I just picked up a 1981 240D - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

funola · #16 03-04-2016, 10:17 PM

...............

What I do remember is I worked at an Importer in about 1981, a 240D 4spd came in the store brand new (who know's why) but we all took turns driving it and laughing. I recall putting a stop watch on the car back then, 0-60 in 27 seconds (did it to this one and got 28 seconds). The slow part we have down!

Thanks for the advice[/QUOTE]

I had an 83 240D 4 spd that clocked 0-60 in 17 seconds. It had terminal rust, was unsafe to drive and was parted out.

Adjust the valves, check timing chain stretch and timing, clean tank strainer/ change fuel filters, Italian tuneup may bring 0-60 time down.

unkl300d · #17 03-04-2016, 10:21 PM

Beautiful car for a most likely beautiful daughter !

Congrats on this find.

jay_bob · #18 03-05-2016, 08:24 AM

Harbor Freight has the MityVac kit for $35 or so. Also pick up a panel removal kit ($8) as you will likely need to remove the door card on at least the driver's door.

Usually not too difficult to find the leak. Common trouble spots:
- leak in the rubber connectors between lines
- hose split at the door hinge due to the flexing - check driver door first, it gets opened the most
- leaking diaphragm in the lock mechanism

The link in sixto's post is very helpful to trace out the system. When it is working correctly, using the key in the driver's door locks or unlocks the entire car, including the fuel door and trunk.

pj67coll · #19 03-05-2016, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by koooop

I haven't really looked into it yet but I believe it's Orient Red over Parchment.

The car is incredibly well preserved, it's a pampered garage queen that runs and drives just as it should.

Very nice. If only mine could have been in such great condition. I agree with pretty much everything that's been said by others, with the singular exception of the comments about the tach. I would not waste my time with it. A tachometer is the single most pointless piece of instrumentation in a car.

If you don't know how to drive a manual transmission car without one you shouldn't be driving in the first place.

- Peter.

charmalu · #20 03-05-2016, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj67coll

Very nice. If only mine could have been in such great condition. I agree with pretty much everything that's been said by others, with the singular exception of the comments about the tach. I would not waste my time with it. A tachometer is the single most pointless piece of instrumentation in a car.

If you don't know how to drive a manual transmission car without one you shouldn't be driving in the first place.

- Peter.

Remember this car is for his Daughter, she is getting her drivers permit and this is going to be a learner car for her.

A Tach could give her a visual along with the sound of the engine w/o over reving it.

If you like me have been driving a stick for over 50 years, then ya we pretty much have nailed down.

A Tach is cool to have.

Charlie

pj67coll · #21 03-05-2016, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charmalu

Remember this car is for his Daughter, she is getting her drivers permit and this is going to be a learner car for her.

A Tach could give her a visual along with the sound of the engine w/o over reving it.

If you like me have been driving a stick for over 50 years, then ya we pretty much have nailed down.

A Tach is cool to have.

Charlie

The vast majority of people on the planet have been driving manual transmission cars for most of the automobiles history and they never had tach's. Only in the US did most people since the 60's drive auto's and even on Mercedes Tach's only started to be included with the 116 and 107's. Even the 108's etc didn't have them.

They might be a "cool" feature but unless you are on a racing track they are as irellvant as a heater in Phoenix and AC in Alaska.

- Peter.

pj67coll · #22 03-05-2016, 05:45 PM

Actually I'll go further. As I drive my 240D stick in Phoenix as one of my daily drivers, the other being my 2000 Sonoma, also a stick, the technique with the 240D is simple. You slam the acellerator to the firewall in 1st, 2nd and 3rd until you reach about 40 - 45 mph. Any lighter on the pedal and eventually you're going to get hit from behind. Once you reach 40 to 45 you can ease up on the pedal.

I'd suggest that especially for a learner looking at what a tach is doing instead of what's going on around them is going to lead to disaster sooner rather than later. If you really think you need to look at an instrument to tell you when to shift the speedometer has markings on it to indicate what speed not to exceed in various gears.

But once again, this is pointless. A couple of trips in a car is all it takes even for a novice to get a feel of engine/vehicle speed in relation to shifting.

- Peter.

toomany MBZ · #23 03-05-2016, 06:52 PM

I don't understand the anti tach responses, I prefer to have as much info as possible.

Skippy · #24 03-05-2016, 08:02 PM

A tach is nice to have, but not really needed on a 240D. They give you the dots on the speedometer for a reason.

My other vehicle has shift lights in addition to a tach. This is good for keeping your eyes on the road while slightly exceeding the posted limit. Not much of a concern in a 240.

unkl300d · #25 03-05-2016, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toomany MBZ

I don't understand the anti tach responses, I prefer to have as much info as possible.

Some folks are not big on "tacti-cool"... oops wrong forum..

toomany MBZ · #26 03-05-2016, 08:09 PM

^lol

koooop · #27 03-05-2016, 08:33 PM

Lots of good input here, I made an appointment to put her in the shop on Tuesday to see if I can clear up a few things.

daw_two · #28 03-06-2016, 10:44 AM

Very NICE car ! You did very well! Oh, btw, welcome to the forum! Anything you need to do to it has already been well documented on this forum.

andersbenz · #29 03-07-2016, 09:57 PM

Great car...Nice example of a W123

vstech · #30 03-07-2016, 10:21 PM

while I LOVE a tach, I agree, it's not needed on a diesel ESPECIALLY for a beginner driver I think... they REALLY need to use their ears for gear change, and their EYES for road signs, and traffic!

funny, when I read the first post, my first thought was of Jay_Bob and his son's first car (that ended up being Greezer's project car we stuffed Twagalmuth's euro engine and 5speed trans into... after replacing all the bent hardware from the curbside service...)

anyway ! WELCOME to the forum, and be sure and get your daughter on here with questions about the car!

I think the most important lesson for a new driver is watching OTHER DRIVERS on the road! knowing what they are doing, and what they are likely to do.

once I learned to see all three mirrors while driving and watching as far ahead as possible, I became a far better driver.

sure learning the signs and the pavement marking is needed, but defensive driving is critical.

the car is slow, but it's HEAVY too, and sudden wet pavement can really throw off the cornering ability of the car.

if the car has steel wheels, find a set of the 5.5" aluminum rims designed for the car. it'll SERIOUSLY make it a safer and better handling car. (I've got a set if you need them)
the way to tell is pull off the hubcaps, and look at the circle surrounding the lug area. if it's all black, they are steel, if they have a broken white/silver line on it, they are aluminum.