Just picked this up cheap. I have been browsing for a good 3.0 603 to replace my dad's 3.5 rod bender. I figured I would find something one day cheap in a 124 body with other parts I could use too. Found this with 227,500 miles on it. Engine did not run when I got there. Glow plug relay fuse/strip was not connected so start up was not easy. Air was in the fuel system so I bleed it (although it is supposed to be be self bleeding). Also, the ELR (controls idle speed) was set at 2, instead of the default 5 (I think it is).

I got it to start up in 5-6 minutes after using my battery. It doesn't overheat and upper hose was not hard so head appears to be fine, even though it is a #14 head. It does have green coolant though. Transmission shifted ok, although there is a vacuum leak somewhere and the fluid needs to be changed. When I got it home, it sat overnight and I tried cranking it in the morning but it did not work. Checked fuel stuff with no luck, but then bridged the glow plug fuse strip and it cranked immediately. Engine has a slight tick, which is how my wagon was until I swapped to synthetic oil. My guess is the lifters.

The car was a Michigan car so it is a rust bucket. Interior is great though so it must have been mostly highway miles in it's early days. It is also the uncommon black interior. My plans is to get the engine and transmission up to snuff and then pull them and clean them and replace seals and have it sitting ready for an install somewhere else. And I MAY put this transmission in my wagon, while I save up to have my original rebuilt for my power. I will gut everything else and sell what I can. The interior should pay for the car!

Here is a video, let me know if you have any problems viewing. if so i can upload it to youtube:
http://www.godspeed22.com/benz/1987300d.mov

That sounds like a screaming deal!

Any chance youll sell me the belt tensioner spring and black doo dad its connected to?

Well...The tensioner has the classic sign of being worn out. If you look down, the tensioner is WAY off at an angle so I imagine it is shot. I have yet to inspect it closely so I will have to let you know...a new one is only $60 or so I think.

Not the tensioner. The spring on the other side and the black plastic thing it clips onto. They are supposed to be off angle afaik.

Ohhh...I know what you are talking about now. At this point I am not selling that or any parts related to the engine itself. I will keep a lookout for one though. I think I still have the spring from my wagon from when I replaced all that stuff. It is probably still good, I just replaced everything at the same time.