I guess it all depends on what you're used to...

I have taken extensive measures to make my '84 300D much quieter than normal. In addition to what has already been mentioned about the flex pipe and the support bearings, I have put extra coats of rubber soundproofing in all four doors. Also, I have stuffed as much foam insulation behind the dash (through the glove compartment and above the lower panels) as can possibly fit, and I have laid down an extra layer of rubber matting under the front carpeting. Oh yeah...and I put in another layer of insulation under the rear seat. All of this I was able to get for free or very cheaply at salvage yards.

It will never be as quiet as a big stately S class, but the above has effectively driven away a lot of cabin noise at speed. I can now listen to the stereo without cranking it up too loudly, or I can have a normal conversation while cruising at 80 mph.

I highly recommend the same to any 123 diesel owner...

__________________
Matt
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1995 E300 Diesel (Die Blau Frau)

Well must have been a week for long drives.

What: 1986 300SDL.

Where:
I just completed a trip from Nashvile, TN to Ann Arbor, Kalamazo, and then up to Ontonogan, MI. Then straight home to Nashville.

Trip up in two days

Trip back in 16 hrs. I could have done it in 15 hrs if I had used a leg bag catheter, and Huhh Hmmm not legal speeds. Cheapest fuel was on I 65 exit #2 in Franklin KY $1.12/gal most expensive Baraga, MI $ 1.38/gal. best milage 28; worst 21 mpg. The CD on these 126's are not as good as my 95' 124. Wind resistance really cuts into the milage at highspeeds.

Only problem was traffic in Indiapolis and two dozen Highway patrols cars with laser just south of Louisville.


I felt great all the way. Slight headache from breathing all of that MTBE!. I need to replace the charcoal filter on HAV system.

I have made many many 1000+ trips in my 83 300d. Noise level is loud at 65-75 but once you hit 80-85 the car gets very quiet. Has a groove at about 3750 that it loves to run and runs best at that speed. No doubt the newer diesels have a superior ride and noise level but a 300d with good suspension and tires is still a sweet ride.

virtualdoc07,

Wow, what a trip. That's a long drive to get up to Ontonogan. I love it up there in Houghton and Copper Harbor.

Last weekend I drove 1500 miles in 22 hours. I drove from Houston to Detroit, with a stop in Chattannoga, TN at my brothers. It was about 830 miles to my brothers in 12 hours, and 620 miles in 9 hours for the rest of the trip. I averaged 23 mpg for the whole trip bringing back our newly purchased '98 ML320.

__________________
Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)

Michael if my math is right you averaged 68.8 Mph on your 620 mi leg

my 1100 mi trip took in 68.75 mph

hey maybe we have reached the limits of Ave speed with all these truck and left lane bandit on the road.

I remember fondly the Canonballs runs from NJ to LA in 33 hrs.

Before I bought this 81/300SD I owned 2 Audi
5000 Diesels
Always drove them to Mexico (snowbird)
On one return trip we left Guadalajara Mex.
at 6am and drove to Tucson AZ sadly no accomodation available so on we went for another bunch of miles.
My guess is that the total milage was close to 1200. Car performed flawless, 20 years old
well looked after by my mexican mechanic.
Hope to do the same trip with the Benz one day