Oh how I wish this were not the case, but it is! It only has (or, HAD!) 171,000 or so miles on it, and I'm not sure exactly HOW bad the damage is to it, but it has, at MINIMUM, a blown head gasket. Most likely a cracked head, but am not sure without doing the work of dismantling it (rather having the work done, $$) What I AM sure of, though, is that it won't even start now, it just turns about 1/4 to 1/2 turn and then freezes up completely. The last time it was driven, it just kept getting slowly hotter and hotter until I just parked it. Attempts to restart it immediately thereafter were successful (if you want to call it that- it DID start, technically) but had a HUGE white clouds and sputtering to run at all. As I listened to my baby dying, I knew it wasn't good (actually, I'd known it for quite a while, I'd just hoped/prayed that it wasn't going to be that bad...IT WAS!)

Anyway, this happened in July/August 2011, and I've just had it parked and covered up in my backyard ever since, hoping for some sort of divine guidance, I guess! The car's not in 'perfect' mechanical order otherwise, but it's in WAY too good a shape to just sell it for scrap, were I so inclined (which I'm NOT!) I'm hoping that someone here will be able to offer some suggestions as to what my options are (motor replacement, ideally, but I know those motors are near IMPOSSIBLE to come by in any kind of shape to make the labor required worthwhile. I'm also very curious as to what other (if any) motors are able to be placed into the 126 chassis (??!?)

Guys, I'm really hurting here! If you or someone you know has any line on a motor for this car, PLEASE let me know. I don't know for sure that a complete motor replacement is my only option, either... So basically, if you've read this far, please let me know your thoughts, as I'm not a DIY'er, but I've got a couple of great indy guys I trust and can have do the work for me, but I need to know if any option is cost effective enough on a car that's 25+ years old now... all sentimentality aside. And if you or someone you know might be interested in buying it, please let me know of that, as well....

I have wanted to own this car for pretty much most of the last 20 years or so and finally was able to get my hands on one at a fair price and in GREAT shape! Sadly though, I was only able to drive it for less than 6 months before my wife KILLED it, and I don't want to let it go....PLEASE HELP ME! Thanks!

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StuckInFresno

1987 300SDL 171,000 mi = Wife BLEW MOTOR! 7/2011
1997 E300D 109,900 mi = T-Boned/TOTALED! 7/25/10

not sure if this is legit,
Mercedes Turbo Diesel engine 603 960 1986 1987 300D 300TD 300SDL complete | eBay

This one is on Ebay, as well. $560 for a block and head seems reasonable if getting it to you isn't too expensive.

Mercedes 300D 300TD 300TDT W124 Engine Block OM603 6 Cylinder Diesel | eBay

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-Louis

'87 300D Anthracite

I happen to be about 10 miles away from this guy and hope I can get a hold of him before tomorrow afternoon when I'm going back home. Either way, I'll check it out! THANKS!

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StuckInFresno

1987 300SDL 171,000 mi = Wife BLEW MOTOR! 7/2011
1997 E300D 109,900 mi = T-Boned/TOTALED! 7/25/10

There are motors and motor tranny combo's for sale every day on craigslist. use one of the wide area searches. They sure save time.

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1985 300D 198K sold
1982 300D 202K
1989 300E 125K
1992 940T

"If you dont have time to do it safely, you dont have time to do it"

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

Wish it was closer to me in Canada ,,let me know if it's any good,, low ,miles is good

Santa Maria is 10 miles from Fresno???

If push comes to shove, you can stuff a 617 and transmission from an SD into your SDL and take your time searching for a good 603.

Sixto
87 300D

Either buy a used engine if you can swap it yourself, or sell it and buy a gen1 300sd, then dont let your wife drive it. lol

Not to sound like a COMPLETE idiot here, but is this going to be compatible with my 126? I just don't want to get into something that's going to require more modification work than it's worth, that's all? My not knowing what will or will not 'fit' into the chassis I have is a BIG part of my problem, so any insight is definitely appreciated! Thanks!

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StuckInFresno

1987 300SDL 171,000 mi = Wife BLEW MOTOR! 7/2011
1997 E300D 109,900 mi = T-Boned/TOTALED! 7/25/10

You may need to change the mounting arms from the sdl engine onto the new engine. Other than that, the engine should be exactly the same...

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All it takes for evil to prevail is for good men to stand by and do nothing.

Too many people tip toe through life, never attempting or doing anything great, hoping to make it safely to death... Bob Proctor

'95 S320 LWB
'87 300SDL
'04 E500 wagon 4matic

Like amosfella said, it's the same engine. However, he is selling it without things like the injector pump etc., so whoever is installing it will need to move those parts as well as the mounting arms from the old engine onto the replacement engine.

One thing to note, though; the price of $560 is listed as a sale price that ends tonight. He may or may not be willing to sell it for that after that time. It wouldn't hurt to email him if you are truly interested in it.

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-Louis

'87 300D Anthracite

300D motor will fit. Have to swap the motor mount arms. They move to different bolt holes in block. Run a tap in all the bolt holes to make life easier. Also need to swap the cooland pipe that fits into the back of the water pump housing. Do this BEFORE you install the engine (don't ask me how I know). Battery cabling to starter is also different. DTD is a wagon motor so it may have an SLS pump on the front of it. Don't know what you do with that. I am in the middle of swapping an '87 300D motor into my '86 SDL.

Goodness!! A rogue D........

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

This has actually happened to me twice and i didn't have to replace the engine either time.

I had a cracked head the first time at around 190k. White clouds everywhere but it still ran. Took it right in and the new head replacement was about $3700 parts and labor (head part alone was $1700). I got a new OEM head, I'm sure there are used ones available though.

Second time was at about 245k and the head had warped slightly where it is seated with the gasket, most likely from overheating. It was $2000 because they had to remove the valves, resurface the head, and put it all back together so it was all labor. A blown gasket to replace would only be around $300 and that's if you let a shop do it.

The reason it wont turn over anymore is because you've let it sit and the cylinder has filled up with coolant and is hydrolocked. I wouldn't start looking at a new motor just yet, sounds like you have a cracked head at worst. Even if the money to do it is the same, i wouldn't swap an engine you know for one that you dont know anything about.

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1991 300 D 2.5 Turbo, 220k
also in the family:
1981 240 D 185k
1991 350 SD 185k
2006 S 500
2005 SLK 350

I have a om603 Head for you if you need it. I can also over night to you....