I've driven at around 100 mph for about 2 hours in my 84 300D (turbo). Very comfortable, smooth and quiet except for engine noise. That was soon after I bought it, and I rarely go over 80 anymore. 80 feels just about perfect in mine, any slower and it feels too slow, any faster and it feels to reckless. I don't know anbout anyone else's W123, but mine doesn't pull emergency maneuvers at speed too well!

100mph is 160kmh.... 160 is nothing on the autobahn. I've done several trips across and to Germany in the past 3 weeks and the average speed in the no-limit zones is 180, with more travelling in the 200 range. Last month I maxed out the speed on a diesel... an Audi A3 2.0TDI sportsback/6speed at 232kmh(145-ish? mph).. great handling and quiete. I am a fan of the new diesel engines... the old ones on the other hand are underpowered and loud, but you folks seem to like 'em

On the otherhand... you don't get to travel at 100mph on a daily bases in the US So when you are.. there's a good chance you'll be the fastest on that stretch of the highway. I just wish we had an autobahn too

I agree.....I once drove my Chevy Sprint Turbo on the Italian Autostrada north of Firenze (Florence) at 120 mph which the car did easily...and it was limited to 120 via the ECU......got passed by a Ferrari F40 that was going OVER 200mph......blew by me so fast that on the long flat straight stretch we were on his car dissappeared over the horizon so fast all I hat time to see was the rear wing and the fact it was red.

This was back in 1990.......

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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

In their native element, that is, Germany, the drivers of such cars in their time went much faster. The real pleasure of these cars resides in the proper stretch of Autobahn; that is, in my time, the road from Heilbronn to Nuremberg when it was new, and empty of traffic. Nowadays, it is much harder to go so fast. The stretch from Hamburg to the Schwerinerkreuz is also nice, and I got my first ever speeding ticket there just this last summer. Viel Spass.

I've gotten my W201 2.2L up to 100mph. I've gotten my W210 3.0TD to 115mph with more left on the pedal.

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Ed
-1984 Mercedes 190D 2.2 5-speed gray market(bought@30,000 miles) (Sold back to original owner@170,000 miles)
-1999 Mercedes E300DT (245,000 miles)
-1999 Mercedes S500 Grand Edition (80,000 miles)

The fear of jail and losing my liscense keeps me from finding out what this W123 will do................

__________________
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)
---------------------
Section 609 MVAC Certified
---------------------
"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

FWIW, be it 150 or 700 hp, if the gearing ain't there, the speeds cannot be reached. The 300D/SDL are geared so that they run into their rev limiters at their maximum speeds, approximately. No matter how many ponies they put out, they won't get any faster than 120 - 130 mph. Unless the IP is configured differently.

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1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)

My 97 210 diesel saw triple figures frequently during our past trips between Orlando and DC. Once it hit 128 with a tail wind on I75 to Gainesville, nailed to the floor. Never had an issue. Today I would fly. @ $53 per flight. it doesnt trade @ 2.40 /gallon