I am waiting for a scene in a future The Walking Dead episode where the only car they find that fires up is an old M-B diesel. Of course, like all other vehicles, after 3 years the battery would be dead, but it could be a manual shifter on a hill (in the summer), or I understand my 1984 300D can be push-started. Gas goes bad, but not diesel as long as it doesn't get the black slime growth (from moisture).

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1984 & 1985 CA 300D's
1964 & 65 Mopar's - Valiant, Dart, Newport
1996 & 2002 Chrysler minivans

You're right. It would take a big hill without glows but once you got it started you could just never shut it off. Fun apocalyptic thoughts.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I've enjoyed debates with coworkers about my truck in such situations. Once all the gas has been siphoned from abandoned cars, we could still burn the motor oil, ATF, and other combustible fluids from the abandoned cars.

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617 swapped Toyota Pickup, 22-24 MPG, 50k miles on swap

I loved the simplicity of the OM616 in my 240D and have a great respect for the engineering that went into the OM617, in my wagon. I used to own an older MB camper (1973 based on the big MB delivery vans) and it only had a 616 in it, 4 speed. The thing crawled up to semi-highway speed (maxed out around 50mph and severely challenged going up hills), but that little MB engine carried heavy loads in those commercial vans for years and years.

I owned an older Dodge with the 12 valve cummins in it, and was very impressed by what I saw while I owned it (ex. direct timing gear with no chains of belts). But the old guy I bought it from (it only had 60,000 miles) had to spend around $6000 on an IP replacement, so that engine had its flaws. As someone said, the Dodge truck built around the Cummins was nothing to write home about.

Both great engines in their own right, american vs german iron.

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1983 300TD 240K - 1982 240D 215K - 1996 Dodge Cummins 70K

There are some great video's online that proof how these old engines are almost indestructible.

Here's one of two guys getting a wrecked and abandoned W123 to start:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqVpUUeBzOw

And how about this 407D (Om616 I think?...) that they manage to fire up after 12 years of sitting in a field.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2QBLauaC-Q

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"The MB W123 is so bulletproof, you can drive them forever. Which is a good thing as it takes that long to get anywhere."
Betsie: 1984 W123 300D (hobby, 280k miles)
Myrla: 2001 Mazda Protege 2.0 ES 5spd (daily driver, 130k miles)
The Turd: 2007 Toyota Camry (wife's car, 118k miles)

Interesting to see that 407D. Mine was a 406D with a 616 in it, not sure the difference with a 7. Mine was in much better shape body wise, obviously! And all finished inside with quality RV woodwork. Those guys are pretty tenacious coaxing that old beast out of its slumber.

I sold my 406D camper to three young guys coming out of university, who wanted to take a road trip. Ah to be young and foolish, heading out on the road with a 1973 diesel camper (this was 10-12 years ago). But I knew the truck was in excellent mechanical condition tip to stern, and as long as they kept it on the road they'd be fine. THey drove from the N-E all the way south, to California, and back across the continent. Something like a 2 month trip. When they got back, one of them contacted me all pissed off saying that I had misled them about the condition, and that they had to get an alternator replaced somewhere along the way. I wanted to tell him "kid, you just drove a 30 year old truck across the continent and back in the dead heat of summer and are complaining because you had to change an alternator???"... I wonder where that camper is now, rotting in a field somewhere? Those old MB trucks were quite the beasts. Still working in the third world, no doubt.

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1983 300TD 240K - 1982 240D 215K - 1996 Dodge Cummins 70K

If you're having a lot of problems with it, and you've been doing the repairs yourself, maybe get a mechanic who can find the root causes and knock 'em out once and for all. It's a drag both financially and mentally and with respect to time to have a car that constantly has issues. If you're not a mechanic who can knock out the root of the problems, might be cheaper to spend the money on one, take the car to him, tell him to fix everything that's wrong with it and be done. Then you can drive the car with confidence and enjoy it like you're supposed to. Get your fluids all changed, seals changed where need be, etc.

I'm surprised by how many people don't do the little things like changing fluids. Rear axle fluid, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid (I use Prestone Stop Leak, just suck out all your old fluid and put that in), washer wiper rubber seal will eventually dry rot and leak (it's like a $3 seal), change your fuses from those old pitted aluminum ones to the new copper ones to clear up any electrical problems. The rubber seals and hoses are the biggest thing to me. I've had some leak and or weep over the years. Rubber fuel hoses, etc. These are cheap things to fix and easy DIY projects. I saw one guy's engine on his 1984 300d and I was appalled. It was a mess! Fuel and oil all over it. I asked him...if your car had a problem, how would you be able to see it??? Clean your engine!! It costs $4 to get Engine Brite. If I have a leak, I can spot it EARLY before it becomes a big problem. I'd rather replace a 50 cent O-ring than have a bigger problem later!


If you don't want to spend the money on a mechanic, maybe find an EXPERIENCED mobile mechanic. I've saved a lot of money with mine. Though he's a general mechanic who works on different types of cars, he can figure out a lot of things on mine and is usually successful on fixing things. When he doesn't know, he tells me.

Good luck.

I think some of the complaints in this thread need to be viewed in the context that the newest OM617 is now 31 years old... way beyond any typical design life for any passenger-car engine.

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"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

So it doesn't eat turbos: your dad destroyed one and then you fed it two ****ty turbos.

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RIP:
2011 E350 BlueTEC, Schwartz 81k (totaled by uninsured drunk driver)
1964 Unimog 404.1 (wrongfully towed by the city)
1994 E320, Brilliantsilber 208k (transmission shuffled off after sudden catastrophic fluid loss)
1982 300D, Silberblau under a blue repaint 256k (sold for parts)
1995 E320 Polarweiss, 131k (sold for parts)
1995 E300D Polarweiss, 287k (totaled by drunk driver)

X2 changed the fuel filters on Saturday ran it turned key off no stop. I broke the part on the booster brake vacuum line where it tees off to go to the shut off while moving things around i assume. I hope I don't break anything while changing the booster hose.

What shape will the majority of Eco-Boost engines in use today be in, in 2047?

These cars are not for everyone. For example if an individual told me he had to use only paid for service. I might discourage them from the acquisition.

How we deal with problems of all sorts is partially by mental attitude. Also if a car is needed in everyday constant service. The prime car perhaps should not be really old if not in prime mechanical condition.

As for your belt problem. Inspect and eliminate any rust in your pulleys. V belts were replaced with serpentine because of the need for adjustment. It is automatic with serpentine.

At the same time a vee belt system well maintained gives decent intervals between the need for attention. I have had them eat belts and require far too many adjustments when the pulleys are not really good.

He paid waaaay too much if he put $6k into an injection pump for the 12V. Hit me up if you need anything Cummins specific. A good friend of mine owns dieselperformanceparts & I've sent quite a few to him.

My 24V has become reliable once I brought it back up to snuff. The VP is still tempermental but rebuilders have learned the weaknesses and are installing new parts so quality has gone up with longevity.

I have the 617 leaks stopped and only to find the idle shake on the 84. New Greazer injectors didn't get all of it.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

Very true. When I first started working on Mercedes it was endlessly frustrating, because I was used to Japanese and American economy vehicles. Once I accepted that there is a certain amount of idiosyncrasy involved, the work became much more enjoyable.

Zen and the art of German car maintenance.

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RIP:
2011 E350 BlueTEC, Schwartz 81k (totaled by uninsured drunk driver)
1964 Unimog 404.1 (wrongfully towed by the city)
1994 E320, Brilliantsilber 208k (transmission shuffled off after sudden catastrophic fluid loss)
1982 300D, Silberblau under a blue repaint 256k (sold for parts)
1995 E320 Polarweiss, 131k (sold for parts)
1995 E300D Polarweiss, 287k (totaled by drunk driver)

What I did discover very early is things came apart and went back together easier than with a lot of other vehicles. Seemed to be less issues as well with fasteners.