Help, need ur epinion on diesel
 

This morning my 92 300D 2.5 turbo would not start, Finally got the thing started after jump starting, dozens of tries, etc. This is 10-20 degree weather with the car sitting over 10 hours outside with full tank.

I know for a fact my car is low on compression, ~10 bars on 4 cylinder and ~4.5 bar on cylinder #4, so it will need an complete engine rebuilt @ 300,000 miles.

The question is, is it worth it?
1) Since Mercedes Benz does not allow import of diesels into the country, what we have is it.
2) 300D 2.5 turbos, black pearl, with grey interor is a RARE car and color, i remember spending months looking through sunday papers and autotraders before finding this car.
3) with exception of the engine, everything else is mint, just about all parts have been replaced within 2 years by the dealer using new OE parts. it would be ashame to sell a car with over 20 grand invested in it in labor and parts in the last 2 years.
4)I have S600 grille, euro lights, many many more upgrades, so it looks like a baby s class.

What do you all think? I am open for any comments or suggestions. What would you do if you were me and faced with this situation?

Tough call, Johnson. But I think you are the only one who can make this decision.

1. How much is the car worth to you now? How much can you sell it now? Say it is $x k.

2. Let's say you put in a MB rebuilt engine for $5k on your car. Would you be happy to get that car for $(x+5) k?

I believe there is another member on this forum who bit the bullet and got a new MB 2.5 diesel engine installed on his 90 or 91 300D. He is very happy.

Isn't it interesting we replace every part on these cars so they last long.:D

If the rest of your car is in OK shape and you plan on keeping it, opt for a crate motor. Treat it right with regular maintenance and it will run forever.

With the rest of the car in good shape and since you like the car alot, I think it would be an inexpensive way to go. Since you have gotten 300,000 miles from it, you obviously know how to take care of a car, and could possibly get this many more miles from a car you like.

What kind of car can you buy for $5,000? Not much of one. Given that the newest car of this quality, such as a 210 diesel would cost around $30,000, the engine sounds like a bargain to me.

If this were a crappy built car, I would say no, but these cars are built in such a way that they lend themselves well to being rebuilt.

IMHO, you should go for it, but as a previous poster said, noone can make this decision except you.

Good luck,

I'd put a motor in it. These are great cars when they run right, and clearly yours no longer is. My '92 300D started right up this am, and it was 20 degrees out (and I don't have a block heater, just new glow plugs); yours should too.

One benefit to having a new motor is that you get to break it in, and you get to run it on synthetic oil...with that combo you should get at least 400k out of the next motor!

Here is a data point.

Last week, eBay had an auction of a 1992 300D with 313kmi. See the discussion at

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/28777-92-300d-self-leveling.html?highlight=300d+selfleveling

It is still active and the price is $4,500 (met the reserve already)

Here is the auction link

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=599784311

I have now owned my 91 300D 2.5 (100k miles) for a year, having purchased it with reference to this site. I would not hesitate to replace the engine --after all, you know the car's history (for as long as you have owned it anyway). You also know how it has been maintained.

Superb handling, comfort and fuel-efficiency make this (indeed rare) car a perfect balance between the solidity of the earlier 300d's (I have a 79 300SD) and the amenities of later ones. And parts aren't a problem.

Imagine 300,000 more (relatively) trouble-free miles, and take the plunge.

Think about the 38mpg you get on the highway.

Think about how much you'd have to spend to get the kind of motoring you're accustomed to.

Good luck. Simon

thank you everyone
 

Thank you everyone for the replies, it means a lot to me, i value your opinion.

For the people that asked, i will take a couple pics this afternoon so you can see its condition, thanx.

To Thomas W.
 

This is a pic of the euro light and clear sidemarker with silver bulb, so there is a non-amber look

HOw do i post pics here?
 

How do i add pics to a post?