3rd gear likes 50-55mph; 2nd cooks at 38. Between speeds varying between 35 and 60 (typical road conditions in/out/around town) you'll be paddling through 3 gears, dropping and grabbing to keep rpms at max. And at/near 38mph 2nd and 3rd are interchangable; 3rd/4th become interchangable at about 58. The 240D 4-spd makes you *earn* each mile you cover. Was far cry from my euro 280SEL where 2nd reached to 45mph easily and could drop from 4th into 3rd at 70, otherwise had hardly any overlap between the gears.

Well, that's how the adults drive them.

Yup, like someone else once said, the 240D is a great car if all the lights are green. Seriously though, I love mine and I actually think it's quite peppy for 67 hp in a 3300 lbs car at nearly 5000 ft of elevation. As far as engine noise is concerned, I feel it's actually a bit quieter and less "diesely" at crusing speeds than the 82 300D turbo that I used to have. Around 55-60 mph it just purrs like a happy kitten. I typically cruise at 65-75 on the highways and the car can do that comfortably all day long.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

I personally wouldn't feel comfortable just slapping on a supercharger without beefing up the engine internals. If you're getting lots of smoke, most likely it's the valves that need adjustment.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

What's slower...123 240 or aircooled vw buses?

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82 300D....went to MB heaven
90 350 SDL....excercising con rods

Inflate properly the tires, disable EGR, activate AC in the correct moments and the car should not have difficulties to get to 80 on flat roads. If the car does not pass of 70 mph there is something wrong with it.

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Aquilae non capunt muscas! (Eagles don't hunt flies!)


1979 300SD Black/Black MBtex239000mi
1983 300TD euro-NA. White/Olive Cloth-MBtex 201000mi. Fleet car of the USA embassy in Morocco
1983 240D Labrador Blue/Blue MBtex 161000mi

Well, compared to my type 3 vw fastback, my 240D is a rocket ship. Given the weight difference and aerodynamics, I would guess that a bus would be slower.

Kevin
1979 240D manual
1984 190D manual

240D Engine internals are on the way from fastlane/allparts. I wouldn't run a supercharger at 600 ft locally, the con rods aren't designed for it, but west of Denver the air is too thin to hurt anything. I love struggling to keep up, in dreams it reminds me of driving Mack trucks when I was younger and thinner. I did not love going up the passes in CO in the 240D in granny gear at 10 mph - that reminded me of Ford Model T's. Anybody wants to go buy a load a 5 speeds manuals and bell housings in Europe, sign me up! I'd love to keep the revs higher in traffic. I have had some good custom driveshafts made at Fleetpride (truck parts) in Clarksville, IN, and Republic Diesel in Louisville, both Spider dealers. They have special jigs to keep everything round and balanced. I put a dump truck 5 speed in a 59 Ford SW behind a 292 V8, with a carrier bearing in the two part drive shaft (3"!), and a constant velocity joint one piece driveshaft for my 5.0 liter 59 ford sedan with the C4.

Wouldn't it be easier to just get a 300D Turbo as a second car for the mountain driving?

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

I've taken mine up to 100mph (160 km/h)

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1992 Mercedes 190D 2.5 turbo 5sp manual. EGT+boost gauges. Boost controller set to ~14.5 psi. 1 1/4 turns on full load adjustment. LPG injection. Next in the list is water injection.

I think the 240 can accelerate a bit faster, and can definitely hit a better top speed than my bus. I have one of the heavier "baywidow" busses though. If you put a 1600 or larger ending in a lighter split window bus I think it would be close.

I'll have to race them next time I have the bus out of hibernation.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

Mbz kid, because the rear end ratio is shorter the little engine revs higher at usable highway speeds. I have had the experience of driving them with bad,medium condition and good mounts etc. There is a noticable difference in my opinion. If you have a friend or aquaintence who has one and will let you drive it a little it is a good way to rate yours. If yours is worst in the vibration/noise department start to change things out. I believe the difference is worth it myself. Most the parts required are pretty reasonable.