Took the 240D to the keys

[phantoms]

I took the 240D to Key West. It was a nice long ride. It was actually one long test drive as it goes to my daughter next weekend. Wanted to make sure that it would be problem free before giving it to her. Filled it up in Savannah and drove through the night non-stop to Miami before filling it again. Milage wasn't as good in the keys and on the trip back (ran the A/C coming home). I ran between 75 and 85mph most of the time. At times up to 90mph. Was a nice ride and I even saw a couple older Mercedes while in florida. I saw a beautiful black 300TD wagon on I-95 Sunday near West Palm Beach. Anyway, here's a pic in front of the Dolphin Research Center in the Florida Keys.



And here's a shot of me in Key West.





Here's some more pictures of the 240D (at home). Sorry about the quality.

[oldnavy]

Hey those look like a pretty good size set of tires.

Max speed at red line on RPM's by MB '85 Technical Data Passenger Cars manual is 88.8 MPH for 4 spd trans and 85.7 MPH with automatic. One thing to remember is in early '80's the fuel was 50 + cetane through out the US, now days it hard to find diesel with more then 42 cetane. What I'm saying is you max stress tested the engine and it held togather, hope nothing was over taxed in the engine. These are tough little cars and should serve your daughter well.

[jbhebert]

The first long trip I took in my 300CD was down to Key West. Lots of fun. Of course, I started in MA, but it was still a blast.

[Angel]

Originally posted by oldnavy
Hey those look like a pretty good size set of tires.

Max speed at red line on RPM's by MB '85 Technical Data Passenger Cars manual is 88.8 MPH for 4 spd trans and 85.7 MPH with automatic. One thing to remember is in early '80's the fuel was 50 + cetane through out the US, now days it hard to find diesel with more then 42 cetane.

I appreciate that info, some kid on a local VW bbs was saying he had his parents 240 up at 100 (according to his buddies speedo in the car next to him). I didnt want to use the term Bull***** loudly, but I was curious as to the factory numbers.


I way dig those SD alloys though, I always wondered if those would fit/look cool on a W123
-John

[phantoms]

Behind them are 25mm HR-DRA hub-centric spacers. These bolt to the hub and, in effect, become a hub extension which the wheels bolt to. When I got the car it had a set of steel ford (I believe) rims on that were not hub centric and were sporting wire basket hubcaps with bald tires. Came across the rims and mounted a set of 205/65/15 Goodyear Aquatread 3s on them.

As for the speed, I wanted to push it hard so that any problems would show up before she gets the car. I also wanted to put some good highway driving on it and clear it out. 80 is easily obtainable. 85 takes a little patience and 90 is after a good hill . Anyway, it purred all the way there and back.

Just got finished charging it with R-12 today after evacuating the R-134a. I wanted to make sure that the system would hold up and not leak before spending $28 a can (my cost) on R-12. Probably should have just left the R-134a in as there was not much of a difference even though it gets hot and humid here in Savannah.

All I'm waiting on now is a set of brake hoses (front and rear). The current ones are original and showing their age. Figured I'd replace them and the brake fliud before giving her the car.

[phantoms]

I used some additive that's suppose to boost cetane during the trip. BTW, the car is a 78. Any data for that year?

Originally posted by oldnavy

Max speed at red line on RPM's by MB '85 Technical Data Passenger Cars manual is 88.8 MPH for 4 spd trans and 85.7 MPH with automatic. One thing to remember is in early '80's the fuel was 50 + cetane through out the US, now days it hard to find diesel with more then 42 cetane. What I'm saying is you max stress tested the engine and it held togather, hope nothing was over taxed in the engine. These are tough little cars and should serve your daughter well.

[oldnavy]

What would you like to know? Just trivia or something special.

[phantoms]

Max speed at red line on RPM's by MB '85 Technical Data Passenger Cars manual is 88.8 MPH for 4 spd trans and 85.7 MPH with automatic.

Does this data cover the 78? I'm not wanting it to be more, but would worry more if it was less. This car doesn't have a tach, so posting max MPH has enlightened me.

[oldnavy]

I would think so, they are same basic car with some minor exceptions. I haven't looked, but it does have the 2.4L engine correct? If it does then yes, RPM's and speed would be same. However there could always be some variation in speed and power just from things like quality of fuel, engine tune, partly glogged filter, etc.

One common joke about 240D's is that for a 240D to hit 95 MPH it would require running it over a cliff.

[Ted_Grozier]

I guarrantee the 240D will do 100 mph _indicated_ on a mild downhill such as this one in Yukon Territory, Canada:

[79-240d-project]

The 78 and 79 240D were the banner years for max top speed and hp. I cannot remember all the numbers but the 79 had 67 hp. A friend had a book with all the various stats for the various model years. 1979 was the last year for the "Federal" as far as emissions. Starting in 80 the "California" model was imported and I think the max hp was 62.

[oldnavy]

By my MB manual my 83 has 67 hp, but I'm thinking there might have been a gearing difference indifferential.

[leathermang]

There were several hp versions...
for one thing... they actually changed the size of the bore in order to meet the European standard for size / taxes on engine displacement..
Then there was a change in the shape of the piston/precombustion chamber ( which must match )... this added some power... then they changed the number and then the size of the holes in the precombustion chamber...
The changes are listed by engine number... so this can happen during the production year....

[oldnavy]

I knew they made a lot of running changes, but nothing that effected the speed or hp much was ever mentioned in the manuals I have been looking through.

Anyway I doubt that what little hp gain or loss they had was enough to really effect max rpm's or speed much. I guess if I had some 50 cetane fuel in mine and did a redline + run down a mile long 10% grade she would get near that 100 mph mark. But I'm not crazzy about stressing 21 year old engine parts like that either, so I will pass on that project.

[mbzkid]

Do you cars have 100mph or 85mph speedos? My bro has an 85mph speedo. His car is a 81 auto....are you cars manuals?