Cheap w124 diesel club? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

capflya · #1 06-17-2013, 02:17 AM

Not sure if there is one, but maybe we should start it!

Picked up a great deal today. PO of the car had the belt tensioner shock fail and somebody did a band-aid fix on it to get the car home. Car sat for a few months then PO decided to sell.

It's an '87 300D Turbo with XXX,XXX miles on it, I got it for a cool price of $800. The odo doesn't work so I'll have to fix that sometime soon. Engine doesn't have any blow by and sounds pretty good. After picking up the car I ran over to the pNp and found the shock and parts that broke to fix the main issue with the car. I may order a new shock since they aren't too expensive, but I can at least get the car running for now.

It needs some TLC that is for sure. New front struts and a bunch of misc small things but I think it should be a good driver. Excited to venture in to the w124 territory since they're a more modern car and I now get ABS brakes! Here is a pic from earlier when I was checking out a couple things on the car when we got it home:

Equestrian · #2 06-17-2013, 06:43 AM

Sweet find for $800 she even has nice paint. 602 turbo right?

shertex · #3 06-17-2013, 07:11 AM

Last summer I picked up an 87 300D, same color as yours, about 145,000 miles, for $400. Saw it on Craigslist, guy listing it for $1200. I really couldn't justify an additional car....but the guy called back a week later, said I was the only one who called, he was going to send it to the crusher for $400 and that I could have it for $400 if I wanted it. So I bought it.

Worked on a few things....replaced a shutoff valve for the first time...then sold it since we really couldn't hang on to a fifth car. But it ran fine, especially with the ALDA removed!

Kid who bought it had a fuel leak, took it to some generic mechanic who screwed something up. Now no one can figure out what's wrong. Too bad.

I was thinking about buying it back, but probably too risky without knowing what the problem is.

Then about a year before that I snagged a 91 300D with a broken spring perch for $700. Fixed the spring perch, sold it for a nice profit.

VA-Merc · #4 06-17-2013, 08:19 AM

The paint on that one looks awesome! Does it have the #14 head or a later one? I personally love the om603 engine...I just took mine on a road trip this weekend...I love the sound of it accelerating. I don't know if mine would qualify as cheap, but I bought it for $1500 last year. It ran great when I first got it, but then the coolant started pressurizing. after investing an additional $2,000 in a head job and a couple other odds and ends...I have a great running car! I keep telling myself that even if I had bought a car for $3500, it probably would not be in the mechanical condition that mine is now.

Hopefully later this year I can look into a paint job.

capflya · #5 06-17-2013, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Equestrian

Sweet find for $800 she even has nice paint. 602 turbo right?

It's actually an om603! I have one more cylinder than before

Quote:

Originally Posted by VA-Merc

The paint on that one looks awesome! Does it have the #14 head or a later one?

Paint does look good. It's definitely not my favorite color but it's in good shape so I can't complain too much, especially for the price

It's the #14 head. It's running good now and no signs of issues so hopefully it will stay that way for many miles. Maybe I'll find an om603 #20 head in the pNp on a 50% off day

tjts1 · #6 06-17-2013, 09:44 AM

Congratulations on the purchase. A new hood pad will go a long way to reducing noise in the cabin.

capflya · #7 06-17-2013, 01:33 PM

These cars have hood pads?!

I have yet to own one with one. I like hearing the noise of the engine but considering the refinement differences in the w124 I may have to put a hood pad on this one.

jay_bob · #8 06-17-2013, 01:43 PM

Hood pad from Pelican about 45
Can of high strength spray adhesive from local parts store 20
Hearing yourself think while cruising on the highway priceless

Seriously I would bite the bullet and replace the tensioner shock, spring, pulley and roller. It will cost about 200 for all those parts but the piece of mind is worth it.
If you lose the belt it will be a bad day especially with a #14 head.

capflya · #9 06-17-2013, 02:16 PM

Will add those to my list of things to buy. Worth it to spend the $$ on a car I plan to keep for a while.

Equestrian · #10 06-17-2013, 02:19 PM

Thats right 87 was 603 I had one of those thing was right quick. Mine was a serious piece though blew the 14 head and had to punt it. W124 or not that 603 has an awesome noise screaming to redline.

tjts1 · #11 06-17-2013, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capflya

These cars have hood pads?!

I have yet to own one with one. I like hearing the noise of the engine but considering the refinement differences in the w124 I may have to put a hood pad on this one.

I also insulate my injectors for noise (thats where the majority of diesel no comes from) but I'm OCD like that. With a lot of work I have mine down to 67-68db at 75mph from 73-75db when I first got the car. The reduced RPMs and reduced load of having a 5th gear also helped. Silence is golden.

winmutt · #12 06-17-2013, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjts1

Congratulations on the purchase. A new hood pad will go a long way to reducing noise in the cabin.

As well as preserving that clear coat!

homepagz · #13 06-17-2013, 02:50 PM

Ok - how do you sound proof your injectors? Most of the noise comes from the injectors?

-John

capflya · #14 06-19-2013, 11:16 AM

Got a few other things done on the car. Tensioner setup is fixed now with new parts. Figured out my idle issue, the wires that go to the IP from the ELR were not connected. The plug is missing so I'll have to source that but I was able to fab up a temp fix using some connectors from an old tail light plug I had laying around. Idle is pretty good now after adjusting the ELR to #5 setting. Thinking it might need some new nozzles or at least a clean and balance on the current injectors.

Found the exhaust is leaking on the flex pipe that connects the two exhaust manifold pieces together. Ordered the two new pieces from the dealer, found part#'s on the EPC. Need to check and clean the ALDA pieces. Considering removing the intake/exhaust manifolds to clean the carbon I'm assuming will be caked up inside of there.

So far I haven't had to spend too much $ to fix this thing up. It does need new struts though so I need to decide which ones I want to buy. I know thats going to be $250-400 depending on what I choose. Time to sell some of my W123 parts! I'll be posting an ad with some of the W123 stuff. Have bosch euro lights, wagon swaybar I never installed, 2.88 diff and matching speedo, working 722.3, and a bunch of other parts I had pulled off of the two parts cars I have had.

Still need to wash/vacuum the car...

tjts1 · #15 06-19-2013, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homepagz

Ok - how do you sound proof your injectors? Most of the noise comes from the injectors?

-John

Yes, I listened to every part of the engine with a mechanic's stethoscope and by far the noisiest component is the injectors. I bought some cheap 3/8" thick closed cell foam, cut to size and wrapped the injectors using some zip ties as well as 2 layers on top of the injectors. After the engine warms up you can't tell its a diesel from outside or inside the car. The material doesn't smoke or melt unless its exposed to direct flame.

Mechanic's Stethoscope

I think I paid $10 for it at one of the local discount stores.
Amazon.com: Black NPR Yoga Mat 68x24x1/2": Sports & Outdoors

http://i.imgur.com/v1Bx6oq.jpg

If you look at the newer direct injection OM602 found in the W210 E290, MB covered up the exact same spot.
http://www.mercedesforum.nl/forum/download/file.php?id=29841&t=1