Some questions on a '82 300D - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

juanesoto · #1 03-15-2006, 11:01 PM

Hello guys,

I'm new to this forum, but it seems to this is a great community. I have a couple of questions on a 300D W123. I just got the car from my mother who bought a new car, so I'm planning to restore the car and leave it for weekend rides.

The questions are the following:

Which are the main mechanical differences between a 300D engine and the 300D turbo engine? I mean, the differences besides the turbo. (I'm wondering if I could put a turbo to my 300D engine)

Is there a 5 speed manual tranny that will fit my car? 300D W123

Are there any larger brake calipers that will fit my car?

I take driving safely seriuosly, and I feel that the car doesn't have the passing power required in case of an emergency. Without the turbo the engine revs up really slow. Also I feels that the brake are not quite powerful to handle the modern driving speeds, so I would like to improve that too.

I would really appreciate any advice.

Thanks!!

Biodiesel300TD · #2 03-15-2006, 11:05 PM

If you really have to stand on the break you could have a bit of a vacuum leak. The breaks are hooked to the vacuum system and if there is a leak you have to press the petal harder to stop. Also it may be time for new breaks and calipers.

There should be a manual tranny that fits your 300D. Do some searching on this site and you will find a wealth of info. Everyone here wants a manual in their diesels.

pawoSD · #3 03-15-2006, 11:09 PM

You cannot add a turbo to a non-turbo engine as the turbo models have some internal differences including:

-Oil squirters to spray down the pistons to keep them cool.
-Higher Strength Crankshaft to take the additional power.
-Injection pump/Alda is setup different too I believe.
-May have a different transmission not intended for use with a turbo's power.

These, especially the first two, are critical. Adding a turbo would cause premature engine death.

So I would just leave it how it is, if you wanted to go turbo, you'd need a whole different engine.

The brakes on these cars are more than sufficient to stop them when they are in good condition and have the proper parts etc... They can take you from 85+ to a full stop in no time. My brakes in my SD are way more powerful than those in our "modern" minivan. I've had to make an emergency stop before from about 60-0 in a short span, I stopped about 15 feet short of the person I was trying not to hit, and the person behind me (a minivan) ended up veering past me to avoid hitting me.

juanesoto · #4 03-15-2006, 11:10 PM

Thanks Biodiesel 300TD, I'll look around for info. About the brakes, I had them checked last week when I got the car and everything is in working order. Its just that I usually spend weekends out of town, so I would like to do all the improvements available for my Benz in order to do highway driving.

Regards!

juanesoto · #5 03-15-2006, 11:14 PM

Thanks PawoSD, thats the kind of info I'm looking for. I guess I'll have to look for a used turbo engine and do an overhaul to it and have it ready so when my current engine dies I'll have the replacement.

Can anyone tell me if there is a model that came with the turbo engine and a manual tranny? All the turbo models I've seen are automatic

pawoSD · #6 03-15-2006, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juanesoto

Thanks PawoSD, thats the kind of info I'm looking for. I guess I'll have to look for a used turbo engine and do an overhaul to it and have it ready so when my current engine dies I'll have the replacement.

Can anyone tell me if there is a model that came with the turbo engine and a manual tranny? All the turbo models I've seen are automatic

There was never a turbo model offered with a manual, even in europe, they are all automatics. In that era the turbo diesels were only sold in the USA anyways, and most people here wanted automatics, so they only offered the 240d and 300d euro model import with the manual option. The turbo 300d and 300sd and so on were all automatic.

juanesoto · #7 03-15-2006, 11:30 PM

To bad no turbo benz with manual tranny. But there might be a 5 speed manual tranny that can withstand the power of the turbo engine and be easily fitted in a W123, right?

Thanks for the advise!

Palangi · #8 03-16-2006, 12:37 AM

Are you sure about the year? An 82 should already have a turbo.

barry123400 · #9 03-16-2006, 12:51 AM

Perhaps he has a euro car? Have a look under the front of the air cleaner for a u shaped tube about 4"? in diameter. If it has one its a turbo. Not likely someone pulled a turbo engine out of the car if sold new in north america and substituted a non turbo engine. There are a few fairly minor problems that will make a tubo version slow. Does the trunk lid chrome have turbo or turbo diesel mentioned anywhere? You hopefully may have the easiest conversion from non turbo to turbo engine in history on your hands.

MS Fowler · #10 03-16-2006, 05:41 AM

I would suggest if you have any questions about the brakes that there is a problem with your car. I have heard that the engineers designed these cars to stop on one wheel' brakes. The brakes have never been a question on any MB I've driven.
Even if someone checked them out, I would bet they are not up to snuff. Drive another similar, MB and see if the brakes feel the same.

Start with verifying that there is sufficient vacuum present at the booster, and then that the booster is working. Many times a sticking piston in one or more Calipers is the problem. Do the brakes pads wear evenly, or do some wear more than others. More subtle issues can be deteriorated brake hoses.

rg2098 · #11 03-16-2006, 06:38 AM

There is a 5-speed that will fit, but it is quite difficult to find. The 4-speed from a 240D will work and is much more common. 82 was the first year for the turbo in the US. Do a search for the "banjo bolt" which when plugged, can make a turbo feel slower then a non-turbo.

The brakes on the W123 and plenty powerful, but if you insist I believe the W126s had slightly larger brakes and I have seen a few people convert over to them.

t walgamuth · #12 03-16-2006, 08:37 AM

the sd are a bolt on in certain model years. check with your mb parts supplier to verify which years. you will need the rotors and calipers. the pads are the same as non vented rotors.

this will decrease fade and give a rotor that will last longer and about never warp.

tom w

juanesoto · #13 03-16-2006, 02:42 PM

Thanks for the help guys.

My Benz is an euro version. Actually the whole car is in german.

But fortunetly my girlfriend speaks german. Too bad for her spending time with me at the garage trying to figure out what the labels say.

Anyway, my car is breaking fine, just wanted to know if there was a chance of making it break even better. I like the idea of the vented rotors of the SD. I'll have that in mind.

Which is the 5-speed tranny that might fit the 300D? I'm also wondering if I switch the engine head from my non-turbo engine for the head of a turbo engine, would that work? Where are the oil squirters that spray pistons to keep'em cool?

Sorry for all this fool questions, but I've always been a gasoline engine freak, specially with large displacements, so I don't know much of diesel. But since I got this Benz I fell in love with it.

Thanks

t walgamuth · #14 03-16-2006, 05:52 PM

squirt up on the bottom of the pistons.

there are many many other differences between the turbo motor. if you want to do it right it may be a better idea to just sell off your good non turbo motor and buy a good used turbo motor.

you really dont want to try to jury rig something. you can do the above for less than buying the parts probably.

tom w