W124 what to look for 93 300d - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

winmutt · #1 07-21-2010, 06:16 AM

What to look for?

Local2ED · #2 07-21-2010, 10:47 AM

Iwould say the same issues as your 87 300d. Not much help I know, but from my research the typical issues are the same.

Jeremy5848 · #3 07-21-2010, 10:54 AM

I don't think the environmental wire insulation problem had yet arisen. The basic mechanics are pretty much the same as the older 124s. More electronics, of course, passenger airbag loses the glove box so make sure the jockey box in the console is present. The 602 turbo engine is very much like the 603, in fact, my FSM engine manual is for both 602/603. The 602, as a later design, had the head casting and gasket problems sorted so there is less risk (but never zero risk) in overheating an engine with an alloy head. As usual, a complete set of service records is a good thing. Provenance, man, provenance!

vstech · #4 07-21-2010, 11:58 AM

heh, I've got one that needs a few things to get on the road... doors, hood, camshaft... etc...

jltcasper3 · #5 07-21-2010, 09:51 PM

-check for leaking pre combustion chambers. Both my cars had leaking ones when i bought them at around 165,000 miles.
-Streched timeing chains.
-cruise control problems.
-Make sure turbo is producing boost. alot of the time on these cars the vacume solenoid valves/transducers leak and fail and the car won't make boost. Easy check is to check zero to 60 times a properly working car will be around 13 seconds if i recall.

winmutt · #6 07-22-2010, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jltcasper3

-Make sure turbo is producing boost. alot of the time on these cars the vacume solenoid valves/transducers leak and fail and the car won't make boost. Easy check is to check zero to 60 times a properly working car will be around 13 seconds if i recall.

Should be 10.5s no?

jltcasper3 · #7 07-22-2010, 06:03 PM

i believe the om602's are 12.0-13.0. Maybe the om603/s are down in the 10's, not sure.

compress ignite · #8 07-22-2010, 08:55 PM

'93 will have the newer inclined pre-chamber design head.
The Transmission "lost" the rear pump in '92 ish.
Dave's got a whole LIST of "Look at (s)" for the '87 W124...
pretty much applies to the whole breed.

http://www.w124performance.com/docs/mb/articles/124.1x3_buying_tips.txt

winmutt · #9 07-22-2010, 10:11 PM

Everyone scream. I may have found a S350D.....................

compress ignite · #10 07-23-2010, 04:02 PM

'Be Busy all Fall.

sixto · #11 07-24-2010, 07:15 PM

Far too many 2.5s suffer a head gasket failure that leaks oil into #1. The good thing is it only needs a head gasket.

Early ones (300D 2.5s, not 190D 2.5s for some reason) have a cam sprocket wear problem. Replacing the sprocket and chain on any 2.5 is relatively cheap insurance.

Sixto
87 300D

vstech · #12 07-24-2010, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixto

Far too many 2.5s suffer a head gasket failure that leaks oil into #1. The good thing is it only needs a head gasket.

Early ones (300D 2.5s, not 190D 2.5s for some reason) have a cam sprocket wear problem. Replacing the sprocket and chain on any 2.5 is relatively cheap insurance.

Sixto
87 300D

ya want pics of what happens if this insurance is NOT done?

dmenefee · #13 07-25-2010, 12:26 AM

By '93 the head gasket wasn't an issue on the 602 unless it's been overheated. JltCasper3 has a good list. I had the prechamber leak but it's an easy fix if you have the the prechamber and retainer tools. Also, if there is a leak, apparent from black goo building up around an injector, be sure it isn't just an upside down heat sheild or two heat sheilds under the injecter. I've seen this on two engines where the so called mechanic couldn't get the old heat shield out and stuck another on top or put it in upside down. The Turbo has an open waste gate that is closed by vacuum supplied through valves and the failure of the vacuum element or the valves leaves you with little or no boost. Also their is a door in the intake that mixes fresh air and EGR air. These commonly fail. The boost sensor line, there is a rubber line from a nipple on the intake manifold down to a round can on the top of the IP, sometimes goops up and clogs due to the EGR garbage or oil from the PCV in the intake. Pulling it off at the manifold and using a wire to make sure the nipple and line are clear is good to check.
0-60 should be in 12+ range. Over 11, but under 13 if in good condition.

gsxr · #14 07-26-2010, 09:45 AM

Acceleration time should be around 12-13 seconds assuming you are near sea level (and yes, it was the OM603 that was in the 10's). The head gaskets were not fixed by 1993, my 1993 got a third head gasket after I bought it - usual blowout ahead of the #1 cylinder. Timing chain stretch is a biggie, there was a TSB on this issue, click here. A new OVP cured the intermittent dead tach / no boost problem on mine.

Complete service records for the 1993 300D, after I bought it, are at this link (PDF file) :
http://www.w124performance.com/images/cars/misc/93_300D/1993_300D_Service_Record_pub.pdf

Photos before & after:
http://www.w124performance.com/images/cars/misc/93_300D/

Pics of the head gasket job:
http://www.w124performance.com/images/OM602_head/

Wastegate conversion:
http://www.w124performance.com/images/OM602_intake/

vstech · #15 07-26-2010, 11:04 AM

hey mutt, check this thread.
Have to sell the MB.