Anyone out there been here before? I am looking for a Merc diesel to have as our family car. Wife + 2 kids.

I want to stick with a W123, but am undecided between the 240D and the 300D (NA or Turbo).

Thoughts?

get a 300 turbo with that much weight the 240 would be so slow it would be scary, especially up hills. if you live in a hilly area or drive in hilly areas now and then get the 300 turbo.

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http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s...titled-1-3.jpg
1981 300d

Agreed, the turbo is just more enjoyable to drive long distances. Also You don't have to rev it to 4500 RPM in town like the 240D either, the 300D turbo will be very happy to shift at 2000-2500 rpm and be pretty peppy too.

The 240 is easier to work on and less complex, so if you want that more than you want extra power and driveability, by all means go for the 240.

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

With a wife and 2, I think I would be looking more @ 300TD's

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81 Mercedes 300SD 289k.......SOLD
82 Mercedes 300CD 252k......slow ride

82 mercedes 300 SD...mi Unknown
83 Mercedes 300D ????ksniff..gone too
84 Mercedes 300D 148k........SOLD
85 Mercedes 300TD 386k and holding some one elses project

I am just concerned about the automatic transmissions in the 300D's. What are your experiences?

How difficult is a manual tranny swap?

I have never done the swap
The trans are much more durable then most folks think. The big problem is not having them properly set up to begin with, That and mechanics that do not understand an MB trans. and condemn them for minor problems.

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81 Mercedes 300SD 289k.......SOLD
82 Mercedes 300CD 252k......slow ride

82 mercedes 300 SD...mi Unknown
83 Mercedes 300D ????ksniff..gone too
84 Mercedes 300D 148k........SOLD
85 Mercedes 300TD 386k and holding some one elses project

totally agree. the autos in these cars are pretty good i wont say bullet proof but pretty close. these trannys have been known to have been dropped in park or reverse going at a pretty good speed and still be able to drive away. how many other cars can you say do that. if you have a mechanic that knows these cars than you will have no problem at all. if you have questions about it just ask all of us and we can try to help you out.

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http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s...titled-1-3.jpg
1981 300d

If you find a car that shifts "hard" (very common) dont let that detour you, it is 95% probably just a vacuum leak in a hose somewhere. If you find a car that slips, then Idk forget it.

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1981 300SD 512k OM603

I don't know about that.
I bought a car in New Orleans that had a "BAD TRANNY".
PO said the tranny had been slipping for awhile then came a big bang....then now more movement.
sold as is for $600. Nice rust free 300D with 148k on the clock

The bang was a seperated half shaft
The slipping was nothing more than a bent bracket for the bowden cable.
I sold the car and got $3500.......still going today

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81 Mercedes 300SD 289k.......SOLD
82 Mercedes 300CD 252k......slow ride

82 mercedes 300 SD...mi Unknown
83 Mercedes 300D ????ksniff..gone too
84 Mercedes 300D 148k........SOLD
85 Mercedes 300TD 386k and holding some one elses project

All the above is true. the Automatics are very very durable and often the trouble is just something minor. They do eventually often fail, though and a stick swap is a pretty straightforward deal.

I had one done on my 82 300cd. Taking off is a little tricky with the tall rear end gear ratio but would be perfect with a 346 rear end gear ratio swap.

We are satisfied with the stock rear end (307) but our car is a coupe which is about 200# lighter than a wagon. The stick tranny will probably give another 150 to 200K miles of faithful service.

The cost of a stick setup is probably around $500 for the parts. I had my indie do it...they charged me about$700 labor including 175 for the lengthening of my front driveshaft. That is pretty competitive with a tranny rebuild and less likely to cause trouble, IMHO.

I also prefer driving a stick.

I have a thread posted here with a comprehensive description of the swap and the results of it.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

We just replaced my wife's Jeep Cherokee (not Grand Cherokee) with a 300TD. We have 1 son (1.5 years old). The back seat is much bigger than the cherokee, and we have 2x the cargo space. The car feels HUGE inside compared to my 240D daily driver, even though the chassis is the exact same size.

The turbo is really nice and makes for a quieter smoother ride with the family in the car.

My vote is for the 300TD. Really great family cars - if you find one with a rear 3rd row seat, you have a car that hold 7 people for those soccer practices

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Current Mercedes
1979 maple yellow 240D 4-speed

Gone and fondly remembered:
1980 orient red 240D 4-speed

Gone and NOT fondly remembered:
1982 Chna Blue 300TD

Other car in the stable:
2013 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI / 6-speed MT

Okay, I have a wife and 2 kids....ages 4 & 9 who have feet that like to touch the back of the seat. Well the 9 year old has learned (most of the time), but the 4 year old. We have about 600,000 more times of reminding to do.

So, the 300SDL solved this issue. They can't reach the back of the front seat.

And the 9 year old did not like the 300D........the car sways around too much (jerky, agressive daddy driver), but the 4 year old LOVES to go fast in the 300D.

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daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
Cluster Needles Paint
New Old Stock (NOS) parts

Past:
3/2008 1986 300SDL "Coda"
04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more

Definitely lean toward something with the turbo. I have owned both a 240D with the 4-speed, and a 300D non turbo with the automatic transmission. With the 240 you might as well measure accelration with a calender. The 300 was only marginally better. I didn't realize how much difference the turbo made until I bought my current 300SD. Not a neck snapper of course, but a NOTICEABLE difference. Like one of the other posts mentioned, with the wife and 2 children, the 126 or the TD wagon would both warrant consideration.