I emailed them and gave all the specifics, and was told, "it sounds like there is nothing wrong with the reamer, or with your pre chambers

You just have a lot of carbon buildup!"

I would have to disagree, unless some alchemy has occurred in my engine to convert carbon to metal. It is frustrating to pay someone for their expertise, when in the end, I was given terrible advice (and a not too great tool).

alryjul · #11 07-03-2013, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shortsguy1

It is frustrating to pay someone for their expertise, when in the end, I was given terrible advice (and a not too great tool).

Agreed. I think I'll simply stay away from that outfit until they prove their competence, or at the very least treat their customers with some semblance of respect.

vstech · #12 07-03-2013, 10:14 PM

One of the MANY reasons we block theirweb adress on the forum...

meuser · #13 07-03-2013, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

One of the MANY reasons we block theirweb adress on the forum...

Isn't the main reason that they are a competing parts supplier with the owners of this forum, plain and simple? I have appreciated all the free youtube videos and convenient parts provided from this supplier, but I also order from Pelican Parts as well.

BenzDieselTuner · #14 07-04-2013, 07:31 AM

any prefilter will do, it doesnt even have to be for a Benz.......i used to use a nice glass/metal prefilter, like they sell for old american cars, that u could take apart, and clean/change the elements and seals.....worked great......saved me alot of money over the years......i should get another one soon.....good idea....

vstech · #15 07-04-2013, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meuser

Isn't the main reason that they are a competing parts supplier with the owners of this forum, plain and simple? I have appreciated all the free youtube videos and convenient parts provided from this supplier, but I also order from Pelican Parts as well.

no, there are lots of sites that compete with peachparts, but WAAAY back that site was blocked and the big issue was their propensity to copy the fsm making their "instructions" and hugely overpriced PRC parts...