Mercedes-Benz 300D

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1982 Mercedes Benz 300TD
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1982 Mercedes Benz 300TD

The first Mercedes-Benz 300D automobile (not to be confused with the 300d) was introduced in 1975 (U.S.) and started its life by placing the newly developed 3.0 litre five-cylinder normally aspirated engine 617.910 in a W115 chassis four-cylinder Mercedes-Benz 240D diesel. For the American market those cars only came with power windows and automatic transmission.

The W123 chassis of the Mercedes-Benz 300D was introduced as a 1976 model (1977 U.S.). Its 3.0 litre five-cylinder diesel engine with indirect injection produced 80 to 88 hp (59 to 65 kW), depending on the year or country, from an extra 600 cm³ more of displacement than the four-cylinder Mercedes-Benz 240D diesel. The W123 chassis evolution continued with the addition of the 300D Turbo Diesel in 1982 (1981 for station wagon), sporting a 3.0 litre five-cylinder turbocharged engine which was originally developed in 1978 and used in the US market for 300SD models in 1979. This engine developed 118 to 123 hp (88 to 91 kW) and considerably improved the car's performance while still maintaining the superb reliability and efficiency of earlier models. Both station wagon and touring sedan models were produced as the 300TD and 300D turbodiesel respectively. The 300TD also had optional rearward facing third row seat which could fold flat into the floor (the predecessor to DaimlerChrysler's StowNGo™ Seating), which was also seen on Volvo station wagons.

Production of the W123 chassis ended in 1985 but many cars remain on the road today 20 years later, a testament to the quality and durability of the original design. The 300D badge continued on in the W124 chassis family until 1993, but as a completely different design.

The W124 chassis 300D (pre E Class facelift) has the OM603 engine, a turbocharged inline six cylinder.

[edit] Trivia

Used diesel-powered Mercedes-Benz 300Ds have been part of the straight vegetable oil movement; a recent article in the Houston Press detailed a biochemistry student who converted a 300D sedan to run on SVO. Pre-1985 M-B diesel powerplants are known to be indestructible.


<- Previous Mercedes-Benz road car timeline, 1980s-present  v  d  e 
Type Class 1980s 1990s 2000s
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Supermini A W168 W169
Compact C W201 (190) W202 W203 W204
Mid-size E W123 W124 W210 W211 W212
CLS W219
Full-size S W126 W140 W220 W221
Maybach W240
Roadster SLK R170 R171
SL R107 R129 R230
Coupé CLK W208 W209
CL W126 W140 W215 C216
Supercar SLR C199
SUV G W460/W461 W463
Crossover SUV GLK GLK
M W163 W164
GL X164
MPVs B W245
R W251
Vaneo Vaneo
Sprinter Sprinter


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