Drove my W115 300D finally! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

biopete · #1 05-24-2019, 03:20 PM

It has been a long journey with this car. I bought it about 5 years ago off this forum from Frank for 1500.00 . It's been taking up space in my garage ever since. His dad bought it new and he drove it back from the dealer. Then the oil line on the fuel pump blew at 57,000 miles and it locked up the engine. That was around 2007/8. Has only 57,000 + original miles.

I found a new engine finally off carpart.com sometime last summer. Only 2 years, 1975, 1976 they made this config with the 300D and automatic transmission. So it is a tough one to replace. A w123 617 from the 80's won't work without some hacking.

Swap finally done, new front crank seal, motor mounts , oil cooler lines , transmission cooler lines, power steering lines, all filters , fluids , clean diesel, upgraded glow plugs, vac pump gasket and rebuild . It's some work.

Started right up with one glow. It's a good engine that has actually been rebuilt. I guess many people had this issue with these and maybe why the next iteration of the 617 is so different. Has the sticker on it from the engine builders. I'll get their name and post it. It sounds great.

Here are a few pics. I'm going to auction this thing off i think because i travel for work now and have a Tesla model 3 for that that self drives. Dang electric robot cars really make you lose interest in oil changes and fluids and old diesels in general. Also I have a german import 1976 w115 240D manual that I can get my mb diesel kicks from on the weekends. May sell that one too though.

Anyway here are a few pics of this one. We just gave it its initial wash and were working on cleaning it. Not done yet. I love the w115 body.

vwnate1 · #2 05-24-2019, 11:00 PM

Wow that looks great .

mbolton1990 · #3 05-24-2019, 11:24 PM

That car is seriously gorgeous!
Love the color combo, should do nicely on BaT.

Screwdriva · #4 05-26-2019, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biopete

Also I have a german import 1976 w115 240D manual that I can get my mb diesel kicks from on the weekends. May sell that one too though.

Haven't come across many who own a W115 300D Auto and a 240D 4 speed manual. I've always assumed they'd be equally quick on the road because the slush box loses around 25-30% engine power due to transmission losses that nullify the 18 extra bhp early OM617 motors made.

How would you compare driving the two?

Oh and I know you don't want to hear this but you're going to regret selling it.

cleeves · #5 05-26-2019, 10:29 PM

I was unaware these vehicles had such a problem. Now I'm worried about our car. Is it easy to find this particular line to inspect it? Could you snap a pic if it's hard to describe?

Henry C.