A New engine for my 240D - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

stuart750 · #1 01-20-2010, 11:35 PM

Unfortunately, I've had trouble with my '83 240D. My timing chain went, seizing the oil pump, and eventually the camshaft & half a dozen other things on the car.

A real shame, as this is my first car, and I've only had it for a couple months.

Does anyone know where a guy in the Toronto/Hamilton area could get a Mercedes OM616 (the 4 cylinder Diesel engine found in all 240Ds)?

Perhaps a Mercedes specialist (the Benz dealership is not particularly helpful), scrapyard, or something of that nature.

Codifex Maximus · #2 01-21-2010, 10:43 AM

Stuart,

I'm having the same issue. 240D 616 engines definitely do NOT grow on trees. Your best bet is to find a parts car with a running engine (and maybe standard shift?). I saw a few available in my area but just could not bring myself to dismantle another benz - most of the parts car candidates were actually in pretty good condition.

I did locate a motor in a junk yard but have no idea how long it's been sitting. Taking a gamble on this one but the price was right.

You could purchase a rebuilt long block from adsit company but you will pay a premium. They are pretty though.

Find a parts car that is too far gone and already headed to the scrap that has a good engine. Buy it, strip it to the bone. Don't leave any potentially good part on it. That's my advice.

junqueyardjim · #3 01-21-2010, 11:24 AM

I think there are a couple of questions we should ask before giving you advice. One question is how good is the rest of the car. It is going to cost money to repair it. Is the car worth it? The second question is how much of that kind of a repair can you do yourself? You can really cut the cost of this type of repair by doing much of it yourself. Is that a possibility?

Oracle12345 · #4 01-21-2010, 11:26 AM

the problem with junkyard motors is that they could stuck, you dont know the history of them and they could be shot anyways even you get them to turn

best bet is to get a rebuilt or one from a running car with a bad body

Stevo · #5 01-21-2010, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oracle12345

the problem with junkyard motors is that they could stuck,

Huh

Oracle12345 · #6 01-21-2010, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevo

Huh

motors that sit for a while become hard to turn or become stuck

4x4_Welder · #7 01-21-2010, 04:00 PM

Good battery and remote start switch are a good way to test-

Skippy · #8 01-21-2010, 04:24 PM

Or a socket and breaker bar, though it is a little tough to get on it with the engine still in the car.

barry123400 · #9 01-21-2010, 05:56 PM

Or buy a junk five cylinder car with a good engine. Swap it all over. Never buy a used engine without getting it running and checked out. The exception is only if the seller is absolutly beyond reproach in your eyes. Plus really knows his stuff.

Same with locating a 616 engine. May be cheaper buying a rusted out example for the good engine if it has one. In Canada especially this terminal rusting is the fate of many. By and large our cars do not accumulate as much overall milage as the average american example either.

JEBalles · #10 01-21-2010, 06:33 PM

An engine alone will be hard to come by. X2 on the bad body search, that is, assuming your body is good/sentimental. You can look for SDs too if you're thinking about doing the 617 swap. If you're going with a rebuilt unit, I'd advise Metric Motors, just because I've only heard good things about them and only bad things about Adsit. Metric Motors is expensive.

Oracle12345 · #11 01-21-2010, 08:08 PM

a breaker bar and a 27mm long socket

stuart750 · #12 01-22-2010, 01:00 AM

I talked to my mechanic, they guy who I bought it from a few months ago, and he seems very empathetic towards the situation. He says that he will look to find a new engine for the car, which I am working on as well. He offered to find, buy & install the new engine for $500 flat, which is about all I can afford at this point. This is my first car, and as a student (who needs it), I'm breaking the bank on this thing. I know that these cars have a great reputation, but I can't go and spend any more than five hundred on the car without breaking myself before school's over and I start work.

The body (for a Canadian car) is in great shape, there is very little rust on it. I've only had a few electrical problems (see my other posts), which I have yet to remedy. I love my car, despite its problems, and am not ready to let it go so soon.

Anyways, my mechanic found a '77 300D from the states, which is in decent shape. It has more options on it (cruise control, an automatic transmission, power windows, working AC, etc.) He offered it to me for $500 with a bit of work to get it up to code, but it has a few oddities to it, namely:
- The driver's door does not completely close (only latches, preventing me from locking it with the key)
- The interior is of the infamous 70's dark brown velours, which is very ugly, not to mention that the linings & wood panelings have seen better days
- The seats are uncomfortable, in the front and back, they are very stiff, and the driver's seat is worn, sags to the side, and has a spring or two poking out.
- The horn sounds completely shot (sounds like a coffee grinder)
- The wiring for the starter motor is not good, so turning the key does not always work, so a push-button ignition was installed (which is neat, but still has me a little worried)
- The gas pedal has no actual plastic pedal part, it is only a worn metal bar which is tricky to operate
- And most importantly, the Odometer is broken, reading 180,000 miles. I do not know the real mileage, nor do I know when the odometer broke.

Otherwise, it starts well, seems to run well, and looks OK. (I have not driven it)

I have told my mechanic that it is tempting, but I do not think I can part with my original car.

I've talked to a few people about getting a motor, and I found a fellow who has a 240D which has 77,000 Kilometers on it, all original, except that the body has rusted out. It is about $1200 for everything (he won't sell just the engine), which, while very handy for a car which might need some of those hard-to-find, good-condition parts, I do not have the money to spend on that, and I don't know where I would store all of those parts (seats, tires, a transmission, etc.), as I live in the city.

I also have a few other options for getting an engine from the states.

That's my situation as of now.

This is my car, as of October '09 (I hope these links work)
,
http://img522.imageshack.us/i/car001s.jpg/ <---- Oil leak fixed, so ignore the cardboard under the engine....
http://img109.imageshack.us/i/car002t.jpg/
http://img264.imageshack.us/i/car003.jpg/

barry123400 · #13 01-22-2010, 01:19 AM

If and I mean if the 240d had only 77 k kilometers. You do realise that is only about 47 thousand miles . The complete interior would be absolutly like new and a lot of other parts as well.

A car perhaps some people with simular cars in your area could agree to break up physically as well as financially. It has to have the correct milage. It should be a 1981 to 83 as well.

The guy is really over reaching price wise unless the cars milage is as claimed and provable. Even then if the car will not pass for road use it still seems high to me.

leathermang · #14 01-22-2010, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry123400

If and I mean if the 240d had only 77 k kilometers. You do realise that is only about 47 thousand miles . The complete interior would be absolutly like new and a lot of other parts as well. .

You are forgetting about the two Jack Russel Terriers, one ferret and three German Shepards the family with four young boys had... They avoided going places due to the ' test to destruction' and ' circus' combo all car traveling was.....
LOL

stuart750 · #15 01-22-2010, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leathermang

You are forgetting about the two Jack Russel Terriers, one ferret and three German Shepards the family with four young boys had... They avoided going places due to the ' test to destruction' and ' circus' combo all car traveling was.....
LOL

From what he told me, it was owned by an old dentist, who drove it for 2-3 years, and died. His wife, who could not drive standard, left in the garage for 20+ years before she died. The current owner is a college professer who has lost interest in rebuilding the car. I will get his contact info and see if there is a way to prove the mileage, take a look at the parts, and haggle him a little bit.