Wow! '87 300D turbo = 95 MPH shift into high gear? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

dieseldiehard · #1 10-24-2005, 03:05 PM

Seller says: " The transmission shifts out beautifully and doesn't leak or use any fluids. The last gear doesn't shift out till around 95mph (which is what it is supposed to do)"
REALLY? I need a car like that!

where does this guy get that info, hopefully didn't wind it up in 3rd gear to 95 MPH - GIMME A BREAK!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.com%3A80%2Fsearch%2Fsearch.dll%3Fcgiurl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fcgi.ebay.co m%252Fws%252F%26fkr%3D1%26from%3DR8%26satitle%3D4584629477%2509%26category0%3D%26fvi%3D1&item=4584629477

diametricalbenz · #2 10-24-2005, 03:17 PM

He probably wound up that Sebring, Jeep Cherokee, and F150 in the background to 95mph in 3rd and ended up with 3 busted cars.

theref · #3 10-24-2005, 03:41 PM

Yikes that is the twin of my car. Except MB calls it cabernet-NOT Burgundy.

I am not sure that I have ever exceeded 95 but I am almost positive that all upshifts are complete long before that. It might be possible to get an upshift if you hit the kickdown somewhere in the 60s or slower and held it there in constant acceleration mode. I have certainly been in the 90s on several occasions but that was a slow acceleration from 70-no kickdown.

As that car approaches 200kmi, many things-many expensive things-are going to need to be replaced. The steering box is not cheap. I hate my color but I think that I will keep mine rather than get involved in doing all the deferred maintenance on this one.

DslBnz · #4 10-24-2005, 05:22 PM

You really shouldn't exceed 91- 92 mph in 3rd gear, I think. Should shift into 4th at around 88 - 89 mph.

jcyuhn · #5 10-24-2005, 05:26 PM

That sounds about right. I had the station wagon version of this car. The wagon had shorter gearing (numerically higher final drive ratio) and the three tick-marks on the speedometer indicating maximum speed in 3rd gear were around 85MPH. So I don't doubt the sedan will do 95 in 3rd. That's probably 4700RPM, give or take.

- JimY

dieseldiehard · #6 10-24-2005, 05:26 PM

I wonder why there's no license plates on it? And just a few pictures under a shade tree? Seller is trying too hard, who needs a free gift for buying a car that is a big gamble?
Just show me lots of pics.

pawoSD · #7 10-24-2005, 06:35 PM

Our minivan will rev its life out to 92mph if you push it before it shifts to 4th gear, also known as "torqueless" gear. It then is able to "chug" (pedal to floor) to about 96mph, then thats it, has nothing left. Around then its shuddering pretty bad and lots of scary things going on. Fuel mileage is probably about 6mpg at that point too.

The SD's can haul like nothing to 115mph. from 70-115 in 4th

Hatterasguy · #8 10-24-2005, 06:49 PM

The W124's must be geared pretty high, 85 seems to be the top of third in the W126's.

speedy · #9 10-25-2005, 10:20 PM

My '91 2.5 Turbo, stock, shifts from 3-4 at 80mph with my foot to the floor. Don't know if it has the same gearing as the '87, might be shorter. If so, I wonder if it would be possible to use the final drive from the '87 in my car? It revs pretty high on the freeway (for a diesel).

brabus · #10 10-25-2005, 10:39 PM

I used to have an 87 300D and used to rag the chit out of it like I do with all cars.
The fastest I could be driving in 4th and still downshift was at 60mph
It would shoot to around 3500RPM and shift back into 4th around 80mph tops.

I never took it much higher than 100mph because the car isnt that stable at speeds above that. Around 105+ a strong gust of wind could push you into another lane in split second.

shantibala · #11 10-25-2005, 10:44 PM

I went 110 with my 87 300DT everything works just fine on my car i dont see no problem exceeding over a 100 with the 87 diesel

DslBnz · #12 10-25-2005, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

The W124's must be geared pretty high, 85 seems to be the top of third in the W126's.

That sounds right,

They(W124) are 8% taller with 205/65/15's. However most have 195's, so there would be a 6% difference.

My brother-in-law's '87 300D actually kicks down at 85 mph.

http://www.ejzcars.com/TCLockupOnly.mov(1.5 meg)

The above link is third gear in an SDL up to about 85 mph.