I'm about to go pick up later this week a 300TD with 320k on it. Obviously, I'm a bit nuts for grabbing a car with this kind of mileage on it, but the car performed better than a 150k 300D I've been driving around during the test drive and has what looks like a good maintenance history and attentive PO. Plus, it was a decent price.

I'm hoping to put together a list of "replace immediately" engine and transmission items for this car, as my fiance will be primarily using it. Nothing major has been done to my knowledge at this time.

first on the list is rolling in a fresh timing chain and tensioner, BUT, should I be doing guides also out of hand? (I have never put a timing chain in a 617, so I'm excited to do it)

Anything else I should simply just replace because of mileage that stands outside of regular wear items?
I'm sure that ill pick up any axle/suspension problems in a good going through.

Final detail is the car has done over 60k on VO, but with a very disciplined owner and impressive system, so I'm interested to see what the injectors and such look like. The system has been removed for about a year (moved to new car).

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I would not go rolling in anything until you check chain and guide stretch/condition. If the chain has been replaced in the past it probably doesn't need it.

My engine has 321k and runs great. Into those mileage numbers other things can fail at random though, rings....bearings.....oil pump.....vac pump....you never know. The engine is well beyond its designed life span, so anything can happen. 320k is over 510,000km

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

A few other things that come to mind:

1) Oil pump chain (it does 5-6 revolutions for every revolution of the timing chain; some have had them fail before and take the engine with).

2) VP bearings!

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"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

when you pull the valve cover to verify stretch, inspect the guides, and if they are deeply rutted, yeah change them.

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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!

There is this chain tensioner on the Oil Pump also that gets over looked. we discovered mine was cracked on 2 sides where it sits on the pin during a lower pan removal.





Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

This puts you at... what? Five 'Benzes + one 'Benz-powered Astro?

__________________
"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

4 benzes plus one conversion, path of ownership is two for me (one that runs), one for her, one owned by business (van), and a temporary one until rust repairs finished on the DD. Its what you gotta do if you insist on driving old cars daily.

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Forgot about that oil pump chain, why I appreciate this forum!

Ill be checking chain stretch, inspecting guides, and definitely looking over the oil pump chain. Does that also have specs for stretch?

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This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

I'm wondering how much of a pain the oil pump chain is and if you should replace it while you are in there anyway... it is only $20 for the Iwis chain ($64 for the genuine; that is a bit more).

Oil Pump Chain with Master Link

Oil Pump Chain with Master Link
Brand: Iwis Original Equipment Manufacturer at the time of the vehicle's assembly [More Info]
Part Number: 000-997-81-94-M48


$20.00




Oil Pump Chain with Master Link
Brand: Genuine Mercedes-Benz [More Info]
Part Number: 000-997-81-94-MBZ

$64.75




Oil Pump Tensioner Rail
Brand: Genuine Mercedes [More Info]
Part Number: 617-181-00-59-M22


$6.75

__________________
"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

I've have several Benz Mechanics tell me,the chains last the life of the engine,don't mess with it,if you change oil right.

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran

Ive heard that too. Some years back I drove a 300D up to 360k (bought it at 330) before checking wear which was way out and having the chain replaced. I guess it all depends on how much wear the stretch measurement turns out to have. That car is apparently still on the road, so a preemptive new chain might be worth it just for the sake of insurance.

Once I get my hands on the car, then I can get a feel for what im dealing with. Eyes wide Open is my motto for this. I go into owning a 300+k original engine vehicle expecting everything to fail and acting accordingly, much more likely to be reliable for me (or her, which is why im fussing about it).

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I would definitely put in new guides at this mileage.



I'll tell you this, it is relatively easy to remove the chain with the upper pan and balancer off. I just pop off the oil pump pulley and slip it right off. But probably you can snake it up there with the pan on.


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1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

I am not aware of any spec for stretch. The tensioner does a good job in taking up the slack.


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1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System