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

I rarely drive my 79 300SD at anything UNDER 75-80mph when I'm on the open interstate. They are very much in their "comfort zone" cruising at such speeds.

I've briefly had it up to a little over 100mph a few times, and it didn't act like it was a strain....actually felt like it had some room to go, but I don't have room in my budget for such a large speeding ticket!

Perhaps you're just not used to the greater noise of an old diesel engine at such speeds, compared to a newer car's quiet gasoline engine and heavy-duty soundproofing?....

Mike

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1979 300 SD
350,000 miles
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1982 300D-gone---sold to a buddy
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1985 300TD
270,000 miles
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1994 E320
not my favorite, but the wife wanted it

www.myspace.com/mikemover
www.myspace.com/openskystudio
www.myspace.com/speedxband
www.myspace.com/openskyseparators
www.myspace.com/doubledrivemusic

drive my car around 60-80 (KPH that is.. eheheh) normally.. but on open roads.. i've reached about 130KPH.. that's as fast i'd want to go without having my balls up my throat.. ehehe

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Mike

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1975 200 - Sold (no pix);
1978 200 - Sold - http://www.pbase.com/hboy/redbaron
1979 300TD - Sold
http://www.pbase.com/hboy/greenwagon
http://www.geocities.com/hboy726/300TD.html
1985 230E - now my daily driver...

Saturday while driving Dieter I sped up to 90 because I had a newer Bimmer (630 ? coupe) with Fulton county (Atlanta) tags, come up behind me... I've been listening to the motor more since this thread started, what I hear when going over about 85MPH is the engine sounds like a "boom", no longer a clatter or a gasser "weennngg". Just a sonic "boom"....

Re: the law, I haven't had a speeding ticket since 1989. 77 in a 55.. in a Bimmer, in NJ....

I've had my '79 300D to 70 - 75. Sounds quite loud. We have a few hills in our part of the state, and I get it up to that speed to minimize my loss going uphill. She'll slow right down to 50 or so from 75 going up a fairly steep hill. Is this normal Is it just because I don't have a turbo I hope that's all. My TDI with a turbo will accelerate all I want going uphill in 5th. The 6.5 van I used to have would accelerate up same hill and never downshift. Both had turbos.

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'85 300D - 206K (sold)
'81 240D - 149K (sold)
'03 Jetta TDI - (sold)
'79 300D - (sold)