I am very interested in diesels. I have read countless numbers of reviews were they only had very good things to say. My father also had a 1985 300sd for awhile until it got hit by a drunk driver and totaled it. But I have a problem, I really like the 70's 230 but it is gasoline, and I need diesel. I saw the 220d but when they said "dangerously slow" I looked away. So I was wondering if I had any options to putting a later turbo-diesel or something like that. Any other info. would ge great.

 

Why not look for a early 240D. The W115 chassis ('74-'76) would be very similiar to the 230 that you mention. If you can locate a 4 speed, you will have decent performance. I have a '75 240D with the 4 speed and the 4 cylinder (62 hp) diesel, and while no race car, it does just fine for me