Apart from all the tweaks and servcing you can do, most of the work is done on yourself. You have to lose the 'petrolhead' approach to driving, and become all the more stately and considered about the vehicle. Its a bit Zen, I suppose, owning one of these. It is a utility vehicle, but a solid and comfortable one, it lasts a million miles, and the engineering is similarly utilitarian. It's not a Corvette Stingray, or for those nearer my country, it's not an XR3i. Having said that, once the thing has gathered the same speed as everything else, it's got the grunt of a buffalo, and you have to throw an anchor out of the window to slow it down - it's like a steam train.

Try again, but slow down and be philosophical about your vehicles.

Check your mail Anna!

When I first got my '83 300D, I thought the accelleration was ok, but nothing more. Then I did some research here, and some looking under the hood. My trouble was the bowden cable.. the trans. would shift into 2nd waaaay too early. ( it does start in first, unlike my 420 ), once up to speed, acceleration was not a problem, heck, it out to out accellerate you Taurus from 60-80 mph. One thing that caught my attention, is the rough shifting, a pronounced clunk is not the norm. Either vaccum modulator, or vacuum loss elsewhere is to blame. I would check all vacuum lines, and make sure they are in the right place. I am sure some one can tell you what color goes where, or can send you a diagram.
Although much heavier, your 300D has about the same HP as my '88 Cadillac, so it should take off for you just fine.

Dont give up!

Oh yeah, if you can still find one, you should be able to race a Chevette, and beat it.

-Larry

__________________
It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

Anna, Don't let your husband get away with the "I told you so's" Until you have had a chance to check into the advice you have gotten on this board. I'm being sincere in this. I have a 300TD-T ( that's a station wagon) It too is slow when my wife drives it, when my 15 y.o. daughter or I drive it this is NOT the case) I also have a 300D NON-Turbo that I drive daily. Think about this, 140 miles of start/stop driving every day. ( rural press route) Mostly on dirt roads, but I do have quite a bit of In-town (approx. 14 miles) I have to get on and off of a couple of major highways too. Although I am a hardcore dieselhead. (6 diesels in the driveway) I still know what I "can" expect out of them. I wouldn't try to run a drag race with my dually pickup, but it's NOT slow either. The other turbo diesel I have other than the wagon is a VW Jetta. I don't know of many gas cars that accelerate much faster than this car. 3rd gear 60mph just as fast as you can shift burning rubber and blowin'smoke! The 300D wont burn the tires, but it will definately get out of it's own way. Especially since I cleaned out around that kickdown solenoid under the floor mat! If I pull out of the driveway nice and easy and then floor it, I can take a ballcap off my head and put it in the back seat with both hands on the wheel. Unfortunaltely there is a stop sign two blocks from my house! I can still hit 40mph. and have plenty of time to stop. Just getting a MB tech. to look at your car (well meaning as he might be) does not render his decision "correct". You need someone who is familiar with diesels. I bought a VW diesel from a VW mechanic last summer who couldn't get the car to run, period. This despite installing a brand new crate engine with a new head, new inj. pump, new injectors etc. He had been a VW mech. for 40 years and couldn't make the thing go. I paid him $500 and towed it home. Half an hour later I was driving it down the road. My friend bought it from me and is still driving it daily. ( when his wife takes the MB away from him) My point is this not all MB, VW , or any techs for that matter know all there is to know about all models. They may well be familiar with all models, but they specialize in a certain area. Unless your tech is a diesel specialist....... 'nuff beatin' the dead horse. Just trust us, it can be fixed and you will love the car! More times than not it's something simple!

Ironically, today I drove it to work in a last ditch effort to like it. I finally figured out that if you drive it just right it accelerates fine and shifts not that bad. You guys were right, you have to drive it differently. I knew that but I just couldn't figure out how from reading. This morning it just figured it out and I actually liked driving it. It's not a Saab, but it has respectable pep. Even my husband admitted that it doesn't seem so bad now. I kind of like having a car that he can't figure out how to drive. That would mean no more readjusting the seats!

Someone in Alaska bought it today. I'll believe it when I get the money. I wonder how much it's going to cost him to ship it. If that deal falls through I just might keep it.

I read on this board that driving short distances in a diesel is bad for the engine. Is that true? Why is that? Is there a way to compensate for that, changing the oil more often, etc? I drive 9 miles to work every day and I think that's probably not good for the engine.

Also, how do you guys know all this stuff? Seriously, I know that sounds like a dumb question but it seems like there is sooo much to know.

Oh, and there is no tilt wheel. What a crock.

By doing exactly what you're doing now, Anna!

Duh! What an idiot I feel like. Anna, I emailed you about your auction, twice! I was half trying to talk you into keeping your car, I think I mentioned a sound shield for the noise, and the ease of maint. compared to a gasser etc. Last night (late) I tried to show your car to my buddy and it wasn't there. I told him what a great deal he had missed out on. That truly is a gem! Hope it all works out for the best whether it moves to Alaska or stays where it is :~) Tom

Anna,

I saw the posts regarding short hops. This is probably urban legend.

Short hops are not good for a diesel engine, but what they did not point out is that short hops are not good for ANY engine.

If you drive short hops, change your oil based on time, not mileage. If you drive really short hops, like three miles at a time, particularly in cold weather, change your oil about every four months.

For a diesel, you overcome the problem described by the original poster of this fear, by using what is called "universal grade" oil. These oils are developed and blended specifically for diesel engines. They are what the truckers use. There are several that fall in this category: Chevron Delo, Mobil Delvac and Shell Rotella T. These oils have soot dispersants that prevent damage from excessive soot build up in the oil.

If you will use a universal grade, and change oil every 3,000 miles or 4 months, whichever comes first, and drain the oil when it's hot, this engine will last virtually forever.

Good luck,

Hi Anna....As Peter said...find a good mechanic and one you can trust and go slow in your learning process.....They are well worth all the frustration you may have. There is NOTHING like a MB desiel!....And you have one of the best years....Good luck...
Jon

This thread was dormant for a year. Anna is long gone.

__________________
Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



TRUMP .......... WHITEHOUSE
HILLARY .........JAILHOUSE
BERNIE .......... NUTHOUSE
0BAMA .......... OUTHOUSE

AnnaT,

Definitely don't give up. Follow Larry's and psfred advice and get a mech who knows these older cars. As all these guys know, I've switched all our 123s over to 4 speed manual transmissions but this week I was driving a wagon that I'm thinking about buying and it was a auto tranny. When my son and I drove onto the freeway it acclerated so fast that both of us looked at each other and wondered what had been done to the car. It obviously had been set up right.

Just purchase a 1983 280CE with a 5 speed manual tranny today, so now we'll see how these turbos really perform. Anybody looking for good 280CE parts might want to contact me as I'm parting it out. It's a grey market car and won't smog in CA.

Anna, adjust it right and you'll never be satisfied with any other car----last of the good Mercedes!

Ben
www.reproduce100s.com

wow the eyes aren't what they used to be!

must be getting old..

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1984 300D Turbo - 231k....totalled 11/30/07 RIP

Paul, this just goes to show that Diesel Heads are just like their cars... long lived and never give up .... long past when the " facts " change....

Greg, Yes, we're kinda like the dinasoars we drive.

__________________
Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



TRUMP .......... WHITEHOUSE
HILLARY .........JAILHOUSE
BERNIE .......... NUTHOUSE
0BAMA .......... OUTHOUSE