220D roll call
 

We have no info base on the 220D W115 OM615 cars and several people have them. For the benefit of the group, can you tell us:

Year make and transmission type of car
Mileage
Any major weaknesses known
Any major repairs done/planned
Disappointments
Strong points

I'll start

1971 220D 4 door beige with green leather interior, MT 62,000 miles
General neglect slowly fixed by doing simple maintenance on filters, fluids, hoses, in-line block heater, battery, lubrication, minor electrical.

Major work to be done: brakes and clutch slave cylinder

Disappointments:

1. Design-wise, FI pump needs periodic oil changes which Americans don't do.
2. Otherwise, the last owner's lack of work on the car. Rust in only one spot wheel well in trunk -- where fluid spilled and was left for years.

How about a W115 roll call instead, not everyone has a 220D :D

I saw one at the Central FL GTG yesterday. Neat little car. This one had a history. It has been in his family for years, sat for a while, had the engine replaced and is now back on the road. That car ran like a top.

I forgot his name already. I met too many people yesterday. We all should have wore name tags or something. Nice people, fun event!

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/g...peed58/115.jpg

73 220d
4 speed manual.
Around 90,000 miles.

Got it in December.

Plans:
Weather striping.
Engine mounts.
Sub-frame mounts.
Brake booster & master cylinder (might re-build the calipers)
Clutch master & slave.
Belts, hoses, water pump.
Timing chain & tensioner.
Valve adjustment.
Rust repair in driver side floor board.



Biggest problem with these is their susceptibility to rust, IMO.



When I brought it home.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3214/...84c9eb8c_b.jpg



Today


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3367/...ddbaa30a_o.jpg

The W115s in general suffer from what especially afflicts the 220D cars: overshadowing by other models especially the W123 and the many versions of the 300 turbodiesels.

My intention was to get all the 220D owners together, since we have some unique issues.

However, the W115 cars as a group, share issues and we need info on chassis etc problems for the cars which share the body used by the 220D.

So we really need to expand this to all W115s, then make a listing for the subgroups of W115s.

I really wantedo focus on 220D cars, does someone else want to keep track of the other 115s? Who's got manuals?

I have the 115 chassis FSM and the OM615-616-early 617 engine FSM, who else has got one?
Who has parts cars?

I'm not big into charts but it would be nice to know how many of each we have.

I have a mellow yellow 1975 230.4 with a weber carb, cold ac, auto, and have been driving it daily since Hurrican Ike threatened to take it out to sea.

I dunno...?
 

My son and I have a w115, 1976 vintage 240d, son killed the original engine. Working on converting to a 300d, turbo no less. Have seen a few pic's online and a video of a few w115's with turbo's so I know it can be done, the only question now is just if I can do it!

1973 220/8, auto trans, with 130K miles. Bought back in 1975 with 30K miles from a transplanted German in the bay area. Has never seen salted roads however it does have a few bubbles in the paint behind the rear wheels. This car handles better than my newer cars- very tossable. Just had a lot of the front end parts replaced still needs the a/c. Weaknesses would have to include the Stromberg carb which I replaced with a weber and the rust issue.

1970 220D

I've always liked the way the older 70s' mercs look. They are even more distinctive and still reliable!!..check this one out that I found on craigslist. Seems very interesting, if I hadn't just bought a "new" diesel, I would really consider it.

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/1214521845.html

per original request...
 

Per strelnik's original post for this thread I'll throw in my two cent's worth about my experience with my w115, which is a 240d rather than a 220. I'd say my only disappointment, weakness is that of course it is sloooow as molasses in winter! Like that's news, huh? Other than that, the only weakness or disappointment from my perspective is that when the heater/air conditioning blower fan motor failed I discovered what a genuine nightmare it is to replace it. The entire dash has to be removed at the considerable risk of damaging the irreplaceable dash! Some bits and pieces can be extremely difficult and pricey to find replacements for, however most of those items I'm thinking of are "comsetic" in nature such as the headlight frames. So far, it seems, most if not all mechanical parts are easily available with the possible exceptions of new replacement heater/air conditioning blower motor fans (which there are two of by the way, and they are both different) also the switch for the blowers and the radiators for the w115 300D (anybody have any leads?) I have had this car many years and have always found it very comfortable, good seating, very good ride quality, very good handling. Roomy enough for most uses. Excellent visibility. I also really love what I like to think of as Classic Mercedes great looks. Quiet a number of people seem to admire it when I'm out and about in it. Some rare individuals seem to express their admiration through jealousy though by vandalizing it, "keying" it :mad: I was lucky in that I was able to buy a totally completely straight no collision ever rust free example and here in Texas, it will stay that way. I don't have a clue about buying rust repair panels other than finding good donor cars to cut up. My best advice to anyone who has one, maybe thinking wants one, is to make sure you protect it from the elements, any risk of collision damage as it seems to me, body parts and body trim is expensive as #@!%# and can be just as difficult to come by ! But they sure are worth having, the car has such a solid "last forever" feel to it of quality!

I am a member! 1971 220D needs love. The clutch/slave cylinder is currently out. 503,000 miles on it.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ark2-09004.jpg

'72 220D here, 67K miles. See pix link in signature below.

Purchased last month for $650.

Replaced:

starter
vacuum pump diaphragm
oil pre-filter (was missing)
fuel filters
injection pump primer
clutch slave and master cylinders

Repaired / Modified:

Becker Europa aux input mod
8-ball shifter
rear coil boosters (found out it was an SLS car)
put actual oil in the IP
changed manual trans / rear end lube

Things that still need attention:

Brakes. One stuck caliper, needs pads and caliper rebuild kits all around
Muffler
Valve adjustment
f*cking heater blower motor
rear defrost no worky
dash lights no worky (rheostat)
rust. buku rust.

Wow, how did I miss this thread?

1970 Mercedes-Benz 220D
145,000 miles

Things that need attention:
Alternator Charging Problem/Blow By leak from top of Valve Cover
A/C not working at this time and power steering gearbox needs new seals
Needs new brake pads and new master cylinder and brake booster

Things I plan on fixing asap:
Plan to get alignment, fix alternator problem and blow by leak, Power Steering and Master cylinder.

Disappointments:
Seats in the summer are horrible and they are saggy

Strong Points:
It's smooth, gets great mileage and looks great inside and out!