I keep reading all this stuff about om60x's with problems. Then everyone throws their two cents in, most without owning the engine in question. This is a thread about how great the OM60x engines are.

Mine runs great, is powerful, responds well to mods, get good MPG's, uses no oil, stays planted at 85 degrees. Starts easily in the cold. I could go on and on.

There are far fewer of this family of engines than the old 617. The om617 is a fine engine, in the tractor sense, see my signature. I own/drive two of them. And I think we all know that a few OM603's have head issues.. lets not get dragged in to that debate.

We need the OM60x advocates to speak up!
Stop the bashing

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08 R320 CDI current

Past
95 E420
87 300D Turbo 5spd
90 300TE
83 300SD
85 300TD
92 400E
85 190D

I liked my om603..

The AC is uber nice. No R4 compressors!

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08 R320 CDI current

Past
95 E420
87 300D Turbo 5spd
90 300TE
83 300SD
85 300TD
92 400E
85 190D

My #14 has hit the red 3 times (I wasn't the driver twice) and the head hasn't cracked and HG is original. Makes 440-420 psi of compression on all cylinders. Knock on Zebrano Laminate.

My OM602s have always done better on fuel, but the just don't go like a 603. But my 603 still never drops below 25mpg, and generally gets 28. I see 28-32 out of my 602s.

I've driven a 365k and 390k mile OM602 with original headgaskets 100mph and they didn't get remotely warm. (Mine has 247k on it)

My 603 uses no oil, and lives at 85* as well.

My particular 603 happens to shake like a dumptruck but hopefully my spare IP will solve that.

60x is a fantastic motor. If we want to talk 606 as well, the non-turbo is so silky smooth (spent more time in n/a's) and the turbo is so fast.

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68 280SL - 70 280SL - 70 300SEL 3.5 - 72 350SL - 72 280SEL 4.5 - 72 220 - 72 220D - 73 450SL - 84 230GE - 87 200TD - 90 190E 2.0 - 03 G500

Nissan GTR - Nissan Skyline GTS25T - Toyota GTFour - Rover Mini - Toyota Land Cruiser HJ60 - Cadillac Eldorado - BMW E30 - BMW 135i

I have to say that my 603 is quite reliable (aside from the vacuum pump). Modern cars of this size and weight do not get better fuel economy. I seem to get anywhere from 32-36 mpg regularly. The turbo lag took some getting used to but once you realize that all you do is plant your foot and let the ALDA take care of the rest, acceleration becomes quite acceptable.

Our other family vehicle is a Honda Odyssey with the 3.5L V6 and the Mercedes will out accelerate the Honda when merging on the highway any day!! It might leave a trail of smoke if I really tromp on it.

As for oil consumption, well none gets out the exhaust but plenty leaks onto the driveway. I solved a couple of leaks but plenty are left.

Cold starting is good but rough. I would like to rebuild the injectors but I haven't found a good enough deal on the nozzles as of yet.

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1987 300D
1992 VW Cabriolet
2000 Honda Odyssey
2000 International 4900
2005 GMC Savana 2500

oh yeah. I'm a total convert.
I LOVE my 87TD with the 603. I"ve gotten 7K on her already, and have not added a DROP of oil! the car is actually faster pulling up a hill than accelerating on flat ground. I don't understand that myself, but I'll take it.
I get about 9 seconds to 60 climbing a mild hill, on flat acceleration, I'm at around 10ish. odd.
I'm sure the car needs a tweak or two, but I'm still working out the buggs in the systems.
I have original 14 head, and temps sit around 85. I've replaced the vacuum pump, fan clutch, and the tensioner pivot assembly. tightened up the screws on the inspection plate of the IP and that's IT. car runs awesome.

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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 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

And let's not forget the valves that do not need adjusted.

My 603 has a diesel leak at the IP so it does leave spots. I have a spare IP with new seals in the basement. Once I turn "up" the spare I will replace the ip that leaks. I am still running with the original fan clutch. I did replace the vac pump when I got the car.

I can barley remember my 603 with the automatic but it was/is a rocket ship compared to my SD/TD.

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08 R320 CDI current

Past
95 E420
87 300D Turbo 5spd
90 300TE
83 300SD
85 300TD
92 400E
85 190D

I'm getting the itch to acquire another 603. I really like driving a big 300SDL. Thank goodness, I already have scouting reports on 3 of them.

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daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
Cluster Needles Paint
New Old Stock (NOS) parts

Past:
3/2008 1986 300SDL "Coda"
04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more

Another vote for the 603!

I bought my current one used with ~200,000 miles, somewhat neglected, green coolant and lots of issues. #14 head uses no coolant, no oil, original vacuum pump, ALDA turned up 1-1/2 turn. I've had 4. The engine and the body are the only parts of this car that didn't need anything significant.

Only gives me around 26mpg average so far, but I'm a bit of a leadfoot so I'm not surprised, 0-60 in around 9seconds, 1quart every 6,000 miles on M1 TD&T but that includes a leak from the IP bottom cover. Starts cold on the 2nd compression stroke regularly, runs and idles without smoke.

If I ever finish my performance-tweaked spare it will make its way into this car, planning on it being around for fun and hauling for years to come. Long live the OM603.96x!!!

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

I liked my om603.. but I love my M104!

lol twin can straight six.. instant power!

I love my 603, after I worked the kinks out, it runs beautifully, it did Whiz some oil on the driveway but that was from sitting for so long. Current mileage is Reflected in my signature (updated every 2 weeks or so) I love it

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hum.....
1987 300TD 311,000M Stolen. Presumed destroyed

I must have a low mileage 603 at 140k something. It's actually the lowest mileage MB I have, now that I think about it.

Even with all this 603 talk I am getting ready to run errands in the 400E
but some of you know why.. I still hope to swap diffs very very soon.

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08 R320 CDI current

Past
95 E420
87 300D Turbo 5spd
90 300TE
83 300SD
85 300TD
92 400E
85 190D

I've got a 616, a 617, and a 603, and I have to say that mile for mile and dollar for dollar, the 603 has been by far the most satisfactory so far. Also, the size of the w126 it's in -- bigger than any of the others including the SD -- is another point in favor of it as far as I'm concerned; I fit better in it, feel more comfortable in it, and it's got more passenger room; my 300SD has practically as little back seat room as my 240D: none at all.

We just got done replacing the head of the 603, and now that that's over with... it's probably the most reliable of my three at the moment and it's certainly the most powerful.

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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

I love BOTH of my 602's and really MISS my 603.

A story I think I've told before....my wife lost a muffler in PA, so I scrambled to find a competent MB tech to send her to. Older guy, had obviously worked on Benzes for many, many years. Made the comment to my wife: the 602 is not only the best engine that MERCEDES ever made, it's the best engine ANYONE has ever made.

Glad I own two of them!

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14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

LOVE my 603. I average about 550 miles per tank. Over 600 is possible if I back off a bit

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1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."