Hi

I asked this question over in the G class part of the forum but I didn't get much response. I am considering buying a 1982 300GD G wagon to use as a daily driver, work vehicle. I don't have much more information on it other than it has 100k miles on it, maybe it has a 5 digit OD?

Why do I want to do this? I have a 1985 300TD that I have had really good luck with and I am hoping to get the same kind or reliability from the G. I will use it as a work vehicle moving tools and if I find I need it I will get a small trailer to move bigger stuff. I also plan on using WVO and I know these are one of the best engines for that.

I believe I have just blow the engine on my 1990 Chevy diesel after changing the glow plugs. It looks like a small piece of the GP came off and has blown a hole in the piston. ( I mean a really small piece, like I could barely see any difference in the GP's) I am tired of this crappy engineering, how delicate are these things?

So my concern is will a my local MB dealer be able to supply parts? I will ask this week. Will this be a reliable vehicle if kept properly maintained, and will it cost a bundle to keep it maintained?

Thanks

G-wagons are a awesome off road vehicle. On road manners are not so nice. Very bouncy/jiggly and not fun to drive at higher speeds. Not a great daily driver IMHO.

I see a crap ton of them around here in the rich areas...Seem to be a great soccer mom vehicle.

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

I would go for a Land Rover or Jeep before a G.

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

Those might be a wee bit different from the 1982 diesel G mentioned in the opening post.

Personally, I don't like using a truck or SUV as a dailly driver. I have an old jeep for use as a winter beater/ski vehicle, but I hate diving it on dry roads. They just don't feel like real cars. I'll probably going to replace my jeep with a 4matic wagon before my daughter gets her drivers permit in a few months because I don't want her driving it.

The new ones drive great, the old ones are real trucks though. If your fine with driving a truck than go for it.


I'd drive one everyday.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

OP here,

I look upon vehicles as a neccessary evil. I actually hate them, breaking down, fuel costs, insurance, the list goes on. I have no ego when it comes to vehicles. I would drive a tractor if it could meet my needs.

As for a bumpy ride, right now I am driving a 1 ton ex-us military truck. I don't think I could find a rougher ride. The G may be an improvement. My concern is more parts and reliablitiy

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Can’t say much on the G Wagon issue. Sorry.

But, I will mention a thing or two on your GM issue.

I can’t see a piece of a GP knocking a hole in a piston.
If you did a compression test and found little/no compression in a particular cylinder. Pull the rocker cover and check that you didn’t just break one of the little plastic/nylon keepers that hold the rocker over the valve and pushrod. If that’s the case (Quite common. We did a 6.5l rebuild due to this issue.), then hope/pray that the pushrod is still there. If so, it’s a $5.00 quick fix. If it (pushrod) hopped up and went down an oil return port (as with the #3 intake on our 6.5L) and got wrapped up in the crank, than it’s a bit bigger job to fix. That is... Assuming you do want to see what it could have done to the skirt of another piston before it wound up in the oil pan (that it knocked a hole in).

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1980 300D - Veggie Burner !

I appreciate that advice. I actually did take the rocker covers off this weekend hoping that it would be a simple problem like that. Unfortunately everything looks ok with the rockers/pushrods. I am no expert, but I could see that they were all there and nice and tight. It actually runs, it just blows smoke out the oil filler like a steam train. It ticks and blows smoke at the same time. Not much out of the exhaust, but it looks like some oil is working its way out one of the tailpipes, I guess the exhaust is really saturated with engine oil.

In the end I think I will fix it and give up my dream of a diesel G. I have too much money into it and the body is in good shape so if I can get 5 more years with a rebuild it would make sense to do it.

Bummer. That would have been an easy fix.
Regarding your blow-by issue. I do recall when I tore ours down, just how much gap there was between the piston and the cylinder wall. I was shocked at just how much of the top compression ring could be seen all the way around the gap. A good 1/8th inch or more all the way around. Never seen such a gap on any overhaul I’ve ever done. Doesn’t seem to be much room for ring wear without serious consequences in there.

We had to have it bored 30 due to the score the #3 intake pushrod made into the #1 cylinder wall, and though not as bad, even the new pistons seemed a bit small. Here’s a couple of pics of it on the way back together. New everything for the most part.

Yep… I know, a bit heavy on the blue. I did trim it off though. That happens with young help. (That, and pink oil fill tubes. )

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1980 300D - Veggie Burner !

What is your budget for one?

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

Running an old german truck on a "budget" and expecting it not to break down is asking for disaster. If you found one which has been perfectly maintained by one or two careful owners you're in the clear as far as using it for daily driver duty. Unfortunately, with almost every 80's G-wagen this isn't the case. They're all imports (I think) and most are gray market. Usually they havent been maintained perfectly because not everyone here (in the U.S.) knows how to maintain them. More often than not they're also a rusty mess underneath too. If you yearn for an old Diesel G, take your time looking for one, be prepared to travel or ship, and expect to invest several thousand into it immediately to prepare it for daily use, otherwise you're going to be sidelined every few months as you catch up on the "postponed" maintenance items from previous owners. The phrase "nickel and dime" might be appropriate, but I'd go with "checkbook and pen."


All that said.... I want one too.

They are a bit on the stiff side ride wise, but are plenty capable of being a daily driver.


My mother drives hers everyday, and loves it.

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

I know of one for sale, the owner is asking $6,900 Canadian, euro import, 150'KM (suppossidly) He is not calling me back so I think it may be sold. It is a 1982 300GD