Thoughts on OM606 swap into 87/91 sdl? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

wallbenz · #1 11-25-2019, 01:56 PM

does om606 swap into 87 or 91 sdl make sense?
Any thoughts / advice on this?

W126 LWB with this Motor? Good idea or Bad idea?

Was the OM606 good enough- to make the SDL into a DD?

Is OM606- as reliable as 617 or 603?

pawoSD · #2 11-25-2019, 02:14 PM

OM606 is a great engine....but its partially electronically controlled, as are the transmissions paired with it on the later vehicles. Would probably make for a fun car but will be a ton of work. Not sure its really worth it vs a good running OM603....

wallbenz · #3 11-25-2019, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

OM606 is a great engine....but its partially electronically controlled, as are the transmissions paired with it on the later vehicles. Would probably make for a fun car but will be a ton of work. Not sure its really worth it vs a good running OM603....

I have sat in w210... I am too big.

How do you work it in the w126 body-- when trans would be 722.6

I would NOT do the work... just fact checking with Mechanic- who said it i very doable... BUT - I am asking- cuz i don't want to create bigger mess with - fussy electrical/control issues down the road.

I hear OM606 was great motor... but never really considered-cuz I really don't "fit" that E class car it was paired with

Diseasel300 · #4 11-25-2019, 02:40 PM

Food for thought:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-benz-cars-sale/390450-sale-1993-300-sd-w-606-a.html

wallbenz · #5 11-25-2019, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diseasel300

Food for thought:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-benz-cars-sale/390450-sale-1993-300-sd-w-606-a.html

Well-- I did PM him few days ago... no reply

And that W140- does "fit" me...

Question- to the wise? Does it make sense- if done right??? OR am I exposing myself to Tons/ of other issues?

W126- still seems like less headaches in future w/ less Electronics? versus W140... BUT- that is why I am here- asking/learning

You like that OM606???

btw- I lossed out on that Crate Motor w22 heads- sold for cash- day before I was going to have 3rd party do Buyer's Inspection!!!

thx for all the insight

rwd4evr · #6 11-25-2019, 08:13 PM

Far better in the long run with a w126. From what ive gathered a 606 with a 603 pump is what you want. The 603 trans will bolt up no problem. A w140 606 will not bolt into. A w126. Oil pan is totally different. You need a m104 w126 or w210 pan.

Sent from my SM-J737A using Tapatalk

Squiggle Dog · #7 11-25-2019, 11:42 PM

There's a local guy selling a W126 300SDL with an OM606 engine for big bucks.

https://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/cto/d/paradise-valley-sdl-mercedes-om606/7024428718.html

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-benz-cars-sale/400098-sale-300sdl-restored-w-om606td.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNh6witgIS4

83w126 · #8 11-26-2019, 12:54 AM

Have you driven a w126? They have way less room than a W210. You would also have to figure out how to fit an intercooler in, and what to do about a transmission. Main problem with the 606 is the glow plugs get stuck in the head and if they snap you have to at least pull the head and have it fixed, if not get a whole new head.

wschotty · #9 11-26-2019, 02:27 AM

Well, it is definitely a large PITA:

W126 short body OM606

And I'm still not done yet, although I am taking my sweet time. This will likely be the last piston driven car I drive regularly, I don't want it to have many bugs. Hopefully I'll get a few hours in this week, maybe another 40-80 until it is ready for daily service barring any further surprises.

OM606 should be a fairly solid and reliable engine for a long time, so long as you don't max out power all the time. There are some pushing 5-700ps on stock internals, or so they say. It seems that with most things like this however, there are three factors: power, cost, and durability. You have the choice of two in your favor. There are some aftermarket rods and other improvements if you want to extend the life at high power, but you can just go buy a E/S55 or even 65 and not have do deal with any of this fuss for much less. I don't want to think about the sum of time I have put into these cars, much less the parts lists totals. For just a regular to slightly more power W126 DD the om603 in good tune with the solid 722.3 is hard to beat, just keep up on maintenance and run quality fuel/additives. The 722.3 in my 300sd is original (those 30k fluid changes actually help it appears), was still shifting fine somehow when I pulled it on the trailer a few weeks ago.

W126 is an aging chassis, and parts are becoming fewer and fewer. I'll likely be driving this one for the next 10-15 years, but I don't mind a bit of work here and there to keep things in spec, or even make a new part from scratch if needed. If I were to buy any car in the current lineup, NA only I would have to get the W221 om642 AWD, though I really do not like the exterior looks of that body. I really liked the W222 OM642LS I got to spend a couple weeks with in the EU, but we don't have that option here. I'll just stick with the W126 for now until we get some more electric options, I'm pretty excited about the future in that regard.

wallbenz · #10 11-26-2019, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wschotty

Well, it is definitely a large PITA:

W126 short body OM606

And I'm still not done yet, although I am taking my sweet time. This will likely be the last piston driven car I drive regularly, I don't want it to have many bugs. Hopefully I'll get a few hours in this week, maybe another 40-80 until it is ready for daily service barring any further surprises.

OM606 should be a fairly solid and reliable engine for a long time, so long as you don't max out power all the time. There are some pushing 5-700ps on stock internals, or so they say. It seems that with most things like this however, there are three factors: power, cost, and durability. You have the choice of two in your favor. There are some aftermarket rods and other improvements if you want to extend the life at high power, but you can just go buy a E/S55 or even 65 and not have do deal with any of this fuss for much less. I don't want to think about the sum of time I have put into these cars, much less the parts lists totals. For just a regular to slightly more power W126 DD the om603 in good tune with the solid 722.3 is hard to beat, just keep up on maintenance and run quality fuel/additives. The 722.3 in my 300sd is original (those 30k fluid changes actually help it appears), was still shifting fine somehow when I pulled it on the trailer a few weeks ago.

W126 is an aging chassis, and parts are becoming fewer and fewer. I'll likely be driving this one for the next 10-15 years, but I don't mind a bit of work here and there to keep things in spec, or even make a new part from scratch if needed. If I were to buy any car in the current lineup, NA only I would have to get the W221 om642 AWD, though I really do not like the exterior looks of that body. I really liked the W222 OM642LS I got to spend a couple weeks with in the EU, but we don't have that option here. I'll just stick with the W126 for now until we get some more electric options, I'm pretty excited about the future in that regard.

Thx

doesn't that W221 /642 AWD have DPF and adblue? I don't care for those... but I will try to drive the 05/06 cdi-- and see how those fit me

cmac2012 · #11 11-26-2019, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squiggle Dog

There's a local guy selling a W126 300SDL with an OM606 engine for big bucks.

https://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/cto/d/paradise-valley-sdl-mercedes-om606/7024428718.html

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-benz-cars-sale/400098-sale-300sdl-restored-w-om606td.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNh6witgIS4

The description is appealing, I have to wonder about embellishment. The price does seem a bit steep, especially for a car with sheepskins. In the mid 80s, I had a Volvo 144 that was really sweet to drive. Had a dark interior, I thought sheepskins were cool and bought some in dark bluish gray, seemingly pretty good quality. They are sort of nifty and comfy when new but the light colored ones look sort of trashy soon enough.

cmac2012 · #12 11-26-2019, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwd4evr

Far better in the long run with a w126. From what ive gathered a 606 with a 603 pump is what you want. The 603 trans will bolt up no problem. A w140 606 will not bolt into. A w126. Oil pan is totally different. You need a m104 w126 or w210 pan.

Sent from my SM-J737A using Tapatalk

A guy who used to frequent this joint, is now mostly on Benz-whirled has done this job. He seconds the motion of the 603 pump.

I shouldn’t float his name without asking him, I’ll try to forward this thread to him.

I dream about these things all the time, and ultimately I have to wonder if I will be a hopeless dreamer up to the dirt nap. I could see a person putting in months of hard labor on something like this and running into a glitch towards the end that is seemingly unsolvable.

Sort of pessimistic I will admit, but I’ve read stories about just that. Right now I have an electronic gremlin my E30 325i that does not want to be found. It’s maddening. Runs great for 20 minutes and then loses spark until it cools completely, as in next day. Of course, it only has 450K on the clock. Hard to believe how fast it is still. I can’t seem to let go of this car. I want to put in an M52. Don’t need an S engine from an M car. An M52 2.8L would be fast, plenty fast enough.

I’m still working to get my 133K cherry looking W123 running well and I dream about putting just a 3L 603 into it. When I win the lottery maybe.

Father Of Giants · #13 11-26-2019, 08:51 PM

Speaking of space and such, I'm 6'2" and my head would always touch the ceiling of the W126. The W210 has way more head room.

Now the Subaru is a different story, when I shift into 5th my hand and the shifter will bump into my brother's knee.

Diseasel300 · #14 11-27-2019, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Father Of Giants

Speaking of space and such, I'm 6'2" and my head would always touch the ceiling of the W126.

You know the seats are height adjustable right? I'm 6'1 1/2" and my head is nowhere near the roof of my W126.

RunningTooHot · #15 11-27-2019, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmac2012

... I have an electronic gremlin my E30 325i that does not want to be found. It’s maddening. Runs great for 20 minutes and then loses spark until it cools completely, as in next day.

I don't want to thread-jack this, but I have a potential (weird, non intuitive) diagnosis for you. I'll send a PM.