I'm considering buying an '81 300TD and was wondering if anyone has info on the actual smog/emissions numbers of the w123 series diesel cars. I know it's probably not so good, but I'm just curious. Thx in advance! :p

Why?

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'85 300SD (formerly california emissions)
'08 Chevy Tahoe
'93 Ducati 900 SS
'79 Kawasaki KZ 650
'86 Kawasaki KX 250
'88 Kawasaki KDX200
'71 Hodaka Ace 100
'72 Triumph T100R

Because I care.

...And here is what I found, in case anyone else cares:

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/crttst.htm

For an '81 300TD, these are grams/mile emissions:

Hydrocarbons: .20
Carbon monoxide: .82
Oxides of nitrogen: 1.3

For an '81 300SD, in grams/mile:

Hydrocarbons: .18
Carbon monoxide: 1.1
Oxides of nitrogen: 1.3

Not so good as compared to what?

I'm not sure how that compares to other cars, but the data certainly assumes that the vehicle is run on petroleum diesel. If you care about the environment, buy a diesel car and run it on biodiesel. Even on regular diesel fuel, it'll produce less CO, CO2 and HC than a gasoline engine from the same time period.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

As compared to a new VW TDI, for instance, which has a few modern emission controls that the 300TD lacks. The TDI is another car I was thinking of buying, so I'm just looking for some numbers to compare with.

DieselAddict: That is the plan, man!

By the way, does anyone know if it's possible to retrofit an older MB with any kind of catalyst or particulate trap? Or is this a crazy idea? Has it ever been done?

I have an entire setup that I will sell you cheap!!!!!!!!!!!! :p

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=90424

__________________
'85 300SD (formerly california emissions)
'08 Chevy Tahoe
'93 Ducati 900 SS
'79 Kawasaki KZ 650
'86 Kawasaki KX 250
'88 Kawasaki KDX200
'71 Hodaka Ace 100
'72 Triumph T100R

Some california version cars came with a oxidizing catalyst, but it was ordered to be removed by mercedes due to all the problems with it.

IMHO, your crazy to put that crap on it, if you really care about emissions run B100 or WVO. I soon hopefully will be running on 90% WVO and 10% 87oct, so it should be nearly emission free (can never escape NO3). Here is a link to a very nice wvo/biodiesel forum. If you don't want to put the effort forth for that I'd still say wait because in the next few years the whole country is going to ULSD so the amount of pollution should drop quite a bit.

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Jeff M.
Mercedes W123 DIY pages are now located here.
1983 / 1984 300D Sold
2000 CLK430 Cabriolet ~58k Sold
2005 Avalanche 4x4 ~66k

The whole setup on the later CA cars is different. The intake manifold, turbo, air cleaner, egr, etc. are all different. Virtually all the CA emissions cars at this point have been retrofitted with the trap oxidizer (as opposed to trap catalyst) which is a permanent replacement. If you want a "clean" diesel look for a 1985 as those (and 1987) had the full emissions set up. By the way, both my cars are CA cars and if you maintain the emissions systems properly you shouldn't have any problems with them.

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LRG
1987 300D Turbo 175K
2006 Toyota Prius, efficent but no soul
1985 300 TDT(130K miles of trouble free motoring)now sold

Too bad they run like crap with all that stuff on.

__________________
'85 300SD (formerly california emissions)
'08 Chevy Tahoe
'93 Ducati 900 SS
'79 Kawasaki KZ 650
'86 Kawasaki KX 250
'88 Kawasaki KDX200
'71 Hodaka Ace 100
'72 Triumph T100R

vwbuge, Have you driven an '87 300D turbo? Even with the cat (not really a cat but an oxidizer of sorts in a catalytic converter package) it is good for 0-60 in something like 11 seconds. Not exactly crap! This is of course provided the original Trap was removed and the new Cat thing installed in place of the first muffler, there was about 5 HP gain when the trap was removed. Above figure applies to the OM603. xxx engines in W124 chassis only.
DDH

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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

I have a spare 85' 300D EGR computer. LMK if you want it.

Sorry, not saying your car is crap. Saying that comparing your car with or without the emissions stuff........crappy with stuff in comparison to not crappy without.

__________________
'85 300SD (formerly california emissions)
'08 Chevy Tahoe
'93 Ducati 900 SS
'79 Kawasaki KZ 650
'86 Kawasaki KX 250
'88 Kawasaki KDX200
'71 Hodaka Ace 100
'72 Triumph T100R

vwbuge,
I think you'd be surprised. I have driven both the '85 versions and I can tell you the CA car is actually no different. Remember, the emissions cars had a slighltly different tranny gearing set up so they leave nothing behind performance wise to the federal cars. As far as drivability goes I have no problems at all, none. One benefit of the CA cars is that all the vacuum stuff the federal cars have on top of the cam cover is updated with a much simpler electric switch setup. That was not updated on the rest of the federal cars until the 603 engines. Also, the CA cars never break the air cleaner mounts. The only difference that I can tell is I get 3-4 MPG less than a federal rig. And, yes, the federal car I drove was running correctly. Don't knock 'em if you haven't tried 'em (or at least a good one).

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LRG
1987 300D Turbo 175K
2006 Toyota Prius, efficent but no soul
1985 300 TDT(130K miles of trouble free motoring)now sold