I bought a '91 350 SDL for my mother at auction. It had 197k, and ran poorly. Of course, not being an avid Benz guy, I had only heard that MB diesels ran forever. I was tipped off by the tow truck driver dropping off the 350SDL that the wealthy owner (who donated it to the charity auction) said it only needed injector work. He was partially right: the injector pump was off timing somehow, and the $1,500 I spent to fix it, added to the $2,500 I spent on the car, resulted in a perfectly-smooth-running, powerful, mint condition Benz for $4,000.

The $1,500 repair included a new $200+ harmonic balancer, after they pried off the old one with a crowbar, mangling it in the process. Now, I'm no diesel guy, but basic mechanic stuff is universal, and I'm a very competent mechanic. I argued with the shop (a Benz-only specialist, not affiliated with MB of America, as far as I know) until I was blue in the face, but they insisted I pay for the part they broke, as they supposedly could not get it off with the proper harmonic balancer remover. They also replaced the front seal and sleeve, to stop a severe oil leak.

When I went to pick up the completed car, it still had a slow leak from the area of the front seal. Not wanting to pay for or accept a shoddy repair, I asked them to correct it. They epoxyed a small crack adjacent to the front seal, in the timing cover, and stopped the leak. As much as they claimed they had not caused the crack, I knew they had, because it took a hell of a lot of force to mangle the balancer the way they did. The epoxy fixed the leak, and my wife and I were scheduled to leave DC and drive 3,000 miles to Lake Tahoe, CA, about two days later to deliver the car to my mom, so I accepted the repair.

The car ran beautifully all the way across the country (early last September), except for a severe loss of power in the high altitudes of the Colorado mountains. We reached the Bonneville Salt Flats, and slept at the rest area beside them, leaving the car running for warmth. At dawn, I took the car out onto the flats---all of about 50 feet. I floored it, suprised at the grip offered the salt, and (still in 1'st, doing about 15 mph), turned the wheel, to see if the heavy Benz would break the wheels free on the salt and slide. The car responded by stumbling, and losing power, and began smoking SEVERELY!!! Underhood exam revealed oil everywhere. I assumed a broken turbo shaft, having experienced a similar disaster on my old Thunderchicken Turbo Coupe (hey---don't knock a 150k 4-banger that can run 13.62 in the 1/4 at 99.67 MPH, nearly stock, with 20psi of boost through a Conquest front-mount intercooler!).

The shaft was fine---the oil seemed to be coming from the front seal. I LIMPED the car all the way to Lake Tahoe, smoking like a train, and adding a quart of oil EVERY 50 MILES!!! We could barely manage 50-55MPH, and by the time we reached the mountains around Lake Tahoe, we were climbing grades at 5-10 MPH on the shoulder with the hazards on. A private local shop came highly recommended for MB diesels, and despite their $85/hr labor rate, I left the car with them. They found the hole in the timing cover behind the balancer, and the corresponding chunk of the timing cover in the oil pan, along with a bunch of broken metal bits that filled a tuna fish can.

My guess is that the broken cover was angled in, right by the timing chain, held in place by epoxy. The chain caught it, ripping it loose and causing it to fall inwards, tearing up the tensioner/chain parts, and causing the chain to jump a few teeth. The resultant hole in the front cover allowed oil to blow out---hence the quart every 50 miles (prior to that, it used a quart about every 750-1000, not great, but acceptable, considering the 200k). The shop responsible is here in Maryland, and of course steadfastly denies any responsibility whatsoever. The shop in Tahoe quoted $19,000---yes $19,000---to replace it!!!

I did a search here (got 11 pages of search results), and spent an hour or more reading up on the whole 350 SDL thing, most of which I had already learned in asking around since September. I could buy the $7,500 MB replacement engine, and fly out to Cali and bolt it in myself. However, I buy older Benz 300 Diesels CHEAP at this local auction ($1,000 or less), in great running condition. What are the realistic engine swap alternatives? Has anyone here actually done one? Does the tranny bolt up? Which engines will bolt in? Wiring issues?

The auction rarely gets the 350 SDL's, as they are so rare. I've only seen one other one there two weeks ago, and in very good condition it sold for $1,900---as a NO-RUN with 139K!!! The motor was probably shot in that one too. My Mom's '91 is so mint it's unreal---black over gray, with perfect black leather. Clean, it could be sold as a new car! Really, it's that nice. She saw it and loved it, but never even got to drive it. I've been combing the junkyards, classifieds, and auction, but no luck on a cheap replacement engine. I really doubt she'll be able to afford the $7,500 new engine, but just in case, does anyone know of a dealer in that part of Cali that will give me that deal on an engine? She now lives in Altadena, but the car is still sitting in Lake Tahoe, and she really wants to get it going badly.

Anyone want to make a realistic offer on it as is, if we don't get it going? You know all the details.

If not, PLEASE HELP with potential swap information. Thanks!!!

BTW, eventually we'll have to seek legal counsel about the shoddy repair. I'm certain that, at least in this instance, the broken timing cover, and not the usual 350SDL problems, caused the catastrophic failure. The engine was immaculate---it's possible it had already been replaced!

Hi Speedycop.

Sorry to hear about these problems.


Try these links:

http://www.remanufactured.com/Mercedes_Engines.htm

http://www.mercedesdismantlers.com

I also would report this shop to the Maryland
better business bureau.

Take pictures and get affidavids from different
shops or even Mercedes dealers as too what caused
this damage.
Get as many of these as you can.
It will help your case against this shop.
I hope this shop mentioned on the invoice that they
had to use a crowbar to remove the balancer.
If they did then that is in your advantage.


Hope this helps.

Louis.

I might be interested in the car, any chance you could foward some pictures, I am afraid there is no low cost solution, the rods in the car bend, I am surprised they got 195k miles out of the engine, chances are the person donating the car had some symtoms, usually increased oil consumption, rougher idle, possible knock, usually the number one and two cyl go first. They are really nice cars when dialed in. At your millage some other things to consider are the transmission tends to get tired around 200k. depending on its previous maint. history. Good luck
Ron

A good 603 from any 86-87 SDL or 300D, or 90 on 350 SDL will drop right in.

Finding one in good condition will be the challange.

I'd say the shop that replace the seal is responsible. It is NEVER necessary to use a crowbar to remove a balancer, they won't be so tight they cannot be removed. I would guess the used a crowbar against the front cover because they didn't have the correct gear puller or couldn't be bothered to use a home-made one, or pull the rad.

Chances are the chunk battered the chain, and the only way to check for bent rods is to check piston heights at TDC on each piston.

Good luck -- I personally feel the shop owes you an engine.

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Hi Speedycop,

Any Luck Getting the SDL fixed?
Don

__________________
Don Martin
Bakersfield, CA
87 300SDL

Sold months ago, thanks.

Any chance you can now spill the beans about what shop it was? Being in Maryland myself, I'd like to know.

__________________


1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350