I'm in my 84' 300D with the knock and planning to pull the motor when I get back home in a couple weeks.

In the meantime i located an 81 300D automatic, at a good price. I am interested because I like the color and those style wheels. My questions are, because I'd have to drive far to take a look and don't want to waste my time,

Don't the 81 w123 automatic transmissions have issues, and/or 81 is a bad year for them?

How bad/slow is the naturally aspirated engine? I am only after reliability. Going fast is best done on 2 wheels with a v-twin engine.

I am correct to assume putting a turbo on the na engine is a bad idea and to never consider doing so?



As always, thanks for the input.

Atmo engines are "ok".
Yes, don't bother putting a turbo on an atmo engine.
You're welcome and good luck.

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83 SD

84 CD

I have a non turbo 1981 300D - I don't consider it to be a particularly slow car. However, it isn't a quick one by any stretch of the imagination.

I've read that the auto boxes on a 81 are problem children - apart from a strange occurrence of no drive after a transmission fluid change which I think I fixed by draining a bit and then refilling - I've had no trouble so far (touch wood).

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!