Two essentially identical cars: 91 300D and 92 300D. Downside is that I notice small differences. The 92 seems to have a quicker response to the depression of the accelerator. With the 91, it seems that I have to depress the accelerator further for the boost to kick in (but not so far that the kickdown solenoid is activated....KS on both cars work fine). But, as long as the accelerator is sufficiently depressed, the acceleration is just fine. It just somehow FEELS less responsive because I have to push more.

So I'm curious: what governs the relationship between how far the pedal is pushed and quickly the car moves? Is there something that can be adjusted, or do I just chalk this up to idiosyncratic differences between the cars?

If it matters....the 91 has three pressure converters, the 92 has two (the updated design); I have replaced the pressure converters on the 92.

Thanks.

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 154k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 172k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

There are all sorts of things that can be different but I want to point out one that plagued me for weeks before I figured it out. I had a small crack in the stainless expansion collar on the two piece manifold. It was bleeding energy before the turbo making the car sluggish

Car to car variance is what gives them personalities. Drive the "slow" car when you're feeling relaxed. And drive the "fast" car when you want to get there in a hurry. You're lucky to have different vehicles for your various needs, in same superb Mercedes body type.

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Cheers!
Scott McPhee

1987 300D

That's a great perspective for me to adopt! I guess my tendency is to get curious about inconsequential things when I'm between repairs....if only these periods of idle curiosity could last longer....

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 154k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 172k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

"response to the accelerator" is related to two different conditions. first is the linkage, if it's worn/rusty (most linkage is plastic on the 124...) or the bushings are damaged, it will take more pedal pushing before the linkage actually moves the accelerator rod on the IP to give it fuel.
second, the IP itself has an aneroid for controlling the amount of fuel before boost kicks in, if it's out of adjustment, it'll affect the acceleration of the car.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Does the 124 have the engine bay "firewall thingy" like the 123? That might be a factor.

- Peter.

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2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

yes, both cars are fitted with a firewall, thankfully

(and fuel pedal linkage passes through each)

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Cheers!
Scott McPhee

1987 300D

FWIW I oberved the movement of the throttle cable while depressing the accelerator on both cars; seems to be exactly the same.

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 154k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 172k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

Another forum member via email suggested an ALDA adjustment....although I must confess I'm a bit frightened by the prospect of tinkering with the ALDA.

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 154k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 172k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

afraid of what?

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1996 s10 zr2 with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1996 c2500 suburban with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1981 300sd with a turbo 617
Monte carlo figure 8 car

Breaking the ALDA. Do a search for "ALDA" and you'll find some sad stories....

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 154k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 172k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

ir is painfully easy, if you break it your really doing some thing wrong

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1996 s10 zr2 with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1996 c2500 suburban with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1981 300sd with a turbo 617
Monte carlo figure 8 car

if the wastegate on the turbo isnt dailed in it'll take longer to spool the turbo(more throttle)

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1993 e300
1995 e320
1994 e320
2006 s500 4matic
2004 Jeep wj overland
2001 Ducati 748
2004 Honda shadow aero

ALDA. Every 60x enigine I've had needed an ALDA adjust, it's in the FSM for weak acceleration below 2500rpm as a fix, is fairly simple and yields excellent results.

Problem is, once you adjust the ALDA in the weaker car, you'll need to do it on the other car.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Just looking at the 'brass?' linkage on my '83 300SD, did something primal to me.
What a magnificent set of mechanical artistry to admire.