Friend's got an ailing 300D 2.5Turbo - it has a '93 motor in it (last one blew up) and a trans is his original '91. It's stuck in 1st gear following some trans work.

Anyway, I'd like to tow it to my house from the shop that did the work for him (rather poorly, I might add). The distance from the shop to my house is 30 miles even. Is it OK to tow it this distance with wheels on the ground, or is it risking trans damage?!

THx,
James

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1987 Mercedes 300SDL; SOLD
1985 Mercedes 300D; SOLD
2006 Honda Pilot - wife's ride; 122K;
1995 Toyota Land Cruiser - 3X locked; 182K

I would take driveshaft off, trans will get hot and burn up.

unwise.
pull the flex disk off the rear...

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

If you do it, do it in neutral with the engine running to keep the transmission cool.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Agreed.

I believe the risk is negligible with the engine running and the speed kept below 45 mph.

I would load it on a trailer. Dropping the drive shaft is a pita for such a short tow. Tow strap or similar works but has risks. Hook the trailer to diesel Ram. Drive car onto trailer. Pay $30 for trailer & be done. Easy, quick, simple & safe.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

I think we'll do this - and keep it under 45mph. Thx -

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1987 Mercedes 300SDL; SOLD
1985 Mercedes 300D; SOLD
2006 Honda Pilot - wife's ride; 122K;
1995 Toyota Land Cruiser - 3X locked; 182K

At some point (By Transmission #) the 124.128 LOST the Secondary Pump!!!
I KNOW the 1992s Had no secondary Pump.

'Have No Idea When Stuttgart decided to stop the 2nd ary pump.

Which would Be MANDATORY for Towing with Engine Running!

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'84 300SD sold
124.128

Why?

In the past MANY transmissions have been destroyed by wrecker drivers and it still happens today. In the old days it probably appeared that the wrecker drivers were in cahoots with transmission shops.

Today, roll back trucks are super common and you should always insist on their use when hiring a "tow."

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

with the engine running, the transmission would be at full oil flow... I cannot see any reason why the rear pump would be needed in this case.

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

The rear pump was eliminated for the 91 model year. My SDL doesn't have one.

-J

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1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

Ok - I have no idea what to do then... sounds like the only safest route to go is to get a flatbad truck (never heard the name 'rollback truck' before) that can carry the sedan with all tires safely off the ground...

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1987 Mercedes 300SDL; SOLD
1985 Mercedes 300D; SOLD
2006 Honda Pilot - wife's ride; 122K;
1995 Toyota Land Cruiser - 3X locked; 182K

You could run the engine and tow it in N.

-J

__________________
1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

Some countries in South Asia have a flat bed and forklift couple as tow service. Quite funny IMO to see the forklift padded with sofa cushions.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)