I peeked in the windows and it is most definately manual trans, and on the shifter it had a H pattern with 6 positions, 5 speeds + reverse. The hoods was open, and there was a 617.912, it also had the appropriate 300CD badging.

The only thing that worries me is being in california, and it being a non emissions vehicle, which could mean long drawn out proccess. However, my 78 came from a towing auction lien sale, and I have a real title for it. Wish me luck guys!

buy buy buy, then sell sell sell.

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Current
2006 E320 CDI, 57K bought at 67K "Liesl"
1986 190E 2.3-16, 198K bought at 56K "Brigitta"
1987 300TD (Chuggin Along), 292K "Friedrich"
1995 E320 Wagon, 200K "Louisa"

Past
1987 300SDL, (sold) 125K, bought for 1$ "Kurt"

I've bought many cars from Pick-A-Part and it's dead easy , don't wait .

Just to-day a Pick-A-Part put in the yard a 1981 280E W-123 Euro Sedan , grey market car , perfect paint and blue striped upholstery....

6 cylinder M110 DOHC screamer gasoline engine .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

Alright, time for an update. I went to visit the car again, it's still in the impound yard, so it wont be going anywhere, at least not now. The seats are leather, but looked cloth because they were covered in dust, lol. No myna pump on this one, and the trans is a four speed, the shift knob was warn so it looked like a 5. But, as soon as it's available, be sure that you all will know.

For the update Dan

I've bought P-A-P cars before and I know how nasty and filthy they are , doesn't dissuade me one bit .

It just takes a lot of hard work and determination (plus $ !) to see it through to fruition .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

Well, the car's on the lot now, so let me know what parts you guys want!

Dan told me where the car was but I was out of state and so they put it in the rows on the 50 % off sale ......

The yard goons trashed it used a cold chisel to rip the doors open and salvage the window lifts... broke the 1/4 windows to save time accessing other trims , used a crowbar to lever the ign. switch out just for the vacuum part , so forth & so on .

It's a ugly poop brown California Spec. 1980 year model (January 1980 build date) W-123 300CD with a well done conversion , rust free but had previous accident damage and was a total Barrio Bomber anyways , seats were MB- Tex and splitting open , cracked dahsboard , broken glovebox door etc. , etc.

I'd have cheerfully bought and rebuilt it as I like NA OM616 Coupes , a stickshift would be nice . top value on this old beater was maybe $1,000.00 ~ EVERYTHING cosmetic was rotted away . So. Cal. sunshine is rough .

it's too far gone now to be saved dammit .

All for a lousy $130.00 common as dirt manual tranny , I've posted up DOZENS of stick shift 240D's and NO ONE EVER takes the tranny.... this time the tranny was taken out but left behind all the pedal quadrant and shifter etc. so it'll never be used for a conversion .

What a waste , I wish I'da been within 500 miles , I'da saved it .

Hope springs eternal , if one showed up , maybe I'll find another one , Lord knows I find more junker 300CD's than I thought were still around .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

I was kinda pissed off when I saw the smashed windows, but it was me that took the tranny, I'll go back for the pedals and whatnot some other day so at least someone can make use of the driveshaft and flywheel. It also had significantly more dents than when it was still in impound, looked like a completely different car after it was put in the rows. I guess they figured it was a junker and they could get rid of it most easily during the sale.

If thats a 617 manual flywheel, I'll take it if you pick it up.

I have been led to belive the same flywheel is used on both 616 & 617 engines although they're balanced to the crankshaft .

I know many have simply bolted it on and had no vibraion issues .

Leaving this P-A-P and heading West on Lankersheim Bl. past the I-5 Fwy. then make the first left , will lead you to a treasure trove of manual tranny 240D's in the All Foreign U Pick U Pull yard there , commonly known as " Dos
Pendejos " (two idiots) ......

The crush several four speed trannies a week in there as NO ONE wants them .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

Nope. The 617 FW is significantly heavier.

Thats exactly why nobody wants them, they are a dime a dozen.

not the same, the 617 is 10 pounds heavier. if you see a manual 300D meant to be crushed by all means grab that flywheel. there are many here who are looking for one, myself included. I have people in Germany trying to find one for me, they are not having much luck either.

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1982 300CD Turbo (Otis, "ups & downs") parts for sale
2003 TJ with Hemi (to go anywhere, quickly) sold
2001 Excursion Powerstroke (to go dependably)
1970 Mustang 428SCJ (to go fast)
1962 Corvette LS1 (to go in style)
2001 Schwinn Grape Krate 10spd (if all else fails)

For the clarification ! .

Sadly , since my accident I cannot work or touch my tools so I cannot help you with this flywheel and I am sure Dan will be hot on it soon as this car is scheduled to be removed & crushed to-day or to-morrow.....

I only find a 300D stick car once or twice a year , same story , no one ever touches them as far as the tranny is concerned .

I know the 5 speed tranny from another Mercedes fit but I forget _what_ the other car is....? . elucidate please .

TIA ,

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

Rest assured, the flywheel is safely in my shed. I guess I've gone to u-pull-parts on the wrong days as I have not once seen a stick benzo there. I'll make another trip there tomorrow, it may still be there.

they arent a dime a dozen here either. i see one maybe 2 times a year in the yards. and Ive only ever seen two w123 and one was a gasser, mostly it is the early 70 late 60 versions with 4 speeds. I pulled the first 2 I saw to get the bell housing for a getrag swap. to be honest its hardly worth the effort to pull them to sell because it costs me around $250 to get the full kit from the yard and uses up my day at the yard. I have 80% of a kit right now so the most I would pull is a shifter and some small parts to finish the kit.

__________________

1982 300CD Turbo (Otis, "ups & downs") parts for sale
2003 TJ with Hemi (to go anywhere, quickly) sold
2001 Excursion Powerstroke (to go dependably)
1970 Mustang 428SCJ (to go fast)
1962 Corvette LS1 (to go in style)
2001 Schwinn Grape Krate 10spd (if all else fails)