I have had my eye on this car for awhile now, and it looks like the seller is very motivated.

Recent thread: http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/car/272748374.html
Previous threads: http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/car/269737963.html
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/car/267049778.html
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/car/261705919.html
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/car/258332910.html

Any things I should look for?

The usual. Blow by being a big one. then anything else you would normally look at in a car. would be my best guess. check for rust, make sure all is working

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1983 Euro 240D 277K
2016 Mazda 6
Coming Soon, 2013 Mercedes E350 Bluetec
Formers:
2012- Mazda 3
2007 Outlander- complete pile
1995 E300 Diesel 208K
2007 VW Passat 2.0T 63K SOLD
2003 Jaguar X-type 3.0 Sport Sold 04/11 w/88K
2009 Lexus RX350 9061 miles. Sold 04/09
2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS:Totaled Sept.,09 @ 24,000
2003 Infiniti I35 58K Sold
1984 300 turbo diesel 222K

How much oil consumption? For that price it's hard to go wrong. The main thing I would do is once the car is warmed up, loosen the oil cap and see how much blow by you have. If the cap gets blown off the valve cover, not a good sign.

Without knowing the car's history its really tough to know what you are buying. I bought a 240 4-speed for $700 without knowing anything about the car. Because it started and drove well I went for it. The car has been pretty good so far. Maybe you'll get lucky too.

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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)

If that was here in canada, id buy it in a heartbeat, just for the trans setup.

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1984 Euro 300SDC, (4spd standard)
1986 Toyota Landcruiser Diesel HJ60 5spd X2

Gone but not forgotten (some sold, some stripped)
1983 300 SD, 1985 300 SD, 1983 240D, 1986 300 SDL, 1985 300 SDL, 1983 300 D, 1984 300 D, 1985 300SD, 1987 300 SDL, 1983 300 SD, 1985 300 TD Euro, 1983 380SEC, 1990 300 D, 1987 300D, 1982 300D, 1982 300D, 1994 E420, 1987 300 TD, 1987 300 D, 1984 300 D

Even with some blowby that's a pretty good price. See how it drives, of course. Also, if it has its original blue and yellow California license plates then it has been in the area all its life and likely has very little rust.

I dind't see anything about mileage. But at that price and the new parts you can't go wrong. Check how it starts cold.

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'85 300SD (formerly california emissions)
'08 Chevy Tahoe
'93 Ducati 900 SS
'79 Kawasaki KZ 650
'86 Kawasaki KX 250
'88 Kawasaki KDX200
'71 Hodaka Ace 100
'72 Triumph T100R

For that price with no rust, no major puddles under the car, go for it, I would if it were closer.

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1982 240D Euro Stick 4

I went to go look at it today.

Test drive notes/thoughts:

I was amazed at how peppy the 240D 4-speed is. I really didn't have trouble keeping up with any traffic, and it's so easy to drive.

All of the electrics worked with the exception of the sunroof and the central locks (yes, I know they're vacuum operated). All of the gauges worked, the odometer worked, the original Becker worked great, and the headlight switch still had the German solidity to it.

The doors still closed with a vault-like "thud."

Here's the bad:

At a low (for am OM616) 210,000 miles, blowby is crazy. I pulled off the oil cap, and you would have thought Old Faithful Junior was making an appearance. Visible oil was getting thrown out of the valve train too, everywhere.

The owner told me the original engine had just been replaced after a mechanic's error and a used engine was put in, but when the owner called to inquire about the used engine, he was given the run around. Shady.

Also, rust was present. The door skins met the door structure in rust, and when I opened the trunk, the water/drain channels had rust too.

To top it off, the interior needed a automobile version of "Extreme Makeover." Chunks were missing out of the dashboard, and the shift knob was mutilated and the bare metal underneath could still be seen. It shifted well though. The seat sagged hardcore, and although comfy, needed fixing. The wood was okay, not too many cracks were on the dash, but a good cleaning was needed at least.

The silver star was missing, too, and the emblem was upside down on the trunk lid.

I could forgive all of this and fix it all, but - with rust and blowby - pass.

with rust, i would pass. however blowby on my 240 is also marginal at best, the cap shakes around a bit and it throws some oil out, but it starts a heck of alot better than my 300D. always 1 glow and start.

__________________
1983 Euro 240D 277K
2016 Mazda 6
Coming Soon, 2013 Mercedes E350 Bluetec
Formers:
2012- Mazda 3
2007 Outlander- complete pile
1995 E300 Diesel 208K
2007 VW Passat 2.0T 63K SOLD
2003 Jaguar X-type 3.0 Sport Sold 04/11 w/88K
2009 Lexus RX350 9061 miles. Sold 04/09
2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS:Totaled Sept.,09 @ 24,000
2003 Infiniti I35 58K Sold
1984 300 turbo diesel 222K