New to the forums - I have a 2004 Jetta TDI.

I am now looking at buying a 1987 300D - with an OM603 engine.

The engine seems a bit rough at idle (I had looked at another SDL, with same inline-6 engine, and it was much smoother). There is a boop-boop-boop at the exhaust. Black smoke at start up. No visible smoke at idle. What appears to be mild black smoke when driven away (wish I had more time to check the smoke....).

I did the loose oil cap blow-by test. Nothing. Cap sits, doesn't even rattle. The head is a "16", not the notorious "14". Upper radiator hose has no significant pressure, even with engine warm. No oil in coolant. No oil leakage around head (Plenty of oil way down below though).

The original recalled trap oxidizer was just changed about 5 years ago.

Question is: what's the likeliest issue?

Would this likeliest be bad injectors? Bad Injection pump?

If its strictly a fuel system issue, I'd probably buy the car - can get for $2,500, which seems ok for an otherwise reasonably good condition 87 300d.

If the issue might be in the cylinders - then, I don't want to touch it.

For the same money, I can get a 1985 300D in great condition. But, the 87 300D seems to be a better overall design.

FYI: If current owner's recollection of events is accurate, the car sat in a garage for about 7 years. The current owner bought it 6 years ago, and has driven it about 10k miles/year. Now about 130,000 miles. A vehicle history report seems to verify this account.

The good: Very low miles

The bad: It sat for 7 years.

Honestly, I'd suggest a compression test on all cylinders before purchasing if that's your worry.

On a side note, I've been driving one of these since August or so and I believe I've put 10k on it. It's more enjoyable to drive than I thought it would be.

Does the tach work? There's a dial by the brake booster marked 1 through 6. To change the setting, pull out the dial, turn to a different number, press in the dial. Higher numbers increase idle speed in [IIRC] 25 rpm increments, lower number reduce idle speed. Going from 6 to 1 drops idle by 150 rpm so there's no risk of 'over turning' the dial. More than anything, does the engine respond to different dial settings? If so, new engine mounts go a long way towards smoothing the engine at idle. In some cases, so does an Italian tune up.

I'm not familiar with the #16 casting since it isn't in MB's upgrade path for the turbo 603. There is history to suggest #17 and later castings aren't prone to cracking. I don't know where the #16 casting came from since according to the US EPC it was never available in the US.

$2500 should buy a car that runs properly.

Sixto
87 300D

I suppose there is a remote possibility it was shipped over here from Europe by the original owner.

The current owner, A Serb, from Serbia, claims he bought it from a relative 7 years ago.

The vehicle history report shows the first registration in 1991. Manufacture on the door shows June of 1986.

Then again, its all in English. Who knows. But I don't see any systems of blow-by or crossover of oil to coolant.

I told the guy I'd pay $1,800, without a compression test. For $2,500, I need to see compression test results. He has no clue how to do it, I'm not inclined to tear into someone else's car to do a procedure I've never done before, and paying a shop to do it is likely not financially feasible.

So, he either accepts $1,800, or I go with a 1985 300d, which is in much better shape.

I just like the 1987 style better.

most likely you are looking at the 016 number that's on all the heads...
#14 is after that number...


this is a #14 head...

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My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

I checked and double-checked.

It had 16 twice. Don't remember the other numbers - but woulda been xxx x16 16 xx

If I go back, I'll certainly triple check - but I did know which set of numbers to look at - and there were no 14's anywhere in the number.

In any event - even on the chance it is a 14 - I found no signs of a cracked head.

If the VIN begins with WDBEB33, it's a. North American spec car.

Sixto
87 300D

Thanks for the VIN info - that is exactly how it starts.