New car! 1995 E300D W124 OM606NA - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Jeremy5848 · #1 03-17-2012, 01:21 PM

After one day of looking, I am now the proud owner of a 1995 E300D with 189,000 miles, purchased via Craigslist from the second owner living a few miles from my home -- how lucky can I be? [Pictures from the Craigslist posting.]

My 1987 300D Turbo will have to go to make room for the addition.

I'll post it here when it's ready to be sold.

I noticed a few strange things about the new beast compared to my '87, which has the same W124 body/chassis: (1) There is no center rear seat belt. (2) The rear seat armrest has no pull-down strap. (3) The rear headrests have no straps with which to pull them up into working position. All three look like they never were there. Anyone know whether this was a change Mercedes made somewhere during the ten years of the W124?

Since the new car has the same body/chassis as my 1987 300D and the same engine/transmission as my wife's 1996 E300D, I was able to get in this car and drive it for the first time without that "strange car" feeling. That's never happened before.

The first owner lived in Texas and the car has no rust. There are only a couple of items needing immediate attention -- a flex disk and a loose wheel bearing. I need to change the fuel injector return lines before using biodiesel but as it will be only B20 I hope to get away with leaving the rest of the fuel system stock. Time will tell.

I miss the torque of the turbodiesel but otherwise am pleased as Punch with my new acquisition. Any advice from current owners?

Jeremy

Renntag · #2 03-17-2012, 02:06 PM

Gorgeous car and congrats on a great find.

I think it is hilarious that the previous owner duct taped the rear plate for photos but neglected the front. Hilarious ! Photo editing failure.

Besides the bypass hoses, be sure to change out all the o-rings in the fuel system to Viton.
Fryer power dot com incase it gets sensored.
Viton for Mercedes Engines at FRYERPOWER HOME
You will need to get the delivery valve pressure seals from Phil in fastlane.
Part number: 0049974540
$ .51 each x 6.

If you use Biodiesel in the 603-606, it is not a matter of "IF" it will leak, but "when". This is only because the rubber seals are old. They fail just as easily with Petro-Diesel. Since you have to pull the intake to do some of the work, might as well do all of it.

Get a Glow Plug reamer too and service the glowplugs. This is critical for the OM606.

As to your difference in Torque, Nothing wrong with installing a turbo on the OM606.912.

Fast fwd to 1:35 to get past the walk around. Looks like a project in the works and perhaps the exhaust is not fully attached? But note the stock intake modded. Must have air charge entering from below like the OM606.962.

om606 in w124 is running - YouTube
Something to consider.

chazola · #3 03-17-2012, 06:35 PM

Change air, and fuel pre & main filters. I'd think about new ball joints and engine mounts if they're not in the history, mine needed both at around 200k. Disconnect the EGR- this is an easy and quick mod for better performance. Mine's been running 100% bio for the last 2 summers with no leaks except the return lines. This engine likes to be revved- they are flat until past 2500rpm where the power is.

Jeremy5848 · #4 03-17-2012, 06:51 PM

Thanks for the tips, most of which have been done, either in the course of events, by the first owner, or as part of his effort to put the car in #1 condition, by the second owner.

I haven't looked at the filters yet but will now put them on my list, along with the climate control air filter, a PITA or so I've read here. The power steering fluid/filter looks ready for a change; this is an often-neglected item that isn't even listed in the dealer service items. Glow plugs were handled by the second owner who reported no problems R&R.

Yes, the 606NA really likes to rev -- my wife's 1996 E300D has the same engine and so responds just like the 1995 version. You can't lug it around at low RPMs and expect anything out of it.

Good ideas -- any more?

Jeremy

chazola · #5 03-17-2012, 07:08 PM

just remembered also my vacuum pump started to die recently, if I got another high mileage 606 it'd be something I'd check/replace around 200k. As you probably know well, I wouldn't worry about glow plugs until they start playing up.

vstech · #6 03-17-2012, 09:50 PM

IIRC, the rear headrests are vacuum actuated, both up and down...
odd there is no center seatbelt...

vstech · #7 03-17-2012, 09:51 PM

perhaps the belt is under the seat? pull out the seat bottom (two red handles under the front edge) and lift up the bottom section and see if the belt is just tucked under...