Alright guys, Hoping for a little help here. I got rear-ended in my month old '82 300D this past weekend and the insurance company totaled it. Its going to become a rally car. I dunno how much they are gonna give me for it yet but I'm shopping for a new one. What is the best MB diesel to get without spending a million bucks? What motor and body style is the most mod friendly?

Thanks!

I'd say go with another 300D. The engine is pretty much bulletproof and parts are readily available.
The 603 turbo engine is supposed to be decent, do some research though. Some heads are known for cracking, some have rods that are known for being weak IIRC. The 606 turbo engine (98-99) is the engine to get though for power upgrades. Thats the 24 valve DOHC engine. Seems the 617 engine is the cheapest for parts, the 603 engine may be close behind, price wise. I don't know much about the other MB diesel engines though, so maybe someone else can chime in too.

Got pics of the hood stack set up? We half-heatedly tried to get my dad to to that on his 300D, didn't work. Would love to see one with it!

I would Find a 240d stick 4spd and swap your 5cyl turbo in there!!! turbo power 4spd manual oh yea!

(06-09-2010 11:30 PM)Biohazard Wrote:  Got pics of the hood stack set up? We half-heatedly tried to get my dad to to that on his 300D, didn't work. Would love to see one with it!

Well the story on that is I have a little more engine shake than I'd like. In looking around I decided to tight up the rack damper bolt.... Its as tight as you can get it now and the car still shakes like a 7.0 earthquake. Sooo got to get a new rack damper bolt. While adjusting that I noticed the driver side engine shock mount was smoked! and both engine mounts are wasted. Basically if i put a 2' coming off the turbo out through the hood the top of the stack would probly move back and forth a good 6-8" ... Not Cool! Once the motor mounts come I will do the 3" stack so its right and doesn't slap against the hood lol

I had contemplated doing the stack for a long time but a guy on you tube beat me to it and when i saw the vid it sealed the deal for me haha

watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DtcsIR-efQ and this guy here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W60UA5Ws1lE

I will post plenty of pics

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(06-09-2010 11:53 PM)willbhere4u Wrote:  I would Find a 240d stick 4spd and swap your 5cyl turbo in there!!! turbo power 4spd manual oh yea!

Whats the reasoning behind that? Power to weight ratio?

Personally I'd prefer the 190D 2.5T with a 5-m swap or an 87 300D. The 87 would be the best platform for modifications but the 190 would offer the best economy and power-weight ratio. Both cars have FAR more aftermarket body, suspension and brake performance parts available than any pre-1986 model.

The 99 E300 is good for power, but the body has major suspension rust issues and you have to deal with many electronics. The 05-06 E320 CDI is very good all-around and MB's last great diesel car.

+1 for W201/W124 platform. if you want a cruiser that you can mob with you plus three adults go for the w124. If you want to haul ass go for the w201

(06-09-2010 11:30 PM)Biohazard Wrote:  The 603 turbo engine is supposed to be decent, do some research though. Some heads are known for cracking, some have rods that are known for being weak IIRC.

The original head (#14 casting) on the OM603 engines will crack if overheated or looked at funny. Some are still running fine on the #14, but that's the troublemaker. The engine with the weak rods is the 603.970, which is the 3.5L version. It was only used in the 91-92 S-Class.

(06-09-2010 11:30 PM)Biohazard Wrote:  The 606 turbo engine (98-99) is the engine to get though for power upgrades.

Yep!!

(06-10-2010 06:00 AM)ForcedInduction Wrote:  Personally I'd prefer the 190D 2.5T with a 5-m swap or an 87 300D. The 87 would be the best platform for modifications but the 190 would offer the best economy and power-weight ratio. Both cars have FAR more aftermarket body, suspension and brake performance parts available than any pre-1986 model.

I third the W124/W201 chassis. They have a huge performance aftermarket community (see 500E) that none of the older chassis' have. Also, the W124/W201 chassis in stock form have significantly better handling characteristics than any of the older ones.

(06-10-2010 06:00 AM)ForcedInduction Wrote:  The 99 E300 is good for power, but the body has major suspension rust issues and you have to deal with many electronics. The 05-06 E320 CDI is very good all-around and MB's last great diesel car.

As Forced says, the W210 chassis (98-99 E300) has a known rust problem... search for "w210 spring perch". Otherwise the car seems pretty reliable if you aren't scared of electronics. My CDI is wonderful, with the same caveat of being scared of electronics.

The 240d with a stick is your cheapest option here in the us they never made the 300d with sticks over here so a 240d is a 4cyl 70hp with option of 4spd manual It is the exact same car with a stick shift and no power! But the 300 d engine bolt's up to the manual trans with little modification and all the parts are here in the U.S.

and the stick puts more power to the ground than an auto!

(06-10-2010 04:52 PM)willbhere4u Wrote:  and the stick puts more power to the ground than an auto!

In horsepower. The automatic puts down more torque off the line.

(06-10-2010 05:33 PM)ForcedInduction Wrote:  

(06-10-2010 04:52 PM)willbhere4u Wrote:  and the stick puts more power to the ground than an auto!

In horsepower. The automatic puts down more torque off the line.

True; for proof see my dyno graphs in the dyno thread. Big spike of torque right as the dyno starts recording and then tapering off (as measured at the wheels). The torque multiplication from the torque converter helps a BUNCH off the line.

WOW! guys, thanks for the info!!!!!

Now I got to go look up what a W201/W124 is (are?) haha

Again awesome! I will be referencing this thread for a good couple days as I try and soak up as much info as I can...


Here is what we need to work on .... A sequential trans with a torque converter instead of a clutch... but that's way expensive lol

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Something like this 190? http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/1706574517.html that car is fuckin sexy!

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Ahhhhhhhhhh all these chassis and engine numbers a model years are gonna make my head explode... Kaboom!

Oh well all those real nice ones that make good power are expensive. I need to keep around the $2k mark. I think imma have to stay with the good ole 300D hehe and smoke everyone out

190d/e is a w201 a 300d/e is w124

The W201 gets my vote plus the 602 engines are before the issues of the 603 but have the same potential. There is a reason the finnish guys use a w201 as the chassis for there superturbo!
Also check out 190rev.net for all the info on them that you need, be careful though the 16 valve engine is an enticing gasser!

(06-11-2010 02:30 PM)meareweird Wrote:  16 valve engine is an enticing gasser!

and a money pit, I come from experience

The biggest factor between the 123/126 and 124 for me was the ride quality. Night and day. One observation about the 606 heads is that if they are still running fine today chances are they are going to keep running fine. My next car will be a W124 without a doubt.

5-link rear suspension is where it's at, did you know that Mercedes spent 5 years testing all different kinds of rear suspension setups before sticking with the 5-link which is in just about every Mercedes made there-after. All starting with the w201. Ok, enough history for today.

Keep it clean buddy.

Is this the one!?!

   

Just turned 143K?
   

   

Looks kinda sketchy to me why are the trim badges on the back at different heights?

I dunno, spent all of about 3 seconds looking at it...

I'd skip that one. It reeks of odometer rollback.

Awe man, I was afraid of that.... I might call anyway just to see what kind of idiot is on the other end of the phone

(08-25-2010 10:59 AM)Captain America Wrote:  Awe man, I was afraid of that.... I might call anyway just to see what kind of idiot is on the other end of the phone

Eaxactly its worth a call, you might be able to talk the idiot down to dirt cheap if you start dropping benzknowledge on him!

Does it say 043015 I thought it said 143015 or 243015 would make more sense cant really make out the first digit.

it said 143015