1974 240D automatic should i buy?

[siredmund]

Thinking of buying a 1974 240D automatic. Wondering if this is a good model, what pitfalls to look out for before i decide, and how that engine is for unheated WVO.

300D that i have runs great on WVO, but only gets about 25 MPG. What should be expected of a 240D?

Any and all opinions appreciated.

sir edmund

[lietuviai]

No diesel is good for unheated WVO. That's one way to kill one.

[diametricalbenz]

Yep you're going to coke it up and then you'll wish for having 62hp. The cars themselves have rust issues in the fenders, jack points and under the floor mats, especially the rear footwells.

[Cervan]

You might be better off pushing it but the automatics are... luxurious at best lol. even floored they are take off like a limousine. (due to the lack of horsepower of course)

You should avoid Mercedes completely if you want to mercilessly abuse it with unheated WVO.

Get an old VW or ride the bus instead.

[Ghohn]

I got one. I like it. The auto/240 combo teaches you to be a better driver for sure. Make sure the blower motor for the heater works!

[Stevo]

I would never buy an automatic 240D, way too slow, then I would never run WVO in my engine either , espically unheated.

[diametricalbenz]

Originally Posted by Ghohn

I got one. I like it. The auto/240 combo teaches you to be a better driver for sure. Make sure the blower motor for the heater works!

Why is that? One of the bonus features which the W123 can't touch is the fact that at freeway speeds the air coming through the outside vents is as strong as putting the vent fan speed on max (3) when stopped.

[MS Fowler]

The reason has to be that it MAKES you anticipate. You must drive far in front of the car "seeing" things way before they happen. Its a good skill.

[siredmund]

Turned out to be a major rust bucket, and a tad slower than my pet garden tortise. The amount of exhaust coming out the oil cap was about equal that coming out the tail pipe.

Can't understand the anti WVO fanaticism, i've logged 15,000 mi on my '85 300D with unheated WVO (only in above 50dF weather) with no ill effects.
Saved over 6 times the $250 purchase price in fuel, even if it siezed up tomorrow.

The fact that it is so tolerant of the original diesel fuel is the only really good reason i can think of to drive one of these pretentious obese tanks, unless of course one identifies mit die Fuherer. Running WVO is one small way to stick it to our own modern idiot Fuehrer.

sir edmund

81, 83, & 85 300D's
various VW's

[Stevo]

Originally Posted by siredmund

the only really good reason i can think of to drive one of these pretentious obese tanks, unless of course one identifies mit die Fuherer. Running WVO is one small way to stick it to our own modern idiot Fuehrer.

sir edmund

81, 83, & 85 300D's
various VW's

Some if us drive these cars for reasons other than too save money on fuel which you obliviously cant comprehend.

Originally Posted by Stevo

Some if us drive these cars for reasons other than too save money on fuel which you obliviously cant comprehend.

Don't worry about it, these clowns will eventually kill off all the junkers they can find and move on to something else. Just think of them as a source of parts cars.

[Stevo]

Originally Posted by Craig

Don't worry about it, these clowns will eventually kill off all the junkers they can find and move on to something else. Just think of them as a source of parts cars.

How true that is,

[Palangi]

Originally Posted by siredmund

Turned out to be a major rust bucket, and a tad slower than my pet garden tortise. The amount of exhaust coming out the oil cap was about equal that coming out the tail pipe.

Can't understand the anti WVO fanaticism, i've logged 15,000 mi on my '85 300D with unheated WVO (only in above 50dF weather) with no ill effects.
Saved over 6 times the $250 purchase price in fuel, even if it siezed up tomorrow.

The fact that it is so tolerant of the original diesel fuel is the only really good reason i can think of to drive one of these pretentious obese tanks, unless of course one identifies mit die Fuherer. Running WVO is one small way to stick it to our own modern idiot Fuehrer.

sir edmund

81, 83, & 85 300D's
various VW's

At a quick glance, I see at least 5 reasons for anti-WVO fanatacism in that post alone. Sometimes you guys can be your own worst enemies.

[siredmund]

Wow, i really brought out the dinosaurs with my last post!

I've never spent $1500 for a car, (but i recently spent $1200 for a VW diesel Rabbit truck) and tho i have lots of stickers, none of them are about veggie oil.

From a somewhat thorough perusal of these forums, i have still to hear of anyone who damaged their engine with vegetable oil beyond a coked injector or 5, and none of mine are showing signs of any dysfunction. Starts on 9 cents, and runs smooth as silk.

But they are very heavy cars, and 25 MPG for a diesel is not that spectacular. When WVO gets a little more scarce (currently i'm innundated with it), i'll switch to one of my VW's that get 40+ MPG. But the real future of the private automobile has to be electric, as electric motors are in the 90%+ efficiency range vs. 30% at best for infernal combustion.

Of course, Mercedes is what the Chancellor drove!

sir edmund