I noticed the SD seems to be geared lower then the L. So around town in D is fine for me.

I usually keep the L in D as well because I don't want to listen to the engine spooling up. My windows are down 99% of the time in the summer so I have to listen to it.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I believe that most people who drive in S do so to avoid a lot of unnecessary up-shifting and down-shifting between 3d and 4th. My indy recommends it for that reason. Personally I don't bother, but I don't spend much time in city traffic anyway.

Thanks,everyone for all the great input...looks like 126,#3 is O.K....123,stay .with D!!

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2001 E320 4matic, 2003 E320 4matic wagon

I drive my 380 in "D". RPMS seem fine and not that much "hunting" of gears when in 4th gear or whatever it is. I have not even noticed, does the 380 have overdrive (or 4th?). It runs at about 2200 rpms at 60-65 mph.

My 69' Caprice and 73' Grand Ville have 3-speed automatics and they have torquey engines, so leaving them in "D" is not an issue. I can go about 65 in either and barely be at 2000 rpms, but power is still fine. My Suburban was horrible however. When in "OD", it would only be at about 1700-1800 rmps - even at 65-70 MPH! When on the freeway, it did a lot of "hunting" between 3rd and overdrive. My 89' Pontiac Safari wagon is the same way - LOW rpms even at high speeds. Also low ion power, so there were times I drove it in "D", rather than "OD". I do not even drive it anymore because of the LOW power.

Starting new thread about that too.

Thats why i do it . To get from my house to the main roads I drive 10 miles around windy , hilly roads where the mak speed limit is 35 and sane driving speeds are between 10 and 45mph the whole way. That drive was greatly improved for me and my 300D when I leave it in S. Especially if you have any transmission flare.

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What Would Rudolph Do?
1975 300D, 1975 240D, 1985 300SD, 1997 300D, 2005 E320 , 2006 Toyota Prius

How do you open up the throttle on one of these IDI diesels?

Someone is showing evidence of the gas affiar they have been having hah.