My 81 MB 240D has Dunlop Sport A2+ tires that were made week 18 of 2005. They might have 10k miles on them if that, and the car is always garaged. Tons of tread.





Today we were driving in the car and unlike normal, they made a very faint but noticeable wopwopwopwopwop type noise (not like a flat tire sound, more like the sound that my BFG A/T Radials make cruising down the road). Ive put 1300 or so miles on the car since January of 2010, we use it as a weekend drive and go to the beach car. It is practically like new, a time capsule of the w123 diesel cars I love, so I dont use it too much.

I figured maybe the tires had flatspotted, causing the noise, though I do keep them at the upper pressure specification that MB recommends. We were driving and all of a sudden, I noticed more vibration in the car, and then heard a metallic bang. It turns out we picked this up:







The tire was still hissing air, but was real flat. Of course the tire was really hot on the tread.

Honestly the car was super stable, there wasnt a ton more noise than I had before we caught this metal piece. I was driving 65 MPH and if I wasnt paying attention, probably could have just continued doing so hapily for many more miles. I did have a blowout once in a w123, and it too was really stable and just continued on like nothing happened... A testament to the nature of the design of these cars.

The tire on the spare was replaced with the set of tires that are mounted, so is the same age. But the car doesnt get a ton of use so was right around 20 psi. High enough to let us limp a few miles to a gas station, but low enough to noticably warm up.

So main lesson - no matter how great you keep after your mounted tires, DO check and keep spare tire pressure up. Its easily forgotten!

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Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (113k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1993 300SD (291k)
1993 300D 2.5T (338k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K)
1985 300D (233K)

I just carry a 12V compressor in the trunk. Then I can inflate any of the tires at any time.

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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)

My SD was a Florida vacation house used only inn season for around town driving. Tires looked new. 1 came a part on the 500 mi drive home. The tread on the spare separated before I could get a set. I wasn't wasting time but should have gone directly to the tire shop. Bottom line, old tires dry rot. I have a set on the boat trailer that need changing before going on the road.

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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.

Yeah, they sure will! Ive heard about the compounds that need motion to come to the surface and all that. So low use isnt the best for them. Im not sure if dryrot has anything to do with any aspect of the heat generation Ive noticed on the good tire (the bad tire obviously has a puncture and was run low on air for maybe 2 miles because the car rides so well).

But having the spare aired up sure is important, and personally, often overlooked!

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Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (113k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1993 300SD (291k)
1993 300D 2.5T (338k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K)
1985 300D (233K)

This is a good reminder to check the spare tire.

I use the spare tire when I rotate the tires, so there isn`t the problem with a spare going flat from being in the trunk for 5, 10, 20+ years.

I say that because I have found 2 brand new Light Alloy wheels in 2 different 240D trunks that were never mounted and run on the road. tires still had the whitish powdery stuff and rubber bits still on the tires.

I have only had one flat since I became the proud owner of a MB in 97. and that was in a parking lot. so can`t comment on it while driving.

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

I'd give up the storage bucket in the spare of 124s and 126s if the spare could be secured facing side up so it's easier to check tire pressure.

Sixto
87 300D^2

I had one on my 83, which was a blowout after a snowstorm (plow made chunks of asphalt on the road Im guessing), and then this one which was just a leak from a piece of metal.

Both times the car was amazingly smooth and responded without issue. I was impressed.

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Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (113k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1993 300SD (291k)
1993 300D 2.5T (338k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K)
1985 300D (233K)

X2 on the 12V Compressor, one for each Car and a few Extras. The are $8-$10 at Harbor Freight.
There is always too much Junk in the Trunk to easily check the Air Pressure in the Spare Tire
Before they sold the cheap Tire Inflation Pumps I used to carry those pressurized cans with sealant.
I found they can be unreliable and have read they can sometimes explode in a hot Trunk so I also carried a manual foot pump Tire Inflator.

All of the above inflators at one time or another have gotten me home without changing the Tire when I had slower leaks.

I got a flat on the front passenger side of the Car and as the PO said the Car was extremely stable even when making turns.
It only felt like the Tire was slightly flat. However, it turned out it was seriously flat.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

So far in 10 years I've only needed the pump once to top off a tire that got a screw in it until I could get it fixed. I've never actually had a flat in 150,000+ miles of driving....

__________________
-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)

Come to think of it, I had a RF flat within the last year. I didn't feel it until I pulled away from a stop. It shuddered and tugged to the right. I didn't feel anything leading to the stop.

Sixto
87 300D^2

I always have some form of inflation device in my vehicles... either a jump box with a pump, or a co2 cylinder with hose for inflation... dry nitrogen etc... I carry a lot of stuff in my cars. the spare is always inspected when tires are being changed/rotated. the gas flap on my car says 28 front, 32 rear, and 38 spare. I guess it's higher due to lack of use, and air leaking down, so it'll be close to full when you need it.

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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!

This W123 promo video claims these cars were designed to handle a blow out, sounds like the MB engineers did a good job. Note..not porno video

W123 promo video - Benzworld.org - Mercedes-Benz Discussion Forum

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

i had a valve stem explode when i first got my SD; i didn't even know i had a flat, the car just kinda pulled to the left and i kept driving it for miles without knowing (@40mph). i eventually stopped since i thought something was wrong (i thought maybe a loose tierod or something). incredible cars