I have had my 81 300SD for 4 months now and I have not driven it over 65 mph. Replaced a few things and tried 75 mph today and got there easily but, engine sounded really loud. I have read some people doing 80s mph in their 617s. Is this a regular thing or just once in a while? 65 mph feels very comfortable for me. Do I just need to get used to the motor roaring at high speed?

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1981 300SD 118K
2000 Toyata Tundra 64K

A friend of mine had a 617 with a complete rebuild down to every bolt and nut, and his went 125+ across the desert in california...Make sure your timing chain tensioner/timing chain, rails, etc, are in good shape if you want to turn the engine fast, it would suck to skip a tooth.

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Current Stable:
1994 S500 v140, 210k miles, white with grey.

Former Mercedes in the Stable:
1983 300CD Turbo diesel 515k mi sold (rumor has it, that it has 750k miles on it now)
1984 300CD Turbo Diesel 150 k mi sold
1982 300D Turbo Diesel 225 sold
1987 300D Turbo Diesel 255k mi sold
1988 300 CE AMG Hammer 15k mi sold
1986 "300E" Amg Hammer 88k mi sold (it was really a 200, not even an E (124.020)
1992 500E 156k mi sold
etc.

I personally couldn't stand going any less than 75 mph. Even in a 55 zone. Too slow a speed.

I drive my 300D turbo at 85 mph on long trips in the fast lane... haven't taken it past that really but im sure i could cruise easily at 95 or so... But yeah the engine is pretty loud on the highway. I drove my sister's newish Corolla at highway speeds and all I could hear was the wind hitting the car... it was pretty eerie!

Are you kidding? My 85 300SD just turned over 200,000 miles and it has a definite sweet spot just at about 80mph. I regularly push 85+ and the car just loves it. I accelerate HARD on every expressway onramp and make every attempt to get the rpms up up up..... Haven't you ever heard of the venerable "Italian tune up"?? Or as others have said: "Drive it like you stole it" You simply won't believe how wonderful the car runs after a good highway run under heavy load.

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Orland Park, IL
1985 300SD 215,000 miles

Mine hit 100 once for about 1/2 mile..................but usuall driven at prevailing traffic speeds of 65-80

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Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
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Section 609 MVAC Certified
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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

I just drove to the bay area and back about 400 miles. I did between 70 and 90 on highway 5. The car seemed to love it and it seems to run smoother after the trip. These things are awesome on the highway. Set the cruise and relax.

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1983 300 SD 149k

1983 300 D 280k

1980 vw rabbit 1.5 na

1965 356C

http://www.ejzcars.com/80-100cruising.mov

You guys with your 240D's can only dream. LOL.

Hey the 240D will cruise the speed limit in any state in the US, but the sweet spot is about 65-67 mph.

As for dreaming, don't you turbo guys wish you didn't have so many expensive part's to buy.

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'10 Chrysler T&C Stow-N-Go White. Grandpa's ride.

'13 Chrysler 200 Touring Candy Red. Grandma's ride.

Age and cunning will always over come youth and vigor.

Yeah, 75 to 80 is a real sweet spot for these engines. The turbo's spooled up real nice, and they'll pull a mountain grade like a freight train. At 85 I start to feel uncomfortable about holding it at that rpm for very long.
I've only taken it up to 95,and it felt like there was a bit more in it. But it was up just past 4k RPM by then, and I've never gotten it to rev past about 4700, so not sure if I could hit 100 or not.

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past MB rides:
'68 220D
'68 220D(another one)
'67 230
'84 SD
Current rides:
'06 Lexus RX330
'93 Ford F-250
'96 Corvette
'99 Polaris 700 RMK sled
2011 Polaris Assault
'86 Yamaha TT350(good 'ol thumper)

Well, ....Shoot! A price has to be paid for power. The engines are crowded, and it certainly ain't easy to check injectors and swap out glowplugs anymore.

I admire the simplicity of the 240D engine. Everything is wide open. All the space anyone would need to tinker.

Notably, the 617/616 art much louder than the 603 at higher speeds. Why is that, anyway?

Tuesday I drove 355 miles at speeds between 65 and 90.....held it at 80 for a long while.....almost 90 for passing.....and it runs veeery smooth after driving like that. I'm pretty sure I've gotten mine over 5,000rpm.....my dads top (on the 83) rev is about 4,800 or so.....but mine sounds higher.....I'm guessing 5k I poured a whole bottle of mystery oil into my last fill up....runs super smooth and powerful. My car used to vibrate above 80mph, then I got all new tires, and now I can do 90 vibration free....it was all from unbalanced old/cheap tires. Amazing, the ride difference just by switching tires was night and day....not to mention I can actually accelerate quickly in the rain now....no stupid spin outs.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

On the NJ turnpike , I know a driver, who while commuting, regularly does 85-90 mph on the way in at 5 am for 90 minutes when he's driving his 87 W124 300D.
That person just follows the many faster cars and hides in the pack. He has told me that the 87 300D feels like a Lincoln or Maybach (Rolls royce) at that speed and doesnt even breath hard and is very quiet and stable and silky.
That person will only take his 85 W123 300D to 75 mph for 99 minutes on the same commute. Its more of a draft horse and not a thoroughbed.
That person, who I wont name, is getting paranoid after being in Jersey so long.
He tells me the local township police use minor traffic infractions as a major source of revenue. He says it gets to the point where the traffic police exist for themselves rather than their mandate to protect the people.
NJ has the highest insurance rates.
Even the doctors are leaving because it has the highest malpractice rates.

I've had the 300CD up to about 100mph once, but have reguarly had it up to 80-85mph

I picked my '84 300D up about a week ago... only had it up on the freeway once. Running 70mph just nicely.

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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]