1987 300 Turbo Diesel....issues? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

luvmy84300sd · #1 08-01-2003, 10:14 AM

Hey Forum,
There is a 1987 300 Turbo Diesel (the equivalent of the E Class car) for sale in town just up the road with 162,000 miles and the asking price is right at $5,000. My wife would like the smaller benz, but I don't know anything abou the mid-size diesel. I know my big body is the best car I've ever owned...so if other 300 TD owners can chime in I'd greatly appreciate it. Looking for major Pros/Cons of this year and make.
Thanks!!

speedy300Dturbo · #2 08-01-2003, 11:30 AM

$5000 is a STEAL if everything and I mean EVERYTHING works, the car has good power, and the suspension is tight all around. Check the casting number of the cylinder head next to the #2 injector. If the last four digits are "14 01" then it's the old flawed head which is prone to cracking if the car has overheated at some point. Don't dismiss the car just because it has the "old" head though - both of my 87's have the old head and have no cooling/overheating problems whatsoever. Squeeze the upper radiator hose when the car is stone cold. It BETTER not be firm otherwise you might have a cracked cylinder head. Check for oil in the coolant too.

Make sure the AC blows cold and air comes out from the center vents. The sunroof should work. Power seats should operate smoothly. The car should hit 60 mph from a standstill in no longer than 12 seconds. It's a real blast to drive compared to the older 123 diesels. Read up some more details here. http://buying.mbzarticles.org/checklists/124/

jfikentscher · #3 08-01-2003, 12:21 PM

Ditto Speedy's advice. Great Car!!

Joe.

JerryBro · #4 08-01-2003, 12:43 PM

I drove a friends 87 and 98 E diesels recently and was very inpressed. I found the 87 to ride at least as good as my SD and was a lot quieter. The 98 was amazing, felt like a gasser, silent at speed, very impressive.

Jerry

Angel · #5 08-01-2003, 03:17 PM

Not trying to be offensive, but, just so know you know

Be careful when you say 300TD
a 300TD is the "touring sedan" (aka Station Wagon) body style. There arent many '87 diesel wagons around in the US...plenty of other 300TD's from earlier though... You dont wanna start dealing with automatic levelling systems and rear liftgates if you dont have to =)

Some just call it a 300Dt, or if you want more background- All 300-series US MB diesels in 1987 were turbocharged. (all 1986-88 (?)- they had the 606 series motors.

-John

luvmy84300sd · #6 08-01-2003, 04:06 PM

Hey Angel,
I don't take that as offensive at all. I quickly pick up when someone makes a badging mistake on the models I'm familiar with...so if they say "I have a 1984 300sdl" I know they are mistaken as there were no SDLs then. I thought the TD meant wagon b/c alot of my library shows the section of wagons as TD. The dealer has it listed as DT but I thought that was completely incorrect as well....so thanks for the new slang

.

Sounds like from the responses so far I need to stop by this place on the way home & take a look...I'll keep you posted (in case you are wondering). Have a great weekend!

tjohn · #7 08-01-2003, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Some just call it a 300Dt, or if you want more background- All 300-series US MB diesels in 1987 were turbocharged. (all 1986-88 (?)- they had the 606 series motors.

Not to quibble, but the OM606 wasn't used in the U.S. until the mid 90's. The 87 300D alone of the 124 chassis had the "good" version of the 603 motor (as opposed to the troubled 3.5 liter version found in the 350 SDL/S350). After 1987 you only could get the 300D with the OM602 (1990-1993) in the U.S. until the OM606 was introduced in 1995.

The same motor found in the 87 300D also was placed in the 1986-87 300 SDL.

This car is a rocket (for a diesel) if its right.

BoostnBenz · #8 08-01-2003, 10:49 PM

If I get another MB it will be that exactly, an 87 W124 with the 603 motor. It is the most powerful version of the 300D ever made, gets better mileage than the W123s and rides smoother. If you get a good one that has always been maintained it should be just as cheap to keep up as your W126, however if it wasn't it'll get expensive quick. Wasn't there some emission thing in the air filter canister that could fragment and end up in the motor? May want to make sure this was removed if I'm thinking of the correct model. Oh, one more thing ask if the tranny was rebuilt yet, and when. If the car was treated nice it can last until low 200s, otherwise they can go out as early as 125k.

Angel · #9 08-02-2003, 12:06 AM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by tjohn
Not to quibble, but the OM606 wasn't used in the U.S. until the mid 90's. The 87 300D alone of the 124 chassis had the "good" version of the 603 motor (as opposed to the troubled 3.5 liter version found in the 350 SDL/S350). After 1987 you only could get the 300D with the OM602 (1990-1993) in the U.S. until the OM606 was introduced in 1995.

The same motor found in the 87 300D also was placed in the 1986-87 300 SDL.
[QUOTE]

My MB engine numbering needs work (I keep getting 606, 604 and 603 confused...I can remember 917.952 though =)

I sit and type corrected

-John

DslBnz · #10 08-02-2003, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BoostnBenz
Oh, one more thing ask if the tranny was rebuilt yet, and when. If the car was treated nice it can last until low 200s, otherwise they can go out as early as 125k.

The transmissions in my two OM603's are original and never rebuilt, but I put Mobil One synthetic ATF into both of them.

My father's '84 300D went 463K miles before it blew an oil ring, and he decided to retire it. Original transmission in that too (although the car was mostly highway driven)!

lrg · #11 08-02-2003, 01:50 AM

As far as I know the only real weak point on the 1987 W124 with the OM 603 engine is the head which will almost certainly develop cracks if it is allowed to overheat. This engine shares other long term maitenance items with other contemporary MBZ engines (like the vacuum pump) but otherwise is very solid. Everything I have heard/experienced with these cars seems to be problems related to poor maintenance by the prior owner. A good car with a good service record is worth paying up for. A well cared for car should not have tranny problems and generally be very solid.

BoostnBenz · #12 08-02-2003, 11:42 AM

I'm not sure if that applied to the S class or not, I havne't watched many of those but it seems like most 1987 or later W124s need a tranny rebuild in that mileage range. I know it doesn't apply to our W123 trannies as they don't really have so much power that can hurt them like the 1987 300D does. Maybe synthetic could make the difference, I don't know. However with knowing this I do suppose if I ever get an 603 powered MB I'll be using mobil or redline synthetics in it.