I have been fixing up my 350SD to give to my teenage son as his first car. It has served me well for years and wanted him to have a nice safe car.

Well, unbeknown to me, the car had a crack in the vacuum hose from the turbo to the wastegate. My son decided to see how much power it had and floored it. The turbo overboosted (luckily the overboost protection kicked in and the car started cutting fuel and jerking). As soon as he came home and told me that, I knew I had a bad hose.

I replaced the hose and everything was fine and my wife took it to work the next day and called to tell me that the car was making a lot of white smoke.

SO --- at the very least I think I have a blown head gasket. Maybe a cracked head or even worse. The car now runs rough at idle and seems to still run pretty good, but smokes.

I have been pouring money into it to make it ready for him. I would prefer to sell it all together as-is, but if that doesn't happen in the next week will part it out.

Here is the info on the car as well as the new stuff that I had done to it in the last several months. The car was a norther car but had been well maintained so I bought it. The last things I was doing to it was replacing the fenders that had some rust with rust free ones rather than repairing them.


OK, I called the local salvage yard that has several Mercedes and the amount they would give me is ridiculous.

I also checked out the scrap value and that's no good, so my options are down to selling as is or parting it out.

My preference is to try to sell it as-is. The car does drive, but I wouldn't trust it to go cross country or anything right now. It may be as simple as a head gasket or it may need a head or even a new engine. I really don't know. I have other cars and so I'm just going to sell this.

Here is the info on the car and the new stuff that I put on in the last 6 months or so.

I'm going to give it a week and if no takers as is, will start to part it out. I'd like to get $1500 for the rebuilt transmission. It has only been in the car about two months.


VIN WDBCB34DXMA565599
Model 350 SD TURBO
Chassis 1261341A565599
Engine 603970 12 001339
Transmission 722361 03 418501
Order 0 0 704 83426
Approx. year not defined
Dealer United States (USA) (704)
Interior leather grey / orion gray (268)
Paint
481 bornite (blackberry) metallic (с 01.01.1990 по 31.12.1996)
68 Unknown code
Options
227 ashtray and cigar lighter in the rear, illuminated (с 01.03.1980)
grab handle on roof front frame (с 01.06.1972 по 31.08.1973)
catacolor-glass for coupe-roof (с 01.11.1963 по 30.11.1965)
heat absorbind glass for coupe-roof (с 01.12.1965 по 28.02.1967)
241 left front seat electrically adjustable with memory feature. only applicable to w 210 when installed in conjunction with code 275. (с 01.03.1983)
wood rims (с 01.01.1964 по 31.08.1971)
242 right front seat electrically adjustable with memory feature. only applicable to series w 210 when installed in conjunction with code 275. (с 01.03.1983)
spare wheel, without tire (с 01.01.1964 по 31.08.1971)
340 additional 3rd stop lamp (с 01.10.1989)
front seat, right, lower (с 01.03.1967 по 28.02.1986)
412 electric sliding roof with tilting device (с 01.07.1983)
446 tempomat (cruise control), steering column, electrically adjustable, and airbag (с 01.02.1980 по 31.10.1993)
461 instrument with mileage reading and english lettering (с 01.04.1990)
491 USA version (с 01.01.1963)
519 Becker radio Grand Prix electronic cassette - USA (с 01.08.1980 по 30.11.1990)
Becker radio Grand Prix LW/MW/SW/USW - USA (с 01.01.1963 по 29.02.1972)
Becker radio Grand Prix stereo MW/USW - USA (с 01.10.1972 по 31.12.1976)
Becker radio Mexico Grand Prix, electronic (USA)
524 Reims adapter IV (с 01.04.1962 по 28.02.1963)
paintcoat preservation (с 01.01.1964)
531 automatic antenna (с 01.01.1963)
543 exhaust-pipe cover trim (с 01.01.1963 по 28.02.1963)
seat adapter between the front seats, and halogen lamp unit (с 01.01.1967 по 31.12.1972)
sun visor with vanity mirror, illuminated, left and right (с 01.11.1978)
551 anti-theft warning system (с 01.11.1978 по 31.03.1998)
anti-theft/anti-break-in warning system with anti-towing system (с 01.04.1998)
steering wheel, ivory-colored (с 01.01.1963 по 31.05.1973)
581 Thermoking air conditioner (с 01.04.1970 по 31.12.1972)
automatic climate control (с 01.01.1977)
592 wyellow foglamps (с 01.01.1963 по 31.10.1965)
heat-insulating glass, all-around, heated rear window pane (laminated glass), band filter
heat-insulating glass, side window panes (с 01.02.1967 по 31.01.1971)
green heat-insulating glass all round, heated rear window, laminated safety glass - tinted strip (с 01.01.1972)
600 headlamp wiper/washer (с 01.08.1971)
trim strips on hardtop (с 01.04.1963 по 31.07.1971)
611 courtesy lamps for front and rear doors, with W124 also for central doors/W202 front doors only (с 01.11.1978)
sealed beam lamp unit, l.h. traffic (с 01.01.1966 по 28.02.1972)
lamp unit, symmetrical (с 01.01.1962 по 28.02.1963)
639 radial-ply tires, elimination of warning triangle (с 01.11.1973 по 31.10.1974)
elimination of first-aid box and warning triangle (с 01.08.1977)
801 Change of year of model, last figure shows new model year
810 roof-mounted loudspeaker (с 01.11.1962 по 30.11.1972)
loudspeaker, sound package
sound package (bose) (с 01.12.1986)
877 reading lamp in the rear (с 01.11.1963)



NEW RADIATOR
NEW WATER PUMP
NEW VACUUM PUMP
NEW SPRINGS
NEW SHOCKS
NEW DIFFERENTIAL MOUNTS
NEW TRAILING ARM BUSHINGS
NEW BRAKE ROTORS
REBUILT BRAKE CALIPERS
NEW FLEXIBLE BRAKE HOSES
NEW REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTS
NEW LOWER BALL JOINTS
NEW ENGINE MOUNTS
NEW ENGINE SUSPENSION
NEW DIESEL INJECTORS
NEW A/C HOSE EXPANSION VALVE TO COMPRESSOR PIPE
NEW A/C HOSE EXPANSION VALVE TO DRYER
NEW A/C DRYER
NEW A/C PRESSURE SWITCH
NEW A/C SWITCH ON DRYER
NEW A/C COMPRESSOR
NEW EVAPORATOR
BOTH NEW MAIN FLAP VACUUM ELEMENTS
NEW PARKING BRAKE SHACKLE
NEW REAR PARKING BRAKE CABLES
REBUILT TRANSMISSION
NEW TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES
NEW INJECTION PUMP DELIVERY VALVES
NEW FAN CLUTCH
NEW HARD BRAKE LINE TO REAR
NEW TIRES

Any pictures? Where are you located? I'm very interested.

Thanks,

-J

__________________
1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

+1, where are you located? I just happen to have a #20 head sitting on the shelf over here

jono

__________________
Blue Ridge Mercedes
Jonathan Hodgman
http://www.blueridgemb.com/
Enthusiast Service, Restoration & Tuning.
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Located in the Atlanta area
Specializing in all pre and post merger AMG's including Hammers and DOHC M117 engines.
Mercedes Repair Atlanta

I can take some pictures, but with the fender I took off, I think the car is not well represented. I have pictures of about a year ago, but they do not show the rusty fenders well. The car actually looks like it had no rust.

The new fenders were out being painted. That's when my son decided to play Speed Racer, so I guess freshly painted fenders would also come with the car. I'm in Houston

Hey Jonathan!

I'm in Houston. Not sure I want to put the time and expense into fixing this. I'm not even sure I need a head. May be just a gasket or it may be the whole block. I've got my other 350SDL and I guess I'll give him that one. By the way -- that car also had a bad turbocharger hose. It's out getting rebuilt though. So my son can "see how fast that one goes" too.....

Don't be so quick to give up on the car.

You are not likely to get as much $ for parts as you think and might have to sit on the car for a while. If the salvage yard is giving you $ 200 over scrap for a car with a bad engine, that would be considered a good deal in the general car market. ( The motor is generally the most valuable part of a car with the trans second. )

These motors are rod benders with expensive rods / pistons. If the motor survived overboost without bending a rod, the motor is worth fixing.

Cracking an otherwise good head / block from a one time slight overboost on a stock engine is nearly impossible. Head cracks come from thermal cycles / overheating more than anything else.

If you pushed a gasket between two cylinders, compression will be low enough that fuel does not ignite and just gets pushed out the exhaust. Do a compression test or at least use a IR heat gun to measure exhaust temps at each manifold port to get some idea what cylinders are not firing.

With the engine cold, pull the rad cap and run the engine, see if bubbles / or a geyser of coolant come from the system. If so, combustion gasses are making their way from the cylinders to the water jackets.

I suspect stock over boost control is set pretty low, any one have the specs and a idea how much boost turned up diesels are making?

It's definitely not the block or head. Sounds like a gasket. $130.00 parts and a few beers. Not that bad of a job. I doubt you'll find more "surprises" as the dealer would tell you.

__________________
97 W202

Hey, if you are in Houston, come on by! I'll drown you in beer!

Never mind... I see you are in PA.

I don't have the time or expertise to mess with it, but I am definitely wondering if a head gasket would fix it...

I started it today to move it and I expected a smoke screen. It really wasn't too bad. I'm not sure why. I'll start it up again tomorrow and take a look at the coolant for bubbles. The coolant level is a little lower though, so it must have gone somewhere.

Thanks for the offer. I'd get it if I could. I'll bring by my brother "The Professional Beer Guzzler".

__________________
97 W202

By the way the coolant probably got into the oil if it's low. It does sound like a gasket. Most likely fixable.

__________________
97 W202

Wouldn't the white smoke mean that it was burning coolant instead of going into the oil? That could be a gasket, head or even block, correct?

Had the darn thing running really quiet too, with the new injectors and delivery seals and injector pump timing.

I probably shouldn't give you suggestions on how to fix the car since I'm interested in buying it But...

I wonder if a seal on the turbo went and is putting oil into the intake. That will make the engine misfire at idle (mine did, it would even stall). Pull off the crossover pipe and see if it's full of oil / the engine runs normally.

-J

__________________
1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

What does the white smoke smell like? Sweet? Sweet white smoke is a HG. I'd do the compression test, by removing the injectors and testing the cylinders. 2 cylinders is a head gasket. Low compression on all cylinders would mean rebuild time. I think 1% for the rebuild.

__________________
97 W202

Well, I have an update and it's probably not good. Cylinder #2 was spraying out oil during a compression test. So as not to repost the details in two posts, here is a thread where I have some greater detail, but I think this is textbook OM603 bent rods happening in real time.

The thread is

My 350SDL Head gasket replacement

If anyone has any thoughts, let me know. I might as well take the head off and do some measurements. Not sure a pressure test would do me any good at this point. Any thoughts?

I know it's a year later but I'm wondering if you still have the oil pan?

__________________
Diesel Dork

I make my own B100 with a Bio Pro 190 and run my deisels on it for $.97/gal

Have
1991 Mercedes 350 SD
1998 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins
2005 Mercedes Sprinter
1956 Cadillac Coupe deVille
1996 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 gas only to pick up WVO
Sold
1983 Mercedes 500 SEL gas