I don't know if anyone remembers a thread on here where the question was asked if it was possible to go 600 miles on a tank in a stock w123 300D (turbo). But I've been trying for a the better part of the last 6 months to do it.



I did it!

Just barely, actually. I actually ran out on the exit ramp this morning on my commute. And yes, if you were wondering I had a jerrycan in the trunk with fuel just in case. I spent a total of 5 minutes on the side of the ramp (which was pretty wide as ramps go).

I haven't adjusted my car in any special way. My EGR has been blocked for years now. My tires are "stock", as is pretty much everything on the car. I usually get 26-27 mpg on most tanks. The only thing I've changed is my driving habits.

My commute is 24 miles one way. Several decent hills, mostly back country roads.

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Onus probandi incumbit ei qui dicit, non ei qui negat

I recondition w123/w126/w124/w140/r107/r129/ steering boxes!


1984 300D "Elsa" odo reset 6/2011 147k
1983 300TD "Mitzi" ~268k OM603 powered
1995 E300 "Adelheid" 262k [Sold]

Very nice... especially given that you're not doing 55 on the interstate. How many times have you run out of fuel trying to hit this?

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"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

I've run out about 6 times. I'd have done it more had I been more comfortable running out during some journeys. I ran out last week less than 3/4 of a mile from a gas station during an attempt.

The offramp I ran out on was the end of a 4 mile section of 55 mph highway. It's the only highway I get to travel on during a normal commute.

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Onus probandi incumbit ei qui dicit, non ei qui negat

I recondition w123/w126/w124/w140/r107/r129/ steering boxes!


1984 300D "Elsa" odo reset 6/2011 147k
1983 300TD "Mitzi" ~268k OM603 powered
1995 E300 "Adelheid" 262k [Sold]

Anything less than 900 miles between trips to the pump gives me range anxiety.

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CENSORED due to not family friendly words

Nice work, Martureo!

Hey, I got a better question: How to get my odo working again, so I can join this contest?! (sic)

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'83 300 SD
'68 Triumph TR 250 - The only car I ever loved more than the Mercedes; who needs electricity, anyway? - Damn, why did I sell it?!
'59 Jaguar 3.4 'Le Chat Noir' - Damn, why did I sell it?!

It's difficult to make predictions, especially about the future.
- Niels Bohr

Hmmmph! And if you hadn't been carrying around that extra 40 pounds of fuel ya probably woulda got 604 miles on a tank!

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“Whatever story you're telling, it will be more interesting if, at the end you add, "and then everything burst into flames.”
― Brian P. Cleary, You Oughta Know By Now

-Slightly- off-topic...but what's the temp gauge below your speedo? Is that stock?

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- 1979 W123 240D 4-speed, 390k miles

How many gallons or parts of a gallon of Fuel are in the Fuel lines under the Car on up to the Filter?
How accurate are the Odometers on these Cars?

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Yes curious minds would like to know?

I would also like to see a warning in this thread....its not to safe to let your car run completely empty for bragging rights.....what happens if there isn't a shoulder to coast to....or your car dies in the middle line of the freeway.....you get rear ended and start a car pile up.....do you tell the families of the people who just died...oh I was trying to get 600 miles to the tank.....I am sorry I will continue to fill up when I reach under a quarter tank..

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Not in a 123. That location on a 123 is for the gear range indicator for a column shift.

It is possible to retrofit a gauge from a 126 or 124 in that location, see this:
W126 Outside temperature Display installation in a W123 (300D)

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The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

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1982 300sd from craigslist $800 greased on one tank with NO CONVERSION in the Hot Texas Sun. (currently dead & awaiting engine damage investigation and/or longblock swap)
new daily: '03 vw 5speed jetta tdi wagon. bagged&chipped

Look at Diesel Giant's page or search on odometer repair. It's not that bad of a job. Either crimp the shaft you've got and reuse the gear, order a new one from odometergears.com or hit the junkyard up for parts.

And if you think it's over your head then I've done a few for people before and I'm sure there are other members who are up to the task.

__________________
Onus probandi incumbit ei qui dicit, non ei qui negat

I recondition w123/w126/w124/w140/r107/r129/ steering boxes!


1984 300D "Elsa" odo reset 6/2011 147k
1983 300TD "Mitzi" ~268k OM603 powered
1995 E300 "Adelheid" 262k [Sold]

There's plenty of stuff in the trunk regularly (including two w123 steering boxes right now, 30 lbs each), plus a car seat and some tools.

If I ever get to the point that I'm able to clean out the car and just drive myself back and forth I'd set a higher goal.

Although, to be fair I only filled up the jerrycan this morning with 2.5 gallons to make sure I could get off the side of the road.

__________________
Onus probandi incumbit ei qui dicit, non ei qui negat

I recondition w123/w126/w124/w140/r107/r129/ steering boxes!


1984 300D "Elsa" odo reset 6/2011 147k
1983 300TD "Mitzi" ~268k OM603 powered
1995 E300 "Adelheid" 262k [Sold]

No. I stole that one from a w124. You can use ones from a w126 or from a w202 as well. They fit right in the gap and the temp sensor gets strapped to the rear of the license plate bracket.

Wire it up for power, ground and you're good to go. I took the backlight wire and ran it to the headlight switch to light it up when I turn them on.

__________________
Onus probandi incumbit ei qui dicit, non ei qui negat

I recondition w123/w126/w124/w140/r107/r129/ steering boxes!


1984 300D "Elsa" odo reset 6/2011 147k
1983 300TD "Mitzi" ~268k OM603 powered
1995 E300 "Adelheid" 262k [Sold]

I think mine is pretty accurate. I've checked by GPS, mile markers on long trips and I've tested it on a known length driving course.

__________________
Onus probandi incumbit ei qui dicit, non ei qui negat

I recondition w123/w126/w124/w140/r107/r129/ steering boxes!


1984 300D "Elsa" odo reset 6/2011 147k
1983 300TD "Mitzi" ~268k OM603 powered
1995 E300 "Adelheid" 262k [Sold]