I just purchased a 1982 240D today with just under 80K miles. This is, literally, the little old lady from Pasadena's car. Purchased in 1982 here in Pasadena. I'm not too keen on the color, but I couldn't pass up the deal. A lady that I see several times a year through my job drove to my work one day in the car a couple of years ago. I told her I liked the old Mercedes diesels, and to let me know when she wants to get rid of it. She said it was her mothers car, and she has had it since it was new. The mother is in her 80's now and can't drive it anymore. Well, the time came a few weeks ago, and I purchased it today.
It does have a salvaged title. It does have some blowby which sprays oil. It looks like the cloth fuel lines are leaking, and there is some shaking at idle, but everything works. Manual windows and AC (not ICE cold, although the daughter told me she spent a few hundred dollars a few years ago to fix it). The steering and suspension is nice and tight, tranny shifts nice and firm, no odd noises. Drives great. A perfect around town car. I can't tell that it has been in an accident serious enough to cause it to be slavaged. The lady told me her mother always had it serviced at Rusnack Mercedes. I called Rusnack yesterday and gave them the vin. They told me it looks like the oil was always changed, and that the last major service was performed there in 2004. The daughter says this seems right as she transfered the car to herself ~2004. She has no records from 2004 to present---just a glow plug repair in 2006 and a new battery from last week. They didn't really even want to tell me that. I'm going to drive down and see if they can print me out the service records they have. Maintenece book is stamped through 1996 and 64K miles.
Here is a link to some pictures.
http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y253/1stimer/1982%20240D/
Haven't been too active here in a while, but wanted to share the new addition.
Vin # WDBAB23A7CB326738