Rebuilding the OM606 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

alphadeltaromeo · #1 03-10-2010, 10:52 AM

Gents:

I'd like to gain some practical advice/input with respect to rebuilding the 606 in my 95 E300D. I've called a shop that is known to be a good engine re builder, but they won't touch rebuilding it. Perhaps they aren't so good...I just don't know...I was going from feedback from folk who have had their vehicles worked on at that shop.

Anyway, is re-building the 606 really quite challenging? Is it more difficult than the run of the mill regular car engine? I'm just trying to gain perspective, as I may want to tackle the project myself. I've never rebuilt an engine, but am quite mechanical and would enjoy the project...but I really don't want to invest the time and money if it's more of a specialized engine to deal with.

Thoughts please? Also, thoughts from those who have performed the task would be greatly appreciated. As a note, the car still runs, but I have 300k on it and am expecting issues soon enough. I won't deal with this until it dies.

Thanks in advance,

Andy

rrgrassi · #2 03-10-2010, 10:58 AM

Do they rebuild any diesels?

alphadeltaromeo · #3 03-10-2010, 11:01 AM

I really don't know the answer to that question.

alphadeltaromeo · #4 03-10-2010, 11:07 AM

So let's disregard this particular shop I mentioned...is it much more challenging to rebuild a diesel and in particular, the 606?

vstech · #5 03-10-2010, 11:23 AM

diesels are very expensive to rebuild. some blocks cannot be rebuilt. some require new sleeves installed, and many garages do not have the expertise or equipment to change/machine them.
check and see if parts are available to rebuild your motor. look for pistons, sleeves, bearings, gaskets, and the like. then shop around for a machine shop that can install and mate the parts.

vstech · #6 03-10-2010, 11:24 AM

what's up with your motor? smoking? low compression? head blown?

alphadeltaromeo · #7 03-10-2010, 11:28 AM

Thanks for the feedback. Presently my car has no issues, just the high mileage. I won't do anything until I have a real issue. My real intent is to determine what I want to do when I have an issue. So am I to understand that the 606 uses sleeves? If I tear down the motor and have a machine shop prep it, such as re-sleeve if necessary, etc. will that be less than $1k would you imagine...for them to just do that work. As you've mentioned, I'll need to source parts as well.

vstech · #8 03-10-2010, 11:37 AM

ahh.
at 300K, I'd begin by checking or having the chain stretch checked, and fix that. inspect the chain rails, and replace them if wear is indicated. get the fuel timing set, and give the car a good solid PM.

vstech · #9 03-10-2010, 11:44 AM

a motor with a solid maintenance history, will not need a rebuild unless catastrophe strikes

samiam44 · #10 03-10-2010, 12:17 PM

As suggested, you need to do some checking. 300,000 miles could be a lot for an abused engine or nothing for a non-abused.
Piston costs are really high and yes. Very tight tolerances, I'd guess it's cheaper to buy either a MB short block or seek metric motors. Do a compression test, make sure the rings are good, compression is in range without a lot of variation- then your good.

M

Hinckley001 · #11 03-10-2010, 10:56 PM

I went down the path you are contemplating and got the same advice. I never actually priced out the parts but took the advice of others on this forum and am going with a used engine. I actually bought my car with a blown engine, 212k, and priced out long blocks. Metric Motors doesn't carry the engine for a 95 but if they did it would be 6k for a short block and $10k for a long. I found a company Noel's in Florida that has a remanufactured long block for $6500 but you have to send them back your core. The other option is a used engine but you never know what you are going to get. In a couple of weeks I'll let you know how much work it was swapping out the engines. One last note, someone here stated that a piston for that engine was $300. If that is true, we are talking one expensive rebuild!