How did my 300D return from the Dead?

[Carrameow]

Two months ago I accidentally plugged my Breather Hose on my prize 1985 300D and ran my Oil down to a quart or less
;honest ,the oil pressure was down to 0 Bars.
The car was already having performance issues which was why I was working on it and accidentally plugged the breather hose by crimping it.
After that the Car was Dead, I mean really gone. It Smoked like a Demon. It had no power and it lost almost a quart and a half of oil every day--for a while almost two quarts a day. At idle, it sounded as if the engine would jump out of the engine compartment any minute..it scared my carpool mate.
I figured I would keep the car anyway because I had rebuilt the Air Conditioning and it was Ice Cold, like that of a new car and in case I found an engine.
I went out and bought a 1987 300D.
One week later the injectors I bought on EBAY for 75$ came in the mail. I figured I would plug them in anyway...I also gave the car a couple of Poor Man's tune ups, running it down the highway at 90 mph like one Post advised and I took it on grueling stop and go trip to NY City because I figured it might get hit in that traffic and I didnt want to take my new 300D 1987.
A couple of weeks I used it a couple of times in the heat because it had AC. It had stopped Smoking! Its doesnt use oil anymore! A couple of tweaks, like a solved vacuum leak, and the Car runs great now.
What this tells me is that Diesels defy analysis and there is a little Black magic involved in troubleshooting and using them. I still cant believe my luck. I bought the 87 300D for $2K, a really nice car, but I love my W123 and I havent driven the 87 for two weeks now, I just love the W123 more--it feels like a comfortable pair of shoes or jeans--I havent fixed the 87 300D's AC--and am considering selling it..

[Carrameow]

Were the rings "frisked"?

[boneheaddoctor]

count yourself lucky and run down to buy a lottery ticket before your luck fades.... are pick a good set of numbers for me.

[Jim Anderson]

I think the 1985 was jealous

[turbodiesel]

What are the details on the 87 300D if you are interested in selling it?

[Carrameow]

No matter how much you test a used car, you will miss something~~so i also go on my assessment of the previous owner
the car is in great shape, but the AC is Kaput. I bought it on instinct and hunch, I tried to assess the owners maintainance. When I say Mercedes filters on his garage wall plus the fact that it was parked in his garage, I was pretty sure he was a honest guy. he was an older 50 year old guy with a lot of tools and a conservative feeling about him..
I did see stains on the floor where it was parked. When I asked him about it, he told me the car leaked alittle trans oil
I have only driven it a few times. I heard somewhere that its supposed to go 0 to 60 in 8.5 sec--I dont think mine can.., not yet anyway
I opened it up on the Highway for kicks--i saw a Puff of White smoke in the mirror for 3 minutes, and then it went away and the car seemed to smooth out, confirming my feeling that he was honest in saying his wife used it for 2 years but got sick of it because it was so damn big..she probably did a lot of stop and go

The paint is white, it looks new

[jfikentscher]

How much are you asking for the '87?

[Palangi]

Self healing!! Gotta love those OM617's!!

[speedy300Dturbo]

If you bought a decent running 1987 300D for $2K, you WILL regret selling it.

[TimFreeh]

I know this has been discussed many times before, and I know there are lots of W123 fans around these parts, and I know I'll be flamed for saying so but how anybody could prefer an W123 Diesel over a W124 Diesel is a mystery to me. The W124 with the OM603 is a generation ahead of the W123 for refinement, performance, fuel economy and handling.

No contest.

[84300DT]

Originally posted by Palangi
Self healing!! Gotta love those OM617's!!

you got it. if a cat has nine lives then a 617 has a thousand and nine