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#1
12-28-2011, 12:57 PM
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Any special considerations for towing a W123?
I need to have my 82 300D towed to a local shop for some brake work later this week. The towing company is not related to the repair shop. Anything I should be aware of, other than ensuring they send a flatbed truck?
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05 E320 CDI - 185K miles 82 300D - 200K miles (sold) 
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#2
12-28-2011, 01:00 PM
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Just make sure you tow it from the front, not the back. Gear selector in Neutral and keep the speed down around 45. Should tow just fine.
__________________
Mountain Aggie (Temporarily back in Texas) 1972 220D 1983 300CDT 1984 300CDT in restoration 1984 380SL (Dad's favorite ride) 1985 300CDT Federal 1985 300CDT Cali (now the parts car after a mishap)
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#3
12-28-2011, 01:06 PM
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Flat bed is the best, otherwise the best way is to remove the driveshaft from the differential and tow it by the front.
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Andrew '04 Jetta TDI Wagon  '82 300TD ~ Winnie ~ Sold '77 300D ~ Sold
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#4
12-28-2011, 01:17 PM
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If the engine runs, they can tow it on the back wheels without removing the driveshaft if the engine is running in neutral to keep the transmission fluid cool.
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1977 300d 70k--sold 08 1985 300TD 185k+ 1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03 1985 409d 65k--sold 06 1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car 1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11 1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper 1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4 1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13
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#5
12-28-2011, 05:05 PM
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As a former tow truck operator I would tow it from the rear and lock the steering wheel. Should be a simple tow. I don't like flatbeds at all, especially for something like a W123 car as there is little solid to hook to safely underneath.
__________________
Own: 1970 Mercedes 250c, 1976 International Scout II, 1982 Mercedes 240d, 1997 Honda Accord Wagon, 1998 Acura Integra Type-R, 2009 Mazda5. Owned: 1974 International 100 pickup, 1975 International Scout II, 1981 Mercedes 240d, 1985 Mercedes 300SD, 1988 Honda Accord, 1988 Ford Thunderbird, 1991 Honda Accord, 1996 Geo Metro, 1996 Ford F150, 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan, 1997 Honda Accord, 2003 Acura TL-S, 2003 Yamaha V-star.
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#6
12-28-2011, 08:00 PM
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Quote:
auto transmissions need to be kept below 25mph for towing, and limit to 3 miles at that speed... if needed to tow on the ground faster or further, the engine must be running, or the driveshaft needs to be disconnected. Even Manual transmission MB's need the engine running to ensure the output shaft bearing does not seize!!! Flat bed/trailer is the best!
__________________
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 560SL convertible 1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!  1987 300TD 2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB 1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!
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#7
12-28-2011, 08:32 PM
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If you use a car dolly, and decide to tow it from the rear, do not exceed 40-45mph. I've towed over 30 W123 and W126's VERY long distances. If I'm forced to tow backwards, I ratchet strap the steering wheel to both front seat frames to ensure the wheel stays locked. If you exceed 45MPH, the weight in the front of the car from the engine coupled with the likely play in the front end will combine to cause the car to violently sway. Like others have said, always best to trailer, if not, tow forward with the driveshaft removed, and last resort as I've described.
Be careful.
__________________
1987 300SDL #1, 1987 300SDL #2, 1980 240D, 1982 300SD, 1994 S350, 1990 350SDL, 1991 350SD, 1985 300D, 2005 E320CDI Gone, but not forgotten: 1981 300SD, 1982 300SD, 1987 300SDL, 1983 300TD, 1980 300CD, 1981 300SD #2, 1987 300D, 1987 300TDT, 1980 300D
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#8
12-28-2011, 08:40 PM
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Quote:
 SERIOUSLY DO NOT TOW THIS WAY ABOVE 40MPH!!!!! and do not tow this way unless your tow vehicle is at LEAST 4500LBS!!!! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!
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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 560SL convertible 1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!! 1987 300TD 2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB 1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!
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#9
12-28-2011, 09:06 PM
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Even Manual transmission MB's need the engine running to ensure the output shaft bearing does not seize!!!
VS tech, please explain how running the engine in a manual tranny car with the gearbox in neutral will have any impact on the output bearing. 
__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual. [SIGPIC]..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.
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#10
12-28-2011, 11:26 PM
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the output shaft has little to slury the oil in the gearbox, and will burn the output shaft bearing if the input shaft is not spinning to sling the oil around the case...
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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 560SL convertible 1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!! 1987 300TD 2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB 1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!
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#11
12-28-2011, 11:34 PM
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Well I flat towed my 72 220d on several vacations behind a motor home with no noticed ill effect.
And I flat towed my newly acquired 82 240d from Davenport florida to Lafayete Indiana about 1300 miles. I hope you are wrong about this. I just checked my owners manuals for: 1. 123 240d 2. 126 500Sec Both gave very specific instructions about towing a car with automatic.....up to 75 miles under 30 mph, but recommended to be sure to unhook the ds. No mention of towing a stick equipped car was made.
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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual. [SIGPIC]..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis. Last edited by t walgamuth; 12-28-2011 at 11:57 PM.
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#12
12-29-2011, 07:36 AM
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well that is certainly good news.
Prior to this forum, I've always understood manual equipped vehicles could be towed indefinitely at speed in neutral, but it's been posted repeatedly that the MB manual with it's thin gear oil (30W, or ATF...) is thin, and needs constant input shaft rotation to lube the output shaft bearings.
__________________
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 560SL convertible 1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!! 1987 300TD 2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB 1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!
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#13
12-29-2011, 07:36 AM
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well that is certainly good news.
Prior to this forum, I've always understood manual equipped vehicles could be towed indefinitely at speed in neutral, but it's been posted repeatedly that the MB manual with it's thin gear oil (30W, or ATF...) is thin, and needs constant input shaft rotation to lube the output shaft bearings.
__________________
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 560SL convertible 1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!! 1987 300TD 2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB 1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!
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#14
12-29-2011, 07:17 PM
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I understand that there is a secondary pump in the transmission that will allow you to push or pull start W123 or W126 vehicles. If a car is towed with the rear wheels on the ground the transmission secondary pump will start to rotate the transmission and then engine. If you are going to tow one of these cars be prepared to also buy a transmission. The only safe way to tow one of these vehicles with the rear wheels on the ground is to remove the rear drive shaft from the differential flex disk and tie up the drive shaft. I tow-dolly'd a W126 from Northern Texas to the Detroit metro area this way.
I understand that later W126 models did not have the rear transmission pump and that you could not pull / push start the car with the automatic trans So either remove the axle from the rear flex disk or flat bed it!
__________________
Pete Williams, President emeritus - MBCA-International Stars (Eastern Mich.) Now Wi. & Az. 1985 300D Manual 4 speed Green Hen's tooth 1979 MGB triple black Az car nice 1969 back 1/2 of MGB (Az home built trailer) 1991 Volvo 245 Wagon Nice AZ Restored Gold Brick 1983 Jeep CJ7 37,600 Miles Summer use only
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#15
12-29-2011, 07:42 PM
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Quote:
__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual. [SIGPIC]..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.
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