After working all Friday afternoon on my brother's 300SD, I came to this conclusion. We had to change the belts and I was amazed at how difficult that was. V belts suck, especially on that engine, especially if the fine tune tensioners are broken. Also other thing that is bad with the OM617 is that dang Harrison AC compressor, which we couldn't get to work but have hopes for because there was no voltage going to the clutch at all so we are going to trace that fault and hope that compressor isn't seized up (which it probably is).
I just find the OM602 to be easier, with the belt and the much better AC compressor. Of course there are probably many things on the OM617 that are much easier (such as glow plugs) but in terms of that belt, no comparison.

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Current: 1975 450SEL, 83 300D, 88 Yugo GVX, 90 300D OM603 swap, 91 F150 4.6 4v swap, 93 190E Sportline LE 3.0L M104 swap, 93 190E Sportline LE Megasquirt, 03 Sprinter, 06 E500 4Matic wagon.