Most just also feel a little uncomforatable with the engine reving so high and the simultanious noise factor. It will not hurt the block though.

It still is somewhat interesting that mercedes did not equip these standard transmisson 240ds all with five speeds. The car was not priced as an econo box at the time exactly either. I wonder if the thought people would lug the engines to death or it would have impacted the 300d sales too much?