We are about to buy a 1979 300D. Are there any special issues that are particular to a N/A W123 that are different from later W123's? Thanks in advance...

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Frau Frankenbenz: 1983 240D manual w/ 1984 300SD engine; 81 240D tranny; 2.88 diff. 317,XXX miles.

2004 VW Passat TDI Wagon: Offline awaiting an oil pump balance shaft delete

1978 International Scout 4 Cyl all stock: Awaiting exhaust repair

2005 Ford E350 Diesel: Getting everything from point A to B without complaint

A few come to mind and there are probably others. Softer camshaft, rust easier than later 123 models perhaps as well. I have a 1977 300d. Now the good stuff. No banjo bolt to clean out on the turbo feed. In fact no turbo problems at all come to think of it. That is good because I also believe the automatic transmission is not as strong either on the n/a. Fuel milage is not upward because of the lack of a turbo either. In fact like volkswagens non turbos actually get slightly less mpg I believe. But a good 1979 is a lot better than a ratty i982 let say. Condition is still everything.

A 79 might have the older ACC system. If you thought monovalves were trouble...

Sixto

Wanna race? I just bought a 1983 240D.

Spectators should bring a picnic lunch...

-- Matt

lol... or a sleeping bag

Now THAT's a good idea! A MB diesel-only race...1998 and newer don't qualify

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Dale

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g1...MG_2277sig.jpg

1990 300D 2.5 Turbo -155k
2000 E430 - 103k
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ecodiesel 4x4 - 11k
2014 VW Passat TDI SE - 7k Bro's Diesel
2006 E320 CDI - 128k Pop's Benz

Pre-glow - A moment of silence in honor of Rudolph Diesel

Like was stated, a '79 will have the evil climate control servo, but if inop, now the conversion kit is $499 or $699. Cheaper ways to do in manually I hear.
I secretly want a 300D non-turbo. Had one and liked it fine.
I would love to put the NA motor in a manual 240 so I'd get the manual tranny and AC controls.
"79 had some great colors, what is this one?

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Jimmy L.
'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

may have a softer cam but u can lop off a lobe and it will still work.

the klima servo thing is an issue if it leaks, just replace it.

if the AC does not work it may just be the electrical thing behind the glove box.

check the axle boots.

auto trans is OK get a 5 speed !

milage 19-21 city
25 hiway

good car.

vac pump old style. make sure it is OK, get PPI and deduct troubles.

do a archive search.

gooday !

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1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
********************
1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD

Had one - liked it but....

AC Servo as mentioned above. Mine was bypassed when I purchased the car. had a rabuilt installed - appx. $300. Some say the rebuilts do not last, don't know, only kept the car for a year, no problems with it. Performance products sells what appears to be a slick digital replcament for the servo, about $700. I think mercedes source sells a manual knob-on-dash set up for $100, or you can go with rebuilts for around $300-$350. You will have to deal with this issue at some point - the unit will fail if it has not already.

Seats seem to have a different stuffing than newer models years - tends to disintegrate and fall out - could have just been my particular car.

I didn't think the NA part was too bad, although I'm driving a 240D now, so I don't know what it's like to have the turbo (on a Mercedes). Less maintenance, thats for sure.

Good luck

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'85 300D - 206K (sold)
'81 240D - 149K (sold)
'03 Jetta TDI - (sold)
'79 300D - (sold)

I don't have the paint code # , but I believe it is the ubiquitous china blue. The paint is very dull, but is in good condition otherwise. I suppose a clean, polish, and wax is in my near future.

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Frau Frankenbenz: 1983 240D manual w/ 1984 300SD engine; 81 240D tranny; 2.88 diff. 317,XXX miles.

2004 VW Passat TDI Wagon: Offline awaiting an oil pump balance shaft delete

1978 International Scout 4 Cyl all stock: Awaiting exhaust repair

2005 Ford E350 Diesel: Getting everything from point A to B without complaint