and need something to do. Ive searched the forums and cant find a thread that answers my question. Found some that talk about the subject but include later model cars in the discussion. I want to confine my choices to something I can pay cash for.

What is the best combo on a 70s/80s diesel Mercedes. Factors for determining BEST are reliability/longevity/MPG.

I know a trubo 5 is reliable but only gets good mileage if I can stay out of the turbo. A NA 5 is better but if I stay IN the throttle all the time isn't it diminishing return.

5cyl turbo and auto?
5cyl na and auto?
5cyl na and 4 speed
4cyl na and auto
4cyl na and 4 speed
4cyl na and 5 speed (euro)
.................even custom combinations like 5cyl turbo and manual.

Im looking to buy two. Hoping to ditch all my cars and car payments and and create a smaller signature in the financial wind. Starting my own business soon... good bit of road travel too, so I figured a diesel MB and this forum would be my best option.

Thanks.....

__________________
There's a port on a western bay
And it serves a hundred ships a day
Lonely sailors pass the time away
And talk about their homes

If you know the melody.... please.... hum along...

And there's a girl, in this harbor town
And she works, laying whiskey down
They say "Brandy, fetch another round"
She serves them whiskey and wine

Here comes the chorus..... everybody...

The sailors say "Brandy, you're a fine girl
What a good wife you would be
Yeah your eyes could steal a sailor
From the sea."

6 cyl turbo and auto. The small difference in mpg (have both) is negligible for the extra power and lower RPM at highway speeds.

__________________
BENZ THERE DONE THAThttp://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...c/progress.gif
15 VW Passat TDI
00 E420
98 E300 DT
97 E420 Donor Car - NEED PARTS? PM ME!
97 S500
97 E300D
86 Holden Jackaroo Turbo D
86 300SDL
(o\|/o)

I had heard bad things about the 6cyl. Are they more problematic than other engines from the 70s/80s?

How did you come across a Holden Jackaroo?

__________________
There's a port on a western bay
And it serves a hundred ships a day
Lonely sailors pass the time away
And talk about their homes

If you know the melody.... please.... hum along...

And there's a girl, in this harbor town
And she works, laying whiskey down
They say "Brandy, fetch another round"
She serves them whiskey and wine

Here comes the chorus..... everybody...

The sailors say "Brandy, you're a fine girl
What a good wife you would be
Yeah your eyes could steal a sailor
From the sea."

I've owned a 300D (non turbo) auto, a 240D stick, and a 300D 2.5 auto. I loved the 2.5, it was a good combo of go and economy. For economy I'd have to say the 240D stick is the best bet. IMO

__________________
62 220sb
67 250S
72 280SE 4.5
74 280C
77 300D
82 240D
85 190E 2.3
86 300E RIP 12/28/09
85 300SD
92 300D 2.5
00 E320 Current
Over 1,000,000 miles in Benzes, Since66

....and a whole passel of BMW 2002 and Tii

Oh god a southern "democrat". Hillary hater and Fred supporter. I like Fred but hes is so anti gay it makes me think he is gay lol....


I have or have had :
300D Turbo 4Spd
300TD NA Auto
300D NA Euro

I have also driven a 240D stick and auto both.

If you get a 300D I suggest the 85, came out with 2.88 rear diff which is much nicer on the highway. The NA's are great lots of off the line torque and plenty of power all the way up. I am a big fan of the Turbo+Manual mating. It not as fast as the automatics but I like to control what gear I am in. I have yet to drive a W124 300D 2.5 but I hear fantastic things about those. However one overheat and you will need a new head.

I would say for long distance travelling the 85 300D is the best bet unless you go into SD territory. The biggest down fall on the NA's is that one belt drives all the important stuff. These diesels can run without juice but they cant run without a fan. The Turbo has two belts for redundancy.

__________________
http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

I hope everybody doesn't follow your lead and add every car they have sold to their signatures. Unnecessary for sure. We enjoy having you around, but don't care what you "used" to own.
It is OK if you have only one, and it used to smoke......


Holden Jackaroo

http://editorial.carsales.com.au/car-review/ce7187.aspx

__________________
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

My user name says it all

The 90-93 124 diesels are reliable and fuel efficient, and aren't too slow either. Expect 28-30mpg city, 32 highway. The acceleration is very similar to the turbo 617, but with a smaller engine. No head cracking problems like the 603. I believe there was a timing chain issue, but it doesn't manifest itself nearly as often as the 603 problems. The only issue on the 124.128 model is the computer controls of the EGR and turbo wastegate. If it detects a problem in the system anywhere, you're left without boost and 18+ second 0-60 times. Other than that, you're left with the usual 124 quirks. The '90+ 124's have the minor exterior styling updates the 87 does not. The 124 also has a bunch of the little conveniences, comforts, and equipment that most modern cars have that the 123 lacks, like airbags, ABS, etc.

The 124 was also made with the NA 606 engine in 1995. The power and performance is similar to the turbo 602. The 95 did get the 124 facelift along with the new naming (E300D). Watch out for stuck glowplugs in the 606.

__________________
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

I find that when I get a new-to-me MB Diesel home, my wife can count on me not being available for the next half year. There's that much to do even on a well maintained car and even more to learn. Unless the business you're starting will get by on 4 hours a day, get a late model Honda.

Older MB Diesels are simpler and more robust but they're also older. Things that are starting to wear on 80s/90s MBs are well past worn on 70s/80s MBs.

Every older MB Diesel is a wonderful car but none is an appliance.

Sixto
87 300D