Andrew,

That's a very nice 240D. I'm tempted to bid on it. I sold my 1983 240D 6 years ago with 279K miles on it. It was by far the best car I every had as far as value and one of my all time favorite cars.

A problem I had with mine, which was a 4 speed too was that when I drove on the interstate at 75 to 85 mph the engine sound very loud, like it was going to let let go. I think it must have had a low rear end ratio. I wonder if your 1982 has a different rear end ratio? Does yours seem like that or does it seem to go 75 mphs or so with not much effort? Mine had what I consider very good aceleration; it was that same as my friends 1979 300D, which did not have a turbo, but was a five cylinder.

My situation might have been because of the mileage too; I never had a valve job and my car did burn a fair amount of oil about 1 quart for every 600 to 800 miles. It also put out more than a normal amount of black smoke.

A number of MB reference books state that a W123 240D from 1975-1985 came standard with a 3.69 rear axle ratio. Even the German experts, Rohde & Sirup - W123 book reads: "Achsantriebsubersetzung 3,69"

Maybe there was an option to order a different RAR for the 240D back then??

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Mine did get a brand new rear differential under warranty when the car had 19K miles on it because the one that came with the car made an annoying hum at between 50 mph and about 65 mph. At the time the maximun speed limit was 55 so the fact that the rear diff. was noisy at those speed was unacceptable. They did not argue to much with me and replaced it under warranty for free. The car had the same pickup as with the original diff. so I am presuming the ratio in the new diff. was the same.

Over $4000, my fingers are crossed!

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Andrew Villasenor
805-720-5057
1984 300D turbo 5-speed manual(daily driver)
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Unfortunately, my 84300TDT is gold (champagne?) which I am LEAST fond of. My favorite is pumkin orange and a close second is the avacado green!!! The nicest 240D I have ever seen was a euro. standard shift car in avacado green with the hounds-tooth interior door panels (absolutely the coolest!!!!), brown MB tex seats, etc.
Mark

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1984 300TD Wagon, 407,800 mi (current daily driver)
1985 300DT Sedan, 330,000 mi (gone to that great autobahn in the sky)