WOW, we have some well-to-do members here. Don't even blink an eye lid to write a $8K or $60K check.

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Not MBZ nor A/C trained professional but a die-hard DIY and green engineer. Use the info at your own peril. Picked up 2 Infractions because of disagreements. NOW reversed.

W124 Keyless remote, PM for details. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/334620-fs-w124-chasis-keyless-remote-%2450-shipped.html

1 X 2006 CDI
1 x 87 300SDL
1 x 87 300D
1 x 87 300TDT wagon
1 x 83 300D
1 x 84 190D ( 5 sp ) - All R134 converted + keyless entry.

the TDI's run about $25K. i've been looking for something to take from dallas to austin every other weekend for the wife.

That's not the point, a $8000 engine is cheaper than a reliable car that will last many years. A $500 used engine is a gamble, especially if you are paying to have it installed.

That's a perfectly reasonable choice for a daily driver. I'm currently shopping for something similar for my daughter to use.

Thanks for al the replies again...

I think Im now in the used engine camp. If some idiot crashes into me here with my new motor the insurance system will screw me over big time here in MA.

Im not in an emergency, I can have the car down for a while (we have a third car we both hate driving - good ol Camry). So I guess Im in the market for a used motor. Oh boy.

I will install it myself, so its not as much of a monetary gamble, but more of a time commitment gamble.

I want to get a running wrecked car, or a running rusty car. I want to hear it purr before I sink all the time into it. No junkyard dealings with motors already out of the body. I loathe all junkyards I have had to deal with thus far in my brief wrenching career.

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'85 300D, 'Lance',250k, ... winter beater (100k on franken-Frybrid 3 Valve Kit)
'82 300D, 'Tex', 228k body / 170k engine ... summer car
'83 300TD Cali Wagon 210k, wife's car

if your dealings has you searching far and wide. (shouldn't be a problem to find a running rust wreck in your neck of the woods) I find them all the time.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

vstech, how do you find you cars? all i've got is craigslist for the most part...

I know a benz mechanic or two, Ill put the word out.

I have looked at craigslist for the past few years and have only come across a handful of good used engine candidates. Forum member JEBalles has one of them...

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'85 300D, 'Lance',250k, ... winter beater (100k on franken-Frybrid 3 Valve Kit)
'82 300D, 'Tex', 228k body / 170k engine ... summer car
'83 300TD Cali Wagon 210k, wife's car

I'll give you a little secret about craigslist when you finish checking Mercedes type in mercedez. That's what mine was under . It was in the auto parts section.

Me and the wife found plenty some real memorable moments as well.
On one occasion I swore I heard banjos
I found the one we bought 10 miles from the house drove it home with a blown transmission engine purrs.

Happy hunting !!

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Experience : what you receive 3 seconds after you really needed it !!



86 300SDL 387,000? Motor committed suicide
81 300SD 214,000 "new" 132,000 motor
83 300SD 212,000 parts car
83 300SD 147,000

91 F700 5.9 cummins 5spd eaton 298,000
66 AMC rambler American 2dr auto 108,000
95 Chevy 3/4 ton auto 160,000
03 Toyota 4runner 180,000 wifes

It would be lunacy to spend $8000 bucks on an uninstalled engine! Seriously! Unless you are loaded.
Tyler sold his whole beautiful car for just over half that. For half of that long block you can buy a really nicely sorted out WHOLE CAR!!
If my white wagon was totaled tomorrow then there would be a super nice engine for somebody {probably me} that would be very worthy to install in another car.
You just have to find it. For that $$$$ I could go through that hassle. Plus, that search adds memory equity......
Now look, a brand new engine would be wonderful, but just doesn't fit with my education level.....

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

Trust me Jimmy, I did it last year and it's more than $8000 worth of hassle. There are very few actual low mileage 25 year old engines around at any given time. There are plenty of pretty decent 300k mile engines that claim to be low mileage; until you run carfax on the doner car. It took me about 3 months and 3 engines to find one in good shape and have it installed. I also spent several more months arguing over the shipping charges for one of the "warrentied" engines that I had shipped back. I eventually spent about $3000 and ended up with a good used engine, but it was a giant PITA. Next time I'm calling metric.

Good idea!

I bought my '83 in February for $600 with a blown engine. The people had a "good" engine they gave me with the car that just needed to be installed. They don't know anything about cars and they got it from an older friend of theirs who got sick and couldn't fix the car. I thought ok well this must be a good engine.... NOT!

I did all the work to swap the engine and it knocked like crazy. Probably bad bearings or a rod/piston something "bad". I found a '85 federal car with 135k miles that had been hit in the front quarter on craigslist and picked it up for the engine/tranny. Definitely make sure you can run the engine before you buy. My other engine checked out ok for compression but knocked like crazy.

The only "good" part about my experience is I'm pretty good at removing and installing the 617's now haha...

Definitely keep your eye out for a good deal. I got another car we're fixing up for my mom off craigslist for $500. 186k miles from the original owner. He just rebuilt the tranny, injection pump and injectors, then got in a small accident and totalled the car. All it needs is a fender and hood and the passenger side headlight. The good deals are out there you just have to be "lucky" I guess

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'98 E300 Turbo "Juliette"
'85 Federal 300TD

Only when I win the lottery. While they are great motors, I cannot justify the price. I'll do the work myself, thank you very much.

I did buy my reconditioned connecting rods from Metric. Service was great. They actually sent out the rods for a 3.5 liter instead of the 3.0, but they sent out a new set right away without waiting for the returned parts.

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Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)

8K for a long block? as in no head? um, no...
if that included a fully rebuilt head, and a full warranty, it may be worth it.
it's amazing how peppy these motors are with new valves! starts before you touch the key almost...

That's a surprise?

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

That would be a short block.

A long block is everything except externals (starter, alternator, injection pump, etc.)

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Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)