Please get the car started my fingernails are getting too short!

Good Luck!!

The 190e guys put that plastic washer in last. Im going to give that a try.

What is the history of this engine and when was the last time it ran? Can you trust what the PO tells you? This project was started more than 2 months ago and you have not been able to get the engine to start but meanwhile you have been doing a lot of non engine related work to it. I guess you must have confidence that the engine is good or you are ready to replace the engine if not?

Taking out a starter from another car to try is a lot of work! How do you know the starter in the 240D is no good?

Have you had a chance to check compression yet?

The starter from the turbo car spins noticeably faster than the 240D starter.

I bled the hard lines and attempted to start and now I'm not getting a glow plug light. Awesome, something else stopping from attempting to start the car. I'm going to go get a compression tester now while. I have this starter in

It only took me 15 mins to get the starter out. Disconnect battery, remove connections on back, remove steering stabilizer, unbolt starter, maneuver out. Done.

I have no idea on the condition of the engine I'm just trying to see if it will start but one thing after the other is stopping me

Sitting cars always turn out to be more than their worth. It is what is though, right? It may just start one of these days, who knows.

The starter from the turbo car spins noticeably faster than the 240D starter.

I bled the hard lines and attempted to start and now I'm not getting a glow plug light. Awesome, something else stopping from attempting to start the car. I'm going to go get a compression tester now while. I have this starter in

It only took me 15 mins to get the starter out. Disconnect battery, remove connections on back, remove steering stabilizer, unbolt starter, maneuver out. Done.

I have no idea on the condition of the engine I'm just trying to see if it will start but one thing after the other is stopping me

Project Car: 1978 240D 4 speed "Uttini"
 

The starter from the turbo car spins noticeably faster than the 240D starter.

I bled the hard lines and attempted to start and now I'm not getting a glow plug light. Awesome, something else stopping from attempting to start the car. I'm going to go get a compression tester now while. I have this starter in

It only took me 15 mins to get the starter out. Disconnect battery, remove connections on back, remove steering stabilizer, unbolt starter, maneuver out. Done.

I have no idea on the condition of the engine I'm just trying to see if it will start but one thing after the other is stopping me

Just did a compression test with the harbor freight tester

1 - 200
2 - 200
3 - 220
4 - 160

All in PSI.

That doesn't look healthy to me. And yes I recently adjusted the valves. Going to order new glow plugs, bleed the hard lines, again, and tow start it. Pierre suspects carbon on the valve seats or stuck rings. I did soak the cylinders in MMO for a week so I can't see how the rings are stuck.

You let no glow plug light stop you? Take the cover off the glow plug relay, use a wooden stick to push on the relay and hold it for 30 seconds of glow then turn the key. Don't use your fingers it will get hot and you'll burn yourself.

Min compression for a used engine is 15 bars or 217 psi. I think your compression numbers are higher than what the HF gauge says since the inj. adapter has extra volume thus lowering the compression readings. Would be worth another attempt starting with the starter + glow plugs before resorting to pull start.

Project Car: 1978 240D 4 speed "Uttini"
 

I'll pop the kick panel off on the drivers side and try the relay. I have to do it another day since I just out the starter back in. I'll go back out after I clean up and see if I can get it to glow

I do have the old loop style glow plugs and if I'm not mistaken if one dies they all stop working.

Get the Bosch pencil upgrade plugs. It made a world of difference in my 240D. You can use the same relay but you will need to make some wires between the plugs. Make sure you do not hook up the ground strap on the last plug.

Why haven't you tried to tow start yet?

Agreed, this really should be your next port of call.

Project Car: 1978 240D 4 speed "Uttini"
 

Well clearly that's my next venture but I should probably have working glow plugs to even try. I'll call NAPA and see if they can get me in 4 loop style plugs or the upgraded type and I'll make new connectors. I think my room mate is off today so he can tow me with his jeep.

Have you considered ether (make sure glow plug are off)? I don't like to use it because it is too violent but is one of the last resort along with tow starting.