Attached is a photo of the vacuum pump case on my newly acquired 1987 300D showing that the cover is secured by bolts. Does this mean that the pump is of the new style and I don't need to worry about it grenading my engine?

Thanks!

Attached Thumbnails

 

That looks like the upgraded one to me.

But I would wait for verification by others.

__________________
87' 300DT (Grey w/ red leather)
87' 300TDT (silver w/ palamino tex) SOLD

2012 VW JSW TDI (on tdiclub.com all the time "btcost")

Thanks Brian, I'm hoping I can take that off my urgent list. I'll probably still replace it in the somewhat near future for good measure when I have to get down into that area.

Also, is Pierburg the OEM supplier?

PS: Sorry about the crappy too-close picture, it's tight in there.

Bump.

Impossible to tell without removing it, or cleaning it and reporting the date code on the cover.

It is not original, it has been changed.

__________________
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!

Well, it not being original is a good first sign, I suppose. How long/hard of a job is it to get it out to for inspection? Bad enough that I probably want to just order a new unit and put it in?

Fairly easy. Pull fan, and shroud, pull belt, and then slowly back the bolts out 2 turns and tap on the pump to free it from the block. If it's pushing HARD against the bolts, rotate the motor slowly by hand until tension is reduced, then remove all the bolts, pull the pump, and visually look at the follower to see if it's got open or closed bearings.

__________________
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!

x2 what vstech said - remove the pump to be sure. Have the right gasket ready for your engine -



Set the engine to TDC to release drive cam pressure on the vacuum pump for R&R.

If you don't have a 2-piece shroud, get one (set) so removing the fan is less dreadful.

All the OE and dealer replacement pumps I've seen have Pierburg markings. Aftermarket Pierburg pumps have the MB star logo ground off.

Sixto
MB-less

I have a '92 300D 2.5 Turbo with the dreaded original vacuum pump (it has no screws on the faceplate). Which is the better replacement pump: Pierburg or Febi?

Thanks

Herb

Pierburg.

But you shouldn't need to remove the pump to check the date code. I was able to do it by taking a photo with a small camera, with the pump in place.

AFAIK, the only gasket readily available is the supercede part, 601-238-08-80

Isn't checking date code applicable to those with the screws on the faceplace? The vacuum pump that is installed right now doesn't have any screws on the faceplace; from what I've read, these are the bad units....or am I wrong?

I've heard of folks buying Febi and receiving Pierburg. I've never seen a pump with Febi casting marks.

Sixto
MB-less

A pump without screws holding down the front cover will have the undesirable early bearing style.

Sixto
MB-less