Can anyone tell me what performance I should expect from a manual shift 240D? I saw one on Criag's List that looked kinda nice...

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/car/262245363.html

I have a hankering to get a manual shift as a possible winter vehicle - as manual as possible for something that is going to be exposed to the salt, grit and cold of Canadian winter roads.

I have experience driving a 300sd of course as well as a 67hp 1992 Jetta diesel five speed ... can anyone guesstimate for me if the 240D manual is going to faster or slower than these?

Cheers

That is a terrible reason to get a car... much less a 240d manual tranny....which should be worshipped and immediately shipped to Texas to AVOID rusting....
LOL
It will probably be a tad slower due to the extra weight at the same hp and one less gear. It won't have the airbag/safety equipment which the VW did....

Ah ... a 92 Jetta is the old Mark ii rectangular body. Bugger all safety equipment other than seat belts and prayer in case of accident!

If you have performance expectations you will be disappointed with a 240D.

You need to find one and test drive it...
mine is a light feeling car compared to other MB's even though it really does not weigh much less... I think it may have to do with the steering ratio....
and it is peppier than you might think...and mine is pretty much only running on 3 cylinders...and gets 24 mpg all the time...
It had really low compression in number one cylinder when I bought it at a bargain... and it runs 75 out on the road all day long with no problems...

you wont win any races but a stick 240 is engaging to drive.

you have to get acclimated to it but then it is fine.

you have enough power running flat out all the time to keep up with traffic as most folks don't use the performance they have on tap.

and the most fun is you can race everybody all the way to work and have the satisfaction of knowing they will never know it.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I live about one mile above sea level which I'm sure has some effect on performance. I recently took a 4 hour drive where I was running at around 75 the entire time without a problem. The only time the car doesn't do well is going up hills. Even with the accelerator on the floor, sometimes it just can't maintain cruising speed. Also, don't ever, ever pull out in front of somebody. When I pull away from red lights, more often than not, people gun it and race around me. But I still love my car.

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Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

0-60 is going to be in the 18-20second range.

Link is gone, BTW.

Have you checked the TSB's which might appy to tweaking your IP with regard to living at that altitude ? Might help a little bit...

LOL-That is classic!

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

Where can I find the TSBs?

Thanks,

Scott

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Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

Go to Alldata.com
and plug in your car specs...
then read the titles and see if any are interesting ...
Then you can either get copies of them from the dealer..
or get a subscription to Alldata.com... I think it was about $25 last time I looked...
It will have recalls and stuff like that listed also...

Basically, set your timing at 25*BTDC instead of 24.

That describes the 240D W123 experience very well Tom, and you did so humorously and accurately.

I tested a lot of them a long time ago when I was in the market for one, and I would definately prefer the manual to the automatic.

On the same grade, (highway 101 near the Civic Center in San Rafael, Marin County California) I tested the 240 D automatic and manual back to back.
They don't like hills!! The manual made it (barely) but the automatic, I had it floored at 50 mph and it was slowing down!

I generally prefer the automatics for the convenience in city traffic, however with the 240D, and so little hp, the manual allows the driver to be in more control, and eke out a little bit more power than the automatic, I believe.
And with these, every bit of HP helps. Probably a 300D euro non turbo manual would be ideal, but these are very hard to find used, even harder in good condition. If you are interested, a Mercedesshop member, Zack K. (Boardmonger) has a 1981 300D euro non turbo manual for sale, and it looks VERY good, no rust, and a good history (check the cars for sale thread) and
I know Zack, have met him, and he knows these cars and is honest in his description of the one he is selling, and why.
Also, on these cars, the manual shift is a very good one, the throws are not notchy or too long, I really like the set up, a lot

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

JimB, I agree... as a reminder lets say that when we on this forum talk about a 240 it is a non turbo engine by default ( unless you are in India )....
We had a thread lately discussing the pros and cons of the automatic versus the manual with regards to TURBO engines ... which most people will understand are faster stoplight to stoplight WITH the auto trans... but for the NON turbo in either the four or five cylinder the manual trans helps exactly as you describe....