Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Diesel Discussion

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #16  
Old 01-12-2009, 06:37 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Reno/Sparks, NV
Posts: 3,063
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cr from Texas View Post
What conditions could ever lead to the system being pressurized when cold?
As awsrock says. Familiarize yourself with the cold radiator hose squeeze test.

__________________
2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 01-12-2009, 06:46 PM
johnathan1's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Downey, SoCal
Posts: 1,190
In my opinion?

126 117

hehe
__________________
Current cars:
2000 ML55 AMG, 174k miles
2003 C240 T-Modell, 202k miles
1995 S320, 207k Miles
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 01-12-2009, 07:28 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Alexandria, Virginia
Posts: 5,480
Two Summers ago, I pondered this matter when an '86 300D came up for sale in my neighborhood. That straight-six was a pleasure compared to my throbby 240D, but along with the six-cylinder 300D's potential for head problems, the suspension on this car felt squirelly, and under the crappy repaint lurked alot of rust, so I passed.

I prefer to keep my old cars as simple as possible, and still believe a manual 240D is hard to beat for simpliciy and relability, if you can live with it's (by today's standards) primitiveness.

Otherwise, if you can find a decent one, you might consider a Euro manual-shift W123 300D/TD. Though it has a stiffer ride than my automatic 240D, in terms of engine-smoothness, performance AND fuel mileage, my '84 Euro 5-speed 300TD is a big improvement over my 240D, while retaining the 240D's simplicity with it's manual climate-controls, manual windows, and lack of underhood turbo-clutter.
If you don't need the cargo-room, a manual Euro 300D sedan might give a better ride, without the added complication of the wagon's automatic-leveling rear-suspension.

Happy Motoring, Mark
__________________
DrDKW

Last edited by Mark DiSilvestro; 01-12-2009 at 07:36 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 01-12-2009, 07:39 PM
LAbioCars.com's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Los angeles california
Posts: 86
Quote:
Originally Posted by centroid1 View Post
That was the car I had, GREAT CAR ! Just looking to see if its worth trying out something different.



Has it been reliable for you ? Costly to maintain ?



Good to know. That's exactly the info I was looking for. I'll do some searches on that model.

it costs less then a w123
no valve adjust needed
__________________
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-Z8X_r_l_M

79 300d "baby blue nose" (sold)
87 e300d (om603) "billy" (sold)
94 e300d (om606) "mcrae" (sold)
84 300td (om617) "mom"
82 300cd (om617) "whitey"
84 300sd (om617) "benzo valdez"
87 300sdl (om603) "chip"
90 e300d (om 602) "bev"
69 280c (om603 swap) "rommel"
74 internationl scout II (om617) "scout"
64 impala (4bt) "homie"
57 chevy apache (7.3 psd) "goldie"
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 01-12-2009, 08:49 PM
Jeremy5848's Avatar
Registered Biodiesel User
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Sonoma Wine Country
Posts: 8,402
My current preference is for the '87 300D Turbo (W124). If you get one with a good engine to begin with and don't overheat it (thus risking a cracked head), it should be reliable, perhaps as reliable as the OM617 (but opinions vary!). The advantages (IMHO) over the OM617/W123 are – better suspension; stronger, smoother, quieter engine with hydraulic valves so no valve adjusting; better fuel economy (not all will agree with the last); driver's airbag. Differences (not necessarily better or worse) – more modern appearance; power seats; sun-roof includes pop-up feature. Disadvantages – alloy head susceptible to cracking if you seriously overheat the engine.

The early W124 chassis is barely more electronic than the late W123s, an advantage over later W124s. The electronic diesel system (EDS) governs only idle speed so you can defeat EGR without getting a rash of Check Engine Lights (especially since it doesn't have one). The '87 has some non-critical electronic items like a lamp-failure monitor and a better door locking system that doesn't depend on engine vacuum. I can look at my '87 and see the things that carry over from the '85 W123 cars. Most of the things that were added when they invented the W124 are things that I would have liked to have had on my 1985 300D-T.

Probably the biggest problem acquiring a nice '87 300D Turbo is that they were a one-model-year car; it's getting harder and harder to find nice ones.

Jeremy
__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 01-12-2009, 11:06 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 144
Quote:
Originally Posted by johnathan1 View Post
In my opinion?

126 117

hehe
As I understand it, everything is the same on the 81-85 300SD as the 300D except for the longer chassis, right ?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark DiSilvestro View Post

Otherwise, if you can find a decent one, you might consider a Euro manual-shift W123 300D/TD.
Mark, isn't that a really rare car to find ? Parts available ?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeremy5848 View Post
it's getting harder and harder to find nice ones.

Jeremy
Maybe you should just sell yours !
__________________
1982 240D 4spd 232k (deceased)
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 01-12-2009, 11:38 PM
johnathan1's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Downey, SoCal
Posts: 1,190
I was referring to the 86-91 560SEL with the 5.6L V8 engine. The 300SD and 300D are completely different cars.
__________________
Current cars:
2000 ML55 AMG, 174k miles
2003 C240 T-Modell, 202k miles
1995 S320, 207k Miles
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 01-12-2009, 11:53 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Alexandria, Virginia
Posts: 5,480
Quote:
Originally Posted by centroid1 View Post

Mark, isn't that a really rare car to find ? Parts available?
Well, I believe the 5-speeds are pretty rare, the 4-speeds less so, as I see them on eBay every so often. There are also a number of 300Ds with transplanted 240D manual flywheels & trannys, though I don't know how successful those conversions are.
However, with the manual on my wagon, I really don't miss a turbo.
Or, as a friend once told me "These cars feel 500 pounds lighter with a stickshift!"

As for parts, generally thery're availible, though some detective work may be in order occasionally.
For example, I needed a radiator in a hurry for this car, and found one locally after first inspecting a replacement '84 TD radiator for a USA model that was totally wrong (all '84 US D/TDs were turbo, with a remote coolant tank) I was then able to order the right one, same day delivery, for a pre-'81 non-turbo 300TD that fit my '84 Euro TD perfectly.
My regular parts sources say that, with the VIN, they should be able to order anything I would need if it's still availible. I could have ordered the radiator that way and saved some on the price, but it would have taken several days and I needed it back together by the following morning.
Otherwise, the only Euro parts that might be harder to get might be the original headlights and bumpers, but all that has been changed to US-spec on my car.

I must admit that I was really tempted to buy that '86 300D, but the same flaws I was willing to deal with on my $225 240D, I wasn't willing to accept on a car that was being sold for over ten times as much.
Plus, some on this Forum said I shoudn't expect much of an MPG improvement over my 240D

Happy Motoring, Mark
__________________
DrDKW

Last edited by Mark DiSilvestro; 01-13-2009 at 12:04 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 01-13-2009, 02:48 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Reno/Sparks, NV
Posts: 3,063
Quote:
Originally Posted by centroid1 View Post
As I understand it, everything is the same on the 81-85 300SD as the 300D except for the longer chassis, right
Same engine & transmission, different chassis. The '85 models have a taller final drive ratio for more pleasant highway cruising. Personally I like the post-85 models more as those have rear headrests and air recirculation, not to mention more efficient engines and better refinement. The older ones are just too primitive for my evolved taste, though I do have some good memories of them.
__________________
2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 01-13-2009, 08:54 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Jasper,AL
Posts: 89
81-85 300 SD. A little more room than a 123, and much quieter inside at highway speeds. It does have power seats that can be a problem if they quit working, but having manual lever controlled dash vents instead of the vacuum stuff on the 123's

__________________
Mike
1983 Mercedes-Benz 300SD 270K
1960 Ford F250 62K
1990 Mazda Miata 156k

The thing is Bob, it's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:31 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2018 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page