1994 Mercedes-Benz G-Class G290 Turbo Diesel

[Alkazar]

Just saw this while surfing, and its for sale... :)

http://http://www.capitalautoinc.com/newandusedcars/493/1361277/8ca9ad04-3d50-46fe-9bd0-0499eaf1c24c/Craigslist/1994-MercedesBenz-GClass.aspx

[Alkazar]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuXB0pio640&feature=player_embedded

[haven]

1994 Mercedes Gelandewagen, 2.9L diesel, 50K miles $49K
Not clear if this vehicle was properly imported to USA

http://capitolautoinc.com/newandusedcars/0/1361277/8ca9ad04-3d50-46fe-9bd0-0499eaf1c24c/none/1994-MercedesBenz-GClass-SilverSpring-MD-20910.aspx

Capital Auto
Ed Tavassoli
8880 Brooksville Rd
Silver Spring , MD 20910
(301) 563-3373

[zimm]

do you suppose it was owned by a foreign diplomat or was once a US military purchase?

[Joaquin Suave]

I remember seeing a simillar G-wagon from those folks. I'm thinking that they are doing a little VIN number "monkeying". Nice though, I'd rally it. It basicly has the same motor that is in my scrambler.

[Johnny Christensen]

Looks a little funny to me.
Turbo was only produced from factory, beginning with 1998 290 GTD.
To me it looks very much like normal aspirated 2.9L engine, with a homebrew turbo put on.
Intercooler is front mounted aircooled, instead of watercooled as the model they are trying to look like.
It appears there is no oil cooler in the normal position, next to the radiator.
That means they could have swapped it for the newer style oil / water heat exchanger. But that one needs the large radiator...and they kept the small radiator.
I wonder if they just turned up the original IP and ignored the overfueling issues or if they sourced the one from SsangYong 2.9 turbo that has ALDA.

Speedometer don't mean anything, as with 99.999 it turns over and starts from zero again.
With just a rear locker, it is one of the cheaper models produced. The rest have front and rear lockers.

Sorry to sound negative, but a potential buyer needs to inspect that vehicle carefully to see if the work was done right.

[otiswesty]

This looks like a nice Military 461 BA-10 model from Europe that has been federalized unless it is an IFAV out of the USMC. The European trucks sell for 14K Euro, plus add the cost of the Hutchinsons ($2K) and Brushguard ($800). The turbo looks like an add on which is not good for a naturally aspirated motor lacking the oil piston squirters. If this is a European origin truck, it can be brought in quite easily by swapping the frame with a 25 year old 460 frame, the cost of that runs about $4.5-5K if done in Europe.

Nice looking truck though, a bit pricey seeing as you could do one the same way with no legal issues for half the price.

[autonovice]

Probably a 80's swiss 230ge donor from the interior pics, troop carrier due to the hump on the soft top. No front locker.
Windshield doesn't fold down so this is not desirable for me.

I would price according to how it well the engine was integrated, repaint and
condition of the rest of the parts ... rust rust in normal places ... shock towers, ....

Conversion to 12v system is more desirable but would set back $1500 on parts

i 'll list all the non original only .... from the pics posted. Hope this will help potential
buyers.

Interior:
1) RPM gauge,
2) Speedo
3) center console, lock box behind passenger seat, and next to divider
4) clock and boost gauge (???) in middle of instrument console
5) LineX? spray on bed and divider?
6) steering from orig 290GDT?


Exterior:
1) Canadian imitated walk on hood, no reinforcement from inside of hood. can't walk on!
2) Canadian snorkel (missing support bracket)
3) Bull bar
4) tank army paint, overspray everywhere including gas tank cover.
Tank cover is for orig gas vehicle not diesel tank

Engine bay:
1) 290GDT -- correct engine but not from G.
2) intercooler but air (orig is water)
3) shifter knob .. so i question what kind of transmission is installed ...
orig is automatic due to torque not capable by manual trans
Info posted is 6 speed ... may be from sedan
4) air filter housing ... not sure if intake if large 4in and outlet 3in like 280GE
style ... would need this for turbo
5) can't see oil cooler, need this!
6) I question exhaust routing. Route outside to right outside stabilizer bar,
then dump back to inside frame between frame and body shell with the aid
of body lift. May interfere on RF if big tires installed. I question RR rerouting
back to inside between frame and body. Rattle? Heat?
7) after market waste gate?
8) what kind of IP, orig IP is electro-mechanical
9) steering pump is too low ... may be engine from sedan?
10) I question oil pan, oil pickup, oil filter housing
11) radiator too small?

Others:
1) 460/461 frame ...but registered as '94 ????
2) no data plate in orig location in center of engine bay
3) VIN plate is on driver door panel
4) why 463 side markers -- federalized?
5) wheel center caps are from sedans

290GDT engine pic from FernandoBR .....

[mk216v]

Aftermarket silicone hoses.
That shift knob is most definitely from a W203 C230 Kompressor (6spd). I believe Craig (Ontum on other forums) has said that this tranny bolts to at least the 603A/606A.

[otiswesty]

1) 460/461 frame ...but registered as '94 ????
2) no data plate in orig location in center of engine bay
3) VIN plate is on driver door panel


VIN listed on ebay is VAG46121717910522

Isn't this a VW VIN?

[Fernweh]

VIN listed on ebay is VAG46121717910522

Isn't this a VW VIN?

Eric,

Mercedes has also VAG as a three letter VIN# code

It seems to be a 1994 230GE

Have a look at the data card

82735[/ATTACH]

[otiswesty]

Thanks Fernweh
Makes sense, he said it was originally a Swiss auto box gasser. I think the om602 and 6spd conversion was done by Helgeth in Germany 4+ years ago.

[DUTCH]

It's a PUCH. VAG is a Puch VIN prefix, and the "9" in the 6th from the last number position is another Puch tell tale.