I have one of a VERY few 94 G350DT and mine came with the bent rod issue, I knew it when I bought it and yes I still bought it.
I have talked with a guy in FL that rebuilds these engines and says he has great success and offerers a 4 year 48K mile warranty.
So yea it is going to cost about 8K for the whole remove, rebuild,reinstall but it is a 40K Gwagon.
Thoughts on going forward ?

I have spoken with an MB tech with over 20 years of experience and he remembers MB just replacing many of those engines. Maybe you could find a wrecked W140 in the junkyard with a replaced engine. You should be able to call MB with the VIN and they will tell you about all recalls and warranty work done to the car.

I have read here that the replacement rods had a much thicker section than the original rods. I also read that all those parts are super expensive. Or maybe you could find a 3 liter OM603 engine to go in there. Not as much power but doesn't bend rods.

Good Luck and keep us posted.

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Doug

1987 300TD x 3
2005 E320CDI

If it was me, I'd look into the cost/benefit of the m606, perhaps the turbo variety.

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- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

I guess my question is why would you want to rebuild a motor that is only good to 40k?

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81 Mercedes 300SD 289k.......SOLD
82 Mercedes 300CD 252k......slow ride

82 mercedes 300 SD...mi Unknown
83 Mercedes 300D ????ksniff..gone too
84 Mercedes 300D 148k........SOLD
85 Mercedes 300TD 386k and holding some one elses project

Because MB redesigned the rods...silently acknowledging the flaw without ever compensating the owners.

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1982 300TD 210K miles ("The Replacement" aka "The Anvil") - SOLD
1979 300SD 245K miles (never ending project)
2007 Pinarello F3:13
1995 Ducati 916 (SOLD, sniff)
1999 Ducati 900SSie (SOLD)

A local shop should be able to rebuild your engine, using the upgraded rods from Benz.

I do not think that the fix is only going to last 40K miles most lasted at least 60K haha
I have talked with MB in the US and well beings that this never came to the US there is not much information on it.
I guess I will hope that the guy in FL that says that out of many thousand of rebuilds only one has failed.
I will keep you all updated on how it goes.
There were very few Gwagons with the 350 in them so I think well worth saving

G350,

My 140 (300SD) is in the same position, and so have several others in the forum recently. It sounds like you were talking with Noels near Orlando. He seems very reputable. I talked with him a few months ago and he does many-many 603 series rebuilds a year... He also rebuilds the 12 cylinder gas engines. The waranty and a turn key install are very attractive.

I've been watching the options evolve. Here is my snapshot:

- get a 3.0L shortblock and transfer your head and accessories onto it (Sixto in the forum just did this)
- put in a whole used or rebuilt 3.0 engine ( much more common and seem to last longer). This is one of my options.
- you will be hit by lightning before finding a good used 3.5L - but you might be lucky
- on the East coast Noels seems to be the rebuilder of choice for 3.5L
- the interesting idea of putting in a 606 turbo, lots more zoom! From what I have read the 60x blocks should fit each other. Anyone have more info here? Not sure what the sorting out difficulties would be with wiring, accessories, engine mounts, transmission hookups... No idea on costs on these motors.

Let us know what you decide and how it works out.

Chuck

Oh, you lucky &$(#^#$! A mid-90s turbodiesel G is my dream. Although I would like a 603, pretty much for the reason you started this threat ... .

I'd say it's a tossup as to whether to repair it or replace the engine. From what I understand, if it's rebuilt with the improved rods it should last. Maybe some 350 owners with experience could chime in? I'd say your other option, as others have mentioned, is to drop a 603 in it. You'll still get pretty good performance and maybe a "safer" engine in terms of future repairs (cracked head is not as awful as bent rod ...). But I understand your desire to keep a rare car "stock. I personally would not think you foolish to have it rebuilt, assuming the mechanic doing it is qualified and experienced, and it is done using the upgraded OEM parts. Then again, I'm a sentimental fool who loves throwing money at my car, so I may not be the person to listen to!

Congrats on a very nifty vehicle. I see a lot of 240GD or 300GD floating around from the early-mid 80s, but I rarely see a mid-90s turbo. Hoping to one day save up enough to find a used 603 turbo G-wagon.

Got any pictures of the beast?

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1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)

I guess if you are asking the question about the rebuild then you can afford it. If you can afford it than heck, why not. It will be a nice vehicle to have no matter what you eventually power it with.
I believe I would go the M603 route, but I could just as easily spend your 8K!

__________________
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

If they do have the rod bending issue from the rods themselves (nothing outside acting upon them), why not just go aftermarket for rods? I can assure you that some H-beam billets will be stronger than any OEM rod.

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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

I would think that as long as you're going with a rebuild w/the redesigned rods you'd be ok. What does a new crate engine from Benz cost? Like you said, you've got a $40K vehicle so throwing some bucks at it makes some sense. Might be worth an extra couple grand if you get a brand new one from MB as opposed to rebuilding yours w/the newer rods because you might not catch all of the collateral damage that may have occurred.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

I repowered my 1990 350SDL with a 3.0. The 3.5 lasted 214k.

Is it possible that the brand new longblock installed in my 350SD in July of 1995 is an engine that was without the "upgraded rods"?

Or is it possible that the rods aren't the issue.

Either way, my car has gone through two 350 engines. And the third one, being a used 3.0 liter, will never go down the same way. Naturally I'm skeptical about a true "fix".

Dump that boat anchor and get a 3.0 liter; be it a 606 or 603. Just remember the 606 needs an intercooler and custom mechanical linkage bits and injection pump from a 603 whereas the older 3.0 liter is essentially the same as the 3.5 (with the exception of the overboost plumbing).

Power is identical between the two engines. You are not downgrading in overall output.

That's what I believe...

I read early headgaskets were weaker. The massive overbore. EGR. Who knows, but I do not really believe it to be ONLY the rod issue.

__________________
I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]