There could be some variation based on which engine mounts are being used. My 617a worked well with the original 300GD hose on top and 300SD hose on the bottom. Both required some "encouragement" to get them in place around the improved L engine mount.
I can't speak for the newer style mounts but if you have the early pancake style like me, you simply have to remove the mount bolts and arm altogether to get the hoses off. I grew grey hairs trying to f*** with this and got very frustrated, and covered in oil. It became obvious the engine needed jacking up and mounts taken off. After I faced that and did it, it was like Christmas down there and I'd never attempt it any other way.
I'm going to spend the last of my money on a friggin top hose since rebuilding appears to be an even more expensive option and with, for me, less piece of mind. I'll report on which top hose worked and if Mercedesource should be the source for these.
$79 hoses from Germany will be a great thing if it works. This is something every diesel owner will need to address before they lose their engine on the highway... these things are getting old!
Well this doesn't look good. The oil cooler side orientation is WAY off from looking like it's going to fit into place properly. This is the German made lower oil hose for the cars, beside the one that was installed in my 300gd, which I assume is stock 300gd but I dont know what the PO may have done. Anyone encountered these new hose's ends being twisted that far from stock? The bends in the middle look very different as well.
How on earth did you guys make that work? If I bend up the rubber section to match, the fitting will be 180 off.
The new hose (from Mercedes Source) does look very nice though. The rubber section and crimps seem as good or better than stock. What doesnt make sense here is that the cars use the same basic set-up and very similar oil cooler so I can't even picture how it would work on them.
Hmm, maybe the cars have the hose meeting the cooler much higher up and the hose bends the other way? I guess that would make the connections meet up still, if there's room.
Anyone have pics of how their replacement hose is routed?
This is the hose pictured on fourbyfourclub for the 300gd and it looks very different. Looks like it is routing more straight/horizontal than the cars... or maybe it's just rotated.?
Perhaps the new hose had its end swaged on in incorrect orientation?
The real 300GD hose is obviously the best choice, the passenger car ones fit too but there is only ~1MM between it and the steering box.
300SD and 300D hoses are technically interchangeable too but visually different, same goes for the oil filter housing, which have slightly different placement and angle of oil cooler threaded barbs between the different models.
Another question, if anyone knows, how does the cooler and filter housing vary from 123-126 and 300gd 617's? And between the 617A and NA? I cant recall much from the 300D I owned. My engine now is from an SD but stock 300gd oil cooler.