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  #1  
Old 12-18-2010, 12:44 AM
Pooka
 
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Need info on diesel G-wagen

I am currently working on buying a 1985 G-wagen with a four cyl diesel and a four speed trans. The owner called it a 230 D.

Anyone know anything about this car and engine combo? Like what kind of mpg could I expect, how quick is it, ride comfort.... Any info will be helpful.

The car has only 11,000 miles on it and is in like new condition and the price is currently around $18,000. Too much, even with the low miles?

Please feel free to talk me out of this.

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  #2  
Old 12-18-2010, 12:52 AM
Fulcrum525's Avatar
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Should be a 240GD. The 230 was a gasoline engine (Mainly built for the Italian market and other countries where cars are taxed based on engine displacement)

Is it two door or four door?

Only $18,000 for those few miles? My guess is that since the odometer only has 5 digits it probably has 111,000 miles on it.

Have a link to the ad?

EDIT:It was the 200GE that was made for the Italian market. Either way a 230 would still be a gasoline engine though.


I've driven a SWB 300GD cabrio with a manual transmission and found that it had pretty good performance even if I didn't get it up above 50. That is in complete contrast to....

What a great day test driving old Mercedes
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Last edited by Fulcrum525; 12-18-2010 at 01:03 AM.
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  #3  
Old 12-18-2010, 01:26 AM
layback40's Avatar
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There are some of the 240GD's being imported from Japan to Australia. The 230GE is also about.
The price for the one you mention sounds a bit high even by Australian standards.
If it has records to show the mileage is right, over here it would go for about $15k.
Depending how you drive it, it can nearly get as good as a 240D w123.
Hope that helps.
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1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
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  #4  
Old 12-18-2010, 10:31 AM
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If that mileage is documented original, then the price seems right to me, perhaps even a little low, depending on the condition of the body. G's are very prone to rust. No clue on the engine. Are you sure it hasn't been converted to diesel from an original gas version? Most diesel G's of that vintage were getting the 617NA engine. Perhaps it is a 616. I believe in 1985 Europa was the only official US importer of GWagons.
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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
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1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
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  #5  
Old 12-18-2010, 12:22 PM
Pooka
 
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This story is very complicated and I am still trying to hammer down a few facts. When I do I will be able to post more info on this.

The 230 sounded funny to me, too. I am not a Mercedes expert, but I do know quite a bit about them and the 230 diesel is new to me. I did have a 230 E long ago, in a 115, that got almost as good a mileage as the 240 D did at the time, but that is another story.

The miles are correct and fully documented, but the inability to cruse at Interstate speeds will likely be a deal killer for me.

All of your comments are very helpful, and more of them will be welcomed.

Thanks!
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  #6  
Old 12-18-2010, 01:00 PM
Diesel on the brain
 
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Location: Upstate Virginia
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I have a 1980 300GD and it is great - although soon to be for sale because I've found a newer one. The 240GD will be very pokey. My 300GD was tolerable before the turbo engine swap, but hard to deal with in heavy traffic honestly. Almost all of the Gs are 4-speeds, either auto or manual. I reportedly have one of the six 5-speeds that was imported.

The lack of overdrive will definitely limit your top speed, and you should pay attention to which axle gearing it has. There's a plate on each axle with the ratio. If it has around 4:88:1 then you'll be limited to 55-60 depending on how much you like to hear the engine screaming. If it's a lower ratio than that then you've found a street-legal tractor and the low mileage is more understandable.

$18k is a cheap price for one with that mileage. I'd bet it has rolled over, but it is possible that it hasn't been driven much at all in the past 25 years. If that's the case you should inspect the rubber parts for dry-rot. You also might end up with dried out u-joints in the three driveshafts. Definitely grease them to prevent premature wear if they are dry.

Fuel economy should be around 20 I'd guess. I have been getting slightly higher that that with my turbo-diesel one, but it also has the extra gear.

An om617a turbo diesel swap is fairly easy on those trucks and is well documented. You might find yourself spending an afternoon looking at the W460 information over on www.pointedthree.com

-Tad
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  #7  
Old 12-18-2010, 01:16 PM
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It must be this one:

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/sale-wanted-trade-giveaway/1339720-fs-1985-g-wagen-230ge-swb.html#post2553391

since the mileage is the same. It's listed as a GE, not a GD so it's a gasser.
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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
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  #8  
Old 12-18-2010, 01:46 PM
Pooka
 
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Well, my quest has ended. It is beyond my means to bring this about, and there are other drawbacks to this that make it impossible for me to deal with.

But if you are interested, check out www.army-uk.com. On the home page you will need to look to the left and then scroll down and select 'Jeeps, 4X4'.

Make sure to check out the photo gallery section of each truck you select. They have some Land Rover trucks as well.

Info not on the site: They are 240 D engines. Earlier I was told 230 but this information has been corrected. All have between 10,000 to 70,000 klm on them, price is, at current conversion rate $12,200 but of course this could change from day to day. The price does not include shipping or US import tax of 25%. Add those in and you are talking close to $17,000. There would be some additional cost as well for the importer and the customs broker so I threw on another $1,000 estimate for that.

These are all 1986 production, so they meet the 25 year rule for EPA, or they will soon.

These will have to be bought in through a 'Registered Importer' who is approved by the EPA and DOT to make sure they are in compliance with US laws.

Left hand drive, manual trans., ex-NATO. All come with a new paint job.

I would like to thank all of your that pitched in on this. Hopefully the info I have provided here will be of use to you or to someone else.
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  #9  
Old 12-18-2010, 01:56 PM
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There's some cool stuff on there. I'd like one of these:

http://www.army-uk.com/equip.php?ID=366
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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
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  #10  
Old 12-18-2010, 02:00 PM
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Or one of these:

http://www.army-uk.com/equip.php?ID=200
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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
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  #11  
Old 12-18-2010, 02:01 PM
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Or one of these with the locking differentials and winch:

http://www.army-uk.com/equip.php?ID=459
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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
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  #12  
Old 12-18-2010, 02:31 PM
Fulcrum525's Avatar
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: CT
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Find one that is already stateside....that will save you a lot of time and effort.
__________________
1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."
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  #13  
Old 12-18-2010, 06:01 PM
Pooka
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 664
Another thing about buying from the Brits is that you will need an export license. This is free but it takes from three to six weeks to get. The Brits have several countries they will not sell to (there is a list of them on their site) due to sanctions that are in place.

The price I listed was what was quoted to me for the Short Wheelbase Cabrio like they have pictured. There are supposed to be some four doors as well but I did not receive a price for them.

I am sure the inventory changes everyday, and the price will go up or down depending on way too many factors to list here.

But if you really are looking for a low mileage G.......
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  #14  
Old 12-18-2010, 11:11 PM
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I couldn't imagine how slow a G with a 4 cylinder diesel would be. I guess it would be a farm vehicle with a 50mph top speed. With a NA603 they are sloooooow, like really slow.


They are heavy, the 300hp M113 does a pretty good job of moving them along. Doing little things like being able to cruise at 80 with the AC on etc.
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  #15  
Old 12-20-2010, 01:11 PM
Pooka
 
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Posts: 664
The slow speed was what really killed it for me. I was working with several other guys that own ranches in Oklahoma and Texas that were looking for farm trucks that would be as tough as the tractors they are using now to schlep stuff around the place, but I was considering one for myself for road use.

When all the adding up was done they lost interest, and when I found out that top speed would be about 50 mph that did it for me. Oklahoma has a lot of poor roads, but it also has a great Interstate system that you have to use to get around since distances here are so vast.

But hopefully one of these will be right up someone's alley.

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