Looks like we're gonna buy a W124
 

The missus and I drove down to Mountain View today and looked at a 1987 300D Turbo. It has only 132,000 miles and is in pretty good shape. By coincidence, the seller is the same guy who sold me my 1985 300D. The white exterior color is a repaint but seems to have been well done, not like that orange-peel black monstrosity I saw in San Francisco last week. Because of the rain I wasn't able to do quite as much inspecting as I would have liked to do. The "things to look for" references I found last week on this forum were very helpful.

The car is originally from the East Coast but has no rust (surprise!). The current owner is the third owner and has had the car since the beginning of this year.

Probably the potentially most expensive problem is that the sunroof does not work. You can hear the motor running and something rattling in the roof as if the cable had come loose. The seller will have his mechanic look at it but we may just decide to leave it broke and negotiate the price.

It is definitely quieter, smoother, and more powerful than the W123. We will have to see what the mileage is but it may be good enough to use for long trips instead of the '85, which gets only about 24 MPG at best due to its smog crap. Interestingly, this car has not yet had its trap ox replaced. I shall contact Mercedes and get it done when we bring the car home.

Pictures soon!

Jeremy

The suspension is TOTALLY different on the 124, in a good way. A more powerful motor too. I enjoyed the one I drove.

If you can't get better than 24mpg freeway cruising along at 65mph you have some issues! :D

ALSO - since you still have TrapOx, I have an extra pipe you can have to remove it yourself... and keep the catless downpipe. That's unless the turbocharger is bad or something of that nature.

Thank you! Looks like the process would not be difficult, since the trap is on top of the turbo, not buried beneath it like my '85. Let me get the beast home first.

What would be the difference, if any, with and without the catalyst in the downpipe? How much do you want for the pipe?

Jeremy

Why not just have the dealer fix it for free?

If you think its quick with the trap on there your going to be surprised!:D

Not to bring doom and gloom but some here have said they think there is a correlation between the Trap Ox being left on and head failure due to excessive heat. If you can check the upper radiator hose for hardness and the burp tank for any traces of oil that will be helpful. A compression check will also tell you if the head gasket is leaking. Did you check the casting number on the head? Is it a #14? If it is there is a chance that it could crack or already have a small crack that will only get bigger, eventually causing head failure.

Your point is well taken -- the head is indeed an original #14. I'll have my mechanic check it out when I get it home. (Wish I could do it the other way 'round.) I know the seller well enough to be confident that he wouldn't deliberately push his problems off onto me. However, he knows less about M-B diesels than I know and I know only what I've learned here on this forum. :D Short of passing up an otherwise good, low mileage car, I don't have a solution -- sometimes one must just roll the dice.

Not that this forum could be considered an accurate statistical sample of OM603 Turbodiesel engine owners, but someone did a survey to find out who had cracked heads and it cam back at like 25%. Check out the thread. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=33066&highlight=603+head+survey

I am convinced it is all about service and vigilence. Do the correct cooling system service, swap out the Trap Ox. Watch the temp. gauge. My car has a cracked head and my suspision is that it was not well maintained because the service book was hardly used after the first 50K.

Just one less thing to go bad is all... I gutted mine.

Luck is on my side this time...
 

...but how long will it last and what will go wrong in compensation???

Very conveniently, the car's alternator died yesterday while the seller and I were driving around. :eek: The alternator light didn't come on (burned out? -- haven't checked yet). We discovered it when, later that day, the car wouldn't start. The battery was down to 11.something Volts. Today, the owner took it to his wrench and had a brand-new Bosch alternator installed at his expense. :D

Wife and I pick up the car this Friday (17 November). I'll post pix over the weekend. Thanks to all for their words of wisdom. I'll get the trap ox off as soon as possible.

Anyone wanna buy an Oldsmobile?

Jeremy