Since I got Pete (240d) back I did not need the volvo. I sold it to a former coworker who had been eyeing it for a while.

Anyway, I happen to come across a MB diesel last night. Today it is mine.

It is a 1990 350sdl badged car with a 300sd motor. the original motor threw a rod? whatever that is. so they put a smaller yet more reliable motor in.the paperwork says it is a 603 engine in there now. the work was done by a local MB independent garage. I have all the receipts since it was 77k old.

The odometer says 318k but the new motor was put in at 301k. The trans was rebuilt at that time as well.

I paid $2500 clams for it. I'm attempting my first oil change and found my first problem already. The oil filter is smaller than my 240d's and I do not know how much oil it holds. can anyone help? another question, where is the little primer pump for the fuel?

i will get a shop manual for it soon. can anyone help me with this for now?

I know with any used car purchase it is a good idea to get it checked out first. Since I had the receipts, I felt it was ok.

__________________
Jennifer
90 350sdl

It came originally with a 603 motor, a 603.97 (I think). It may have had a 603.96 transplanted into it. This is the motor out of the 86-87 300SDL,TD,SD. If that is the case, there is no fuel primer pump. It will also hold 8 quarts of oil.

Also, just because it had receipts doesn't necessarily mean everything is okay. I learned that the hard way. My car had a receipt with it showing a new head was put on about 100K miles before I bought it, but when I had it at the shop with signs of a cracked head I learned the "new" head was really one which had been welded and put back on.

__________________
Keep everything as simple as possible-but no simpler--Albert Einstein

Hi Jen

You'll LOVE it. It will SPOIL you. You'll wonder why 'Pete' has lost power...

You'll have more fun for that $2,500 than a lot of people have for $25,000!

If it breaks, fix it or replace it.

Best wishes,
Jim

It's happened already. i just finished the first oil change ( i had to reuse the old filter because i did not have one) and took it out for a spin. the thing is faaaast. then i had to move Pete away from the visitor's parking space and boy did he feel sluggish.

can i use the same fuel filters from pete on this one?

__________________
Jennifer
90 350sdl

Waiting for pictures.......

__________________
1998 W202 C230 - The money pit of late.
1984 W126 300SD (356,800 miles) Gone to the wrenchapart
1984 W123 300D Gone to the wrenchapart
1972 W108 280SE 3.5 (sold but not forgotten)
1986 Buick Grand National 3.8l Turbo (86k miles)
1966 Glassic Model 'A' Replica http://www.glassicannex.org

http://banners.wunderground.com/weat...Round_Rock.gif

Nice car! Btw if the motor came out of a 300SD, it was probably a 1993?-1995 W140. Thats the only 300SD the 603 was ever put into, still a 3.5.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Not sure about fuel filters. FastLane carries them as two different part numbers, although the look the same.

I'd spend the few dollars to get the filter you know is right.

Jim

Fuel filter is probably the same, oil filter MAY be, but check....

You will love that car -- fast, fuel efficient, and when in good condtion, a dream to drive.

No primer, so do the fuel filter changes with a hot engine so it will start better, else you will run the battery down cranking it. Fill the filter with fuel before putting it on, helps a bunch.

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Have we determined that your car has a 6 cylinder engine? I imagine a 617 turbo will feel fast compared to a 616.

Does anyone know where the engine number is on a 603 block? I'm curious to know if Jen has a 603.96 as some think or a 603.97 from a W140 300SD as Hatterasguy suggests.

The prefilters are different between the 61x and the 603s. The 61x filters have a 90* fitting, the 603 filters have straight fittings. The main filter part numbers aren't the same. I don't know if they're interchangeable. All 603s use the same fuel filters so it shouldn't matter if you have a 603.96x or 603.970.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

it has six injectors and i can see the turbo on the passenger side.

help me out. did they just replace the engine with another rod bender?

on the invoice it just says rebuilt 603 engine $1500, labor $975. all this was done 18k miles ago.

where are the engine numbers on this thing?

__________________
Jennifer
90 350sdl

I feel your joy!! OUR 350sdl is our touring car, sits in the garage most of the week and we drive it on getaway weekends. I use the 330d and wife uses the 240d as daily drivers.

The canister fuel filters are different between the 240/300. the primary filter is the same.

Get the Wix/NAPA oil filter. See the "what's that stuff in my filter thread"

change the oil from above, like civilized people do. does yours have the lower engine panel that keeps out dirt and all? how's the a/c. I would keep the r12.

Welcome aboard, multi diesel owner!!

__________________
71 220D 169K wrecked
83 240D 118K sweet 4 speed
91 350SDL (one of the 60% good engines) 156K
84 300d (loaner to my sister) 189K
79 300SD (partswagen)
86 420SEL partswagen
70 220d (partswagen)
68 280s GASSER!!! under construction now
85 300sd 310K miles winter beater car retired
93 300d 2.5 turbo 168K wife's car
83 280SL euro 5 speed 155K
69 250S newest project 54K

Ooh, ooh, ooh... check the cylinder head in the area between the #2 and #3 injectors. There'll be an embossed number of the form 603 xxx yy zzzz where yy will very likely be 14, 17, 20 or 22. I think all 603.970s got the -17- head as standard issue.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

thanks sixto. now that i know where the engine number is, what is the 'bad' number? the rod bender one?

the guy said the 350 engine is gone and the new one is a 300? either way, i'm stuck with the car for the duration. happily stuck if i may add.

__________________
Jennifer
90 350sdl

If it's a 350, and was just rebuilt 18k miles ago, it'll have the updated rods. Don't worry about it, and enjoy the car.

An engine number prefix of 603.960 or 961 is a 3 liter head cracker and a prefix of 603.970 is a 3.5 liter rod bender. Being facetious, folks. The head casting number is another thing.

I don't think $1500 in parts and $975 in labor buys a proper upgrade of 603.970 rods.

From a decision logic standpoint, is it worth checking? You might find out that you have a 3 liter with a -17- or higher head which is good or find out that you have a 3.5 liter which is less good (but not necessarily bad) or heaven forbid a 3.5 liter with a -14- head which is even less good (but still not necessarily bad). Are you looking to maximize benefit or minimize risk? If you're sleeping well at night since the purchase, do you want to put that at risk?

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL