Has anyone driven an automatic and a 4 speed. I've heard the automatic is very, very slow compared to the manual. I had a 1983 with the 4 speed and I found it quite adequate. I'm looking at buying an automatic on ebay which seems quite nice.

Also when I drove my 240 D on the interstate at 85 mphs it sounded like it was reved out so high that it wanted to come apart, of course it never did. It did have over 250k miles on it when it sounded like that. So my question is does the automatic equipped car sound the same?

I drive a 1982 240D automatic, and indeed it won't give you whiplash with its acceleration. However, I find it quite reasonable to drive (except when I've got the A/C on in the summer, which robs too many precious HP). The later W123 series had slightly higher output engines, which helps. I find that using the stickshift to manually shift gears in some situations helps. But indeed, having driven a manual 240D last summer made me realize how much peppier the manual is.
I've never had my 240D at 85MPH (I tend to adhere to the speed limits), so can't help you out there. That's probably close to the max speed of the car, so no wonder it sounded like you were pushing it.

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1983 300TD 240K - 1982 240D 215K - 1996 Dodge Cummins 70K

Well, I've had an automatic and a manual in the same car so I guess I can add to this discussion. Bought my 240D new with an automatic transmission. When the transmission conked out on me at 293,000 miles, I converted it to a manual. Best thing I ever did to the car. I like it much, much more with the manual transmission in it. It seems like it has so much more power. It really doesn't. It's just that you contrlol the shifts and the power. However, I must say that I never thought that it was dangerously slow with the automatic. You get used to it and you know what the car can and cannot do. Horsepower is somehting like 67 and the top speed is about 86mph.

Len
'83 240D 344,000 miles

I have driven both and there's no comparison. I even prefer a manual 240D over an automatic, normally aspirated 300D.

Good luck,

Ditto.

I have two customers with 300D NA's and our 240 4-speed LITERALLY will run circles around them.

Actually, the 240, the way it is now tuned, runs circles around most peoples TURBO 300D's when I first get them in (in typical out-of-tune shape.)

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1984 300D Turbo - 4-speed manual conversion, mid-level resto

1983 300D - parts car

1979 300TD Auto - Parts car.

1985 300D Auto - Wrecked/Parts.


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"If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there". Lewis Carrol

Tom,

Would you have a list of tune-up tips for the 240D?

Thanks,

Jeff

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79 240D (no name yet) 203K Miles Maple Yellow
98 2500 4x4 HD Dodge 24 Valve Cummins TD
83 Chevy Van (Dead-Trans. shot)

You mean before or after adding a turbo? ;-)

Lots of tips right here on this forum.

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1984 300D Turbo - 4-speed manual conversion, mid-level resto

1983 300D - parts car

1979 300TD Auto - Parts car.

1985 300D Auto - Wrecked/Parts.


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"If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there". Lewis Carrol

Now the turbo would explain a lot!

Hey, I noticed you also have the Maple Yellow 240D. I am in the process of rubbbing mine out to get rid of 26 years of oxidation. It is shining up real nice!

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79 240D (no name yet) 203K Miles Maple Yellow
98 2500 4x4 HD Dodge 24 Valve Cummins TD
83 Chevy Van (Dead-Trans. shot)

Making a 240D run at its best involves; clean fuel filters, clean accurately set injectors(this is done by the injection service guy in his clean room,) properly set valves, IP in good shape and probably most important injection timing properly set.

All this is assuming that you are working with an engine with good compression and a clean air filter.

One of the reasons for my comment about a manual 240D being peppier is that there is lots of torque that is lost with an automatic transmission.

Good luck,

I'm running my automatic 240D with a turbo engine, and it's plenty peppy!

Both of Tom's cars are quick too, but we haven't lined 'em up.

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'83 240D with 617.952 and 2.88
'01 VW Beetle TDI
'05 Jeep Liberty CRD
'89 Toyota 4x4, needs 2L-T
'78 280Z with L28ET - 12.86@110
Oil Burner Kartel #35

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1...oD/bioclip.jpg