Hey all,
looking for the MB diesel of my dreams. And somewhere on traderonline I find a nice, repainted, blue '85 300SD w/ 190k on it. Looks fantasic inside and out (what rust? =), guy wants very little for it because...
The engine makes a clunking noise. Loud metallic, from the top half of the motor, kinda intermittent at idle but gets regular and louder as you rev. may be nailing? may be chain tensioner ?, I cant tell. Its bad enough that you neither him nor I want to drive it anywhere (do any indy wrenches do PPI house calls ?). The bottom of motor is oily, and the lower oil cooler hose has been spliced together- I've seen this before
Last OM617 I bought had a smilar setup (hose-clamped oil cooler hose) that gave out on me. (I should have seen this coming...) The motor ran after I filled it back up (and fixed the hose) but had a knocking sound that wouldnt go away...and 10 minutes of running later the motor seized.
It kills me to watch this excellent SD go away (everything works, has ABS which I want...), should I just plan on buying a new motor if I buy it ? Would it be bad etiquitte to re-visit the car w/ a 17mm and try loosening injector lines to see if it goes away ? (he'd want to charge more then...) I already helped one guy fix the tach on an '83 SD, but I have no plans of buying his (motor sounds okay though)
Seller is not a diesel fan, and says his ex-wife used to drive it (what is it w/ full size benzes and ex-wives ?) no maintenance records from before- I guess its all a gamble from there huh ?
I'm trying to sift through the search pages on nailing and clunking and other noises that MB diesels make, but there is a lot out there. Any ideas or links? How much to pay for a junkyard OM617.952 ?
I apprecate your time
-John

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2009 Kia Sedona
2009 Honda Odyssey EX-L
12006 Jetta Pumpe Duse
(insert Mercedes here)

Husband, Father, sometimes friend =)

Here is a short block. All you need with this is a cylinder head.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&category=33615&item=2451282936

I have seen used, complete engines for around $750 on ebay.

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Jim

The odds of a woman driver understanding the serious consequences of a broken oil line are relatively slim. I'm guessing someong said, "Let's just splice the oil line together and see how badly the engine was damaged." The question was answered and they decided to sell. I'd plan on replacing the engine if I bought it.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Angel,

I've seen new MB motors sell for less than $200, but MB engines cost for a lot more. Get it?

How much would you pay for the car if it had a good engine?
If you can get a replacement engine and install plus the price of the car, for the same or less than you would pay for the car with a good engine in it, then you are at the worst breaking even.

I would rather buy a car with a bad engine with no rust and a good interior than visa versa. Engines can be rebuilt to new but a bad body can't.

P E H