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+--- Thread: 1985 W123 300D (/showthread.php?tid=91)
1985 W123 300D - winmutt - 07-07-2008
My current car is an dark anthracite gray 1985 Mercedes 300D. It is the second one I have driven as a DD, one of 4 I purchased the car for $550 from a gentleman and his wife on their wait to do missionary work in eastern Europe. The car had sat under a tree and leaked like swiss cheese. The mold issues is still some what problematic today. The car hardly ran and the transmission would not go out of 3rd after driving it for 15 min or so. I started with the transmission and replace it with one from a low mileage 200D and the om617 mated parts from my old euro 300D. Following that I started replacing my suspension. I ordered a set of the Vogtland lowering springs and installed those:
![[Image: DSCN2819.JPG]](http://superturbodiesel.com/images/benz/w123%20vogtland%20springs%20before%20and%20after/DSCN2819.JPG)
I also installed Euro lights, bumpers and tow OEM tow kit :
![[Image: DSCN2823.JPG]](http://superturbodiesel.com/images/benz/w123%20vogtland%20springs%20before%20and%20after/DSCN2823.JPG)
Not to long after that I rebuilt the front end with a kit I bought off Ebay. Non OEM and if I had a chance to do it again I would do it with OEM parts, but it was the only kit out there. No guessing on what was needed:
![[Image: P1020381.JPG]](http://superturbodiesel.com/images/benz/w123%20maintentance/w123%20front%20end%20/P1020381.JPG)
After this I installed the OEM 15mm sway bar upgrade in the rear and am waiting to find time to do the TD sway bar up front. I also upgrade the brakes to the second gen 126 larger and vented rotors from a 560SEL. I am seriously considering ABS upgrades in the future.
Back to the engine, I turned up the boost on the turbo and installed a boost gauge cluster:
![[Image: P1020359.JPG]](http://superturbodiesel.com/images/benz/w123%20window%20mount%20boost%20gauge/P1020359.JPG)
Eventually I diagnosed most of the ailments but relinquished hope for the engine when I discovered 3 of the cylinders all had prechambers and missing pintles :
![[Image: prechamber1.jpg]](http://superturbodiesel.com/images/benz/w123%20maintentance/om617%20broken%20prechamber/prechamber1.jpg)
![[Image: prechamber2.jpg]](http://superturbodiesel.com/images/benz/w123%20maintentance/om617%20broken%20prechamber/prechamber2.jpg)
![[Image: prechamber3.jpg]](http://superturbodiesel.com/images/benz/w123%20maintentance/om617%20broken%20prechamber/prechamber3.jpg)
Since then I had pretty much decided a new engine was in order. I replaced the prechambers but compression on 3-5 was still really low. I found a parts car in Macon (~90 miles) for $250 and towed her home:
![[Image: DSC00373.JPG]](http://superturbodiesel.com/images/benz/24hrs%20of%20lemons/bringing%20the%20blue%20benz%20home/DSC00373.JPG)
It was several months before I got to swap out the engine. During this time I did the rack limiter removal on the dying engine and found new life. My buddy Kevin decided for his birthday he was going to run the 24hrs of LeMons and I happily donated my car and old engine to the cause under the condition that we would swap out the old engine.
![[Image: P1010433.JPG]](http://perfecthorsesass.com/24hours/lemons_car_prep/album/060708/slides/P1010433.JPG)
http://perfecthorsesass.com/24hours/lemons_car_prep/album/
I am now waiting to find time to install the GT2556V that I have had for years now:
![[Image: p1020723.jpg]](http://superturbodiesel.com/images/benz/w123%20super%20turbo/jeep%20liberty%20crd%20t3%20adapter/p1020723.jpg)
Re: 1985 W123 300D - winmutt - 08-27-2008
I have seen the future.
![[Image: image10074.jpg]](http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii118/vengeanceunlimited/W123%20Pictures%20Part%203/image10074.jpg)
Re: 1985 W123 300D - Lincolnlock - 08-27-2008
That is freakin' sweet. I wonder how much adjustment there is for camber. I'm a little worried about wearing tires quickly. Oh well!!!
Re: 1985 W123 300D - ncturbo300d - 08-27-2008
winmutt I have seen the future.
Where did you find that pic? any more specs on that mb?
Re: 1985 W123 300D - tantank79 - 08-27-2008
Oooo! We need a side shot. Are those pentas?
Re: 1985 W123 300D - winmutt - 08-28-2008
Found it at <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.benzworld.org/">http://www.benzworld.org/</a><!-- m -->.
I almost certainly going to do a black perl and dark anthracite grey for my car.
Re: 1985 W123 300D - ncturbo300d - 08-28-2008
where did you find it on benzworld I have an account there but dont want to look for it all day ...
Re: 1985 W123 300D - winmutt - 09-10-2008
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w123-e-ce-d-cd-td/1394656-random-w123-pictures.html
RE: 1985 W123 300D - winmutt - 02-09-2009
0-60 tank full of b100
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nREKAqKt1E
RE: 1985 W123 300D - winmutt - 06-06-2009
Today was my birthday. I have such a backlog of items that need doing, I took the opportunity to ask for help on the board. Bpjenks @ benzworld.org and wademunkey @ peachparts.com showed up to help. With them I was able to get the Gwagen 23cm clutch/flywheel in, the 26mm TD sway bar and the rear diff swapped out. The car handles differently that is for certain. I only was able to take it for a quick test drive but the steering is WAAAY more responsive. Taking a curve was not so much different but the slalom is completely different. Pics to come.
RE: 1985 W123 300D - winmutt - 05-13-2010
Haven't done much to the car other than swap out the trans with a replacement. Must be a spring bug, it's been almost a year since I posted this. Copy catted FI's filter. Bye bye 3.8L GM screen door, hello snorkeless womp womp womp. Car is a tad more responsive and knowing that I have good filtration and won't have to wash it every few weeks is a load off my mind.
![[Image: fiintake.jpg]](http://superturbodiesel.com/images/benz/winmutts%201985%20300D/fiintake.jpg)
RE: 1985 W123 300D - winmutt - 05-14-2010
In case anyone was wondering, this is a superior setup compared to the 3.8L gm airbox. The filter was $18 shipped of ebay, the 3" 90degree elbow flexible rubber joint from HD and the coupler I had laying around. The elbow has a nice notched ring for the pipe clamp that the filter fits into perfectly. I am going to stick a bit of 3" pipe inside the filter end of the elbow to make sure it stays rigid and makes for a tight fit.
RE: 1985 W123 300D - winmutt - 08-16-2010
Well my sticking valve has finally bent. No major damage yet, the valve is still moving but I am looking for a good cheap replacement head and relegating this vehicle to my camping/doggy car. I have sold my soul to the W124 rear multilink setup.
RE: 1985 W123 300D - Captain America - 08-17-2010
oh man!
RE: 1985 W123 300D - JB3 - 08-17-2010
(08-16-2010, 10:17 PM)winmutt I have sold my soul to the W124 rear multilink setup.
heresy
RE: 1985 W123 300D - winmutt - 09-27-2010
I am not overly convinced it is a valve anymore. I know for a fact that one is going however I am starting to lean towards the pump. I pulled the car out of storage and have been driving it around a bit. I need to do a compression test and I think that will help me figure out if its the valve or pump. I have a good rebuilt IP I will probably stick on again, I am no longer trying to get power out of this one, would rather have a nice smooth idle. The noise described in this video is exactly what I am hearing http://www.superturbodiesel.com/std/injection-noice-on-om606-with-myna-pump-t-1773.html at low rpm, higher torque applications. The power loss I have been experiencing along with the noise is what is making me think it may be the pump instead of the valve as the two do not coincide with each other.
RE: 1985 W123 300D - winmutt - 07-19-2012
Sold her today. Lots of blood sweat and tears. The new owner has the bug worse than I and will take good care of her.