>Any opinions of the relative power / performance differences between a
>turbo model and a non turbo model. Both with the 300 (6 cyl) diesel.
Five cylinder.
>I have found a nice 300TD wagon in Germany with low km and in lovely
>shape. I was looking for the TDT. I don't want the car to be dangerously
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>gaskets. Is this also true? Any general comments regarding the service /
>repair requirements between the two configurations.
That the turbos are les reliable goes against conventinal wisdom. Mine
had 500K miles on it. I did replace the turbo for $100 (ebay) about
3 years ago - it was getting a bit noisy (but still worked fine).
I'd personally go for the turbo, but I'f also probably get the
non-turbo right now. It could be a while till you find one,
the 123 Wagons, in rust free state are getting hard to find
and people don't let go of them lightly and they seldom
make it into ads. Usually when one becomea available somebody
who knows the car snaps it right up.

Signature
Need Mercedes parts? http://parts.mbz.org
Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home pages: http://rs79.vrx.net
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net
smoked salmon - 07 Jul 2006 21:41 GMT
>> Any opinions of the relative power / performance differences between a
>> turbo model and a non turbo model. Both with the 300 (6 cyl) diesel.
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> make it into ads. Usually when one becomea available somebody
> who knows the car snaps it right up.
Thanks for the response!
I have not been able to locate a nice 300TDT but have found this 92
300TD (registered in 91)
The 300TD I have found is the 6 cylinder diesel (not the 5) the car has
less than 150K Km on the clock and is in excellent shape. I would prefer
the turbo as I am concerned about the power while pulling into traffic
here in Vancouver.
Since the car is in Germany I won't be able to drive it before purchase
(have an associate - mechanic looking at it). Was hoping to determine if
the car is gutless without the turbo...
Can one add a turbo onto the non turbo engine or is it more trouble than
it would be worth?
Juergen . - 07 Jul 2006 22:07 GMT
> The 300TD I have found is the 6 cylinder diesel (not the 5) the car has
> less than 150K Km on the clock and is in excellent shape. I would prefer
According to reliable sources at least 30 per cent of
all used cars in Germany have manipulated odometers.
> the turbo as I am concerned about the power while pulling into traffic
> here in Vancouver.
The worse the driver the more hp he needs.
> Since the car is in Germany I won't be able to drive it before purchase
> (have an associate - mechanic looking at it). Was hoping to determine if
> the car is gutless without the turbo...
What do you expect? What do you drive now?
> Can one add a turbo onto the non turbo engine or is it more trouble than
> it would be worth?
The latter.
Juergen
smoked salmon - 07 Jul 2006 22:42 GMT
>> The 300TD I have found is the 6 cylinder diesel (not the 5) the car has
>> less than 150K Km on the clock and is in excellent shape. I would prefer
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
> Juergen
I currently drive (and will be keeping) an 05 Toyota Tundra D/C 4x4
(~300hp). The car is for my wife to commute to work and for us to drive
around town. I am not looking for a race car, rather a reliable, diesel,
car that is safe and comfortable and reasonably efficient.
I have had 2 diesel land cruisers in the past both were fine (not race
cars).
The Spanish Inquisition - 08 Jul 2006 07:21 GMT
>>> The 300TD I have found is the 6 cylinder diesel (not the 5) the car has
>>> less than 150K Km on the clock and is in excellent shape. I would prefer
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
> I have had 2 diesel land cruisers in the past both were fine (not race
> cars).
I have a 90HP 250D (non turbo) w124 and I think it does quite well in
traffic. It's not fast but it keeps up well enough. Because of the
automatic (rare in Holland) I beat most other cars and the green light
without even tryin. The 300D should be a lot better even.
Ximinez

Signature
Our three weapons are fear, surprise, and ruthless efficiency...
and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope....
http://www.ai.mit.edu/people/paulfitz/spanish/t1.html
Dori A Schmetterling - 08 Jul 2006 00:06 GMT
For an American anything under 350 PS is gutless (in these car NGs
anyway)... ;-).
Many people drive cars with relatively modest power output and I drove a
W123 200D for two years. 60 PS and a weight of 1400 kg. I don't recollect
it ever being "dangerous" in traffic. Sure it's nice to have more power,
but that is different to "danger". Just adjust your driving style and don't
try to win the traffic lights grand prix. Defensive driving. It's much
safer anyway.
DAS
For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling
---
[...]
> Thanks for the response!
> I have not been able to locate a nice 300TDT but have found this 92 300TD
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> Can one add a turbo onto the non turbo engine or is it more trouble than
> it would be worth?
Richard Sexton - 08 Jul 2006 00:10 GMT
>Thanks for the response!
>I have not been able to locate a nice 300TDT but have found this 92
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>the turbo as I am concerned about the power while pulling into traffic
>here in Vancouver.
Oh, it's a 124. I don't think there were any non-turbo diesel wagons
but you learn something new everyday.
>Since the car is in Germany I won't be able to drive it before purchase
>(have an associate - mechanic looking at it). Was hoping to determine if
>the car is gutless without the turbo...
Probably not but I really don't know.
>Can one add a turbo onto the non turbo engine or is it more trouble than
>it would be worth?
Yes and yes.

Signature
Need Mercedes parts? http://parts.mbz.org
Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home pages: http://rs79.vrx.net
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net
Juergen . - 07 Jul 2006 22:03 GMT
> >Any opinions of the relative power / performance differences between a
> >turbo model and a non turbo model. Both with the 300 (6 cyl) diesel.
> Five cylinder.
Note he wrote
> I have found a nice 300TD wagon in Germany with low km and in lovely
and
> turbo model and a non turbo model. Both with the 300 (6 cyl) diesel.
so I think he talks about a W124 (ok, S124 to be precise...)
with 6-cyl inline engine, OM 603, 109/113 PS for the non-Turbo
and 143/147 PS for the Turbo.
Both are no race-cars as of today, but the Turbo perfectly
blending in today's traffic, the non-Turbo a slight bit slow
in the eyes of some.
Personally I'd avoid the Turbo: Added complexity to the system,
so in the long run a non-Turbo is more troublefree, means more
reliable and thus cheaper to run.
Also in their time - which is 1986 to 1996 - the Turbo was
one of the fastest Diesels available and there was a tendency
that poeople choose the Turbo over a gasoline car only due
to fuel cost, but avoided the non-Turbo because of - in their
mind - insufficient power: That means Turbos tend to have been
driven harder than non-Turbos.
I _strongly_ advise to have the car checked prior to buying
at e.g. German Automobile Club ADAC (or TUEV/DEKRA/GTUE
used car check).
The T-models do have electrical tailgate closing (often
not working properly) as well as a hydropneumatic rear
axle, also the tailgate may have rust; all other problems
like ignition lock or windshield wiper system are the same
as with the sedans.
Juergen - W123 240D sedan auto Euro w/72 PS
Richard Sexton - 08 Jul 2006 00:15 GMT
>Personally I'd avoid the Turbo: Added complexity to the system,
>so in the long run a non-Turbo is more troublefree, means more
>reliable and thus cheaper to run.
Yes, the 6 is a whole diferent animal from the 5, the 5 cyl
engine is purely mechanical. Disconnect the battery and
alternator and it will still run.
Not so the 6, it has electornics and they ar non-trivial
and while, in a sense, any idiot can handle a turbo 5
the 6 turbo or non turbo doesn't really givethe shadetree
mechnanic as much of a fighting chance as the 5 did.
I would not sweat the lack of a turbo on this engine.

Signature
Need Mercedes parts? http://parts.mbz.org
Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home pages: http://rs79.vrx.net
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net
cp - 08 Jul 2006 07:15 GMT
>>Any opinions of the relative power / performance differences between a
>>turbo model and a non turbo model. Both with the 300 (6 cyl) diesel.
>
> Five cylinder.
He's talking about a 1991 model.
cp
The Spanish Inquisition - 08 Jul 2006 07:16 GMT
>> Any opinions of the relative power / performance differences between a
>> turbo model and a non turbo model. Both with the 300 (6 cyl) diesel.
>
> Five cylinder.
The German (and Dutch) 300's are six cylinders AFAIK.
Ximinez

Signature
Our three weapons are fear, surprise, and ruthless efficiency...
and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope....
http://www.ai.mit.edu/people/paulfitz/spanish/t1.html
> Any opinions of the relative power / performance differences between a turbo model and a non turbo model. Both with the 300 (6
> cyl) diesel.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> An associate said the non-turbo models are less prone to blowing head gaskets. Is this also true? Any general comments regarding
> the service / repair requirements between the two configurations.
Make sure you give it a thorough washing underneath, especially the wheel wells. US customs (assuming you're bringing it through
Tacoma) can be very anal about this.
If you don't know of anyone good to go for an inspection when you get back email me kp6b70 at gmail dot com and I'll give you a guy
that my dad uses. Whatever you do don't bring it to a Canadian Tire or some franchise shop, unless you know the people.
You shipping from Bremerhaven?
Notice how the car drives on Euro diesel, you'll notice a difference in how it drives on our diesel here.
cp
smoked salmon - 08 Jul 2006 20:45 GMT
>> Any opinions of the relative power / performance differences between a turbo model and a non turbo model. Both with the 300 (6
>> cyl) diesel.
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
> cp
Thanks CP!
I will likely be in touch when the car arrives. You mentioned you knew
of a good local mechanic.. And yes the car will be shipped out of
Bremerhaven.
I am very impressed with the level of knowledge possessed by people who
post in this group!!
Thanks everyone!
cp - 09 Jul 2006 08:02 GMT
> Thanks CP!
> I will likely be in touch when the car arrives. You mentioned you knew of a good local mechanic.. And yes the car will be shipped
> out of Bremerhaven.
Yes, the mech is quite good (he's a cop by profession though), works out of his back yard as it's more of a hobby for him, but he's
really good.
cp
> I have found a nice 300TD wagon in Germany with low km and in lovely shape. I was looking for the TDT. I don't want the car to be
> dangerously slow when merging or accelerating from a stop into traffic.
Nothing to worry about. We had the same TD with non turbo (5spd though), more than enough power, unless you want to burn rubber
while towing a houseboat up the Coquihalla pass.
My mother drives the same car (sedan) with 5spd, 2L 4cyl engine, more than enough, pickup is very good in the 2L let alone the 3L.
If 3L is enough to merge onto Autobahns it's enough to merge onto the joke we call the Trans Canada highway.
cp