Possible 1995 E300 Purchase
 

I have a chance to buy a very nice '95 e300 with a head gasket/ head issue. The owner told me that the engine was diagnosed with a blown head gasket. Oil is seeping into the coolant. The car has been driven since the diagnosis and it overheated. The car has 350k on it.

This would be a "just for fun" purchase so I was wanting opinions. Should I venture into this? I don't need it to drive but I enjoy working on these diesels. I'm very confident in my ability to remove/replace the head. I've done so on other diesels but how does the om606 compare to the om602, 603? Any tricks or is it a straightforward "mechanical" job?

Thanks

The 606 has dual cams so it will be a little more work and expense but otherwise OK. I've done a 603 head, should be similar. Don't pay very much for the car, you can buy one in good shape these days for $2500. What is the condition of the transmission? 350K is definitely rebuild territory.

Jeremy

Understood. . .
 

Yeah, the transmission is on borrowed time I'm sure. The car has been kept pretty well. It's definitely not a rag. The little cogs in my brain are turning on this one. Im thinking it will sell for $750. Thanks!

Here's what I found...
 

I went to look at the car today. It starts up and runs well. I could tell that it's missing on a cylinder but ever so slightly. There was No smoke. . .AT ALL. There is definitely oil in the expansion tank. It's black and thick. I ran it for maybe 10 minutes. The temp was normal. It accelerates easily and still no smoke. I'm thinking about pulling the trigger.

Oh yeah, the interior is nearly perfect. . . .the headliner is sagging from where they've driven it with the windows down. The AC doesn't work and I'm sure it's gonna be the evaporator since it's a w224 but I've done that job before and I'm okay with that. It's not what I'd prefer but this car is very nice. It's been taken care of. I'm deliberating. 😬

My 95 E300 is my favorite MBZ I've ever owned, including much newer V8/AMG-powered cars like the one I also currently have. The OM606 is an excellent motor, mine returns an easy mid-30's MPGs and has plenty of highway power (they can be a bit doggish at low RPM). Typically they have head jobs for a few reasons:

1. it was overheated badly, in which case any motor is doomed
2. neglect and the incorrect coolant was used for a LOOOONG time (use only G05 Zerex)
3. this seems to be the most common, someone broke a glow plug off in the head. This is very easy to do and Lubro Moly anti-seize should always be used when doing the glow plugs, which in turn should be done without fail every 40-50k with Bosch.

Usually the non-turbo OM606 head gaskets are stout, I can't speak for the turbo as I have never owned one, but it's a great engine and if you get the head work done it should be good for another 200k easily with good care.

I did headliner on my '95. It's mostly R&R, there are a few tricks, happy to share. A factory replacement is $$$ but I cleaned up the base (thin Fiberglas®?), removing all the sticky disintegrated foam (that's what fails, causing the sag). A local upholstery guy had a near-perfect match for fabric and did that part of the job for $60. It's not Alcantera but certainly acceptable and you'd have to be an expert to know it's not factory.

Sounds like you should grab it for less than $1000.

Jeremy

I would add, while cleaning up the head, thoroughly clean all of the oil/soot mess from the inside of the intake manifold and crossover pipe. Then, to test this and see if it helps keep the insides cleaner, temporarily disable the EGR valve by replacing the existing gasket with a solid one, for, say, 100,000 miles (you want to do a thorough test). No codes will be thrown because the '95 is pre-OBD.

Jeremy

I do not think this is the usual head gasket failure on these. Milage and age wise it is due for one though. Usually the front oil passage breeches in the gasket creating smoke. Oil in the coolant could be the fuel pre heater and I assume that car has one.

Since you also have a Miss I would test things before puling the head. Also make sure the glow plugs will remove or deal with any that will not when the head is off.

I always thought it was the rear of the engine that developed an external leak?

Go for it! The fact that it is driveable so that you can test things like suspension and transmission and brakes greatly reduces the risk of getting a turd.

trying to play it cool...
 

I really want the car. I'm confident that it will make a dependable ride. I'm concerned about it having been overheated. The owner told me that it did overheat. I'll get the head fixed if need be but I'd much rather just replace the gasket. I'm gonna see if the owner takes my offer. We'll see.

Explain more about the fuel preheater. How would black oil get into the coolant via the preheater?

It would be just fuel as the coolant heats the diesel fuel. Remember in a warped head situation a clean up cut allowed is not very much. A thicker head gasket may be available though.

Still you have to know the limits for even that. I am not suggesting you not buy the car but just be prepared.

The miss I would like to isolate before head removal for example. I do not suspect the engine got really seriously overheated as that usually takes the temper out of the rings and you have no problems related to that.

Since you do not I suspect a more moderate overheat. I always use to ask the seller if it blew all the coolant out for example.

now that you mentioned it...
 

The owner's husband volunteered the info that when it overheated it DID blow out all the coolant.

If the head has been warped or cracked, I'd get a replacement head. Consider that you may need to find a replacement block as well.

Very nice cars when you get them all sorted out. I love mine, but I love the power of my '87 wagon more.

They definitely are a bit sluggish until you get them revved up. One thing I plan on doing is ditching the ox-catalyst in favor of a straight pipe to free up some MPG's and HP, probably not a bad idea with any E300 diesel over 100k miles. I find mine is most comfortable above about 65mph, it gets on ok at lower speeds, but it REALLY shines at 75+ on the open highway; it glides effortlessly.