Another new at this type question. I bought a 1980 300CD and drove it to Western North Carolina from Orlando,FL and now it is running kind of rough when idling and taking off but once you get up to 55mph it seems to run good. I've read other threads about turning the dampner bolt? Sounds like a good thing to do because everyone usually gets results but where is it? I have changed both fuel filters, run ATF in my fuel coming up the road, the air filter is almost new and should be getting some Diesel Purge soon.
HELP!!!!!!!
Thanks for all the info and help,
WNCMAN

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1976 300D 99K ORIGINAL MILES BLACK/BLACK
1983 240d 226K MILES BLUE/BLUE
1984 300CD 272K MILES WHITE/BLUE
LOOKING FOR MORE!!

Does an NA have a rack dampener bolt? I'm pretty sure the 616 doesn't.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Well I had a long post typed out explaining where it was then I tried to link to the Fastlane page for the rack damper for his model but they don't list it for that car. I was going to say that NA's probably did have it because they're still 5 cylinder engines but I guess not.

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Seth

1984 300D 225K
1985 300D Donor body
1985 300D Turbo 165K. Totaled. Donor Engine. It runs!!!
1980 300SD 311K My New Baby.
1979 BMW 633csi 62K+++? Dead odo

Same here, except mine smooths out just a little above idle and runs great above idle. I have come to the conclusion that there is no rack dampner bolt on the normally aspirated and figure the rough idle is the nature of the 5-cylinder. I also figured the bolt was an improvement in the turbo models to fix this idle problem. I have read somewhere that engine shocks were installed in mid production, and retrofitted to previous years, to try and smooth out the idle and quiet owner complaints. I usually tweak the idle adjuster knob on the dash to find the sweet spot for a smooth idle, which seems to change every time I drive it.