Mercedes OM616 - looking for cruisers w/same

dantaden · #1 (**permalink**) 12-30-2009

As it rare to find boats with marinized Mercedes diesels onboard, my Celestial 48 has one. The original primary enginge for the boat, provided by Nanni-Diesel in 1986, original information, specs, shop manuals, just general information is scarce.

This is the Mercedes OM616.912 (or marinized Nanni-Diesel 4-242) 72HP diesel engine which powered old merc. truck and cars.

I'm looking for other sailors with this type of engines to share stories, parts sourcing, maintenance and fix advise.

I am currently looking for the model # of the primary fuel filter and some advise to fix a fuel leak around one of the injectors. If by chance you now of a good Mercedes diesel mechanic in the Toronto area that will make house calls, it would be most appreciated......

Thanks and please advise.

sealover · #2 (**permalink**) 05-26-2010

Hey brush up on your Czech and try this: MB.BOLINKO.ORG - Dok. serwisowa CD2

It's for cars, but it's very thorough. Good thing to have bookmarked if you own anything Mercedes-powered.

The site navigation stuff is in pig latin, poorly laid out, confusing, and sometimes redundant but the manual is in English. It was originally a program burned onto two discs so you have to click back and forth between CD1 and CD2 to get where you're going.

I frequent a cheap U-pull-it junkyard that usually has some 123 and 126 diesels, if you need any used parts from a car motor let me know.
Sorry I can't be of more help.

extremo · #3 (**permalink**) 02-13-2012

We have a Mercedes OM636 (38 or 42 Hp) on our Voyager 35 ' a 1977 UK boat. We were in Toronto when the original post was written but we have gone down the St. Lawrence and are currently in Halifax. We met a guy in PEI with the same engine on a boat of his that is down in the Caribbean. He also said that in the US parts are available from a refrigeration truck company (damn I can't remember the name).

sealover · #4 (**permalink**) 02-13-2012

Thermo King?

extremo · #5 (**permalink**) 02-13-2012

Yes Thermo King is it. Though I haven;t dealt with them yet.

dantaden · #6 (**permalink**) 02-13-2012

Thanks, I'll check out Themo King.

aeventyr60 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-14-2012

Try your google search in England and Europe, Many boats outfitted across the pond with MB engines. I got some perkins parts from an MB parts distributor from another euro cruising friend. Sorry I don't have the link for you. Most have had positive reviews on the MB engines..my Dad got 500k out of his 240 D engine...

Also, the primary fuel filter will be available at your local auto parts store, cross reference the OEM number, most likely FRAM will have a part number.

There may be a small copper compression washer that helps seat the injector. Check if there is one, some times they get smashed and don' t seat.

good luck!

mightyhorton · #8 (**permalink**) 02-20-2012

A lot of Passport 40s had the Mercedes 636 engine, marinized by Nanni. There is a lot of info on the PassportOwners google group about these engines, and some guys that have lived with them for many years.

Chris12345 · #9 (**permalink**) 02-21-2012

For trivial stuff like filters I would try auto zone, Napa, etc. (Parts for Mercedes 240D, W123)

For more exotic parts you can always try a Mercedes dealer, or online car parts dealers.
It's not unusual that dealerships have parts for 25+ year old cars available. That engine was probably the most successful automotive diesel in history, and produced until '87, so parts should be available.

I once asked if there was any chance they can find or order the cylinder of a hydraulic clutch for a 20+ year old 123: they had it in stock.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dantaden

As it rare to find boats with marinized Mercedes diesels onboard, my Celestial 48 has one. The original primary enginge for the boat, provided by Nanni-Diesel in 1986, original information, specs, shop manuals, just general information is scarce.

This is the Mercedes OM616.912 (or marinized Nanni-Diesel 4-242) 72HP diesel engine which powered old merc. truck and cars.

I'm looking for other sailors with this type of engines to share stories, parts sourcing, maintenance and fix advise.

I am currently looking for the model # of the primary fuel filter and some advise to fix a fuel leak around one of the injectors. If by chance you now of a good Mercedes diesel mechanic in the Toronto area that will make house calls, it would be most appreciated......

Thanks and please advise.

DC MacKenzie · #10 (**permalink**) 03-31-2012

Hi,
I have a OM616.912 fitted in my boat, a Compass 47 that I bought three years ago. I took the engine out and had the block re-built and bought many ancilliary parts from various sources. If you are looking for technical advice, you might have a look at the DMV Bootsdiesel website (Germany). The guys there are happy to answer any questions you have and they speak English. In England, the company I used for the block re-build was Crewe Engines, who specialize in Mercedes engines. I have lots of further information about this engine as I have done a lot or research on it. I also have a complete workshop manual if you need any specific tech data. To my knowledge it is a good, robust, hardworking engine that should give years of service and spares are availale worldwide, just think of all the 240D taxis that there are all over the place all with is engine, many with up to 300,000 miles on the clock.......
Donald MacKenzie