4Runner with Mercedes diesel desirability and value?

Hi everyone.. I’ve been tasked with selling a 1995 4Runner for someone, but I want to try to get an idea of desirability and value for this thing. It has a Mercedes five cylinder turbo diesel engine swapped in. Overall this rig is pretty much stock 200k mile nothing special, but I’m wondering what the Mercedes diesel does for it in terms of value. Apparently this was done with a kit that included the bellhousing adapter, flywheel, clutch, etc etc.

Any insights from you all? Thanks!

 

No idea, but it definitely sounds cool. A manual turbo diesel 4Runner sounds like a great base for a trail rig.

 

OP could you post some photos of the thing? That sounds like a neat build.

 

Neat swap. From what understand those OM engines last forever. Not sure if it would add value unless it's the right person.

 

And some of the last MB engines that can be maintained by shade tree mechanics found in remote villages of the north african desert.

The only passenger cars harder to kill than the W123 Benz are the E90 and E100 FWD Corollas

 

It’s going to crater the value unless you can demonstrate the quality and durability of the workmanship and parts. (but even then, there’s a whole saying about never buying someone else’s project.)

(It’s not really a Mercedes diesel concern, it’s that whole engine swaps to something completely different opens a can of worms)

There might be some folks who’d be interested in that but you’ll have to hold out for them if they exist.

So unless you get lucky, assume it’s much less than a comparable, stock vehicle.

Can always reduce the price or accept a lower offer later.

 

Welcome

 

Goodwill donation

 

I will in a couple odd days. Going to evaluate it, clean it up and take a proper set of photos of it for the sale ad I’ll put up for it this weekend

 

This reads more like one of those “nah, it’s junk, but sell it to me cheap!” type of replies than an actually serious comment. Obviously I haven’t provided much info on it yet, but this is not a project, it’s a runner that’s been back and forth across the country and has plenty of real miles on it, not just something slapped together yesterday.

 

Which one do you work at? I’ll bring it by.

 

I think you are probably looking for a niche market. Some years ago in my "expo" days, an acquaintance of mine was working on getting an OM 617 into a '91 Toyota pickup. I'm not sure if that project ever got finished. At the time, burning veggie oil was all the rage and I was interested as well but in the end, that kind of comittment is not for everyone. But find the right person...

 

MB old school diesels will go on forever

 

Some State emission law would prevent it getting registered.

 

Funnily enough, that sounds like a “I know what I got!” response to me!

I am being frank though, nothing about a Mercedes-swapped 4Runner appeals to me beyond the novelty, the problem-solving it likely entailed and I imagine the general buying public would agree.

An MB engine swap sounds like any project to me so you’ll have to work to come back from that with a buyer unless they’re specifically looking for a wildcard like that.

It’ll probably come down to the trade off between lower price + quicker sale versus holding out for longer though.

Just my opinions though.

 

Stock condition is more desireable to most buyers. You might get lucky if you are patient though.

 

30-year old vehicles don't depreciate linearly. It will depend mostly on the condition of the frame and body. Comparable stock 3.slow in 2nd gens would be in the grave already or on their third set of head gaskets, so they aren't a good basis for comparison either.

 

It’s more like a difference in some people’s perspectives. In the muscle car restoration world I’m in, you see perspectives that vary tremendously.. One Corvette enthusiast might look at a car and declare it “ruined” because you used bright zinc instead of the correct cadmium plating on the steering knuckle nuts.. whereas another might look at a completely modified, LS-swapped Corvette and get super excited because a bone-stock concours restored car does nothing for him.

Obviously some folks prefer a stock untouched vehicle, but others prefer modifications that improve the performance or reliability or otherwise of a particular vehicle. Obviously you like them stock and question anything that’s modified. Not everyone agrees.

Obviously I don’t know how desirable this swap is in the eyes of the average 4Runner buyer/enthusiast, but I have a hard time believing it’s a major downgrade to the head gasket popping 3.0L that was in this rig previously. Maybe it doesn’t add value to it, but I would have a hard time believing it takes any value away. How much value does a 200k mile ‘95 4Runner have anyway? Not a whole lot.

I was hoping to find out if there was a big following for them, but it doesn’t look like there is. Looks like some people who do this swap here and there, but it’s not super popular.

 

Well that’s why I was wondering if the superior engine swapped into this rig would give it real life left, vs. if it was still stock. I see these for sale regularly with bad engines/blown head gaskets for $1,000-2,000, and they seem to sell fairly quickly despite that. Makes me think a good runner with this diesel swapped in should be worth maybe $5-7k as a good driver that’s rough around the edges in terms of cosmetics?

 

You might find more interest or least more varied opinions on a forum with more of an "Overlanding" theme. There is a fair bit of diesel love in that crowd.

 

Probably $4000 given it's rough around the edges.

 

It takes away value because it is harder to maintain than stock and you have increased risks of expensive complications. Unless you are capable DIY mechanic with access to your own shop space for engine-out procedures, having Mercedes engine in the truck greatly complicates getting it fixed if something major goes wrong. It does not matter what the engine is, what matter is that it is a swap.

I am also a Mercedes guy familiar with the engine, this build is interesting to me. However, I would not gamble on something like that more than beer money, because chances are it will be very hard to keep on the road and nearly impossible to properly assess prior to buying. As such, to me, it would be parts car that I don't need that may end up in a running and driving condition.

 

A 95 4runner is pretty old. I think the idea that stock is more valuable is not relevant anymore when something is 30 years old.

Unless it’s a perfect time-capsule preserved car, it’s value will be based on how well it works now, and the major work it will need on the near horizon.

I think if you can convince somebody the MB diesel conversion is well sorted and will be less of a headache than an the OE engine, then you should be able get a price somewhat higher than a similar OE 4runner.

Cosmetic challenges are one thing, but if there’s frame rot, then there’s not much to sell, since the value of the MB conversion is all in the labor to convert it to that 4runner.

 

The OM648 diesel in my '05 E320 CDI is a beast and so easy to work on. They only made them '05-'06 and the don't have that damn DPF!!! I get a hair over 40 MPG point to point on the interstate. Too bad so many Americans thumb their noses at diesels. No black smoke either. Oh, and there's the 369 ft lbs of torque. It rolls!