First Moves on my New 1974 240D?

[Bronze]

Hello All,

Thanks in advance for all the awesome wisdom being doled out in this site! I've been lurking around awhile trying to learn a thing or two, and finally made a long time dream a reality with the purchase of my first Benz, a 1974 W115 240D. (I attached a pic below.)

I'm eager to get under the hood and start learning my way around, so my question is: are there some recommended tune-up/maintenance things that I would be wise to do as the new owner? Some things that have come to mind are:
--adjust the valves (last done 5 years and 10K miles ago)
--clean the injectors
--clean/replace fuel filters (last done 5 years and 10K miles ago)
--check/adjust/replace the timing chain

Not having owned an old diesel before, I can't really comment on how the engine is running. She seems pretty solid to me, but there is some white/grey smoke when I pull away, and the oil cap teakettles quite a bit. The PO said she burns a bit of oil. I haven't had her long enough to measure the oil consumption or gas mileage.

Any thoughts are appreciated! Thanks.

[TnBob]

Welcome to the forum ! Lots of knowledge on this resides here. Ask away.

Very nice find .

[littlehandegan]

All sounds good.

Moli purge wouldnt hurt

[junqueyardjim]

Bronze, that sure is a pretty car. I had one just like it, same color also, bought it about 74 and it was a low mileage 220D with a four speed. Loved that car.

[whunter]

Originally Posted by Bronze

Hello All,

Thanks in advance for all the awesome wisdom being doled out in this site! I've been lurking around awhile trying to learn a thing or two, and finally made a long time dream a reality with the purchase of my first Benz, a 1974 W115 240D. (I attached a pic below.)

I'm eager to get under the hood and start learning my way around, so my question is: are there some recommended tune-up/maintenance things that I would be wise to do as the new owner? Some things that have come to mind are:
--adjust the valves (last done 5 years and 10K miles ago)
--clean the injectors
--clean/replace fuel filters (last done 5 years and 10K miles ago)
--check/adjust/replace the timing chain

Not having owned an old diesel before, I can't really comment on how the engine is running. She seems pretty solid to me, but there is some white/grey smoke when I pull away, and the oil cap teakettles quite a bit. The PO said she burns a bit of oil. I haven't had her long enough to measure the oil consumption or gas mileage.

Any thoughts are appreciated! Thanks.

Many W115 issues are covered here.
Welcome to the fleet 1976 W115.114 "300D" dark Green


.

[Skid Row Joe]

Check age of tires AND spare. 10 years max.
Check and adjust valves, if you feel they may not have been done correctly......
Check hoses, belts - change-out as necessary.
Check wiper blades.
R & R ALL fluids!
Check front ened components and wheel alignment.
Check brakes and emergency brake.
Check operation of all lights, bulbs, brake lights, and automobile operating components.
Check seat belt webbing for possible need to replace.

Drive (a lot) and enjoy!

[JB3]

Originally Posted by junqueyardjim

Bronze, that sure is a pretty car. I had one just like it, same color also, bought it about 74 and it was a low mileage 220D with a four speed. Loved that car.

X2 on wow that's a good looking car. Only thing missing from that pic is eddie murphy and a catchy 80s tune.

You will enjoy the first oil change, on mine I was shocked at how messy it can be until you get used to it. What color interior comes with that paint color?

74 was a good year.

[benedict]

What a car! There are only a handful of those here in OZ and they are usually rust buckets.

Would like to see a tube video of it running sometime..

[DC Josh]

Looks great! I love the color of your car!

[Bronze]

Thanks all! Yeah I dig the color too. Not sure what it is, I'll have to try and find the color code somewheres...

@littlehand--yeah, I think a purge will def be in order
@skid--
*Tires are new, but I think the spare is original!!!
*Valves were done by a very reliable benz-only mechanic, so I trust him. But that was 5 years/9K miles ago. I think they are supposed to be done every 10k no?
*Not sure how to inspect front end, but I'll figure it out
*Everything else checks out! THANKS!
@JB3--the interior is tan. My oil change technique is already a sloppy mess, so hopefully I'll be well prepared for the W115 oil changes

[Skid Row Joe]

Originally Posted by Bronze

Thanks all! Yeah I dig the color too. Not sure what it is, I'll have to try and find the color code somewheres...

@littlehand--yeah, I think a purge will def be in order
@skid--
*Tires are new, but I think the spare is original!!!
*Valves were done by a very reliable benz-only mechanic, so I trust him. But that was 5 years/9K miles ago. I think they are supposed to be done every 10k no?
*Not sure how to inspect front end, but I'll figure it out
*Everything else checks out! THANKS!
@JB3--the interior is tan. My oil change technique is already a sloppy mess, so hopefully I'll be well prepared for the W115 oil changes

RE: Spare tires: I pulled up to the Discount Tire Store where I buy Michelins for my MB and truck the other month to have them perform a routine check of my 14-year old MB's tire pressures. I thought that it would be a good idea to pull the never-been-on-the-ground spare to have it's pressure checked too. The tire technician/jockey declined to put air in the spare, since it was 10 years old +. He said it was against company policy to air-up any 10 + year old tire. That got me to consider that perhaps it isn't a good idea to depend on a tire this old if I ever needed it in the future - hence I may replace the spare with one of the newer on-the-car-tires,when buying a new set of tires. I must confess that I hadn't considered updating my car's spares over the years, but am alerted to it perhaps being a good practice after so many years.

How 'bout a lot more pics of the car/ The one pic is nice, but I'd like to see more - engine compartment/interior shots?

[Simpler=Better]

Engine wise:
Send out your injectors for pop balancing

While the injectors are gone, adjust the valves, correct any timing chain slack, drip time your IP, remove&check the glowplugs and ream the GP holes while they're out.

When the injectors get back in the mail, install them with fresh heat shields and you will be very impressed with how the car performs

[Bronze]

Here are some pics, as requested. The interior is a little darker brown that it appears, which is actually really nice. I think the flash washed it out a bit. The color of the car is "beigegrau" 726.

I snapped the gunsight off when I was closing the hood after taking the last pic!! Just a tiny piece is missing from the loop on the bottom. It broke so easily I have to wonder if it wasn't already broken and just jerryrigged on some how. Oh well, maybe some JB weld will work.

[TheDon]

if you have the original spare in that 115, keep it.Someone will need it for a concours restoration

[Bronze]

OK, I pulled the injectors and the valve cover. Only crushed the tip of one finger in the process! Man, those injectors were torqued on there TIGHT. Makes me wonder when the last time they were pulled. They were awfully corroded in there... And am I crazy or are there no heat shields in there? I am completely convinced that they are not in there.

Annnd then I realized I really should do a purge before I put back nice clean injectors, soooo let me just put this whole thing back together.

Hey, it starts! OK, well at least now I know what I'm doing. And it only took me 2 days and one finger...