OM606 in a w210, should I go for it? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Monomer · #1 07-27-2014, 02:12 PM

Greetings all, it's been awhile!

A few year back I owned a w124 with an om602 that made it all the way to 421k before I killed it. I still miss that car.

I've learned much since then, and right now I'm looking into an 96 e300d with the om606 n/a. It's a lower miles car at 110k, and the price is right. My only gripe is the little rust in the front kick panels and the spring perch issues with these cars. I've never had to deal with either, anyone know what the going rate to get both fixed/checked out is? (I'm gonna use this as ammunition to haggle down the price alittle)

From what I gather, the om606 is a stout motor, and was recently dealer serviced. Ran good, but I only had a chance to go around the block.

Jeremy5848 · #2 07-27-2014, 02:33 PM

Examining the front spring perches you can do yourself by removing the wheels and cleaning the perch area with a wire brush and water, then drying and looking for rust damage. If the kick panels are rusty I'd definitely check the perches carefully. It could easily cost several hundred dollars to have them re-welded but I'm not close to that issue since my '96 E300D doesn't share the rust problem.

The 606NA engine is solidly reliable with the usual caveats about biodegradable wiring harnesses and disintegrating rubber vacuum hose connections. At 110K the car is almost new (in mileage terms) but is still almost 20 years old so it's age-related things you need to watch for rather than mileage-related items. What does the seller have to offer in the way of service records? The low miles suggests either lots of short trips or long periods of storage or both; neither is good for an engine.

Jeremy

Wodnek · #3 07-27-2014, 03:59 PM

My wife wanted a Diesel that got great fuel economy, so from other's reviews, we opted for a car with the OM 606. We looked at many cars, and up here in the rust belt, I couldn't find a W210 that i could pull the trigger on. We ended up with a 95 E300D 124 body car. Maybe when the price on the CDI cars comes down, we will upgrade.

shertex · #4 07-27-2014, 05:23 PM

My auto body guy does spring perches for $300 per side but that's a good price.

jake12tech · #5 07-27-2014, 09:01 PM

At 110K there's another 690K miles to go. The OM606 NA or Turbo is a superior motor by all means.

Between $350 and $400 depending on where you are located for spring perches. Quotes vary.

What's the current asking price of this Diesel? Don't pay anymore than $4K at max.

Yes, check the Wiring Harness. It isn't a big job to do it yourself anyway, but it is nice and cheaper to have it already done.

With a Mercedes: Service records, service records and more service records.

Monomer · #6 07-28-2014, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jake12tech

At 110K there's another 690K miles to go. The OM606 NA or Turbo is a superior motor by all means.

Between $350 and $400 depending on where you are located for spring perches. Quotes vary.

What's the current asking price of this Diesel? Don't pay anymore than $4K at max.

Yes, check the Wiring Harness. It isn't a big job to do it yourself anyway, but it is nice and cheaper to have it already done.

With a Mercedes: Service records, service records and more service records.

He's asking six, but willing to negoiate. I'll have to ask on records,but it looks well taken care of.

I was going to offer 4500, tops. start at 4k.

Zulfiqar · #7 07-28-2014, 10:53 AM

you have a rabbit diesel with a giles built pump?? sweet.....................

some videos please

btw - Mercedes Benz OM606 is a very very refined engine and is very long life - I still love to hear my engine at idle speed, it does not clatter - it more ticks at idle you can almost hear the individual nozzle tick and it all goes smooth as butter above idle speed.

the one odd bit of the OM606 is the feel of the engine, it actually pulls like a motorcycle engine - it needs the rpm to shine, the higher the rpm (say 4000 or 5000) the brighter it shines - at low rpm its sort of gutless (till 2000 rpm).

it redlines at 5500 rpm and it will get there in a hurry.

dtf · #8 07-28-2014, 11:10 AM

Hmmm - does the W210 Diesel have the same 4 speed transmission like my '95 E300D?

Jeremy5848 · #9 07-28-2014, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtf

Hmmm - does the W210 Diesel have the same 4 speed transmission like my '95 E300D?

Yes—the '95 got the 722.435 box and the '96 the 722.438.

shertex · #10 07-28-2014, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy5848

Yes—the '95 got the 722.435 box and the '96 the 722.438.

Interesting....so the 722.6 wasn't introduced until 1997.

jake12tech · #11 07-28-2014, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shertex

Interesting....so the 722.6 wasn't introduced until 1997.

Individuals claim that some very late production 1996 models received the 722.6. I could see that, but I've yet to see one yet with my eyes. More like in late 1996 the EUROs got the 722.6.

In short answer, yes. 1997 was the year to received the 722.6. There was some improvements in facelift (2000-2002) transmissions to rectify the previous issues that the 1997-1999 models had. Unfortunately there wasn't a Diesel US W210 in the facelift era.

jake12tech · #12 07-28-2014, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monomer

He's asking six, but willing to negoiate. I'll have to ask on records,but it looks well taken care of.

I was going to offer 4500, tops. start at 4k.

It isn't worth a penny over $4500.00. Considering I almost bought a real clean W210 '97 a few months ago around Christmas for $3850.00. The $4500.00 premium is ok in this case if the car is exceptionally clean though and really well taken care of (aka records, proof). I usually won't pay a dime over $5500.00 for a Turbo W210 these days and that is slightly pushing it for me.

Jeremy5848 · #13 07-28-2014, 12:16 PM

There are a lot of semi-undocumented changes in the first year or two of the W210. For example, the earliest ones didn't get DAS—you could still start the engine with the alarm activated (then the alarm would sound). Later on, 210s got DAS and it deactivated the IP until the alarm was disabled. Even later, a sensor ring was installed around the ignition lock and a transponder chip put in the key.

My '96 E300, a very early one (s/n ~5000, built 10/95) has none of those gadgets. Makes parts-shopping a challenge as the parts-people try to sell you something your car doesn't use. (Yes, it's supposed to be tied to the VIN but it doesn't always work.)

Jeremy

pimpernell · #14 07-28-2014, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monomer

Greetings all, it's been awhile!

A few year back I owned a w124 with an om602 that made it all the way to 421k before I killed it. I still miss that car.

I've learned much since then, and right now I'm looking into an 96 e300d with the om606 n/a. It's a lower miles car at 110k, and the price is right. My only gripe is the little rust in the front kick panels and the spring perch issues with these cars. I've never had to deal with either, anyone know what the going rate to get both fixed/checked out is? (I'm gonna use this as ammunition to haggle down the price alittle)

From what I gather, the om606 is a stout motor, and was recently dealer serviced. Ran good, but I only had a chance to go around the block.

I had the exact same year and model, loved the hell out of it, and the only thing I can tell you from personal experience is to pay attention to the FRONT SPRING PERCHES. Had my car up on a lift to have the tires rotated. While up there, I eyeballed the front spring perch areas, and everything looked peachy keen. Factory coating in place, only signs of rust on the whole car were in the area of the front kick panels. One week later, I park the car in front of my home for the evening, the next morning I get up, go to use the car, and it is listing towards the passenger side. At first I thought I had a flat, but upon further inspection, I found out that the passenger side spring perch had let go, breaking the front spring in half, and taking about a quarter of the passenger side engine compartment. The fender was resting on top of the front tire, and if I had been driving at high way speed when this occurred, I would have had no control of the car what-so-ever. If you plan to purchase this car, I would strongly suggest that you preemptively get both sides redone, no matter how great it looks to the naked eye!!!!!

shertex · #15 07-28-2014, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jake12tech

Individuals claim that some very late production 1996 models received the 722.6. I could see that, but I've yet to see one yet with my eyes. More like in late 1996 the EUROs got the 722.6.

In short answer, yes. 1997 was the year to received the 722.6. There was some improvements in facelift (2000-2002) transmissions to rectify the previous issues that the 1997-1999 models had. Unfortunately there wasn't a Diesel US W210 in the facelift era.

What were the issues that the 1997-1999 models had?