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> OT: Looking for a diesel Mercedes, Can anyone give me some pointers?
Dr Evil
post Mar 22 2005, 01:00 AM
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Some of you must know about old MBZ diesels. I am looking for one as a commuter/nice classy ride. I reacently looked at a 73 300D that was nice, but needed too much work for the price. Is there any years to look for? Stay away from? Things to take note of?

Anyone know what kind of milage to expect form a 4.5L 70s 6cyl reagular gas engine? Just for the hell of it as I have one that I want, but it will probably get crappy milage and that I cannot afford.

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Reiche
post Mar 22 2005, 01:32 PM
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Dr. Evil:
I own and drive a 1980 240D 4-speed (123 series) but I have driven some of the 300Ds and TDs (station wagon, NOT necessarily turbodiesel) as well. They are great as long as you're not in a hurry to get anywhwere. I really like the simplicity of the 240D: Manual window cranks, manual trans, no turbo. Less to go wrong.

Good:
Gets about 30 mpg if you don't have a lead foot.
Soooo comfortable to drive.
Well-engineered and easy to work on.
Millions made, so junkyard spares are everywhere.

Not so good:
0-60 in about 20 seconds.
Top speed of about 80 mph. Happiest cruising at about 60-65.
Noisy!
New replacement parts are expensive.
The price of diesel here is about $.35/gal more than premium.

I rebuilt my motor about 3yrs ago after the original broke a ring and scored the cylinder. That was after about 340K miles. It just needed new cyl. sleeves and pistons/rings but I ended up doing some overall "freshening up." Bottom end was almost perfect.

DD-It's true you can't bore out the cylinders much (1st oversize is all) but they can be re-sleeved like mine. They are dry sleeves, with an interference fit, then honed to size and decked. Block and head are super heavy-duty. Machinist said it was the hardest block he had ever decked. Heads are cast chromoly.

The 300-series are more powerful (5-cylinders) and have a taller r/p ratio so they can cruise at a higher speed, but you get a bit worse mileage. The nice thing about the turbo models is you don't really need to use the turbo all that much, but when you need the extra acceleration, it is there. Not so with the N/A. Personally, I love the manual trans. The auto trannies were never geared right for the turbo cars. Unfortunately, almost all the 300s were imported with autos.

The 4.5 liter MB was a V8. You can expect V8 mileage: 15 mpg or so.
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Dr Evil   OT: Looking for a diesel Mercedes   Mar 22 2005, 01:00 AM
MattR   A porsche isnt classy enough? Oh no... must resis...   Mar 22 2005, 01:06 AM
skline   I would look into a mid 80's BM diesel truck o...   Mar 22 2005, 01:12 AM
Type 4   Here is the MBZ forum. http://www.mercedesshop.co...   Mar 22 2005, 01:14 AM
Dr Evil   Forum good, me like, thanks. Still want personal o...   Mar 22 2005, 01:32 AM
bondo   My dad has 2 1987 diesel mercedes.. mercedeses? On...   Mar 22 2005, 01:33 AM
SP9146   You definitely want a turbo diesel. During the 70...   Mar 22 2005, 04:05 AM
MecGen   Hi Evil Had a 85 300D I would realy sugest finding...   Mar 22 2005, 04:59 AM
morphenspectra   There is a really nice vintage mercedes (early 70...   Mar 22 2005, 10:48 AM
Elliot Cannon   I will never buy another Mercedes newer than 1990....   Mar 22 2005, 11:09 AM
Rhodes71/914   My mom had a mid 80's 300D turbo, it was a gre...   Mar 22 2005, 12:49 PM
Dave_Darling   Two co-workers of mine had the 70s-vintage non-tur...   Mar 22 2005, 12:57 PM
flyloki   I have a 85 300TD wagon (49 state) for 2 years an...   Mar 22 2005, 12:58 PM
lapuwali   My next door neighbor had two MBZ diesel sedans un...   Mar 22 2005, 01:03 PM
Reiche   Dr. Evil: I own and drive a 1980 240D 4-speed (123...   Mar 22 2005, 01:32 PM
solex   Evil, I bought a 93 300D, some would argue that 93...   Mar 22 2005, 02:02 PM
GTeener   <...   Mar 22 2005, 02:03 PM
cha914   My Dad has an 82 300TD ... bought the car with ~11...   Mar 22 2005, 02:16 PM
bondo   With all this talk of Merdedes handling like a bow...   Mar 22 2005, 02:28 PM
morphenspectra   The one for sale here looks like the one listed on...   Mar 22 2005, 02:44 PM
Cap'n Krusty   From both my personal experience and the advice of...   Mar 22 2005, 02:48 PM
Dr Evil   Thanks for all of the info. What I am looking for ...   Mar 22 2005, 11:50 PM
bondo   <...   Mar 22 2005, 11:58 PM
Dr Evil   http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/e...   Mar 23 2005, 12:02 AM
jfort   I had a 82 300D - 5 cyl turbo. I put well over 30...   Mar 23 2005, 07:04 AM
Blynes   Look for a mint mid 80's and be willing to pay...   Mar 23 2005, 07:26 AM
xitspd   Dr. My first Benz was a 240D. My second was a 30...   Mar 23 2005, 08:41 AM
neo914-6   I have w124s, the are GREAT cars. Here is another...   Mar 23 2005, 09:36 AM


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