I drove a burgundy/tan 1987 300D yesterday in the sweltering heat to see if I might trade up to a OM606. My first impressions were that much higher NVH insulation and drove like a modern car but this is compared to driving a W115 daily. It reminded me of my mom's 300SDL but had better performance. I had a few questions however. While driving it should the transmission hold 1st gear until about 2800-3000rpm and then abruptly shift to 2nd? I noticed the speedometer was a lot slower than the actual speed. We were on the freeway going at least 65 and it only registered 55mph. On the street going 40 or so it only registered 25mph. Is that a common symptom? The engine had a #14 head and it still had the catalyst still in place! I noticed that the engine seemed sluggish a plugged catalyst exacerbate that problem? It definitely needed a fuel filter and diesel purge. There was also a pronounced lifter noise that increased and decreased with engine speed. I read other posts on sticky lifters and I wonder if synthetic would fix the lifter noise?

Hmmm 2900 bucks...

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1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k

you compared it to an SDL, that is a fair comparison. It should accelerate and shift similarly and be even faster.
The dealer will replace the trap under factory campaign to the present owner. If its getting plugged then an Italian tune up may help unclear it unless its starting to crumbe and pieces of the matrix will hit the turbo blades and then the factory will replace that item too!
Mine got a Trap-ectomy at about 240K when the PO complained of sluggishness. They replaced the trap with the straight line installed a new exhaust line all the way back, including a new cat device.
Are you looking to buy the '87?
My speedo is faster than actual. yours might be dragging inside or something, certainly should be no big deal to find another speedo or get it calibrated at a speedo shop (I suggest Palo Alto speedo, a VDO service center)

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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

I am thinking of getting the 87 300D because we had phenomenal service out of my mom's 87 300SDL. Original tranmission and 235,000 miles until we sold it in 2003. I presume it had the #14 head and didn't have any problems with it. In fact I didn't know the heads had problems until after we sold it. The trap oxidizer did explode while on 680 at the Rudgear exit and my mom freaked out after seeing the rearview mirror go completely black She thought the engine blew up....and in ways it did...but the engine was fine. The factory did replace the exhaust and perhaps the turbo but I never saw the work order for it.

I am considering upgrading to a OM606 (EDIT: I meant 603!) because it's quieter and faster. My W115 is fun to drive but annoyingly slow at times and isn't getting the mileage that I was hoping for and therefore the tradeoff isn't justified.

On the other end of the scale, I am considering a OM601 190D 2.2 5 Speed but finding them without rust or ugly colors is hard to come by. I wish I could test drive one to see if I could live with it.

As for the speedo. I used Hollywood Speedometer in North Hollywood for my 6.9 they did an excellent job. $130. How much does Palo Alto speedo charge?

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1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k

The 87 300D did not have a OM606 engine, it was equipped with the OM603 engine.

If you want on OM606 you are going to have to find a 1995 or newer model...

Either engine is a huge upgrade from the engines used in the W115 chassis.

Shifting for the 87 300D should occur at or slightly above 2000 rpm. Sounds like the bowden cable needs to be adjusted properly. Lifters from what I've experienced, and that of others on the topic here, the 603 lifters in my case were beginning to tap at around 200K, and this is not unusual.

My speedo is reading correctly and I cannot offer any info, or advise for what may cause erroneous readings.

Like DieselDiehard pointed out, that trap needs to go, and it's likely many other issues with fuel delivery are at hand including injectors, timing, timing chain, you didn't mention how many miles, but it does sound like this car hasn't seen proper maintenance in a while.

TimFreeh: I stand corrected. I made the edit in the original post I meant 603 I won't touch a OM606 until I win the lotto

BusyBenz: The car did need some work done to it. I was inquiring as to normal behavior so that I could compare it to well maintained specimens hence the 1-2 hard shifting at 2800rpms or so. In your case how did you solve your noisy lifter problem? Replacement? The mileage was 259,000.

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1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k

The only thing you can do is replace them, unfortunitly they aren't cheap at or around $30 each X 12!

I would hope that they're not all bad. A $360 bill for lifters alone is not worth it unless they deceide to unload the car for cheap. Oh well....i'll keep looking

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1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k

I have seen them for $21 something. PM me if you are interested.
As for the cost of lifters, just think of the fact that you'll never have to do any valve lashings, that should make you happier if you DIY, you won't have any dirty clothes to wash or it will save you $$ over the life of the car for not supporting your favorite mechanic whho does valve adjusts (you'll probably need the $$ for something else on the 124 I'm sure!)
I had noisy lifters in the '87 I presently am driving (took it back form my wife, ha!) tried Mobil 1 and redline synthetic oil to no avail. I finally had the lot of them changed when I had the head off due to a leaking gasket. Quiet is the word now!
You need to check the vac pump on that car b4 you buy it, it should have torx head bolts on the front cover (the only cover that is) if its smooth its the old pump. The old pumps tend to self destruct. Also the transmission uses vacuum and if its low you won't have good shifts. A properly set up transmission in the '87 will up shift without any lurching or otherwise detectable shifts while the accelerator is down, if you back up on the pedal it smoothly up shifts with a little jerk but nothing like the old Vac system on the 123's and 126's w/ 5-cyl engine! But take the vac line off the '87 and get ready for a ride like a bucking bronco! (ask me how I got whiplash )

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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!