I am looking into buying a Mercedes turbo diesel to convert to WVO. I already have my WVO sources and Frybrid kit picked out and now I am looking for the most powerful, and nicest turbo diesel I can afford. I was all excited about a 1997 E 300D until I realized they don't come with a turbo . My search began again and it looks like the 1998 E 300 came with the turbo and a significant price increase. With upsolute chip HP goes from about 174 to 205 and the torque goes from 243 to 279 . I currently have a VW Bug TDI with the upsolute chip ( which is awesome) getting a WVO conversion this month. The other vehicle in the stable is a 1996 Volvo 850R with mods that bring it to around 300 ponies. I mention this because having that kind of power in a luxury family truckster puts a grin on my face every time I drive it...until I go to the gas station. So I put it out to the Mercedes community- What kind of power/torque or grinning experiences are you getting with your turbo diesels? I am open to going back in time if the cars are great but I am trying to replace the look and feel of the Volvo with an equivalent Mercedes with similiar fit and finish. All input is welcome!
Thanks,
Neil O'Malley

What dollar range are you talking about maximum...and how long do you expect to drive it afterwards to be happy with it?

Two important factors to know before we can offer suggestions.

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Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
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Section 609 MVAC Certified
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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

My girlfriend drives a 2000 Volvo S70, I have driven this car a bit and found that I liked driving my 87 300D far more than driving her car. She drives my car on occasion and comments on much better it drives and feels.

I have noticed also that the sheet metal on her car gives way, just by leaning against it....ya the sheet metal pops back into place when you stop leaning against it, but it's tinny all over, in my opinion!

I've leaned on my friend's mom's mazda protege5, and it also flexes like that, and closing those doors....I bet they weigh less than 40lbs! They're SO light. I'd never ever drive something like that, even when I have to ride in it I get paranoid....as I know its completely unsafe.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

I would like to stay at 13k or less, run WVO in it and keep it for along time. I found two 1997's one at $9500 one at $9800 and I was psyched about them(until I found out they weren't turbo's). Obviously if I could spend half of that and loved the feel and the power that would be awesome. I have to agree about the S70, not even close to my 850R.(The 850R has every bell and whistle). I love big torque and quick acceleration with a car that is comfortable and handles well. The Squarish headlights or the new style (97-01)front ends are most appealing to me. This vehicle will see lots of miles, lots of family trips (needs to be roomy) and plenty of mountain passes in Colorado. Living with turbochargers in Colorado is the only way to go based on my spirited driving and trips to the mountains.
Neil

With the speedtuningusa chip my wife finds the acceleration of her 99 E300 Turbodiesel barely acceptable. She used to complain about how lacking the zip was when compared with her 89 Merkur Scorpio which I had advanced the base timing on and her 99 C290 and even her 91 190E2.6 with a hot camshaft in it. With the speedtuning reprogram, I have managed to get about 0.5 - 1 mpg more in it but it will blow black smoke out when I goose it. They said I could increase the boost too. We'll see.

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

You people are weird. I find my 240D to have totally sufficient power and that's at 5000 ft.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

I got a modded 96 855R too, 90 300D T AND am looking for an inexpensive Beetle TDI (which will be modded too).

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Meek

1977 Volkswagen Golf GTi (sold)
1981 Audi 5000S Turbo (sold)
1982 Volkswagen Rabbit LS 145k (sold)
1983 Volkswagen Rabbit GTi 150k (sold)
1984 Saab 900 150k (sold)
1984 Volkswagen Scirocco GTX 1.8T 20V
1985 Mercedes Benz 190E 2.0 160k(sold)
1986 Mercedes Benz 190E 2.3-16 188k (sold)
1988 Volkswagen Fox 161K (sold)
1990 BMW 525td (Sold)
1990 Mercedes Benz 300D 100k
1994 Saab 900 SE Turbo 55k (sold)
1996 Volvo 855R 140K
2001 VW Jetta Wolfsburg 16k (sold)

I drove Bill Murrows ride....

if you think a 240D has suffiecient power..even a Manual transmission one...you got some low expectations .....a 240D would drive me nuts in daily driving..I'm happy with my 300D but thats about as slow as you get without getting on my nerves.

__________________
Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
---------------------
Section 609 MVAC Certified
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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Well, well, look at Mr. Big numbers here, 10,034 must have escaped the mods for the moment being, who have limited you to 10K! Then you gotta start from 0!

Anybody see a show on TV last night about cars in the UK. They showed a Jaguar diesel car racing on a course. Also an 190E with Cosworth engine as a classic yet to be, da da da........

Yup, I have a low standard for acceleration. I think it has to do with having beaten out my desire for power with the Corvette I used to have. I just got so used to the power that eventually it just meant nothing to me. Now as long as the car can pull its own weight at highway speeds, it's fast enough for me. The 240D is more than capable of that. I even took it over Donner Summit at over 7000 ft and it wasn't too bad, cruising at over 50 mph even on the steepest sections.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

All the Jag modles come with diesel options in Europe...

Hell even the Hyundi Sportage has a CDI option...

its just the USA thats getting the shaft thants to the EPA and the Evironazis and their misguided agenda.

__________________
Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
---------------------
Section 609 MVAC Certified
---------------------
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

You are not going to get much E300D for $13k. Add $3k-$5k to that and you will be in the price range of the nice ones, ie.

100k+/- miles
Full maintaince records with one or two owners.
Perfect shape with no problems or cosmetic flaws.

A few months ago I saw a mint 1997 E300D with 40k miles on the local MB dealers lot. $21,500. It sat for two weeks I bet they got close to that.

For $13k look at E320's, you will still get high 20's on the highway.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200