207D Motorhome 1987

[basilbrush]

Hello, I have just bought this 207d and it is gutless on hills. Didn't expect a racer but this is taking the p**!!! Down to 35-40 on motorway hills which is downright scary in traffic. It has only done 59k from new + 1k miles in the last 4 yrs and everything on it seems to work great. I realise there is a big body on it being a Luton type motorhome, but are all the old 207d's like this?
Does anyone know how to get more power out of it?
Am prepared to have a larger??? or sprinter engine fitted as it is in great nick inside, but don't know if it is possible.
Any advice would be much appreciated please.
Cheers Will.

 

[Prof.C.Benz]

Hey man,

I am in possession of one too and it is dreadful on hills, this is normal... I too am looking to put something larger or possible a Turbo conversion into it.

Seems like no one has info, but the google search continues...

 

[Taffy7hfa]

I remember driving pre-turbo diesels, they were all horrible to drive, the Sprinter engine is superb but would need an ecu and all the bits and pieces to go with it, quite a big job I would have thought. Just stick a big fat turbo on it .

 

[Tashman]

I have the 507D - so the same gutless engine as you but with a much bigger and heavier body! So even slower!

I often have to put the hazard warning lights on going up big hills on the motorway its scary and dangerous to have such a speed difference to the other vehicles.

I'm going 25mph in 2nd gear, foot flat to the floor, people are rushing past at 80+ mph

 

[Tashman]

I have a crash damaged 123 series car in my back garden with the 3 litre diesel engine. Have been toying with the idea of putting that in my campervan.
I'm thinking there shouldn't be too much trouble putting in an OM617 where an OM616 once sat. Mercedes themselves used that engine in the 209D/309D/409D. At least that would be 88bhp instead of the 72bhp it comes with.
Do you find that 5th gear is almost useless except for cruising down long hills?

 

[Les Crocker]

Just had the scariest experience, same issue but down to ten MPH on motorway, think I have a fuel delivery issue, she's going in, on Thursday next week, anyone have a spare or know where I can get hold of a Haynes workshop manual for a 207D ? I don't need a download version, I need a hard copy, with illustrations, thanks in advance.

 

[om613]

If this uses the OM616 engine, then a manual for a W123 240td would be suitable.

 

[clarkmichigan55b]

As far as i know Haynes do not do a manual for the T1 Transporter range, Mercedes do at a price. As for your fuel delivery issue have you checked the fuel strainer inside the fuel tank?.

 

[Les Crocker]

As far as i know Haynes do not do a manual for the T1 Transporter range, Mercedes do at a price. As for your fuel delivery issue have you checked the fuel strainer inside the fuel tank?.

No, I haven't,clarkmichigan55b, is the strainer, easily accessible ? I am disabled and would struggle, crawling under the van

 

[Les Crocker]

Do you know, if it's possible, to fit a turbo, to the OM616 engine and if so, do you have any idea of the cost ?

 

[om613]

Yes. There were period conversions offered, now very very rare.
The engine also was turbo charged in a much later Indian application, 1990s.

So the cost would be prohibitive, vs. swapping out to a more common, higher output IDI OM engine:
617, 602, 603, or the 2.9 Korean one.

 

[00slk]

Think that's bad, try using a 207D for towing

 

[clarkmichigan55b]

Do you know, if it's possible, to fit a turbo, to the OM616 engine and if so, do you have any idea of the cost ?

Hello Les,
Sorry for the delay in a reply due to limited internet access.
If your motor home is a chassis and cab i would expect you would have to remove the fuel tank for access to the pipes and sender unit, unless the body builder built in a access panel in the floor above the fuel tank of the motorhome body to do this.
If it is based on a panel van mercedes fitted a access cover in the floor above the fuel tank to do this without removing the fuel tank. Hope this helps.

 

[peterch]

Hi, on this site I have found these manuals for diesel engines:

• Mercedes Benz Service Manual Diesel Engines 602, 603
• Mercedes Benz Service Manual Engine 615, 616, 617.91

I hope the info is useful!