New (to me) 98 E300, couple ??'s
 

Love this forum and I know I have just scratched the surface. Car is my first MB, and I love it already. First question is for fellow 98-99 owners.. what is the best rpm to operate at efficiently?? I know in my cummins powered dodge pickup it is between 1800-2000 rpms. Just curious as to others opinions on this.

Second one is a general MB question in regards to motors and trannies, what are all the numbers I have been reading on the site and where can I decipher them best? (606 motor or tranny etc., i have the 210 chassis figured out, and generally understan 229.3 or .5 oil)

Thanks in advance for the help.

Matt

Welcome to the '98-'99 E300TD
 

Congratulations, you made a great choice!

Any RPM I've run mine at, it seems to be good with. Just keep it between the ditches, what with all that torque and quickness under your throttle pedal!

They are wonderful cars!

I really like my 98 and the fuel efficiency... I would suggest that you Invest in a Scanguage II... They run about $160.00 new on Ebay and $170.00 from the manufacturers site http://www.scangauge.com/ .....

Pretty cool gadget, it connects with your on-board computer thru' the OBDII connector and will display up to 4 different gauges at the same time as well as recording and storing various other data like Fuel mileage... Monitoring of your average and current fuel mileage helps to determine the best speeds for conditions and in changing your driving style...

Congrats Matt!

The 98 or 99 E300 turbo diesel is a great vehicle!
As far as RPM.....just stick it in "D" and let the computer and tranny do the rest. There is so much torque available you don't have to mess with shifting that automatic 5 speed unless you are running in Ice & snow.
Very efficient full size sedan!

Your engine is #606.962
Your trans. is the #772.608
Body is the W210

Hope that helps?

PS. pick up a copy of the Performance Products - Mercedes Catalog. It has exploded views/diagrams of components, engines, exhaust, trans EST. that can at least orient you on all MBs including the W210.

Welcome to another truck guy! :) The engine is IDI and that's why it revs like a gasser and is happier at higher RPM's. It's like a mini 24 valve cummins with IDI and an inline pump.

As for the most effecient RPM, I think around 2000-2200 but that only adds up to around 60 MPH or so. best MPG I've gotten so far is 31 cruising around 65-70.

I'm currently installing some gauges so I'll see what EGT's are for a given speed/power setting.

RPMs Sound about right, mine runs 2350 at about 65 and 2500 at about 70 mph... My high is about 34mpg average is about 30-31 mixed driving...
Cruise control set to 68 mph up here gives 32 to 33mpg...
If you get a nice level road with speed limits 45 to 55 you can see high 30s to low 40s... Makes me smile... :D

YMMV