What diesel should I put in a G-Wagen?
 

I’m trying to figure out which G-Wagen I should buy. I want a late model one (late 90’s) that has been imported through the legal “grey market” channels in the US. I also want a diesel. Further, I want it to have very low mileage (under 50,000 miles) The problem is that most of the Diesels I have found in the US that are on the 463 frame have over 100,000 miles. They also tend to cost more then an equivalent with a gas engine. So the new solution I’m working on is to buy a gas 1994 G320 with low mileage and put a diesel engine into it. I’m thinking of putting the Mercedes “Sprinter/Freightline” Van engine into it (and possibly the transmission too). I think this engine is called the 400td or the ‘OM 602 25 LA’ or something like that, but I’m not sure. My questions are as follows:
1)What gas late Model G-Wagen would be ideal for this conversion (G320, 500GE, etc.)?
2)What diesel engine (the Sprinter van one, the G300 turbo diesel, the 300D, the 350, etc.) would be the best to put into what ever G-wagen I get?
3)What else besides the engine will I have to change to make this swap a perfect success?
4)Who on the West Coast of Canada or the US would be the best to do such a conversion.
5) Will I be able to import one of these “grey market” US DOT approved G-Wagens into Canada?
Thanks,
lee

llaskin

The engine you can get from many supl.no problems.
Now you need transmission - transfer case.
Too many problems.
The best way look in Germany - Easter Europe.
You can get in very good shape G300D, used one.
You can bring to Canada 20 years old vehicle - don’t need
modifications.etc.
Look for original G300D.
In Germany you can swap the engine for CDI.
There know how to duet.
What is important for import to Canada, to have official vehicle and
Date of production, which is on the car.
The engine you can put which you liked.

Regards.

You should talk to the people at Europa in Santa Fe, New Mexico. They have been importing G-Wagons for years.

Big fan of diesels
 

I am a big fan of diesels. I have two naturally aspirated diesel G-Wagens, a 460 300 GD (OM 613) and a 460 300 GD (OM 603) and I'd rather own one of these than a petrol one unless I used just about only the car on the motorway which is where I think that at least the 460 series diesel feels underpowered.

So I am very much with you in trying to have a diesel and not a petrol, but I would try and buy the car with the engine you want, rather than having a diesel fitted afterwards.

But if the issue in the USA in that diesels are far more expensive that equivalent gas-powered cars and given how cheap is fuel in the US, I'd probably settle for a gas one.

The problem is that I'd then strogly miss the low-down torque at crawl speeds that I now enjoy with my diesels off-road. I guess that the only petrol that can provide this is a G500 and I would never put such a nice-looking and new truck through the same paces that I put my current G-Wagens!

Idea
 

How about a Cummins 5.9??:D

FWIW, the rule in Canada is 15 years not 20 years, in the USA the rule is 25 years. The USA makes allowances for having the vehicle modified to meet the rules but this is expensive and cannot be done with a W460 G, only a W463(correct me here if I am wrong). Canada does not permit any vehicle newer than 15 years, period. So your idea of bringing in a US G is likely a "no go".

As for buying a G and replacing the engine with a diesel, good luck! IMHO I can't see any reason for it, there are no economics that make that kind of conversion worth while. As for reliability etc the diesel is simpler but who really would ever notice in 99% of the situations you are likely to find yourself in.

I don't think they are importing vehicles anymore - it was a Saab dealership last time I was there.

Yeh, I was there in May and they were a Saab dealership. However, they still had a lot of G-Wagons on the lot and all the info on Mercedes parts and German Mercedes technicians.