Anyone know what do i need to look for when buying a 1991 300D 2.5 Turbo, I know about the OM602 but i never driven one, Hows the power, is it suppose to be faster than a OM617.95 (turbodiesel) or about the same, I am guessing that the OM602 has the same issue with OM603 (crack head). Whats the normal operation temp in those car?? Anything that i need to know would be great...

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Current Garage
2008 Mercedes GL320 CDI 188k mi Repair/Work in progress
1994 S350 160k mi Garage Queen & prepping for repairs
2005 E320 CDI 203k mi Healthy & Daily Driver
1994 S350 357k mi Retried as parts car
1984 300TD 214k mi Blown OM617 Poss OM603 Swap??

Sold
1987 300SDL 200K+
1994 S320 181K mi
2008 E320 Bluetec 127k mi
1999 S420 130K mi
1980 240D 360k mi
15+ Others that has come, stay and gone

GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
1995 E320 SE 220k mi
1984 300SD 350k mi

Normal operating temp about 85 to 90.Cylinder head cracking is not common as with the 603 #14 head,it is not unheard of to have a head gasket problem sometimes letting oil into the #1 cylinder. I find the power OK but cant compare it with any other MB as this is the only one i have owned.Some of these had early timing chain failures,so you should plan on checking and maybe replacing the chain,and it is not unheard of to have a vacuum pump failure and both it and the chain can cause catastrophic engine damage.I really like the car and just turned 250,000 miles a week or so ago.When i bought it a couple of years ago in the first month i probably spent $1000 on it ,but thats just me most people would probably not have bothered with most of the stuff that i did,since then it has been great. I run B100 in it when i have the grease to make it with which is most of the time ,in the past year i have only bought D2 a few times.Read up on GSXRs posts as he has alot of good info and really knows these cars and plan on doing the waste gate modification to a pressure operated one as that eliminates alot of potential performance issues. Don

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Red Green "This is only temporary,Unless it works!"

97 E300D 157000 miles
87 300TD ?141k? miles

Great car, bought a 93 new, then after it was totatled bought another.

I've owned M/B Diesels beginning in 1978, have owned all of the prior and subsequent years turbo diesels. In my opinion the 300d was the best one they ever made, first of all its a modern car, abs, airbags, mine had asr as well. Quiet, reliable, good brakes good handling. Best interior materials, very high level of finish and very durable.

The downside, turbo lag off the line, just fine underway. The old style vacume pumps did not have a basket to catch the many ball bearing that will find their way into the timming chain and sump destroying the engine, if the car has the original pump change it ASAP. The new style has a different bolt pattern on the cover, due a search. I would not change the timnig chain unless there was steach or a suspect oil change service interval.
The engine is controlled by a first generation computer, generally not a problem, however there are many vacume servos controlling inputs to the computer that do cause issues, mainly putting the car in the limp home mode, no boost. The shock tower welds along the firewallwere and issue on some cars, my 93 experinced a clicking sound the result of a bad weld. There is a factory bulliten. Might want to pick up Stu Ritters 124 bible for more info
All in a great car, good luck

Wonderful cars; I'm the proud owner of two.

Evaporators have a tendency to fail; very expensive/involved to replace.

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 158k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 177k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 144k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 72k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife