Craigslist alert thread:

[Squiggle Dog]

Originally Posted by vwnate1

@ $6K you didn't look very hard, I see decent ones in the L.A. junkyards because they're so hard to sell .

Well, I was using "search all craigslist", checking eBay, all the Mercedes forums, placing want ads, and searching various classified ad sites for about a year. Couldn't find a nice Walnut Brown 300SD with a sunroof under $6,000 to save my life, so I finally had to settle on a trashed $1,000 one that someone had painted black. Walnut Brown with no sunroof, yes. Other colors, yes. I see those in excellent condition in wrecking yards all the time. Walnut Brown was a one-year-only color for the W116 (1980), and in 1980 sunroofs were scarce and only available in limited quantities.

I never understood the hate for the W116 (or the W110/W111, for that matter). They seem like a step up from the W123s that people love so much. They have less plastic, more chrome, and a more classic look than a W126, too. Also, they have a MUCH better turning radius.

[vwnate1]

Agreed .

As long as it's not rusted out it's likely a bargain for the right person .

[vwnate1]

I've never heard any hate for W116's, only love and indifference .

(the intense dislike for Klima I and it's EVIL SERVOR OF DEATH is understanable, I had that in my second and third W123's, learned how to make it work perfectly them dumped both cars at a dead loss just to get away from that .

I thought that Walnut Brown was also a 1979 color, non ? .

For me they're just too darn BIG plus all that extra interior carpeting that makes it quiet like a bank vault inside, would get ruined by me prettydarnquick as I use my cars (NOTE : !not S.W.M.B.O.'s!) as light trucks .

I didn't realize they had a smaller turning radius than the W123, I'd make very good use of that constantly .

FWIW, I looked very hard at W116's before buying my various W123's, I know I made the right choice .

Having driven across America in both my Brother S Klasses, I understand the S Klasse love very well, I'm just an enthusiast drive who likes a smaller, more nimble car feel .

I don't hate W116's at all, I just wouldn't have one , not for free although in hindsight that was prolly a HUGE mistake to junk it .

[ROLLGUY]

My second 'Benz was a 1980 300SD and I thoroughly loved it at the time. It was a near 8+ in condition-exterior and interior. The only interior flaw was a couple thin cracks in the dash, and the infamous disintegrating horse hair padding in the rear seat. No body damage or visible repairs to the original Butter Yellow paint. I have to say that was the smoothest running OM617 I have experienced in the years I have been into these cars. Of course it had non working A/C and heat from a missing (bypassed) Evil Servo. I think I finally found a working servo and got heat. I have had several more since then, but the W126 became more to my liking after I sold the W116. Not that I disliked the W116, I just found nicer examples of the other chassis.

[vwnate1]

THIS .

FWIW, the wretched Klima II HVAC (I used R12) had hands down the coldest AC of any Mercedes I've ever been in, including new ones .

I taught my self how to diagnose and repair it and when I was finished, said ' screw this' and off loaded the cars I actually liked .

Now, back to wild and whacky craigslist flakes and ads ! .

[sixto]

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/d/1984-mercedes-240d/6458694374.html

1984 Mercedes 240D - $2000 (los gatos)

1984 Mercedes 240D
fuel: diesel
odometer: 212000
title status: clean
transmission: manual
Hey there, I'm selling my 84 240D. Same story you always see on here, bought it with the intention to keep working on it but life happens. It's a cool car. It's actually a Gray Market Mercedes so it is kinda unique. Manual windows and working manual sunroof. I took the seat covers off the front seats and the interior is pretty clean. It has a new Pioneer CD player and new speakers front and back. I also just put new tires on it and spent about $1,000 on the suspension. The only issue is the driver side window won't move but it is a manual window so should be pretty easy to figure out.
I moved up to San Francisco and left it at my parents house so I can help you set up a time to check it out.

$2,000 OBO

Sixto
98 E320s sedan and wagon

[tdoublenastywitit]

It was my ubderstanding that a totally manual 240d is completly normal? Not "grey market"

Sixto is really into the avg everyday find... Not the extraordinary smoking hot deal or the extremely rare perfect condition car that no one has enough money to buy. Haha

[vwnate1]

Yes but, the interior , bumpers and missing headlight adjustment switch show this to be one of the many direct imports that were common during the W123's production run as you could save serious $ .

[tdoublenastywitit]

Are those euro bumpers?? The interior looks normal to me and ive never seen a 240d with a headlight adjustment switch in my life...

Haha sorry forums just naturally seem to make us feel the need to prove people wrong. Haha im guilty.

And isnt even crazier how the cars that were sold cheaper and "less luxary" are the ones that are more expesive and sought after today.

Haha i understand why, the rarity and ease and cost of fixing the components when they malfunction. But still its just funny to think about

[vwnate1]

No worries ;

Like me, you're learning .

The grey market cars caused M-B U.S.A. serious headaches as many were sold privately as 'new' and when the new owner took it in for warranty service, the dealers flipped because they weren't about to give free warranty repairs to a non U.S.A. market car .

Lawsuits ensued , M-B won the right to refuse to service them if they wanted .

My self, I prefer the MN Tex interiors we got although the European ones were very pretty and had many more color options .

The Euro bumpers look better but are made of tin foil......

[ROLLGUY]

Another thing to notice about this 240 is the rear window shade. Also, as I recall, the last year for the 240 in the American market was 1983. Someone correct me if I am mistaken.....Rich

[sixto]

Just sharing the listing for discussion.

The DOT/EPA compliance tag on the b-pillar suggests Euro to me.

I’d pay more for manual AC controls and velour upholstery.

Steering wheel is nicely wrapped in leather.

Might not be a screaming deal but it’s in the low end of asking price for 240Ds in that condition around here.

Sixto
98 E320s sedan and wagon

[SonnyMorrow]

Originally Posted by sixto

Just sharing the listing for discussion.

The DOT/EPA compliance tag on the b-pillar suggests Euro to me.

I’d pay more for manual AC controls and velour upholstery.

Steering wheel is nicely wrapped in leather.

Might not be a screaming deal but it’s in the low end of asking price for 240Ds in that condition around here.

Sixto
98 E320s sedan and wagon

Looks Euro to me as well. One thing to point out is that the arm rest in the front isn't original to the car. I don't think they ever sold a manual transmission W123 with the front arm rest, as it gets in the way. Also it doesn't match the rear square shaped arm rest. Under the front bumper it looks to me like tail lights from a wagon?

Looks like a decent deal though, if you parted it out you could make quite a bit.

[vonsmog]

Originally Posted by SonnyMorrow

Looks Euro to me as well. One thing to point out is that the arm rest in the front isn't original to the car. I don't think they ever sold a manual transmission W123 with the front arm rest, as it gets in the way. Also it doesn't match the rear square shaped arm rest. Under the front bumper it looks to me like tail lights from a wagon?

Looks like a decent deal though, if you parted it out you could make quite a bit.

My Euro 84' 280CE with 5 speed from the factory has a arm rest. Car is all original with 72k miles.

[HarvAMG]

1983 was the last year for the 240D in the US. This being an '84 makes it an Euro import. That cloth wasn't offered on US cars either. Cool car, probably worth the $2,000.