Decent, rust-free 617's for a good price are getting hard to find as well. Some of the better examples are selling near $10K on Ebay and they're not even "low mileage". This might be partly due to so many of these cars having been hacked up to run on WVO.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

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

Well...
thanks...
I made photocopies of all the service records
I'm going back to look @ it again today
I have this little old german guy as my mechanic && he's in love w/ my 240, but like... he actually sounded excited on the phone when I asked him to look over an SDL for me.
how can i go wrong tho. a mercedes certified, ex mercedes benz employee that retired in 1991 as my mechanic for $49.00 an hour!?!??! haha
he did both rear brakes on my car (pads, rotors, lines & parking break ) for $300 including labor.
I'm having ALL the floor pans done next week along with the exaust
if i get the SDL
i'll drive it. keep it going... not restore it (yet) just do the basics
my 240... the only things that work on it... are the engine, tranny, brakes, crank windows, halfass vacuume locks & power antenna. lol
my feeling is, if the AC doesn't work. big deal. if the sunroof no longer opens. big deal. if the thing catches on fire. big deal. lol Just kidding.

I've read though everything you've said... I mean everything multiple times... and i'm taking everything into consideration.
i went to the bank && pulled out $1750 from my 240D fund. if everything looks okay... I'll have an SDL today.

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Matthew McIvor

2016 E350 4Matic Black/Black
2007 GL450 4Matic with Off-Road Pkg Silver/Black
1995 E300 Diesel White/Gray
1994 S600 Euro Black/ Black Velour
1986 560SL Blue/Blue/Gray
1986 190E Blue/Blue 93k

So did you get the SDL?? If so, post some pics!

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

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

Yep. OM61X's are way overrated around here.

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98 Dodge-Cummins pickup (123k)
13 GLK250 (135k)
06 E320CDI (323K)
16 C300 (62K)
82 300GD Gelaendewagen (54K)

If you think they're overrated here, look at Ebay. Shall I say million miles?

Regarding blowby, it is difficult to measure, but I can say that both of the OM61x engines that I've had consumed some oil whereas both of the OM60x engines that I've had consumed none. Some of the materials in the older engines may be better when it comes to durability, but I suspect the newer engines are more precisely machined.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

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

Wonderful.........with Winter coming on, it may be a good time to get a large tarp, and start shopping for used car #3...........

x2

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Well...... what's the verdict? Get any pics of the SDL? I'm about in the same boat as you are except I'm a junior and have an SD and a new 500SE money pit project. Also in Ohio too. (Lorain/Cleveland area)

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1981 300 SD 213k miles "Stock for now"
1999 Super Duty 7.3L 113k miles
1981 300 SD 180k miles "Heavily modified" SOLD

haha. they don't want to budge from $2500...
so eff them. lol
idk. they'll come down sometime until then... i'm putting all funds into the 240D i ripped off the trim pieces today....


anybody have a spare drivers door i can buy?!? lol

__________________
Matthew McIvor

2016 E350 4Matic Black/Black
2007 GL450 4Matic with Off-Road Pkg Silver/Black
1995 E300 Diesel White/Gray
1994 S600 Euro Black/ Black Velour
1986 560SL Blue/Blue/Gray
1986 190E Blue/Blue 93k

I wouldn't put money into that W123 its rusted out. Just do whatever you need to keep it driving. I'd get the exhuast fixed cheap and just drive it.

Putting money into a rust bucket is a waste, no matter what you do it will always be a rust bucket.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

actually, i recently purchased a 1985 300SD from the original owner (with all service records and original window sticker) for $1500 and it is in great running condition, even has a new paint job! the interior is worn out but it will be replaced within a few months. Though the 617 is sluggish off the line once that turbo spools up (around 2000+ rpm) it really gets going. its a great road trip car (i've already put 3000 miles on it in 2 months) and handles great. my point is that there are good deals out there but i've heard many horror stories about the 86+ 6cyl diesels. watch out for that head!

Why not just wait and buy a diesel in the condition you want it in. Why buy these junk project cars at all?? Just because they happen to be in front of you, doesn't mean you HAVE to buy the POS.

I wouldn't want either of the cars in question in this thread if you friggin' delivered and gave 'em to me. LMAO!

Good advice. It's tempting to buy these cars when they happen to be in front of you since they're kind of rare, but one must always ask himself, do I really need this car or will it keep me happy for at least 5 years?

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

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

Valid point.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

All this used diesel discussion, has gotten me to start shopping to locate and buy a cream puff 2005 - 2006 CDI here in Texas........

Anybody interested in giving me more than a quarter, for the fuel-gushing under-the-hood TD, in my sig.??