I just picked up a nice clean pretty much rust free '82 240D with the auto trans. I have an '83 Euro 240D with 4spd. The automatic has all the related vacuum issues, harsh shifts, stays in 2nd forever as well as 3rd. Doesn't start in P, and won't hold the car in P. The '83 has an excellent engine and 4sp trans, but the drivers side floor is completely rusted out and the seat is falling through!
I would obviously like to swap the trans into the '82, and maybe the engine as well. The 82 has 239k, the 83 235k. I really don't want to mess with all the trouble shooting involved with the automatic (i went thru all that with my 1st diesel, an 83 300td). Does anyone have any idea of the cost involved with the trans swap? I am not going to attempt this job myself and will leave it to my trusted independent mechanic.
I will be parting out what is left of the '83, by the way.