Yup, I do have a good (and honest) MB mech down the street. I live a couple blocks off Old Coun ty rd. where his garage is). I'll also see if I can swing taking the test drive to the Belmont hills area. I know and drive that area well. You see, the 240 I will be looking at is in Hayward (across the SM bridge). I plan to ask this guy if he'll let my MB mech look at it.
FYI, I stated that the 300 SD has to work A LITTLE BIT to hold 80. Still think there is trouble Sixto? My mech told me yesterday, as my lovely car was idling on a mix of dino diesel and WVO 50/50 that he could hear that one of the injectors needed cleaning. Could that be a factor?
Thanks for the input and BTW, so far I've only searched SF Craigslist but 240 manuals are hard to find!!

Frankie

__________________
Frankie
It never ends!
1985 300D Turbo 181K Anthracite grey, "SOPHIA"
1984 300 SD Turbo(sold)
2004 Subaru Forester XT,Cayenne red.

[QUOTE= My mech told me yesterday, as my lovely car was idling on a mix of dino diesel and WVO 50/50 that he could hear that one of the injectors needed cleaning. Could that be a factor?
[/QUOTE]


Probably. Have you ever run diesel purge? Adjusting your valves and running some purge through will make a really big difference. Your 300sd should easily settle in at 75 or 80.

Shoot, that ^ was me. Darn family members don't sign out....

__________________
"spreading a trail of obnoxious where ever we go"
1981 300sd w/ 341,500 miles

http://www.wecrash.com/pics/ddda_banner.gif

Maybe it's a difference in perception but both my 300SDs were very relaxed and comfortable at 80 including runs from SJ to SF on 280. Mind you it sounds like you're in a B-17 but there's no reason to think engineers came up with the 85mph speedo. I don't recall how difficult it was to run up 92 but even the SDL needed to have its momentum up by Anza Blvd to not embarass itself. Speed limit is 55 there but you either go 70 in the left lane with a Range Rover riding your tail or 40 behind a semi in the right lane :/

If you want to test your SD, I know a guy who uses a measured stretch of Calaveras Blvd east of 680 as a baseline. He ended up with my 83 SD which just about edged his Silver State Classic 84 SD (SSC midpoint speed = 115mph!) on the same stretch. Not a race, different dates, different times of year, maybe the same stopwatch

Maybe you're sitting too far back and it's your ankle that has to work a little bit

Sixto
93 300SD

Ha ha, sitting has been adjusted quite a bit when I first bought the 300 SD. It still sits a bit low-rider despite the functioning power seat.
Where can I buy diesel purge, Auto zone? Kragen? Internet? I've heard of the "purge " but didn't think that I would need to use it yet.
This is fishy, I just had the valves adjusted two months ago!
Fuel pre filter is golden clear color with scant amount of fungi ?black speckles.
Now I am curious about getting to 80 EASILY.
Should I do diesel purge every 6-7,000 miles?
I am a little discouraged about the 240 D auto trans but I'd rather hear the truth/experiences from you guys before I go see it. It is on Craigslist, San Francisco, Oct. 23 butter colored (san Leandro), 123K miles, $4500.
It is too much to pay but I would do a trade with this guy. I also take the fuel econo in consideration. If I have to floor it all the time, there goes the economy as previously pointed out, but I will get the tired leg.
Frankie

__________________
Frankie
It never ends!
1985 300D Turbo 181K Anthracite grey, "SOPHIA"
1984 300 SD Turbo(sold)
2004 Subaru Forester XT,Cayenne red.