I think my 85 300SD is out of timing, but I'm not really sure. I have searched to see if there has been a question like this posted, but I don't seem to find anything closley related to this.

My question comes after a visit to the transmission mechanic who worked on my 300SD (W126) and which has improved 110%!!! But he told me that he felt the car was out of timing. He believes that it could be that it is a couple fo degrees behind.

I took my car to a friend who frequently works on his 280E non-turbo diesel (W123) and he too says that my car is out of timing. I just had a brand new short-block put into her after my sister ran the engine dry after blowing the hose that goes to the oil cooler. Could they not have timed that car correctly??

My friend says that my car is too slow compred to his that is a 4cyl non-turbo, and he says he can hear pinging while accelerating. Are these true signs of my baby being out of timing??? Please help!

It is possible that it is out of cam timing. This could happen during the reinstallation of the head. Depends on the experience of the shop that installed the short block. Only way to determine for sure, is to take the valve cover off and set the engine on #1 TDC and see if the timing marks on the cam line up. Then again, it could be the IP is out of timing and that needs to be reset.

Many other things can cause a diesel to be slow on take off and to "ping."

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1984 300SD 326,997 miles and counting . . . No wait, my odometer is still dead

I have never heard of a W123 280E diesel. Is his 4 cylinder non-turbo a 240D?
Do you have the skills to time the engine?
Do a search as there have been some posts on this topic, which may assist you and/or your friend to set the timing correctly.

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Tony from West Oz.
Fatmobile 3 84 300D 295kkm Silver grey/Blue int. 2 tank WVO - Recipient of TurboDesel engine.
Josephine '82 300D 390kkm White/Palamino int.
Elizabeth '81 280E, sporting a '79 300D engine.
Lucille '87 W124 300D non-turbo 6 cylinder OM603, Pearl Grey with light grey interior


Various parts cars including 280E, 230C & 300D in various states of disassembly.

He said its a 280E NON-turbo diesel. He means its not a turbo diesel, but a gasser from what I understand what he's trying to say.
-Joe

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

My comment intent was related to whether his friend indeed had an OM616 or OM617 diesel, on which to base his comment that it "is out of timing".

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Tony from West Oz.
Fatmobile 3 84 300D 295kkm Silver grey/Blue int. 2 tank WVO - Recipient of TurboDesel engine.
Josephine '82 300D 390kkm White/Palamino int.
Elizabeth '81 280E, sporting a '79 300D engine.
Lucille '87 W124 300D non-turbo 6 cylinder OM603, Pearl Grey with light grey interior


Various parts cars including 280E, 230C & 300D in various states of disassembly.

Thanks to all on your replies!!

My mistake on my original post. My firend's car is a 240D non-turbo diesel not a 280E. It is not a gasser. He's been working with MB diesels since the early sixties in Cuba. Any way, I drove his yesterday, and I was ashamed at the way his drove compared to mine. I really moved and was non hesitant and mine can be (i always thought it was the extra weight of a W126 body). I definitley need to look into the timing of my car. No I don't have the skill to do this, nor the tools. I guess I'm going to need a good mecahnic in the Miami/ Ft. Lauderdale area. nay recommendations from anyone??

Any tips on making sure the shop is doing the right thing on my car??

While we are at it....How can I post a picture of my car on this forum???

In the bottom of the reply window, there is a "Attach File:" section with a Browse button. Just make sure that your photo is <66 560 bytes, or it will bounce.
Any good photo editor should allow you to resize your photos to suit.
Then hit the Reply button, like I did.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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Tony from West Oz.
Fatmobile 3 84 300D 295kkm Silver grey/Blue int. 2 tank WVO - Recipient of TurboDesel engine.
Josephine '82 300D 390kkm White/Palamino int.
Elizabeth '81 280E, sporting a '79 300D engine.
Lucille '87 W124 300D non-turbo 6 cylinder OM603, Pearl Grey with light grey interior


Various parts cars including 280E, 230C & 300D in various states of disassembly.

For a mechanic recommendation in Miami, contact Plantman. One of his posts is here and you can hit the "email" button at the bottom of his post to send a message.

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Rick Miley
2014 Tesla Model S
2018 Tesla Model 3
2017 Nissan LEAF
Former MB: 99 E300, 86 190E 2.3, 87 300E, 80 240D, 82 204D Euro
Chain Elongation References

I cant seem to reduce the file size with Adobe. All I can do is change the pixel sizes. Any suggestions?