'77 240D Got Away

[Skippy]

I was driving around yesterday and saw a W123 parked at the bank (which doubles as a used car lot on weekends) with a For Sale sign. Further investigation revealed that it was the same '77 240D 4spd manual that I looked at on a lemon lot back in October. At that time, the lot was asking $2300. The car was recently (MAACO-quality) repainted in the original white color with blue interior. Driver seat was collapsed. Windshield severely cracked. Interior relatively trashed. I started the car and listened to it idle. Easy start. Good idle. After I heard the price I didn't bother with a test drive. 217,000 miles on the clock.

Fast forward to yesterday. Same car. Same condition. 218,000 miles. Sign said $600. I called and the guy said someone was coming to look at it for a possible trade. I said I'd call in the morning to see if it was still available. 1000 this morning I called. Already sold, $400. I fully intended to buy the car for a daily driver. I'm a bit miffed. I just thought I'd vent.

[TheDon]

to make you feel better

a cheap mercedes is an expensive mercedes

[Skippy]

Originally Posted by TheDon

to make you feel better

a cheap mercedes is an expensive mercedes

I know, but I wasn't going to try to make this one nice like I'm attempting with my $800 300D. I was going to apply minimal repairs and maintenance and then drive it back and forth to work for four months until I'm done with my current job. My boss already wants to buy my Sammy for a parts car, and I figured I could sell the 240 for what I bought it for in four months. The improvement in speed and power over the Samurai would have been much appreciated. The Sammy has 194,000 miles on an engine that usually craps out around 130,000. Top speed is 62 on a flat road with no wind. Fuel mileage would have been similar, but #2 diesel is cheaper than regular right now.

[Skippy]

I passed by the bank (used car lot) again today and the 240 was still there. I called the seller and found that we had miscommunicated. He actually sold the Mustang he had for sale. I am now the owner of a '77 240D.

Test drive results:

Glow plug system has been rigged to work off a push button under the dash, but it works. Engine starts easily cold and warm and runs smooth. Seems much smoother than my 5-cylinder. Aux fan has been rigged to run continously. Battery is new. Tires are fairly new Bridgestone Potenzas. Clutch leaks fluid under the car pretty badly. Passed the oil cap test. AC does not work. Heat works. Turn signals work but have to be held down to keep flashing. Lights work. Radio works. Transmission shifts a lot slicker than the rebuilt one in my Sammy. Power is ok, about the same acceleration as my Sammy, but top speed seems to be a bit higher. I got it up to 70 during the test drive.

One item of concern, the exhaust smoked until after I drove it for a while. Brake pedal is hard, but it stops fine as long as you push. Pulls very slightly to the left, but tire pressures are off and left front is visibly low.

Purchase price $480. Previous owner is a former co-worker, slightly disabled, and had the car for only a week. He found prolonged driving with the stick hurt his bad leg, and his wife refused to drive it.

[imagesinthewind]

Nice find for under $500!!

PICS. . .

[krs]

There's an o-ring under the master cylinder, seperating it from the power brake booster. Water gets in to it and a little rust will let it leak vacuum and you lose power brakes.

Before buying a new booster try taking out and carefully cleaning the o-ring as well as it's seat. Then coat the sealing surface with a very thin coating of an RTV sealant and replace the master cylinder. If it has vacuum to it you may well have respoered the power brakes for free. The whole thing can be done without removing the brake lines from the M/C if you're careful about it.

[Skippy]

Thanks, I'll try that. It'll be #2 on my list after fixing the clutch leak.

[Diesel Giant]

You get the bargin of the month award.