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  #1  
Old 02-18-2006, 05:39 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Bay area, California
Posts: 51
1985 300TD problems

Hello, all. First post.

I have been reading the posts for some time and own a couple of 240Ds.

I enjoy the simplicity of the cars, and having grown up on a farm, the smell
of diesel.

There are a couple of 1985 300TD's locally, but after reading the postings here, I am a little concerned. I know one has California emissions equipment,
the other was purchased in Oregon.

Two questions. What problems do you face with a California-spec 1985 300TD
vs a Oregon spec one?

BTW, this forum is great. It has helped me keep my 240D's going!


Tom

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  #2  
Old 02-18-2006, 07:10 PM
Cabernet red, actually
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Willamette Valley, OR
Posts: 503
An Oregon car would probably have the CA emissions equipment as well.

This is not a bad thing, though, as MB did a recall on the 1985 CA emissions vehicles. If these cars still have the troublesome 'smog' filter, MB will replace it with an improved model and will replace any compenents damaged by pieces of the filter. The ceramic in it had a habit of breaking off and damaging turbos and engines.

I have a record that says this work was done on my car in 2002 or 2003. A dealership did the work and the bill was for zero. They replaced the turbo and the filter.
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Ralph

1985 300D Turbo, CA model
248,650 miles and counting...
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  #3  
Old 02-18-2006, 10:36 PM
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Ralph:

Thanks for the information regarding the emissions issue. Are there any
problems typically for the 1985 transmission?

Tom
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  #4  
Old 02-18-2006, 10:44 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2004
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The 85 trannys are a bit different than the earlier models, and the differential is lower so you use less RPM on the interstate. Both are upgrades according to most people. The cali smog engines are a downgrade, again according to most people.
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  #5  
Old 02-18-2006, 10:50 PM
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Dieseldiehard
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Bay Area No Calif.
Posts: 4,368
It has been said that the '85 transmissions are not as robust as those used previously in 123's. I have had no problems with my '85 300TD trans. Actually I had a failure in my '79 300TD trans
One thing is for certain, the '85 models shift more smoothly. That added refinement plus the CA car won't be needing air filter brackets all the time. makes it worth consideration.
You can also retrofit a federal exhaust on one if you wanted to get rid of the Nasty Trap Oxidizer.
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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!
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Old 02-18-2006, 10:51 PM
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85 California model will have the big $60 air cleaner.
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2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



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  #7  
Old 02-18-2006, 11:15 PM
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Location: Sunnyvale, Texas (DFW)
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I can tell you without a doubt that the tranny in an '85 model shifts like a real car, where previous years shift OK, but "different". As Paul said, the air cleaner filter is quite pricey on the Cali model, but it's not a fortune, just more.
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'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John
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  #8  
Old 02-19-2006, 03:16 AM
Cabernet red, actually
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Willamette Valley, OR
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If those TDs have the original transmissions, I would count on having to replace them in the neare future. Fortunately for me, mine was replaced a few months before I bought it.

It's 20 years later now; nothing lasts forever.
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Ralph

1985 300D Turbo, CA model
248,650 miles and counting...
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  #9  
Old 02-19-2006, 08:21 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Norman, Oklahoma
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Does the wagon use the same tranny as the sedan? If so when I pull the tranny out of my wrecked '85 its going to need some work, probably a new K1 spring kit and whatever else I can find that needs replacing from reading here. It has about a five second delay when shifting into gear. After having driven and '84 and an '85, I didn't notice any difference in the shifting.

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1984 300D 225K
1985 300D Donor body
1985 300D Turbo 165K. Totaled. Donor Engine. It runs!!!
1980 300SD 311K My New Baby.
1979 BMW 633csi 62K+++? Dead odo
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