All 240D owners - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Palangi · #16 06-02-2008, 09:52 PM

I drive mine from Ft. Worth to Memphis round trip once a month or so. No problem, I would take that car anywhere. It ain't pretty, but it runs well and it's comfortable.

#17 06-02-2008, 10:44 PM

A few weeks ago I drove mine about 3000 miles (round trip from CO to NC) because my 300D was broken. No problems, just chugged along at about 65 mph most of the way. No real mountains on that route, just a few little hills in WV, but not enough to slow you down.

Make sure the valves are adjusted, carry some spare fuel filters, etc.

JimmyL · #18 06-02-2008, 10:49 PM

I drive my 240's in the mountains of Texas all the time! Uhhh, OK, no mountains but they do fine on hills!

I would drive either 240 anywhere and wouldn't think twice. If your car is sound you should be fine.
Enjoy the trip........

jkoebel · #19 06-02-2008, 10:53 PM

Took my car from Orlando, FL to Boone, NC in one stretch. It was winter, temperatures went from 80F in Florida to 7F in Carolina. By the end, the heat on full blast was blowing barely warmer than ambient (later discovered to be a broken thermostat.)

The starter blew up when I tried to get it started in the cold, but that was because I was doing it somewhat wrong. Probably wouldn't happen again.

But, all told, it was a good trip and I plan to repeat it in the same car. I was able to manage the speed limit through the NC mountains in 3rd gear without too much issue.

cphilip · #20 06-02-2008, 11:17 PM

I know guys (and gals) that cross the entire country on 200cc Scooters every single year. So... you can do it.

otto huber · #21 06-03-2008, 12:32 AM

I live in Northern CA , and have taken my 240D up to the Sierra mountains at least 6 times and the Trinity Alps as well. My ankle was so sore one time from flooring the accelerator, that I was only able to hike at about half of my normal pace for the first mile. You might have to turn your heater on to keep the engine cool, but it should be fine. I was amazed at how quiet my car idled after blowing all that carbon out.

Otto
'79 240D 4spd

JordaanDMC-12 · #22 06-03-2008, 12:37 AM

Thanks everyone! From what you've all told me I feel confident enough to take it where I want to go. I'm so excited! I got the car so I could feel confident in traveling long distances with it. Anyone else has more stories advice keep em coming

Thanks again everyone!

tompaah7503 · #23 06-03-2008, 02:17 AM

You'll do fine. I took my 230S on a 2,500 mile trip to northern Sweden last year, worked fine. You just learn to attack the hills, and halfway up you actually start releasing the throttle since pushing it all the way down just makes more smoke, not more power

75Sv1 · #24 06-03-2008, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JordaanDMC-12

This reminds me actually, When I got my valves adjusted, the mechanic told me I need to adjust the throttle linkage because full throttle on the pedal isn't full throttle on the actual motor. Again is this a DIY thing? Hopefully this will give me some boost on hills.

On mine, the throttle linkage parts were worn. There are a few different setups from the parts schematics. There is a throttle pivot on the firewall. I would probably buy a new one. Mine was worn. I had about 1/2 the peddle travel till the engine started to rev. Also, mine has a fork (two prongs) on the end of the shaft. There are two plastic square bushings in the plate they go into. Both of mine, there was only half of them left. A member here gave me part numbers. I couldn't find the part numbers elsewhere. I had a local parts guy order them from MB. Might check these out.
Tom

ndz77-240D · #25 06-03-2008, 12:52 PM

My 240D has been all over the place, has taken almost monthly trips from Portland to Seattle (3 hours), and I take it to Hood River down the Gorge all the time. I have to say, when I first started driving this car I didn't really understand it or trust it, but it took a year or so of working on it, learning about it, to get used to it. Took a long drive on my own in it for me to trust it with my life. There's nothing better than cruising on a long trip in one of these cars.
Oh, and when going up large hills or mountains, I've got a manual, so things are pretty easygoing for me. I find the only time I'm really slowed down is when someone cuts in front of me and slows way down right before a large hill. Once you lose power it's hard to get it back but most people don't understand that about these cars.

Good luck and I hope you enjoy your first long drive as much as I did mine.

Narcoleptic · #26 06-03-2008, 03:09 PM

Hills are fine in my 240D, I just go up them in reverse.

barry123400 · #27 06-03-2008, 04:59 PM

Oh, and when going up large hills or mountains, I've got a manual, so things are pretty easygoing for me. I find the only time I'm really slowed down is when someone cuts in front of me and slows way down right before a large hill. Once you lose power it's hard to get it back but most people don't understand that about these cars.

Good luck and I hope you enjoy your first long drive as much as I did mine.[/QUOTE]

The above partial post is on the money. Basically run for the hills. When you slow up or something in your way causes you to slow. You cannot regain the momentum usually. That becomes your new maximum speed up the hill.

Do make positive your injection pump limkage is really functioning properly. I suspect by your year posted that the small bushing rubbers in that circular fork connector or motion transfer linkage might be gone. Get a pair of new ones if they are. Fifty cents apiece and if yours are bad you need them. You need all the power available..Four way flashers working if you have them. Enjoy your trip.
It was nice as well for someone to point out turning the heater on if the engine starts to get really hot going uphill. You probably will not have to. If you have not changed the fuel filters earlier and do not really know how good they are now is the time. Have a nice trip.

gatorblue92 · #28 06-03-2008, 05:36 PM

i drove mine from Miami to Wilmington, DE 2 years ago with no problems... it was a very relaxing trip... if driving 60% of I-95 can be considered relaxing

neptune · #29 06-04-2008, 08:09 PM

As said, assuming the car is relatively well maintained you should be fine. I'd spend an afternoon checking the belts, filters, fluids, and just looking for any potential problems on a car that was new to me before I took it on a long trip.
I found the 240D really enjoyed long trips, ridiculously soft suspension makes the freeways seem relaxing and the motor just clatters along quite contentedly at speed. A 240D goes as fast as it can and there's nothing you can do about it, so you just learn to relax and cruise. Toss a brick on the accelerator and enjoy the radio if you can.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ndz77-240D

My 240D has been all over the place, has taken almost monthly trips from Portland to Seattle (3 hours), and I take it to Hood River down the Gorge all the time.

I pretty much exclusively drove it on 180 mile trips up and down I-5 between Seattle and Portland for around a year. And there are a few rather steep hills that it tackled on a regular basis around the area, including the hill from the ferry at Edmonds heading toward 99. It isn't quick, but it really isn't too bad.
Never had a real problem or difficulty other than people cutting me off and slowing me down right before a hill. If they don't force you to downshift its ok, and once you get accustomed to the torque curve and the giant holes between gears its pretty easy to drive in the hills. If you hit the bottom of the hill doing just over 60mph you'll be fine, much under 60 and you'll be doing 50mph or less at the top.
Biggest problem is all the people who realize that you're in a diesel and hurry to pass you, only to slow down again once they're in front of you. Then you get to pass them, which takes timing and a bit of luck. Then they promptly realize that there's a diesel ahead of them, so they speed up to pass you... etc etc. Makes for a really boring game of leapfrog for hours on end.

JimmyL · #30 06-05-2008, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tompaah7503

You'll do fine. I took my 230S on a 2,500 mile trip to northern Sweden last year, worked fine. You just learn to attack the hills, and halfway up you actually start releasing the throttle since pushing it all the way down just makes more smoke, not more power

Franz looked pretty good on that trip also. Not without incident from what I remember. After all the work you did, glad you are getting to enjoy it!