How about 300 Turbo transplanted into a 240D chassis?
 

Hi guys,

I'm looking at a 240D chassis that has had a 300 Turbo shoehorned into it. The guy runs a mercedes shop, and it looks like it is properly done.

What are the pros and cons of such a setup?

Thanks much,

PE

Pros:
More Power

Cons:
Increased Fuel Consumption
Heavier
Increased Maintenance Costs
Idle Roughness (most 617 turbos idle rougher than N/A counterparts)

I disagree on two of these opinions.
1. The fuel consumed will be virtually unchanged providing you use the stick transmission and change to at least the 307 rear diff gear.
2. The idle motion on a turbo motor is the same as a non turbo. Hmmmmm....perhaps the pistons and rods are heavier on the turbo motor and that would make it idle rougher (?). Certainly not offensive though.

I have an 83 240d which we swapped in a 300 euro diesel. This one is NA and has the heavy 300 flywheel. It is so smooth that you would swear it is a six cylinder.

I also have an 82 300CD which has been converted to stick using the lighter 240 fw. It works fine but the lighter fw results in the engine speed dropping quicker between gears and it is tougher to make smooth gear changes.

I believe with the 240 fw it idles smoother than with an automatic tranny with is very light fw.

I was purely comparing apples to apples (not counting transmissions, etc...), I also have a 617 Turbo with a 4-spd shoehorned into my 300CD which originally had a NA engine. I wouldn't give it up for nothing!

However, typically most 617 Turbo engines shake more/idle rougher than their NA counterparts. I know there are items you can do maintenance-wise, but NA engines don't seem to suffer from this as often.

Also fuel consumption of the 617 Turbo will be higher... period. Will it be a big difference, probably not and it'll depend on a lot of factors.

YOu may be right about the shaking at idle difference between na and turbo motors. I believe the rods and pistons must be significantly heavier so I can see that this might make for a rougher idle. My 300 na was always equipped with the 38# fw so I have no experience with it idling with an automatic.

The fuel consumption though I believe I have enough experience to say with some certainty that if a 123 is equipped with stick and a 307 diff that the fuel consumption is equal to a 240d. I don't believe that there is any difference in fuel consumption between my 300 na and my 300 turbo at the speeds we drive.

If you pushed the cars to a speed where the turbo was really pushing the air and the enrichment came on perhaps the turbo would use more fuel, but we have not seen it in our cars.

BTW, before making my stick conversoin and running it for a few years I would have said the turbo motors used more fuel too.;)

Well that would be a good set up. what year?

manual windows, except if it is a 82 - 83
manual sunroof, except is it is a 82 - 83
manual heat controls, simpler and better.

Is it an automatic or manual transmission, better milage with the manual.
What Differential is in it. If the original 240D Diff, then it is a 3:69. look at the lower left corner of the Diff case, scrape off the grease and grime to reveal the numbers. stamped into the case.

82 - 84 300D/SD turbo used a 3:07
85 300D/SD turbo used a 2:88
NA OM617 used a 3:46
all 240D used a 3:69

I have a 4-spd in our 85 300D with the 2:88 Diff, I get on the Hwy 29 - 30+ mpg.
Our 240D 4-spd and OM616 on the Hwy will get 28 - 31+, but lacks some power on the hills and higher elevations compared to a OM617 turbo. 67hp compared to 123hp.

Depending how you would drive the car will have a lot on your milage.

Charlie

There's also the cost including time and effort to swap vs buy a 300D.

Sixto
87 300D

Sounds like this one already has been swapped in and ready to go.

Charlie

My mind drifted while responding. I meant whats the value of a converted 240D vs a factory 300D. Technically the same thing but someone might pay more for an original. There's the convenience of having the right VIN for ordering parts vs the bliss not having ACC.

Sixto
87 300D

No acc is a big one for me. Also the 240 will be lighter and so will have a little more beans.;)