Mercedes-Benz 300 D
Five diesel cylinders gave the new W 123 saloon steady long-distance pull without turning it into a racer.
Mercedes-Benz_300_D_(W123)_(4223838476).jpg · Spanish Coches · CC BY 2.0
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More than a set of wheels.
Mercedes-Benz replaced the W 114/115 range with the newly developed W 123 in January 1976. The 300 D sat at the top of the launch diesel range, using the familiar OM 617 five-cylinder in a safer, roomier new body. This profile locks to the original 3,005 cc, 80 hp European saloon with four-speed manual transmission, before the 1979 power increase and far removed from the later North American turbo-diesel.
Look a little closer.
The original manual 300 D needed a factory-listed 19.9 seconds to reach 100 km/h, but could keep going to 148 km/h.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
Five cylinders split the difference
The OM 617 placed one more cylinder between a typical four and six. That gave smoother, stronger delivery than the smaller launch diesels while avoiding the length and fuel use of a large six-cylinder engine.
Source: Mercedes-Benz Public Archive · 300 D W 123 technical record ↗One model name, several later changes
The 300 D stayed in production for nearly a decade, so its headline numbers are easy to mix. The launch car had 3,005 cc and 80 hp; displacement changed to 2,998 cc in 1978, output rose to 88 hp in 1979, and a five-speed manual did not become optional until 1982.
Source: Mercedes-Benz Public Archive · 300 D W 123 technical record ↗Where these facts come from
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed 2026-10-01.