Hi I've had my Benz for 6 weeks now and have finished changing all the fluids and reseting the valves. My question is how many miles per gallon should I be getting? The odometer is broken (seems to be a common problem with Mercedes) so is there another way to calculate it? Also has anyone replaced the odometer - what has to be pulled apart to get at it? Thanks

fuel mileage on my 83 300dt is around 30 mpg in the summer. cold weather, for whatever reason, causes this figure to drop by as many as 6 or 7 mpg. and if you do a search, you will find much good information on odometer repair. good luck.

Check out dieselgiant's page great site and he frequents this forum too!
www.dieselgiant.com

My 82 300D averages in the mid to high 20s, depending on driving conditions. You should be able to do a little better because the 85 has a higher final gear ratio than the 82 - 84.

Yes, the odometer is a common issue, but you can fix it in an hour or so. Check out the above link.

The 84 300SD I had would get on the highway between 28 and 30mpg depending on season and elevation. The body would have been a little heavier than the 300D.
The 87 had the six cylinder and believe it or not it got a mile or two higher mileage than the 84 with its 5 banger.....


To calculate without an odometer. ...Uhm....how about this for a rough measure. Go to www.MapQuest.com and get directions door to door for a road trip or commute to work. It will give you pretty accurate mileage for the distance and then at the end of the long trip or the weeks commute fill up the tank again... You will have the mileage and fuel used to calc. MPG
CHEERS

__________________
FRED

Daily Driver: 98 E300TD 199K
Hobby Car: 69 Austin Mini
Past Diesels: 84 300SD, 312K
87 300SDL, 251K
94 Chev. K-1500 6.5Ltr.TD, 373K

SD's have better diesel milage because they have better aerodynamic body that the W123s. my '85 300D has between 20 to 25 mpg with freeway and city driving combined because i always drive it hard. tuning it up the italian way every single day. don't need to purge!

I don't know how you guys do it. I get 24 at best and had 26 mpg one time. This is with new tires, filters, valve adjustment, and driving like a 55 year old man with a brand new Corvette.

I'm running out of things to try.

Man I don't know....at the time I had the 84 300SD I was doing a lot of Mountain Biking all over New England. I had a Thule roof rack almost permantely fixed to the roof....sounded like a jet engine with the sun roof open at highway speeds.....that was not so aerodynamic. But the highway mileage was pretty consistant.

__________________
FRED

Daily Driver: 98 E300TD 199K
Hobby Car: 69 Austin Mini
Past Diesels: 84 300SD, 312K
87 300SDL, 251K
94 Chev. K-1500 6.5Ltr.TD, 373K

The SD just got record fuel economy (for itself). 29 mpg in mixed city/hwy. About 15% city.

But, it has a new head, 2.88 rear axle, 32/34 in the tires, PowerService in the tank, and speed kept below 68 mph.

I'm convinced that I can squeeze 30 out of it if I can keep it out of the city.

The odometer is accurate to .03%.

but brian is a pretty economy conscious driver.

and craig lives in colorado and at high altitudes the turbodiesels really shine.

me? with any of my mb turbodiesels running 75 and 80 i am lucky to top 25. i have had prob 7 or 8 of them. usually it is less than 25.

running 65 you can get into the 26 27 range.

tom w

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I'm not sure about that year of W123 but if it's an electronic speedo, try these folks for parts: www.odometergears.com

__________________
Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

His W123 has a mechanical speedo, but I think those guys can still supply the plastic gears if required. Usually it's just the odometer gear slipping on the shaft that needs fixing. Kind of a PITA to fix, but free.

I only put one long tip on my 85 and that was a year ago when I bought it. It was running good, I thought, but I only got about 23 MPG at about 70 mph. Then this fall Bajaman helped me adjust the valves, (it really works good with two guys) and what I thought was a good running 617T, became awesome. And I know my fuel mileage increased a little though at that time we were fast going into winter. I think I can safely say I could get 24/25 at 70 mph cruise now. Not real good, but for 8 months now I will run cold, clean grease! If you run cold, clean grease you worry about filters, not mpg.

__________________
Junqueyardjim
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. C.S. Lewis



1983 Mercedes W123 240D 4 Speed 285,000 on the road with a 617 turbo, beautiful butter yellow, license plate # 83 240D INDIANA

2003 Jaguar Type X, AWD. beautiful, good mileage,
Mom's car, but I won't let her drive it!

i got 23 mpg city.. i only drive 10 miles to work 5 days a week and with a heavy foot

I too have had my 300D for about 7 weeks. So far I have only checked the gas mileage once over 70 miles of City driving. I was getting 24.5 MPG. I'm currently driving it a bit farther to confirm this mileage.