Hey folks,
Recently I've become aware of a W124 300D 5 speed that may be for sale in my area, it's actually owned by the fellow that I bought my 300SD from. I am very interested in the car and am considering going to take a look at it. One thing however I don't know much about is the 603NA motor as most of the discussion here is regarding the turbo variant.

According to Wikipedia it should have somewhere in the range of 110hp, which in my mind would put it in between my 1979 300D and my 1985 300SD, is this about right?

I'm particularly interested in what the fuel economy would be like as well as the acceleration. Also, I have a 15ft boat, would it be able to tow it? I wouldn't be going far (less than 100km) and all on back roads, I'm mostly concerned if it would have enough power to pull it up the boat ramp.

Its been a couple years since I saw it last but from what I remember it was a very clean car, the current owner is a Mercedes tech so it was kept in good shape. It has however been parked for a couple years as the owner has been commuting in a smart car. It also has ~400,000kms on it.

thoughts?

__________________
2004 F150 4.6L -My Daily
2007 Volvo XC70 -Wife's Daily
1998 Ford F150 -Rear ended
1989 J-spec 420SEL -passed onto its new keeper
1982 BMW 733i -fixed and traded for the 420SEL
2003 Volvo V70 5 Speed -scrapped
1997 E290 Turbo Diesel Wagon -traded for above
1992 BMW 525i -traded in
1990 Silver 300TE -hated the M103
1985 Grey 380SE Diesel Conversion, 2.47 rear end, ABS -Sold, really should have kept this one
1979 Silver 300D "The Silver Slug" -Sold

You can find all the relevant specs here.
W124-300D-Motor/en

__________________
CENSORED due to not family friendly words

OM603 NA gets up around 60MPH in 12 seconds with an Automatic. It's no slouch by all means. It's should be better too with a 5-speed manual mated to it. I would love a 603NA personally if I had the chance to own one.

__________________
Only diesels in this driveway.
2005 E320 CDI 243k Black/Black
2008 Chevy 3500HD Duramax 340k
2004 Chevy 2500HD Duramax 220k

12 second 0-60 time isn't bad at all. I could definitely live with that.

__________________
2004 F150 4.6L -My Daily
2007 Volvo XC70 -Wife's Daily
1998 Ford F150 -Rear ended
1989 J-spec 420SEL -passed onto its new keeper
1982 BMW 733i -fixed and traded for the 420SEL
2003 Volvo V70 5 Speed -scrapped
1997 E290 Turbo Diesel Wagon -traded for above
1992 BMW 525i -traded in
1990 Silver 300TE -hated the M103
1985 Grey 380SE Diesel Conversion, 2.47 rear end, ABS -Sold, really should have kept this one
1979 Silver 300D "The Silver Slug" -Sold

I'd also be interested in hearing from anyone who owned\has owned a 603NA.

__________________
2004 F150 4.6L -My Daily
2007 Volvo XC70 -Wife's Daily
1998 Ford F150 -Rear ended
1989 J-spec 420SEL -passed onto its new keeper
1982 BMW 733i -fixed and traded for the 420SEL
2003 Volvo V70 5 Speed -scrapped
1997 E290 Turbo Diesel Wagon -traded for above
1992 BMW 525i -traded in
1990 Silver 300TE -hated the M103
1985 Grey 380SE Diesel Conversion, 2.47 rear end, ABS -Sold, really should have kept this one
1979 Silver 300D "The Silver Slug" -Sold

Factory specs say 0-100kph in 13.7 sec for the manual, 14.1 sec for the automatic. Fuel consumption is identical to the turbowhich was 3 sec quicker.

__________________
CENSORED due to not family friendly words

Are you sure it's a 603 (124.130)? No chance it's a 606 (124.131)?

The 124.130 is geared lower in first than a 124.133 (US 300D turbo), but I don't know how a torque converter influences things. I doubt a turbo will help you up a boat ramp since it's not like a truck turbo that kicks in right above idle. Or I don't know how to get a boat up a ramp The US 124.133 (automatic only) is geared about the same in fourth (top) gear as the .130 is in fifth when you consider the final drive ratio (2.65 vs 3.46). The more telling difference might be the torque specs of 137 lbft at 2800rpm for the .130 vs 195 lbft at 2400rpm for the .133.

I don't know that the naturally aspirated 603 is a must have feature in and of itself. If you think the turbo 603 intake manifold gets in the way of servicing glow plugs and fuel system, wait until you take a wrench to the naturally aspirated engine. It's the 5-speed and Euro touches that will sell you on the .130/.131. Put another way, I doubt you'd choose a naturally aspirated 5-speed 300D over a turbo 5-speed 300D (I don't know if MB made such a thing) all else being equal.

Sixto
87 300D

If I had the choice, I'd be getting a turbo, but finding one around here in good shape is pretty near imposable, even more so one with a 5 speed manual in it.

I'm 99.9% certain that its a 603

This is actually a very good point. The difference between a turbo and a non-turbo is probably nullified. I feel better about that.

I had noticed that. The intake on the NA engine looks like it makes changing glow plugs a real pain in the ass. But I can live with that.

Interesting, so it won't really be any slower than my w126 was. That's good. Definitely livable.

Thank you both for the info.

__________________
2004 F150 4.6L -My Daily
2007 Volvo XC70 -Wife's Daily
1998 Ford F150 -Rear ended
1989 J-spec 420SEL -passed onto its new keeper
1982 BMW 733i -fixed and traded for the 420SEL
2003 Volvo V70 5 Speed -scrapped
1997 E290 Turbo Diesel Wagon -traded for above
1992 BMW 525i -traded in
1990 Silver 300TE -hated the M103
1985 Grey 380SE Diesel Conversion, 2.47 rear end, ABS -Sold, really should have kept this one
1979 Silver 300D "The Silver Slug" -Sold

Glow plugs are easy on the n/a 603 , I have changed all of mine with manifold still fitted.
On cylinders 5&6 you need to use a cable tie to hold the throttle linkage open so you can get hand in there.

Hardest bit is refitting the nut on the glowplug thread and getting it started, my hands are quite large and when reaching in through manifold it can be awkward to get the correct angle with fingers to get it on and eventually I used abit of fuel pipe with the nut pushed in the emd of it and then threaded it through manifold and then twisted pipe to screw nut on.

One more point is that all my glowplugs came out easily.

Good to know, doesn't sound all that much worse than a 617.

I have my wagon up for sale now, so if it sells I'll be seriously looking at the 300D 5speed.

__________________
2004 F150 4.6L -My Daily
2007 Volvo XC70 -Wife's Daily
1998 Ford F150 -Rear ended
1989 J-spec 420SEL -passed onto its new keeper
1982 BMW 733i -fixed and traded for the 420SEL
2003 Volvo V70 5 Speed -scrapped
1997 E290 Turbo Diesel Wagon -traded for above
1992 BMW 525i -traded in
1990 Silver 300TE -hated the M103
1985 Grey 380SE Diesel Conversion, 2.47 rear end, ABS -Sold, really should have kept this one
1979 Silver 300D "The Silver Slug" -Sold

300D turbo 5-speed conversion is about the only way to get such a car in this part of the world. Fortunately there are a few differential ratios to choose from so it works on your terms. A couple of forum members performed such a conversion. At least one was offered for sale.

I'm curious what features it has that weren't standard or available in US market '87 300Ds.

Sixto
87 300D

I'm pretty certain this one is a 5-speed conversion as well. I can't recall what goodies it had if any. I hope my wagon sells. I'd like to get back into a diesel....

__________________
2004 F150 4.6L -My Daily
2007 Volvo XC70 -Wife's Daily
1998 Ford F150 -Rear ended
1989 J-spec 420SEL -passed onto its new keeper
1982 BMW 733i -fixed and traded for the 420SEL
2003 Volvo V70 5 Speed -scrapped
1997 E290 Turbo Diesel Wagon -traded for above
1992 BMW 525i -traded in
1990 Silver 300TE -hated the M103
1985 Grey 380SE Diesel Conversion, 2.47 rear end, ABS -Sold, really should have kept this one
1979 Silver 300D "The Silver Slug" -Sold