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  #1  
Old 04-07-2008, 02:02 PM
pawoSD's Avatar
Dieselsüchtiger
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 15,438
Talking 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! 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! I'm guessing it will be a LOT faster than the 240.

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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)
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  #2  
Old 04-07-2008, 02:07 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pawoSD View Post
I test drove a 240d today, what an interesting experience. I

Welcome to my world.

Sounds like you made the right move though......I'd walk away at that price too.
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  #3  
Old 04-07-2008, 02:12 PM
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Location: Grand Rapids, MI
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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.

I do honestly think most school buses/city buses could outrun a 240d....pretty scary.
__________________
-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)
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  #4  
Old 04-07-2008, 02:28 PM
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Location: central Texas
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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.
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  #5  
Old 04-07-2008, 02:32 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by leathermang View Post
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.
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  #6  
Old 04-07-2008, 02:33 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: North Wales, PA
Posts: 4,001
Quote:
Originally Posted by pawoSD View Post
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! 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! I'm guessing it will be a LOT faster than the 240.
I wonder how much HP the 300TE has ... a w123 280TE had 182bhp@5800rpm and a top speed of 121mph.
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1986 300SDL - Coda
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  #7  
Old 04-07-2008, 02:34 PM
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They are a hoot to drive. Really they are. You have to think outside the box and drive scared.
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  #8  
Old 04-07-2008, 02:45 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chad300tdt View Post
I wonder how much HP the 300TE has ... a w123 280TE had 182bhp@5800rpm and a top speed of 121mph.
I think I read somewhere that it has around 190-195hp or something....it should be fun!

The 240 I drove today could have benefited from proper vacuum to the trans, and obviously linkage and valve adjustments....
__________________
-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)
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  #9  
Old 04-07-2008, 02:54 PM
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School buses are great for drafting. Actually caught and passed a '63 VW Bug last week but I don't think it was hitting on all cylinders.
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  #10  
Old 04-07-2008, 03:09 PM
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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.
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  #11  
Old 04-07-2008, 03:35 PM
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Posts: 38
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.
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  #12  
Old 04-07-2008, 04:43 PM
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Dieselsüchtiger
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 15,438
The one thing I really liked was the SOUND! 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.
__________________
-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)
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  #13  
Old 04-07-2008, 05:51 PM
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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.
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  #14  
Old 04-07-2008, 06:08 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by babymog View Post
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? 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.
__________________
-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)
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  #15  
Old 04-07-2008, 06:26 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Northeast Indiana
Posts: 10,765
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.

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