so im planning a trip to vegas in june. for a car show called Wuste 2010. i drive my 240 every day to and from work and errands. car runs great not sure of the gas milage cause i have only put in 1/2 tank when i need gas. so what im asking what are some basic things i should do before i go or to look out for? i wanted to know if my speed at 65-70 75 givin their is a down grade .... lol, would kill my vacume pump. i bought my 240d about 4 months ago and have been driving it, haven't done much to it besides oil change, new fuel lines on injectors, and a oil leak fixed. i plan on doing a valve adjustment before i go. car runs cool hasn't ever gotten hot i guess i could do a coolent flush as well for good measure. when i got the car i don't know how long the car hadn't been driven maybe sitting 6 months to a year. like i said i bought it and have been loving it. this is my first diesel so feel free to give me your insight. thanks again. pics for viewing.

I assume the battery is strong, alternator puts out good voltage, etc.

Even though going to the desert, Id verify windshield wipers.

Change the oil/filters, perform a diesel purge first and replace both fuel filters. Good maintenance/PM anyway...

Check the belts and hoses, consider replacing what makes sense.

Service the diff, perhaps the transmission too.

Bring a bottle of your favorite fuel additive and get on your way (after airing up the tires, of course!).

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Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (113k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1993 300SD (291k)
1993 300D 2.5T (338k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K)
1985 300D (233K)

Alot of desert on 15, be sure to take water and a cell phone, just in case.

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1985 300D 198K sold
1982 300D 202K
1989 300E 125K
1992 940T

"If you dont have time to do it safely, you dont have time to do it"

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

Re-pack your front wheel bearings with grease.

Replace belts, hoses, and listen for the telltale 'squeak-squeak' when running, if the water pump is going out. Look for the water leaking aspect - notification that it is going out too.

Alternator gives off a 'squeaking sound too,' if it is going out - a high pitch of sorts.

Take the old set of belts along. Keep them in the trunk as emergency spares.

Take (1) set of fuel filters - I always carry these even in my newish diesel MB. Take two glow plugs along too.

Replace air filter.

Get a front-end alignment - if it is out.

Check lights - all around, including license plate light - so the cops won't pull you over while cruising the Strip at night.


BTW, my Dad bought that exact car, in that same color in '74. It wasn't lowered though. He drove it about 185K, and bought a new '77 240D. They're great cars!

Is it lowered or are the springs/shocks shot?

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1981 240D 143k 4 spd manual -SOLD

2004 VW Jetta TDI 5 speed 300k -still driven daily

I was trying to figure out what was 74 inches on the car. I was like maybe that refers to the height but that is 6 feet, which your car is not.

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68 280SL - 70 280SL - 70 300SEL 3.5 - 72 350SL - 72 280SEL 4.5 - 72 220 - 72 220D - 73 450SL - 84 230GE - 87 200TD - 90 190E 2.0 - 03 G500

Nissan GTR - Nissan Skyline GTS25T - Toyota GTFour - Rover Mini - Toyota Land Cruiser HJ60 - Cadillac Eldorado - BMW E30 - BMW 135i

My thought exactly. But why would a car like that be lowered?
Dependent on where you are in Colorado, you may want to plan a few days or weeks to climb over the passes in a 240d.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

This post is totally empty. Simply posted to get me to the 10k post mark.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Now it's time to ban you, you've gone far enough sir.

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68 280SL - 70 280SL - 70 300SEL 3.5 - 72 350SL - 72 280SEL 4.5 - 72 220 - 72 220D - 73 450SL - 84 230GE - 87 200TD - 90 190E 2.0 - 03 G500

Nissan GTR - Nissan Skyline GTS25T - Toyota GTFour - Rover Mini - Toyota Land Cruiser HJ60 - Cadillac Eldorado - BMW E30 - BMW 135i

Yes, it's been lowered. The OP posted an introductory thread with a picture of the car.

I asked him if it had been lowered, and he said; yes, the springs clipped. In that thread is where I asked him. Do a search of his posts to find - there's not that many.

Oh Lord, with this younger generation of MB diesel lovers,......what's the preceeding bloodline of our diesels coming to.

Don't forget the tools to install all the parts people are recommending.

Spare...injector hose, fuel hose, fuel filters, maybe a belt, premixed coolant, motor oil. My car will start with one bad glow plug in the summer. Maybe even two, never tried that.

How far will this be for your, round trip?

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1993 W124 300D 2.5L Turbo, OM602.962
2000 Chevrolet Cavalier, 2.4L DOHC
2002 Ford Explorer, 4.0L SOHC
2005 Toyota Prius, 1.5L

http://www.fuelly.com/sig-us/40601.png

To the OP, bear in mind everything suggested can improve your gas mileage, improve drive ability, and/or extend the life of the vehicle. So even if you don't drive it to vegas none of this stuff is a bad idea.

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68 280SL - 70 280SL - 70 300SEL 3.5 - 72 350SL - 72 280SEL 4.5 - 72 220 - 72 220D - 73 450SL - 84 230GE - 87 200TD - 90 190E 2.0 - 03 G500

Nissan GTR - Nissan Skyline GTS25T - Toyota GTFour - Rover Mini - Toyota Land Cruiser HJ60 - Cadillac Eldorado - BMW E30 - BMW 135i

Not a fan of the maximum slammage.

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Current cars:
2000 ML55 AMG, 174k miles
2003 C240 T-Modell, 202k miles
1995 S320, 207k Miles

Neither am I. All it takes is one conveniently placed dip or pothole to bust the oil pan and ruin the whole trip.

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

Not to mention the fingernails on a chalkboard fender rolling effect when the steering is turned more than 8 degrees.

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