My hint for a new mercedes diesel to replace my ailing '79 has turned up this 1986 s-class. The car was originally a 380se that had a diesel dropped into it. The seller tells me that the body has 122,000 on it while the engine that was put in has 300 000 approx. He also tells me that it has the original diff in it still.
So since it's been converted I need to know what to look for when I go to see it as this is new grounds for me. How can I spot a bad conversion, or is there such a thing? Also whats the diff ration that would be in it? 2.88?

Heres a link to it to have a look at the pics, you guys (and gals) always amaze me by what you can tell from a few undetailed pics.

http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/pml/cto/1836618162.html

Would be nice to know if it's a 5 cylinder 617 or 6 cylinder 603 engine. Most likely a 617.

AFAIK the 380SE wasn't sold in the US or Canada beyond the 1985 model year. IIRC there was no SWB 126 sold in the US or Canada in '86 or '87, then came the 300SE in '88. An easy way to tell an 81-85 126 from an 86-91 is the plastic cladding on the doors. Early cars have ribbed cladding, later cars have smooth cladding. Whether it's an 85 or 86 is far less relevant than the quality of the conversion and the results. An absolute hack conversion is unlikely given the abundance of 300SD parts cars. I'd look for Diesel features that don't work as expected (e.g., glow, tach, gauges), cobbled together fuel lines and back alley wire splices.

2.88 gears will be great if you do a lot of highway cruising and don't need to get a full load up a steep driveway.

Will Aircare be a problem on a conversion?

Sixto
87 300D

AFAIK you can't license a gas engine car that's been converted to diesel in California.

BC might waive Aircare if you are immediately taking the car out of the country. Don't know though. Just thinking out loud.

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1979 240D, 4spd manual, Power Sunroof, manual windows, 147k miles, Pastel gray/Black MB Tex.
1991 300D 2.5 - Smokes like it's on Crack!

I'll be keeping it in BC as I live up here, and air care won't be much of an issue as the smog test here is just opacity and it's extremely lenient... I noticed too that the 380 SE wasn't offered that year, something else to ask when I go to see it I guess....

I would also check all the vin# to make shure everything adds up.

crappy conversion will have bad (messy) wiring that is often a butchered gasser harness made to work with the diesel. A good job involves installing the real diesel harness(es) and making it appear as though the car was a diesel to begin with. Anything that looks like it's a carryover from the gasser is a negative in my book.

steve a

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Steve A
92 W140 OM603
97 VW Jetta TDI
90 Passat variant TDI 6 speed MT
94 Chevy K1500 6.5TD
05 E320 CDI
+ others

Is it possibly a Euro import? Although the headlights point towards NA origins.

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- 2006 T1N 10 Passenger 2500 Sprinter- Family Hauler
- 1987 W124 TD Variant. Project.
- Plus several in "the works".

thanks for all the info, when I get a chance to look at it I'll look for the above, thanks again for all your help.