85 300D turbo diesel- power? mpg? climate control?

[ironandsteel]

I have been driving an 83 240D, and while I love the car, it is awfully slow, to the point of being ridiculous.

I've run across a free-for-the-hauling 85 300D turbodiesel, and I'm hoping that, assuming I can get this running, that it will be significantly more powerful than the 240D. The car has been sitting for a few years. The body has some pretty minor rust spots- not bad at all. Probably. The drivetrain is apparently solid.

Anyway- are these cars decently powered? Not expecting a rocket ship, but one that accelerates like a normal car. And what is the fuel mileage like?

Also- I think these have the automatic climate control system that seems to be very problematic. Are these climate controls fixable, or can they just be bypassed with a lever valve or something?

[barry12345]

The climate control systems that where really troublesome where made by Chrysler and present in earlier years of the 123s. For todays use this model has quite a gain in power and performance over the 240ds.

A little reduced fuel milage in comparison to the average 240d. Yet if the 240ds engine was not tuned up you might actually get better fuel milage with the 1985.

At highway speeds for example the rear end ratio is a far better one. You can even hear each other talking. I think the general secret with the 240ds is you have to keep things pertaining to the engine in good condition.



Just driving one where the engine has been ignored for years can seriously impair the needed power. I have never owned or driven a 240d with an automatic transmission. I suspect they might be even too slow for me in our rural setting.

You should find the turbo five cylinder meets your needs if in good shape. Or after you sort out years of mechanical needs being ignored. . Simple and pretty cheap to address them if needed usually.

[ironandsteel]

Thanks for the info, Barry. When I got the 240D, I went through it quite well, using this forum, info from Kent Bergsma, etc. I built the tools and adjusted the valves, new fluids, new vacuum fittings, etc. So, I think the 240d is running about as well as it can.

I'm pretty excited about this 300d. I think that the paint will be restorable, whereas the paint on the 240d is a lost cause- lots of deep scracthes and what looks like a clear coat coming off.

Having been through the 240d, I know exactly what to check for on this car. For one, I'll take out the seats and pull up the carpet and look for a rusty floorboard. It seems like these things often get a firewall rust hole behind the battery, then water gets into the passenger side. We'll see.

[ironandsteel]

Originally Posted by barry12345

At highway speeds for example the rear end ratio is a far better one. You can even hear each other talking. I think the general secret with the 240ds is you have to keep things pertaining to the engine in good condition.

That is another annoyance on the 240D- if I go much faster than 60-65mph, it feels like the engine is revving too high. I mean, it doesn't sound like it is about to come apart, but it is just not relaxing to drive fast- it feels like I'm taxing the poor thing to rev that high.

[Demothen]

I'd say my 85 300d is adequate in all those categories, but not great. Power is plenty to keep up with traffic. MPG is not great for me (low 20's in the city). I think both of these could be improved with a bit more work on the engine (I have done all of the "standard" tune up steps, but think it's time to rebuild the injectors, tune and time the IP, and replace the timing chain). Climate control is pretty fickle. I did a complete system rebuild/upgrade with all new parts, but running r134a, and still find myself driving my other car on hotter days. There was a huge expendature in time and money to get the automatic climate control system working as well as it does now. See my signature for more information if you are interested

[ironandsteel]

I think this car showed something like 134k on the odometer (I don't have the car yet). But, I know that the odo on the 240d is slipping and reads very low, so I'm guessing this one is as well. I need to find a good way to fix those odometers. What i've seen looks like a pain.

[Demothen]

Yeah, mine showed about 130 on the odometer when I bought it, but I found a oil change sticker from the the 2000's showing like 125. Pretty sure it failed and was replaced. I hadn't thought to check it's accuracy vs a GPS or mile markers though.