Just saw the detailed thread about the vacuum pump failure in a NA 606 earlier this week. I thought about replacing mine as a preventive until I read about the different rotary design in the later cars. Is it true that the 98/99 vac pump is sealed and no danger of grenading the engine? I have a slight mid-range "rattle" that I can't attribute to the belt shock, injectors, air bubbles, or other culprits so I wanted to rule this out.

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1982 300D-T (sold)
1988 300E (sold)
1994 E320 Wagon (sold)
1995 E320
1998 E300D-T
1999 E3204M Wagon
2001 E320
2005 E320 CDI

Hi,
I was the original poster on the vacuum failure thread. Since then I have been through much trouble trying to locate the timing gear that runs the pump and have just located one in Germany. Now I need to learn how do that job that is much more involved than just 6 screws and 15 minuets time.

I wish that I had replaced the pump preventatively. It is true that the redesigned pump will not explode ball bearings but as we found out last week failures can and will occur in other areas.

New pump by Pierburg was $390 but I have found it for much less since then at http://www.***************/ on sale and at Amazon.

Happy motoring.

The '98-99 turbodiesels do indeed have a completely different vacuum pump design that will not spit trash into the timing gallery should it fail. This later pump can be retrofitted to the '95-97 OM606NA engine providing the timing cover is also replaced. Since this is not a trivial job (or expense), most of us just replace the pump with a new one and soldier on. The pumps are in any case less likely to cause trouble than the early 124 pumps with open bearings.

Jeremy

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

thats interesting the link to the competition was all xxxxxxx what I meant to say is ********AZ.

oh well just try pelican parts and we'll avoid censorship.

Cheers