From owner-diesel-benz-digest@digest.net Sat Apr 7 21:40:00 2012 From: diesel-benz-digest To: diesel-benz-digest@digest.net Date: Sun, 08 Apr 2012 04:40:12 +0000 Subject: diesel-benz-digest V1 #3565 diesel-benz-digest Sunday, April 8 2012 Volume 01 : Number 3565 Forum for Discussion of Diesel Mercedes Benz Automobiles Derick Amburgey Digest Coordinator Contents: Re: [db] used car pricing sites and ideas for valuation [db] OT: Apache Admin gig - Dallas [db] OM602 into R129 Diesel Benz Digest Home Page: http://www.digest.net/diesel-benz/ Send submissions to diesel-benz-digest@digest.net Send administrative requests to diesel-benz-digest-request@digest.net To unsubscribe, include the word unsubscribe by itself in the body of the message, unless you are sending the request from a different address than the one that appears on the list. Include the word help in a message to stag-digest-request to get a list of other majordomo commands. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 6 Apr 2012 17:02:49 -0300 From: "Renaud (Ron) Olgiati" Subject: Re: [db] used car pricing sites and ideas for valuation On Friday 06 Apr 2012 16:05 my mailbox was graced by a message from john who wrote: > always good to have all the details about a car you're buying. :) > > There are three major sites offering used car values: > > http://kbb.com - http://www.kbb.com/used-cars/ > http://nada.com - http://www.nadaguides.com/Cars/Research-Center > http://edmunds.com - http://www.edmunds.com/appraisal/ Thanks for the help; I need some hard data to back an offer to the estate of an old French lady whose car I plan to make an offer for; the familly is in France, the car in Paraguay, where 10 years+ cars have almost zero value i the trade. Cheers, Ron. - -- We have only two things to worry about: That things will never get back to normal, and that they already have. -- http://www.olgiati-in-paraguay.org -- ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 6 Apr 2012 18:09:38 -0700 (PDT) From: john Subject: [db] OT: Apache Admin gig - Dallas just got pinged by a headhunter, they're looking for an Apache admin in Dallas... 1st 8wks on site, six month contract virtual ok after that... 45-50/hr email me off list if interested, will send the details... don't know the agency, client etc... but hey, if you're looking and got the skill... in other news I hope to get my taxes done and my garage cleaned out enough to get both cars back in this weekend... then fix one or two as well... still haven't made a call to get those parts installed on the 5 link, and need to get under the J10 and check out that switch... :) happy passover and happy easter here's some of my research on both events: http://johnmeister.com/BIBLE/promises-n-passover.jpg john ----- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -o|||||o- john-at- http://wagoneers.com TRSTGZS Snohomish, Washington - where Jeeps and Diesels don't rust, they mold buy direct: http://AMSOIL.com/redirect.cgi?zo=283461 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- b^\A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college educationb^] Theodore Roosevelt (American 26th US President (1901-09), 1858-1919) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 7 Apr 2012 21:39:36 -0700 From: Bruce Caruthers Subject: [db] OM602 into R129 (Uh, oh. John's created a monster! Popcorn anyone?) With the recent demise of my 1993 300D 2.5L W124 due to a Domino's Pizza driver, I find myself with a car in near-perfect mechanical condition, but with around $10,000 in body damage. (Insurance payout determination still in progress by indepenedent appraiser.) After some initial research (including a Mercedes-Benz dealership senior mechanic) , it seems that my idea of converting an R129 (SL class) to diesel is feasible. Mechanically, it appears to be very straightforward, especially if I go with a 300-series SL from 1990-1995. THe sticking point, which the MB mechanic couldn't define without doing research (and this was free advising), is what issues I may or may not have with the mindless diesel engine and the network of electronics in the SL. ABS, ASR/ETS/Traction Control, ignition lockout, engine immobilizing, etc. I'm going to see if I can take an SL mechanic from the dealership out for beer or dinner or something to walk through all the potential issues, off the clock...) === What I have * I have a shop with a pit, tools, and staff to do the mechanical stuff inexpensively (friend's shop). (They do classic car restorations on the side for the owner's hobby.) * I have the W124 with complete, working mechanical everything (except large parts of the exhaust which were mangled). * Time and interest (and wife's permission, nay, encouragement!), but not a ton of personal mechanic-type knowledge and experience. Yet. * Limited budget ($2,000-3,000 beyond vehicle purchases, but after any parting out of either car). Unless, of course, the insurance company ends up paying out a lot more than I expect so far. === What I need * Electronics: Information as to how to bypass or trick the electronics, and how much I actually need to worry about it in 1990-1995 models (differentiated into 1989-1992 and 1993-1995 model years). * Brakes: One person raised the question of the brakes, which might be vacuum assisted in the gasser version but not in the diesel? Something about 2-circuit hydraulic systems? (Sorry, my novice status is showing.) * Steering: any issue with power-steering between the two? * Coolant: presumably use the OM602 coolant system, but will I run into any side issues, such as wiper fluid heating and apparently also windshield heating via coolant in the SL? * Still looking for a donor SL. All the listings only seem to be for ones in immaculate, collectable condition. I'd like to have one that is working fine, since I can sell the engine and want the rest of the car to be good already. But I don't want to pay extra for a motor that I am going to part out (unless you think I'll get enough for the motor to make it worthwhile). * What do I need to do to have this be street legal (including titling and emmissions) in Washington State? * What do I do about the odometer reading? Is that by the car or by the engine or something else? Any advice, assistance, insights, etc. will be very welcome! Thanks! - -=-=- Details so far: === Engine: OM602.962 (2.5L 5-cyl turbodiesel) replaceing M103 (L6) * According to the MB mechanic, this is quite doable, mechanically. If I go with a 300-series SL (300SL, SL320), which used a straight six motor, I might even be able to just drop it in, interms of placement and engine mount points. An OM603 (6-cyl) would probably be a closer fit, but the OM602 should at most need minor mount adapting. === Transmission: * According to the MB mechanic, all the R129s have the same bell housing for their trannies from 1990-2000, which is also the same bell housing as was used in my 300D. It should just plug in. Also, any of the SL trannies should have no problem handling the torque of the OM602 (or OM603, if I went with that at some point). * Conflicting information as to whether it is a 4-spd or 5-spd automatic tranny in the SL, although is suppose I just get what comes wit the one I can find as a donor car === Fuel: * Can just use the existing tank (21 gal) and metal lines. Might need to change filter types, and I might want to add in some sort of fuel line heating to avoid gelling in very cold temperatures. === Misc: * pre-OBD2 electronics * Fueling spigot probably needs to change * Tachometer, oil pressure, etc. should be able to just be replaced in existing dahsboard * SL radiator should work fine with the diesel * Will need to have some custom hoses and such made to handle the changed distances, but most of the connections are on the same sides on both diesel and gasser motors, according to the MB mechanic - -bkc Lynnwood, WA (his) '76 MB 240D [W115.117/616.916] (hers) '92 Toyota Celica GT (long overdue to be retired or sold) (ours) '93 MB 300D 2.5 Turbo [W124.128/602.962] (wrecked, 28Mar12) ------------------------------ End of diesel-benz-digest V1 #3565 **********************************