I test drove a 1983 300d today and the sales man said the car starts out in second when the gear selector is in drive... Is this true?

IIRC the w123 starts in first... the w126 560SEC starts in second.. and i do belive the gazzers do... but i could be wrong about the 123 diesel

Both my W123s start in first gear.

The Don is right, all the automatic diesels start in first gear. If it is starting in 2nd there may be a problem, but it is common for the trannies to not shift correctly due to vacuum issues which control the shifting of the tranny.

Why are you buying one of these cars from a dealer? Watch out, and compare prices to eBay or this forum. There are many of these cars available from people who really took care of them and don't have a dealership to support.

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Doug

1987 300TD x 3
2005 E320CDI

I may be remembering wrong but don't the W123's sit in 2nd when stopped in gear, and then go to 1st when you come off the brake onto the throttle?

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

Thanks for the info,,, it was a fairly nice car 182K miles, ran, drove and stopped great and less than 3000 dollars. The tranny shifting just didnt seem right to me,, hence the question.
I checked the items mentioned in this fourm to look for in a 300d and it had alot of the common ones wrong with it.

I am in the looking stage of buying right now,, going to hold out for a nicer one to come along.

Mine starts in second gear unless you use the kick down switch

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1979 300D.