All 1990-1993 300D's imported to the USA have 5-cylinder, 2.5L, turbodiesel engines.

If you're patient, $4-$5k should get you some decent transportation, but be prepared to expand your search to neighboring states.

I would post your criteria on the Diesel Discussion section of the PeachParts forum... most of the soot-sniffing MB dieselheads hang out there:
Diesel Discussion - PeachParts Mercedes ShopForum

 

Alright everyone, (GSXR, really lookin to you on this one) My car arrived last weekend and I had my pops receive it at his house (I'm currently a medical hold coming off deployment so will not be home for a few more weeks) and said that it was running extremely smokey and sluggish. he took it to a mechanic on his mail route that used to have a MB diesel for ten years or so and is moderately experienced in fixing this cars but he's still a commercial mechanic therefor not to be trusted (sorry to any commercial mechanics out there but i've been in the process of teaching myself due to a couple bad experiences in the past).
He checked it out and said that the front seals on the transmission need to be replaced and quoted me about 550 in parts and labor. so basically 500 for just doing the work. he said if the fuel injector pump needs replacing it would be about 900 (!!!!) and that the turbo needs about 700 dollars worth of work (I honestly can't remember exactly what it was on the turbo it needed replacing or rebidding)...
so hear are some questions that some timely advice would be EXTREMELY appreciated...

1. is it worth putting anywhere close to this amount of money into it right off the bat or should I just turn around and sell it off as is? (Here is a link to the ebay page and there are plenty of pics in it too, Mercedes-Benz : 300-Series 300D in Mercedes-Benz | eBay Motors)

2. do these prices anywhere close to fair for labor?

3. given the symptoms is there anything else major that could need addressing?

4. I am definitely am more on the inexperienced side of mechanical/maintenance work but i've found with a little bit of gumption and the help of youtube I can usually get by alright, would these type replacements be beyond that type of attitude especially the turbo)?

Thanks guys,

Johnny

 

Johnny,

I wouldn't throw money at replacing parts until the problems are actually DIAGNOSED. It sounds to me like this guy is just guessing as to what is wrong. You need to measure boost pressure, check camshaft timing, check IP timing, and possibly do a compression test.

First off, a lot more info is needed... you may want to post a new thread about the problems with the car (I would post on PeachParts diesel discussion, and then post the link here). Is it smoking at all times, including at idle? What color is the smoke? Is it only smoking under load, or under full throttle? Is it sluggish off idle, or at high RPM, or both? Have the fuel and air filters been replaced? Etc, etc.

A rebuilt injection pump is ~$900 but it's not likely you need one. Same with the turbo. I'm not sure why this mechanic is saying it needs turbo work - what are the symptoms? A good used turbo should be maybe $250 or so and you could replace it yourself. Shoot, I think I have one on the shelf that I'd sell. I bought a 1993 300D a few years ago from out of state, it arrived smoking badly and running poorly. Turned out to mostly be a batch of old/bad fuel, although the timing chain was stretched as well. New chain & fresh fuel and it ran great.

If the transmission shifts ok but is leaking, you can replace all the external seals without removing the transmission, except the front pump seals. If you pull the tranny out to replace the front seals, replace ALL of the external seals! The seals are cheap, it only takes a couple hours to replace all of them, the big job is the transmission R&R (roughly 8-10 hours total).

If you can search the PeachParts diesel forum, and have a good assortment of metric tools, you can do most of this work yourself. Make sure you follow the factory procedures (click here for the factory service manual posted online). For a few things you'll need special tools (i.e., removing or adjusting the injection pump) but it's usually much cheaper to buy the tool and do the work yourself, rather than pay a mechanic, especially if the mechanic doesn't know these engines intimately...

BTW - the paint & interior look nice enough that it would be worth fixing the car, IMNSHO...

 

Thanks GSXR, I think I'm going to just have the pops hold it until I get back. sorry for all the typos, pain meds and sinuses will make a moron outta ya real quick.

 

great thread I've been trolling for a while looking and trying to find one of these tank like cars. I've found several in CA but not many in Houston area in past several months but did find a 1999 E300 turbo up closer to Dallas. Is that a model that is still fairly trouble free and long lived. Not finding much on here about it.

I was hoping to find something for daily driving, safety and economical during a couple hour commute each day. I've talked to a guy in CA about a 78 300CD that sounds almost too good to be true but it is also little higher than I'd wanted to spend then fly out to drive it back.

 

The W210 chassis is a nice car overall. Fantasic powertrain. Everything else is ok. The engine & transmission will last as long as any of the older stuff if well maintained. Search on the other forums for more info (PeachParts, BenzWorld, MBWorld) as no, you won't find squat about that model on this fourm.



78 300CD? For a daily commute? That's like choosing a '68 Beetle for a commute instead of a new TDI. Don't even think about it. The 99 E300 is a Bentley or Maybach by comparison. And it will get far better fuel economy, along with double the power. And better handling. And safer. And antilock brakes. And traction control. Possibly heated seats for the three cold days in Texas. Etc...

 

The 99 300D is a really good car. That's before they went common rail which is also excellent but the 99 300D is still within the realm of a DIYer easily.

 

great that was one item I was concerned about these are little easier to find as well, saw four within four hours of here at least one of them appears to be in good shape.

 

hi i'm a newby looking to buy and torn between a rare twin cam 300d that ifell for or a wagon at double money single overhead cam advertised at 170 bhp here in spain the models are a bit different but the wagon looks a beauty not many about, have been in the twin cam and it is not slow, very safe just issues with drivers seat and tlc to coachwork on slowdown the dif was groaning-not sure if it could be a pad in the drivetrain?? the wagon has 4matic which i understand is 4wheel drive if you need it??? got to get a merc!!!

 

I know this thread is old but I picked up one today cheap, 84 300d.
The gvrw is 2000/4000 or there abouts didn't write it down, so it is not a heavy car.
I found this youtube where the guy gets 0 to 60 in 11 seconds on fry grease....that's impressive to me.
Then there is fuelly stats on the 300d Mercedes-Benz 300D Mileage | Fuelly
Then you'll see some guys on the sidebar of that ytub page that take you on a drive to show the pick up the car has.
Another dude took off his muffler in a video and he loves that sweet diesel sound coming from the pipes.
Then there is the all mechanical nature of the car not having any reliance on computers.
When not if the shtf it will be one of the only car since the early 70's that will start and run due to it not having a electronic ignition or any other electronics in it.
With all this going for it I would not call it a pig but rather a car you would want in the stable when needed.
My nissan hardbody 4x4 is having some problems so I'm going to investigate putting the motor in the hardbody. Maybe if I like the car too much then for sure pick up a junkyard motor and harbody trans to begin trying to mate the two.
If I can get them working good together then that will be a nice little truck. All the 300d's out there to pull parts from at least for a while.
Anyway there are more than one way to look at the 300D.