I am a newby with the 300d. When first start it cold, I need to let it idle for a good 5 minutes else it will not accelerate. I will floor the pedal but it will barely make it up a small incline at 20mph. Rpm is below 2500. Once it gets above 25mph the turbo will kick in and my head will snap as it accelerates. Is this normal performance for a 300d? It runs great, gets about 25-28 mpg and shifts good. But this cold performance is a concern. The other day I started it when it was cold and tried to drive off my lawn onto my driveway. A little 1-2 inch bump. It would not accelerate over the concrete. I had to let it idle for about 1-2 minutes then it pulled up over the driveway. Again, is this normal? If not, what are my options?

85 300d Turbo automatic 185k

Some sluggishness is normal on cold startups, but it sounds like yours is more than normal. I would start by cleaning the hard plastic line and the banjo bolts of the line that goes to the rear of the intake manifold. This is a common place for carbon build up that causes sluggishness. I would also try a valve adjustment.

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Somewhere I read that the OM617 turbo engine should have enough pickup at low RPM that you should not notice the turbo "kicking in." That said, the IP is apparently not delivering enough fuel. The engine is getting enough air and fuel at higher RPMs so the air filter and fuel pump/lines/filters, etc., are OK. Something must be wrong with the IP. That much sluggishness is not normal. My '85 300D-T is like that only when it's really cold (freezing) and then only for a few minutes.

Jeremy

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

Things to check:
1) check the turbo blades they should turn easily and littel or no play side to side or end to end
2) does the car still have the Nasty Trap Oxidizer in stalled on the exhaust? Can you post a picture of Rt side of the engine here?
3) When was the last valve adjustment?
4) Has it ever had WVO run in it?

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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!