I'd get a 240D for an around town car. I almost bought a pretty red one with a tan interior a couple of years ago. It was really clean and had a 4spd, the guy was asking $1,300 for it. But I had just bought the SD so I really didn't need a 3rd car. The 240 was in far better shape than the SD though, I should have spent the extra $800 I probably would have still had it.

I have never driven an M103, but the M104 is fantastic, so I can't imagin the M103 is anything less. I hear M103's burn a lot of oil, I guess the valve steam seals are kind of weak. I don't know how hard they are to change, but I imagin its not rocket science.

If 177hp is as much German HP as you have experianced I feel for you, you need to go to your local MB/BMW/Porsche dealer and test drive something with balls. A 335CI, or anything 550 MB should do it. The new 5.5L V8 MB is putting into everything is a surprised the heck out of me. Damn near 400hp and it feels like it, makes the 7spd seem totaly pointless.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Are you talking about Betten Imports? When was the last time you had service there? They've really gone uphill in the past 4 years...they moved to a fortress facility (huuuuge) thats super fancy, and have quite good service. We've had essentially all positive interaction with them so far....and they've performed several services for us....including some big stuff.


The one we're looking at doesn't have the fancy seats...and its not 4matic....and they said its currently running great (we'll see) it has 229k on it, so perhaps stuff like valve stem seals and head gasket etc... may have been done already. My car has super lazy seat belt retractors...so that'd be nothing new. Hatch pull down motor? I don't think it has that either....we'll see, if we do like it we'll go over it VERY well to find any issues before we buy. But hey, for $1700-2000ish....it could be a great car. It'd be interesting to have a gasser MB with some power. If it continually had issues we could always just sell it off.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

We'd like a 240...but around here locally the diesels are few and far between (for sale ones) and the ones that are need work, and are too expensive....gassers are way more plentiful.....and it'd be nice for the winter, my dad intends to use this car (whatever one we get) as his winter car + auxiliary summer car for the both of us for when one of the SD's is down for repair. My brother is taking over the 300D in the not too distant future, so that leaves me and him without a spare car....which is not good.

I've read the pictorial on valve stem replacement....it doesn't look all that bad....or we'd just have the dealer do it. They'd never let me test drive a car like that at the dealer....as they know I have no where near the $$ to buy one. At least I don't think they would....

Most powerful vehicle I've driven to date was a Chevy Silverado 4.3 V6 (200-ish hp) but they are geared for poor pooooor acceleration. However, I've also driven a 4.3 blazer, and while a scary vehicle....they move quite quickly in a straight line with 190hp. They have much better gearing for "normal" driving vs. towing stuff. I mashed the pedal on one before....that was a thrill ride. I do want to try out some real german power. If I could locate a good 560 for sale or something I'd like to test that out.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

I haven't driven a 240 4 speed but I was reading somewhere that they are only like a second faster in 0-60. At around 31 seconds thats really nothing to brag about. I love my 240D automatic for around town. At times it sounds kinda like an airplane.
We will see if I still love it when I start driving a 300TD again.

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Currently driving a very clean 1985 300SD from the West Coast.

I once drove a friend's 240D 4-speed, and I had the same experience you had. Expecting it to be slower, I was surprised too. It was peppier than I thought. But at higher speeds (maybe around 50ish mph above), that's where the turbo's advantage kicks in whereas the 240D, despite being determined, is really slow to accelerate beyond that point.

The M103 on our 300TE has linear acceleration whereas the OM617.952 has the turbo so any speed below 2500ish RPM would be a bit slow but once it gets up to speed it's fine, not as fast as the 300TE on around-town speeds of 30-40ish mph, but surprisingly, when on the freeway, the OM617 feels like it has more high speed grunt than the M103. I guess that's the diesel torque kicking in though I'd imagine that even if the M103 had similar torque ratings it would feel the same, but no it doesn't. The M103 feels a bit weak when accelerating on the highway (from 60+mph and faster) while the turbo diesel feels more responsive.

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg

"Determined" Thats the Perfect word to describe what a 240 feels like when accelerating. Sadly from like 65 and up there's not much left.

We'll see what I think of the M103 tomorrow....should be interesting.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Sorry, I can't let you get away with that one........

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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

That was EXACTLY my experience, too, when I was in the market for one many years ago.

Going up highway 101, on the PuertoCello hill, opposite the Frank Lloyd Wright Civic Center in San Rafael, CA, I actually had it floored (1977 240D automatic) and at 50mph it was actually slowing down!!!


Then I tested a nearly identical 1977 240D manual, in EXACTLY THE SAME PLACE, and that one made it up the hill just fine.

This was back in about 1980, when there were lots of them around that were mint, and low miles, and I wanted one so bad I could taste it.

You could get one for about $8,000, too back then - (choose your color, do you want a manual or automatic?) Which sounds pretty cheap for a low mile minter, today, but $8,000 was a lot of money back then.

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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)

Why?

It's ABSOLUTELY TRUE!!!

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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)

I consider driving these cars thrilling. These cars make you think! The thing about these cars is that you have to anticipate each move before you make them. Unlike a modern gas car in which you just get in, drive and not think about anything because it is so easy to drive it.
Take for instance merging into a lane… On a modern gas car, you just push the accelerator and get into the lane. No brainer!
Now with these diesels, you first get your momentum going and anticipate your opening, then squeeze right into the lane! How fun is that!

Same applies to hills…. You just need to anticipate how much momentum you need to clear the hill!

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1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

When I had my 1979 240D the car handled highway 2 from about 200ft in elevation up to 4000ft with ease....in 3rd gear. Staying at about 50mph with a single passenger and a full tank of diesel it did quite well.

It does make you a better driver but forbid you're in a new and or unfriendly neighborhood and merging in traffic with a bunch of idiot drivers was stressful enough that I had to let it go.

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1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k

I'd have to second that on worn accelerator linkages. I couldn't get above 60 mph when I test drove my 240D manual. Yes I had to think 3-5 cars ahead. Not good with an unfamilar car. I bought the car anyways. The pivot linkage was worn and there are two square bushings in the linkage plate that were half gone. I put wood splints in there and I could do about 70-75 mph. I didn't have enough road ahead of me to go faster, another car in they way. I have replaced all that, but haven't driven it since. Weather is getting warmer, so its time to work on cars and trucks.
Tom

Well I was sort of kidding but not completely. Driving one is like driving a Motorcycle. You drive very defensively. For various reasons. They are fun to drive and a whole different mentality and methodology takes over.

I've lived with an automatic 240D for over a year. Definitely slow but not as bad as I originally feared. Definitely not the car I use if I'm in a hurry. I need to be patient at merges and intersections. Accerlerator linkage still solid so it can top 80, but seems to prefer cruising around 70 on occasional short freeway jaunts. Biggest flaws - very slow until it starts to warm up, very noisy above 55 mph, at 35-40 mph it slows on moderate-to-steep hills, and in drive there's an annoying 4-cylinder idle vibration (even with new motor-mounts) Now if I'm in a hurry, or on a long trip, I have a '98 Nissan Altima, but for most local errands the 240D is perfect. And unlike most gassers since the early '80s, the 240D is simple and has no computerised engine systems to worry about.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

I knew what you meant, just adding to the thread.

Your above paragraph couldn't be more true!

__________________
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