35mpg will be hard to get unless you are driving 100% highway ~60 mph. If I am not using the a/c I can get 32 mpg. It is very easy to cruise @ 75 mph...

Something is wrong with that engine. You should at least be into the mid 30s with that 5spd.
The steering column was positioned lower for US market W201s vs all other markets. This was done so the airbag is positioned more mid mass. After 84 they also added the fat knee bolster which kills leg room. You can swap in an 84 knee bolster and the 84 might also have a better steering column position. My 92 had the later steering wheel which I replaced with a W202 wheel. It still looks the same as the late steering wheel used on the late W201 and W124 but its 1/2" smaller. So compared to your big padded wheel its a huge diff. I did have to swap in the clock spring.

Looks the same from the front.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/tjts2/Green%20Mercedes/008.jpg

Spot the diff?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/tjts2/Green%20Mercedes/007-1.jpg?t=1297879408

It has an automatic.

Oh thats too bad. I saw the pic of the 5spd on the front page and mistakenly assumed it was the OP. Still, the automatic OM602/auto should be able to do better than 29 on a regular basis. OM603/auto averaged 29.9 over 16 fill ups. OM602/auto in a smaller lighter body should beat that easily.

yeah, I'm getting 29.93 on my first tank. working on my second tank now.
I'm driving more cautious than I was on the first tank, but I still get on it now and then... I'm trying to keep the top speed down below 70, and I'm trying to limit my acceleration.
I'd really like to see 35 with the auto... and I REALLY want to find a 5 speed to swap in.

If you haven't done it already, disable the EGR, CBV, ditch the AFM (if you have one), get an engine undertray if its missing, replace the clutch fan with an electric fan and get the injectors rebuilt. That should go a long way toward the 35mpg goal.

undertray would be good, as would be a non destroyed front bumper... the entire air dam is ripped off of mine... I'll browse the parts yards for one...

EGR, and AFM (I'm assuming that's air flow meter, the box on the fender that measures airflow)
my fan clutch is shot, so it's not impeding engine power at the moment...

Look for a bumper cover from a facelift car. The top part is the same but the lower part is a little deeper and it is sort of airdam-ish at the bottom instead of curving under. Easier to find and looks better as well.

You don't have a magnetic one?

no, the magnetic ones are on the 2.3 4cyl gasser...

...and the other M102s the 1.8 and the 2.0...

...this is possibly the one thing I like about my W201 - I'm surprised they didn't use this on the diesels.

Injector rebuild should be a big improvement, you could also dial in a little more timing advance...to compensate for the possibly 500k mile chain stretch. Man, I have a hard time believing that is the original engine, but it doesn't matter, it's fun!

They did, the OM601 has an electro-magnetic fan clutch also.

how's it mount? 601 should be same as the 602 timing cover/water pump... I have a 2.3 mag fan... just need a waterpump to go with it.
I may even have a mag actuator...

mmm epc? pics? parts?:cool:

however, it's also possible, the 602 is too big to fit the mag clutch assembly in there... I've only seen it on the 4 cyl...