Drove an auto-240d today, wow.
 

I test drove a 240d today, what an interesting experience. I had never driven anything but 617 powered cars. I must say, its slow, for sure, but not as slow as I thought it would be...it can really wind up through the gears to get the job done! :D I'd say the 0-60 test I did took about 28-30 seconds or so....but its so loud/interesting while its going on that you don't really realize it! ;) The car had numerous issues, non-working oil pressure gauge, speedo/odo was dead...idle knob broken (so it was idling too low and rough), interior had some issues, exhaust needs some work.....vacuum issues with the trans. It was a strong runner though. I was actually impressed. A 4spd would be WAY better though. I'll agree fully on that.

The guy wanted $2495 for it. Ha. ha. ha. We said go lower, he said the lowest he'd take was $2000. He's crazy. We offered $1000 and he said that was too low....so we walked. A more reasonable price would have been like 700-800 or so. Maybe we'll go back in a month or two when its still sitting there. ;) We bought our essentially-issue free 300D for 1500 last year....much nicer car. Also since the odo/speedo didn't work, who knows how many miles it had on it. It was dead at 169k.

So...onward to another car tomorrow....we found a very nice 300TE wagon at another little dealer....who also wants $1995 for it. We're going to test it tomorrow morning....if its nice we'll try to haggle but we're willing to pay asking price if its as nice as it looks. This will be the first MB gasser I've driven! :D I'm guessing it will be a LOT faster than the 240. :D ;)

Welcome to my world:D.

Sounds like you made the right move though......I'd walk away at that price too.

I think I'd be just fine having one as my second car/around town car....but I could never survive with that being my only car...I need some speed too. :D ;)

I do honestly think most school buses/city buses could outrun a 240d....pretty scary. :D

Most people would be surprised how fast a PROPERLY tuned and working 240 auto is... but often people try them out with the pedal to IP linkage sloppy , valves not adjusted, that sort of thing.... and it raises the hair on the back of their neck thinking about integrating into traffic...
You just have to get used to the fact that putting your foot all the way to the floor is the proper way to drive it.

I agree.....and some of it is blown out of proportion (myself included, for entertainment purposes)......but since I've bought mine - I've slowly seen marked performance gains. I must say though, when making a left hand turn across traffic - I do leave myself plenty of extra room - there's no making up for it.

I can easily cruise at 75-80mph on the highway.......but it's terribly loud. I also ALWAYS pull out or start in 2nd gear (in my auto) and often times, I'll downshift on entrance ramps until I hit 50-55mph and shift into drive.

I wonder how much HP the 300TE has ... a w123 280TE had 182bhp@5800rpm and a top speed of 121mph.

They are a hoot to drive. Really they are. You have to think outside the box and drive scared.

I think I read somewhere that it has around 190-195hp or something....it should be fun! :D

The 240 I drove today could have benefited from proper vacuum to the trans, and obviously linkage and valve adjustments....

School buses are great for drafting.:D Actually caught and passed a '63 VW Bug last week but I don't think it was hitting on all cylinders.:rolleyes:

I drive a 240D auto all over the place. It's fine for most things, but does slow down going up hills. A freeway merge when going up an onramp might be a bit tough but I haven't done that yet.

You really have to learn energy management driving an auto 240D. I don't encounter traffic anymore where I live now, but I lived in Dallas with a '76 AMC Pacer. This was a single barrel carb 258ci I-6. All 90HP (when new), 3500lbs, and auto. That is the car that taught me how to drive a low-powered car and not have everybody behind you curse your name or grow old on the on ramp.

cphilip has a good point, too. I quickly learned in my Miata to drive like your riding a motorcycle: just assume that nobody is going to see you. And if they do, they're going to run over you.

The one thing I really liked was the SOUND! :D It sounds like a piece of farm equipment, N/A engines have a totally different (more rugged perhaps) sound than the turbo motors. At idle it sounds pretty small and wimpy though. :D

The 300TE is 177hp, about 138mph top speed compared to the 603-powered 300D at 128mph top speed.

I was pretty happy with the performance of my '91, it would go pretty well and it's hard to beat the smooth power of an inline six gasser.

I would have kept it and put up with its problems and kept it if it were a diesel.

What problems? :D It'd be neat to try a gasser, just for the heck of it. 177HP is still a lot more than any of the cars we've ever owned! Even our stupid van barely made 165hp when new, and its probably lost a lot of that by now....its ailing.

Biggest problem was (y)our dealer! I'd take it in for a mileage check-up, pick it up filthy and low on fuel, ... last time it was in for fluid changes it would barely run when I picked it up, they had to push it back into the service bay, took 3weeks and $1500 of my money to find the wire they had knocked loose.

But I digress. Kalamazoo is the place to get dealer service IMO.

In the first 100k miles:

Stalling/stumbling problem x3
Oil leaks at transfer case x2 (4matic, $3500 each time)
Blower motor x1
Blower Speed Controller x1
Aux Fan resistor x1
Engine Oil Leaks
Lock/Orthopedic Seat Pump x1 ($450)
Hatch pull-down motor x1
Tambour Door disintigrating x1
Alternator (regulator) failure x1
ABS/ASR sensors x1
RR Wheel Bearing x1
"Lazy" seat belt retractors

All I can think of quickly, sold it over 10years ago so memory isn't perfect. What I remember clearly is how much more trouble it was than my other vehicles at the time: Hummer H1, Ford E150, Audi 4k quattro.

It was a '91 4matic, but the 4matic only accounts for one of the problems, the rest were box-stock 2WD T124 stuff. I'm sure more of the trouble items will come to me. It was a nice car to drive, I liked the power and hauling capacity, was still new enough when I sold it to not need SLS items. I don't think I got much over mid to upper 20s MPG on the highway.

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.:D:cool: 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.

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. :D ;)

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. :D

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.... :confused:

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. :D 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. :D

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.

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.

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

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

:bsflag:

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

Actual Test: '77 240D manual pulls the hill better than '77 240D automatic
 

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!!!
:eek::eek::eek:

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. :(:(:(

Why?

It's ABSOLUTELY TRUE!!!
:)

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! :D

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

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.

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

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

Your above paragraph couldn't be more true!

You have to drive them more like you would a semi getting a run on hills and trying to time the stop lights better. They make you plan ahead more so you can keep your momentum up as much as possible. When I first put the motor in mine and started driving it,it was shifting to early. Having never driven one before I was thinking man these things really are dogs. Then I changed the levers on the valve cover and it stared shifting to late but I knew it had potentail. I finally got it dialed in by adjusting the linkage by the IP and it`s not so bad now. Slow off the line but once you get rolling, cruises the freeway just fine it does seam like it could use another gear thou.

I actually don't like my 240D around town very well. I much prefer it on the highway. It just kinda drones down the road and covers ground without a lot of fuss. In town it seems you go through all that to get up to speed and then it's time to stop and repeat the exercise.