I found this 1981 240D auto for sale in my friends neighborhood. 172k miles, ok condition for 25+ year old car, but there is a lot of rust damage on the body. the frame and all the important bits look ok though. Only paid $650

Its my first diesel. last weekend i did all the regular maintainence on it, flushed the oil, changed fuel filters, oil and air filter, belts (what a pita!), diff fluid (Redline 75w90), etc. I have not adjusted the valves yet, i figured i would save that for another day. She runs really good, starts right up every time.

pics









yes that is a piece of wood holding the hood up one of the hood latch spring mounts was all rusted out


Ive been driving it to work the past week, and averaged a little over 37 mpg!! mixed driving.. really impressed. It drives perfect, i just have to get used to the very slow acceleration its really growing on me though, i think im officially hooked on diesel MB's!

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1983 300D Turbo

Looks great. Hopefully the rust isn't too deep or structural. I'd get some POR15 and start patching up the rust spots (assuming they're mostly surface rust), especially before the winter comes! Oh yeah, you also need a hood star.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

37mpg? Seems off
My 83 is lucky to see above high 20s

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-Dan
1983 240D AT, 163K running on VO, "The Patience Tester"

It does seem high. My 240D used to see 26-28 MPG.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

yeah i was surprised with 37mpg, most are getting 25-30. im sure the mileage is correct, it matches the distance to work, etc. it may have been a poorly calibrated diesel pump at the station, but ill keep tabs on the mileage, see if i get the same at different stations

Nice little 240D for the $$$
Not sure what happened with the mileage, but they don't get 37mpg.
That is an interesting radiator overflow bottle situation. Would love to see closer up pics of that setup. Neither of my 240's have an overflow, and I wouldn't mind doing something like that.

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

The car doesnt look too rusty to me. Check under the battery tray for sure, major rust prone area there. Old chaulky paint rubs out as new. Driver's side door release is an easy fix, dont even have to pull the door panel.

PLEASE get some Purple Power and get the engine bay clean! It will surely help you identify leaks that will need plugging. The fuel in your in line filter looks brown in the picture - it should be a sort of opaque light green. Not a bad car overall. I recently bought one for $700 that pretty much looked like yours. After MUCH cleaning and replacing a few parts, it runs and looks great. I'm sure yours will too.

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)

Looks like a great deal.

I agree no way to get 37 mpg unless you drive a constant 42 mph.

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.

Actually 37mpg was my best tank ever. I was a huge skeptic so I borrowed a gps for the next tank full and the odo was 1% off. So it was a honest 37mpg. My mpg range from 28 (winter with the parking heater on a lot) up to a month or so ago with the 37. I had been driving like a granny, no highways all local driving about 30-50 mph.

Gotta love the snail, hope you enjoy it. These cars will give you plenty of time to enjoy them too, no matter where you go, gave me a whole new outlook, slow is now enjoyable.

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1978 240D Auomatic
Custom Charcoal Gray, Navy MB tex, kenwood/Elemental/Boston/Aura sound,
Shaved antenna and emblems.

1990 Lincoln Town Car, Sleeper/Strip car in progress, 17.75@77mph.

ain't that the truth

Pretty car! Still plenty of 240s out here in Deutschland.

Is that a wet spot at the radiator top hose, maybe coolant leaking? You don't want that breaking on you.

Also have a look at your oil cooler lines, they look rusty in places and they may need swapping out. Don't want those going out on you either.

Have fun.

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Rob
1979 300SD W116