Topic: Koch Enterprises: Mercedes Diesel 4x4 conversion specialists

[Jeffy]

We are dedicated to providing alternative diesel engine power plants and conversions to 4 wheel drive vehicles.  Specializing in affordable custom adapters for Mercedes Benz OM617 turbo diesel engines.  We also have experience in converting these diesel engines to run on WVO (Waste Vegetable Oil). We have a customer now getting average of 31 MPG on diesel with our conversion.
 
There are over 50 customer conversions in the past year, from Wranglers, Cherokees, CJ's, Willys, S-10, Dakota's, and Comanche's just to name a few.
 
We are committed to expanding the Mercedes Diesel family of engines into your specific application!

http://mercedesdiesel4x4.com/default.aspx

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[chrisfranklin]

Ah hell...yes, I could/would, in fact, go for putting a Mercedes Diesel, particularly a Mercedes Turbo Diesel, in mine.     

Could just see myself smiling even while I'm emptying-every-pocket to get it done...    

Cool to hear there's a company doing that 

 

[chrisfranklin]

Wonder if Koch has taken a look at the turbo diesels in the '98-'99 Mercedes 300E's.  He probably has, but am guessing that those TD engines are probably more expensive, less readily available and probably more complicated to work with.  

Mercedes apparently added a turbo to the 300E diesels in '98 and '99 to boost power and make the sedans a bit more competitive with other euro sedan makes/models in terms of performance. The 300E TDs, engine code "OM606" (actually OM606.962 for the TD version) were apparently 24V inline-6 and came from the factory producing 175hp, 243lb/ft torque.  

Pretty sure that emissions issues for the TDs caused Mercedes to stop offering the engines after the '99 model year.  Next diesel mercedes offered in a sedan was apparently the bluetec diesel in the mid 2000s.  

Do know that the '98-'99 300E TD sedans were/are apparently fairly popular WVO conversion candidates.  Saw that biodiesel fuel supplier and conversion installer, LoveCraft had apparently done quite a few 98-99 300E TDs in the LA area.

Also saw video here and there of people tuning the '98-'99 E300 TD sedans to make a lot more power.  Chip, larger turbo, and so on.  

Remember a few years ago, there was this dude and his son who both owned '98 or '99 300E TDs that they'd tuned quite a bit and also converted for WVO use.  One of them had put up a video on youtube, or maybe it was Google video, showing one of their TD E300s getting dyno'd; also showed the dyno results. Think torque numbers were in the 400 lb/ft range, IIRC.   Will have to find that if it's out there.

  

[chrisfranklin]

There's this Bluetec Turbo Diesel with 111k on it for sale.  It's out of an '05 E320 CDI. 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180693104371&category=33615&_trksid=p5197.c0.m619#ht_2894wt_1163

$6500 for it, but stock, it's an engine that's apparently supposed to make 221hp at 3800rpm and 380 lb/ft torque from 1600-2800 rpm.   

[Jeffy]

There's this Bluetec Turbo Diesel with 111k on it for sale.  It's out of an '05 E320 CDI. 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180693104371&category=33615&_trksid=p5197.c0.m619#ht_2894wt_1163

$6500 for it, but stock, it's an engine that's apparently supposed to make 221hp at 3800rpm and 380 lb/ft torque from 1600-2800 rpm.   

I'd pass on that engine.  Bluetec is expensive stuff to buy and a '05 would also need to be smogged in CA.

The OM617 is liked because of it's dependability.  They used it in the G-Wagon.  Not the plush one we get here but the Military one.  It's a common swap to do for Unimog 404S.

A OM602 would be a nice engine to use.  It's the successor to the OM617 and was used in the G-Wagon as well as the early Sprinters, W124, W201 and W210 from 1080-2002.  Not sure how the bolt pattern changes from the OM617 though, it's in the same family and just the next gen 5 cylinder diesel.

For the non-turbo version, you're looking at 4.0L performance but with 25MPG or better.  Turbo version would be really nice though.  Also, you can set the engine up so it uses no electricals which is nice.

For those in CA, I've heard it might be easier to have AAA change the paperwork from Gas to Diesel which might not require an inspection.  Would be well worth the yearly membership fee if that's the case.

[FourbangerYJ]

Looks like they are working on a adapter to work with the AX5. Not that I would want to run that motor with a AX5.

[Jeffy]

Looks like they are working on a adapter to work with the AX5. Not that I would want to run that motor with a AX5.

Have it rebuilt by Marlin Crawler and I think it should be OK.  At least for the N/A OM617.

[stan98tj]

Thanks for posting this! I'll have to weigh the pros and cons between this setup and the 1.9l TDI (VolksWagen). I think the 1.9l gets flashed to produce more power (somewhere around 160hp, 287ft torque if i remember correctly), but it seems the Merc may be cheaper.