Because ONE Is Never Enough! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Mark DiSilvestro · #1 01-06-2007, 06:30 PM

Sounds like the title to the next James Bond flick. Well, I just bought my second 240D today. An '81 for $600. Compared to my '82 automatic, this one's kind-of a stripper-model with a 4-speed stick, manual windows, no sunroof, no EGR. Front floors and rear fenders more rusty than my automatic 240D, but strangely, the inner front fenders on this car seem pretty solid compared to my '82. Unlike the '82, this one was driveable - in fact I drove it home from Leesburg on I-66 and the Beltway - about 60 miles. So all the reasons I didn't need another car, like - I have too many already, I need another car like I need another hole in my head - just went out the window! This '81 is going to be my back-up 240D - to use while I try to get the oil pressure and 2 - 3 automatic shift issues sorted out on my '82. If I'm successful, I'll eventually have to decide which one to keep - the stripper stick-shift '81, or my loaded automatic '82.
If not, I'll probably be transplanting the '81 engine and tranny into the '82.
Recently, someone on the Forum said "it's an addiction". But awhile ago, someone also told me
"There's a very fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'!" Oh well....

Happy Motoring, Mark

PatricdeBoer · #2 01-06-2007, 06:47 PM

Ha, I know how you feel. Last month I had rid the property of one of many cars. 20 minutes later my brother comes rolling home in yet another benz.....

suginami · #3 01-06-2007, 07:00 PM

In any event, it's hard to go wrong for $600 with a car that has a good engine and tranny.

I say good move.

Mark DiSilvestro · #4 01-06-2007, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suginami

In any event, it's hard to go wrong for $600 with a car that has a good engine and tranny.

I say good move.

Yeah, I'm kind-of in a catch-22 with this one because I'd like to repair the rusted floors, like I did on the '82, but that would be a waste if I wind up yankng the engine/tranny. Or maybe if I fix 'em both, I could start up my own taxi service!

Happy Motoring, Mark

diesel don · #5 01-06-2007, 10:08 PM

I thought I was out of balance because I've purchased 15 MB's in 5 years. But then I met a guy 5 miles North of me who has about 40 of them. Suddenly, I knew it was only a hobby and not mental illness.

diesel don

suginami · #6 01-06-2007, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark DiSilvestro

Yeah, I'm kind-of in a catch-22 with this one because I'd like to repair the rusted floors, like I did on the '82, but that would be a waste if I wind up yankng the engine/tranny. Or maybe if I fix 'em both, I could start up my own taxi service!

Happy Motoring, Mark

I like your idea of having two running cars, and keeping one as a backup.

These cars are 24-25 years old, and issues will come up from time to time. With a back-up, you'll never be stuck with a situation when your ****-out-of-luck, and be able to fix the down car on your own time.

Mark DiSilvestro · #7 01-06-2007, 11:31 PM

Having put over 20,000 miles in 18 months, on my '98 Nissan Altima, one reason I got the first 240D was to take some of the load off the Nissan. At least in local driving, 240D #1 did get a bit better mpg, though the Nissan still gets up to 10 mpg better than my diesel on the highway. But for now, it looks like 240D #2 will be taking the load off #1, at least until I solve the low oil-pressure mystery. And I can also see if the stick-shift version provides any significant mpg improvement.

I've owned a total of 9 Benzes over 34 years, and managed to hang on to 4 of them, then adding this pair of diesels in the past 4 months makes 6.

Happy Motoring, Mark

suginami · #8 01-07-2007, 12:35 AM

Those Altima's have good engines, though, don't they?

My next door neighbor works for Northrop Grumann, and has to drive way out to Palmdale everyday, and has put over 200,000 miles on his Altima, and its still going strong with virtually no problems to speak of. I think he's been through a water pump, but no other failure of any kind.

Mark DiSilvestro · #9 01-07-2007, 01:39 AM

Though it's somewhat less refined than a Camry or Accord, my decision to get a used Altima was because -
1. It's reliable.
2. It was bargain priced used, compared to the other two.
3. Nissan's fours have used timing chains, instead of belts, since the late '80s, something that Honda and Toyota didn't 'rediscover' until just a few years ago.

The timing-chain issue is one of the reasons, despite BMW's more 'fun-to-drive' reputation, that I've prefered older Mercedes. (Yes, I know that BMW stopped using timing belts in the early '90s, but in this case I'm referring to their '80s models)

Happy Motoring, Mark

rs899 · #10 01-07-2007, 07:03 AM

Quote:

I'll probably be transplanting the '81 engine and tranny into the '82

I think you will come to appreciate the stick in the new car.

biobenz240d · #11 01-07-2007, 09:21 AM

Hey , my first benz is an ' 83 240D man 4spd (stripper model) cherry for $ 2300 on ebay in june 06. I have run 100% biodiesel for over 6k, poking around ebay I found a Cherry "83 300d , loaded for $800. I plan to convert this one to run wvo this summer mainly for economy because I drive about 100 miles per day. I have both on the road and will not part with them. My wife loves driving them both, so I guess its my hobby quickly turning into an addiction ( going to florida in march and will drive home another 300 benz)

Mark DiSilvestro · #12 01-07-2007, 10:34 PM

Well, spent most of the day working on 240D #2. What a rust-bucket! Peeled sheets of rust-encrusted undercoat from the floors and rockers, along with piles of rust-flakes. Car is probably 30 pounds lighter now and I no longer have to look at the ugly sheets of rusty rubber hanging under the car like Spanish moss in a bayou. Then went on to replace the motor mounts. 240D #2 now actually runs smoother and quieter than #1, and the manual-shift does make #2 feel a bit more lively. Other plusses for #2 - first-aid bin on rear shelf actually still has first-aid kit (unlike bin of #1 that was used by teenager as junction-box for monster-speaker wiring) Also, #2 has emergency triangle mounted under trumk lid (Seller told me the original owner bought this car in Mexico) Has recent brake pads, rear calipers, tie rods and center-link. And AC still works!

Weather forcasts 2 inches of rain tommorrow, so no repairs. Instead it's shopping for supplies for both diesels. Air, oil and fuel filters, plus plenty of oil-filter tube 'o' rings, and some diesel-injection return line. Maybe next week, I'll drop the pan on #1 to check the oil pump & screen. Wish me luck.

Happy Motoring, Mark

Mark DiSilvestro · #13 01-08-2007, 10:55 PM

Well, I was looking through the papers that came with 240D #2 and it turns out the original owner bought the car new in Germany, drove to Italy, then back to Bremerhaven and where he shipped it to the US. Looks like the second owner drove it to Mexico and back.

Rain stopped before noon today, so I was going to drive #2, then remembered the dead Kenwood radio, so took the Nissan instead. Most important thing before I fix the rusty floors or anything else - gotta have my tunes when I drive! Crawled around my attic tonight and fished out a Blaupunkt Cancun from one of my 'boxes-o-radios'. One of those early-'90s detacheable-faceplate cassette units. It tested OK so I spent a couple hours installing it, including re-doing the PO's wiring. The dead Kenwood's power supply had been hot-wired direct to the battery, with a fat length of 14 guage wire and no fuse! All 4 original speakers are working and the sound quality is tolerable.
Also glued the bits of dome light assy back together so, hopefully, I can see the interior at night! Hope to test drive the car and radio tommorrow.

Happy Motoring, Mark

slikkemeg · #14 01-08-2007, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diesel don

I thought I was out of balance because I've purchased 15 MB's in 5 years. But then I met a guy 5 miles North of me who has about 40 of them. Suddenly, I knew it was only a hobby and not mental illness.

diesel don

Just curious, where does your neighbor park his cars?

Mark DiSilvestro · #15 01-16-2007, 03:57 PM

OPTIONS, OPTIONS, OPTIONS....

Well, I now have this pair of 240Ds.

D1 is a pale yellow 1982, with manual sunroof, automatic & power windows. Was repainted 8 years ago after PO's kid had fender-bender. Still looks good. rockers, wheel arches and jacking ports still solid. I repaired the floors, started fixing other rust, replaced left rear trailing arm & both front upper arms & bushings. installed good used seats, right-hand mirror, and free Pioneer radio. Car has 4 new Michelins, new front rotors & calipers.
Power windows & locks all work.
Now the bad -
Rusting inner & outer front fenders from crappy repair of fender-bender
Developed low hot oil pressure at idle after 3 months. Despite new motor mounts, engine vibrates at idle much more than D2. Auto tranny has very lazy, mushy 2-3 shift. Differential whines. AC dead - condenser tubes broken off. first aid kit empty except for holes where teenager installed monster-speaker wires!

D2 is a beige 1981 with 4-speed, manual windows, no sunroof. Engine runs strong, good oil pressure, smooth idle with much less vibration than D1. Fixed dome-light and installed $15 used Blaupunkt cassette-radio. Looks like PO replaced front upper arms & bushings, rear calipers, rear half-shafts. Differential quiet. First aid kit intact & safety triangle installed in trunk lid.
The bad -
Paint faded, roof doesn't quite match rest of car. Floors much more rusted than D1, as are rockers & wheel arches. Jack-ports iffy. Needs center bearing and flex-joint. Driver's seat split. 6-7 year old Michelins dry-rotted & noisy. Original 85 mph speedometer was replaced with 100 mph version - now appears to read 5 - 10 mph slow!

Option 1 -
Solve D1's oil-pressure problem, hopefully without having to pull the engine. Install a K1 tranny kit to improve the 2-3 upshift.
If successful, then decide which diesel to sell, or keep both, or sell both and look for a much better one

Option 2 -
If option 1 is unsuccessful, transplanting D2's engine & manual tranny, and any other useful parts (like the first-aid kit & trunk-mounted hazard triangle) into D1.

I've since added a few more options.

Option 3 -
Patch up D2's floors and treat other rust with 90wt oil as much as is practical. Swap better seats, new Michelins and right-hand mirror over from D1, then sell D1 for whatever I can get, then drive D2 for awhile, or until creeping rust separates something critical, or I find a better replacement, whichever comes first!

Option 4 -
Install a 5 cylinder into D1, from this rusty 1980 300D a neighbor wants to give me, that's been sitting in his driveway since his tranny died 6 years ago.

Distant option 5 - at the risk of being pilloried -
Similar to option 4 except, pull tired diesel & automatic from D1, then drop in small-block Ford 302 V8 & matching Ford automatic! Continue to fix up & drive D2. Then I'll have one for slow and one to GO!

Any thoughts, ideas?

Final question - Before I condemn D1's bearings, according to the computer print-out I got from my local Mercedes parts-source, there's a pressure-relief valve, as well as a thermostatic oil-cooler valve in the oil-filter housing. But my stupid Haynes 240D manual said the pressure relief valve is on the oil-pump! Is there another pressure relief valve on the oil-pump? I've replaced D1's oil-filter stem 'O' rings with little improvement, but I am considering swapping D1's and D2's oil-pressure guages before I get too deep into D1's engine.

Happy Motoring, Mark