W115 engine in W123 & other history - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

katja · #1 11-15-2006, 12:32 PM

I thought I remember seeing an older-style pull-start/manual shut off setup in a W123 in Germany - and this video shows exactly that - and I don't think it's a retrofit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1Ska3Eq1YU

It appears to have the same style of intake & IP as my 1976 240D, with an oil bath air filter. It even sounds the same (the one in the video is unfortunately pretty beat up & rusty though).

I seem to remember reading something about that the W123 was introduced in 1975, but in the U.S., we started getting them in 1977, and all of the US models had vacuum shut-off/key start, paper air filter and an injection pump that you didn't have to manually add oil to.

I also know that there are 200D and 220D W123 models in Europe & elsewhere in the world, and have seen a 200D imported here, but the engine setup looked more like a newer W123 240D than a W115 220D.

So what year did Mercedes stop making the older-style 4-cylinder engines that were used in the W115 cars?

In other history - IIRC, the OM617 turbodiesel was first built in 1976 and put in the W116 300SD starting in 1978 - and didn't appear in the 300D until 1982 - but in Europe & elsewhere, the 300D's all had a normally aspirated 617? Was the OM617 manufactured after 1985 for anything?

Other than the cloth seats, shorter bumpers, lack of the "DIESEL" badge on the right side of the trunk, the headlights, manual heating controls, manual transmission option, and lack of a radiator expansion tank, were there other differences between the Euro/international & U.S. model W123's? Any unusual models anyone has seen?

-AC

R Leo · #2 11-15-2006, 12:52 PM

FWIW, forum member JimmyL has an early model 123 (1977?) 300D with the older, OM617.910 oil filter configuration.

Something else to consider is that in the mid 1970s in most of the world, diesel Mercedes were generally percieved as utilitarian vehicles while in the USA, they were beginning to be positioned as a luxury product, loaded with features such as remote door locks, power windows and climate control. The gorilla (pull-to-start, push-to-stop) knob is more closely associated with agricultural implements and not with a $20,000+ vehicle, targeted to the white-bread, American, key-turning, Cadillac/Lincoln crowd.

Kjell · #3 11-15-2006, 01:00 PM

As far as i know, euro 123s newer had "push-pull" starter. Actually, last year of euro 115 (-75) had an "240 3.0" (first om617 in europe) with vacuum on/off. Also, very few euro turbodiesels have EGR at all. In Sweden, (where i live) never had EGR on the diesel.

Edit: Also there is very few cars with "behind steeringwheel" gearselector for automatic cars, dunno if they are common in in US?

/ Kjell

Rashakor · #4 11-15-2006, 07:56 PM

only us spex cars have EGR valves.

All of 1st release W123 diesel (200d, 220d and 240d up to 1980) have the stop push knob.

t walgamuth · #5 11-15-2006, 08:34 PM

that doesnt sound right.

my 78 240 didnt have a gorilla knob.

or did i misunderstand?

tom w

Rashakor · #6 11-15-2006, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

that doesnt sound right.

my 78 240 didnt have a gorilla knob.

or did i misunderstand?

tom w

oops i forgot the euro word in my generalization

JimmyL · #7 11-15-2006, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

that doesnt sound right.

my 78 240 didnt have a gorilla knob.

or did i misunderstand?

tom w

I took that to mean the kill button on the IP because otherwise it was so wrong.......

#8 11-15-2006, 09:46 PM

The 200D was pretty primitive in features and was basically a transplanted W115. Unfortunately (or fortunately) the USA was never offered the 200D.

Notice in the video that the engine has the later style oil filter housing.

"Adding comments have been disabled for this video."
I wonder why?

Check out this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkxWt1mJ28M&mode=related&search=