FIRST diesel mercedes HELP me buy one please - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ROLLGUY · #16 08-21-2012, 11:35 AM

I don't have much to add to what has been said. I have had at least one of all the cars listed, and liked them all. The cars with iron head engines are the best in my opinion, and will last many years if taken care of. I had a 1995 E300, and it was one of my favorite cars. It will get about 30 MPG, and still has plenty of power for being N/A. It also has more creature comforts. However, you can't beat an 80's 240D with a manual trans. They are simple, basic, easy to work on and very reliable if maintained properly. Don't let a non-working A/C system keep you from buying a car. You will find that most (if not all) the Benz's with a GM R4 compressor will have A/C issues. I don't think I have ever bought one with working A/C (I have had 20+). Check out the many A/C threads here for repair of your system.

JamesDean · #17 08-21-2012, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shertex

Yep....I advise people, if they don't do their own work, to budget 20 cents per mile for maintenance and repairs....and hope it doesn't cost quite that much.

According to my parts order history spreadsheet.. I've spend $675/year over the past 4 years in parts for my 190E.

sixto · #18 08-21-2012, 12:13 PM

By shertex's estimate, you drive the 190E less than a thousand miles a year

Sixto
87 300D

JamesDean · #19 08-21-2012, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixto

By shertex's estimate, you drive the 190E less than a thousand miles a year

Sixto
87 300D

Until recently..

Actually, 207k in 2008, 230k today. so 23k over 4 years, ~5k/year.

Now I put on 650/week

sixto · #20 08-21-2012, 12:23 PM

If you put away 20 cents a mile like shertex suggests, you'd have enough over 23K miles to cover the $650 your 190E needed in parts and buy the SDL shertex has for sale! See how his mind works?

Sixto
87 300D

jay_bob · #21 08-21-2012, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROLLGUY

Don't let a non-working A/C system keep you from buying a car. You will find that most (if not all) the Benz's with a GM R4 compressor will have A/C issues. I don't think I have ever bought one with working A/C (I have had 20+). Check out the many A/C threads here for repair of your system.

My 240D had flaky ac when I got it. My main seal on the R4 gave out. New R4, TXV and Dryer, and help from Vstech, and my ac works great even in the high nineties temp and humidity. If you don't have a friend that's an ac tech, then get a shop to evac the system, take it home and do all the parts swapping and line flushing, then (immediately) take it back to the shop and have them do a nitrogen pressure test, vacuum, and recharge with R12.

Or go online, study and pass the online test and get your 609, pick up good quality second hand equipment and New Old Stock R12 online (CL is a good source) and do the ac work yourself. Don't be lured by alt refrigerants, your system is designed for R12 and it will work great if you prepare everything right.

With a new compressor, flushed system, and clean condenser you will have no problem even in AZ running R12. Your temps are higher than here but your humidity is way lower. The humidity is what the system really has to fight, the system works harder cooling in SC with typical 85 degrees and 90 percent humidity than the 115 degrees and 10 percent humidity you have out there.

Once the car cools down (btw I have a light ivory car and tinted windows and use a windshield sun shade every time I park) I have to turn the fan speed down and the thermostat warmer, otherwise it gets too cold, even when it is stinking hot outside.

firstbenz · #22 08-23-2012, 10:19 PM

Ok, found a car and might buy it...

Here is the details: 75 240D manual. The owner says it has a diff from a 300D for better highway cruising. It is a 4 speed manual. He also installed a turbo diesel starter(better starting power was his reasoning).

Also has machined stainless steel inserts to allow 190D late model glow plugs which burn hotter than stock?

Has the european headlights and double trouble bumpers.

Pretty much all stock, has a majestic steering wheel and the interior is in good shape, just the armrests need attention, foam showing. It is white with the matching white wheels, hubcaps. Body is in good shape, plus its white so it hides stuff. Has one dent that could most likely be popped out by painless dent removal on a passenger door.

AC is working! And he noted no leaks from the engine, tranny, etc.

What do you guys think its worth? I don't want to overpay for it and is it a mercedes worth keeping? I am looking for a reliable daily driver to work. I drive about 13 miles one way, so 26 miles on city streets with max speed being 45 mph.

Thanks for any info on this car....

Zacharias · #23 08-23-2012, 10:45 PM

You need to provide pictures for an accurate reply.

How much is the vendor asking?

sixto · #24 08-23-2012, 10:52 PM

Euro headlights really make the 115. What's a majestic steering wheel?

Sixto
87 300D

firstbenz · #25 08-23-2012, 11:34 PM

Here is a picture of the car.

The steering wheel is white from an older car.

Shortsguy1 · #26 08-24-2012, 12:46 AM

The car you are looking at achieved 0 to 60 mph (when brand new) of 25 seconds.
W114-W115-240D-Getriebe/en
Now that the owner has swapped the diff, your acceleration will be less. When new, its top speed was 86 mph. With the swapped diff, your top speed will be less.

Yes, it absolutely is a car capable of being a daily driver for you. It CAN be reliable, but there is no way for us to tell you that this particular car is reliable. If all the subframe bushings and engine mounts have been replaced and the drivetrain is healthy, it is a $3000 car. If it has a new engine or transmission, it could be a $4000 car. But most likely, it will need some work and I think I see some rust in the photo. So I wouldn't pay more than $2500.

firstbenz · #27 08-24-2012, 10:29 AM

So with the 300D diff it will take even longer to get to 60? So it will be a terrible city car right? If it takes me 30 seconds to get to 40 MPH it sounds like that will get old quick?

Also the 300D diff makes it top speed on the freeway less? I never plan on going over 70MPH with it...........

You think I need to stick to a 300D or maybe a 300TD instead then?

Thanks for your input.

anghrist · #28 08-24-2012, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesDean

According to my parts order history spreadsheet.. I've spend $675/year over the past 4 years in parts for my 190E.

Geez man. I think I've spent that during this month alone in parts and maintenance.

vstech · #29 08-24-2012, 01:42 PM

I don not think top speed will be affected much, the engine will be at a lower RPM at a similar RPM, still in the 60mph range, but 0-60 times and clutch wear will be increased.

Shortsguy1 · #30 08-24-2012, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

...the engine will be at a lower RPM at a similar RPM, ...

Only teasing. Yes, engine rpm will be lower for a given mph. These vehicles were originally geared to achieve the highest speed possible. And since these vehicles produce peak power at essentially the "red line" rpm, lower rpm due to a diff change means lower power produced at a given speed. Which means you run out of power at a lower top speed than before the diff change.

But based on anecdotal evidence presented elsewhere on this site, the change in both top speed and acceleration is small and perhaps not noticeable.

I ran some numbers a while ago and found that the top speed would only drop a few mph, which is going to be hard to notice given all the other variables out there (wind, road grade, etc.).

No, the change to a 300D diff is not a big deal, but I just wanted you to know that there are two potential negative consequences. If it was all good, MB would have picked that gear ratio originally.

So you (the OP) still haven't told us the asking price for that car despite requests? Why?