This ought to be fun, I just bought this car for my kid to drive (learners permit coming in a few weeks). I'm sure I'll be here for advice, this looks like a great forum.

1981 240D, 4spd, 154,000 miles, original paint and interior, cruise, auto locks and a right side mirror. Of course I disabled the auto locks so I could shut the darn thing off...

Oh no, what have I done?

It's a sweet little car.

Bob

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Looks to be near perfectly preserved!👍👍👍

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

Looks like a very decent example.

Ooooo I love red Mercedes.

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'84 190D 2.2 5MT (Red/Palomino) Current car. Love it!
'85 190D 2.2 Auto *Cali* (Blue/Blue) *sold*
http://badges.fuelly.com/images/sig-us/302601.png
http://i959.photobucket.com/albums/a...0/sideview.png

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.

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2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

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

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

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.

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2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

Great looking car!! You may win the "best parent" award this year!!

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Baton Rouge, LA
1977 300D Non-Turbo

Looks like a great car. I did the same thing with my son for a starter car. A few lessons learned if I may:

- I recommend explaining to your child the difference in technique needed for driving. No ABS or traction control on this car. That caught my son by surprise in the rain and brought an untimely end to the car. Also even with the manual, it will be SLOW off the line. They will need to allow much more time and space to pull out in traffic, merge on the expressway (particularly uphill) or make a left turn across traffic. This is totally different than a modern car with a gasoline engine.

- I would recommend updating the instrument cluster with the tachometer from a 300D. It will help a new driver quantify the engine sound with how many RPMs are being produced. Also this car has no rev limiter since it is all mechanical. It has a governor in the injector pump but I would not rely on that for over rev protection.

- Remind your child about the gas station. An unleaded gasoline nozzle will fit the tank inlet. A tank load of gasoline is near fatal to the engine.

- And above all, have your child help you maintain and work on the car! It instills a sense of ownership and responsibility, and allows them to recognize issues that may occur while they are out driving and how to react. For example, ensure there are spare fuel filters and the tools to change them in the car, and show them how to change them on the side of the road.

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The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

This is good stuff, thank you. I will be putting her in Autoshop (just one semester) since I want her to do the brakes at least once.

I will consider the instrument cluster, a friend of mine has one with a tach that's mine for the asking.

I figure on the "Gas" thing, I'll give her a prepaid card and show her "THE ONLY" gas station and pump she's allowed to use. She probably won't be taking this old beauty out of town so spare parts she won't need for quite some time.

Interesting comment on the fuel filter... Is this something that needs regular attention? Fuel additives? I haven't had anything to do with a Diesel since the early '80's so I remember nearly nothing.

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

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

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.

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 167,870 July 2025
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

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.

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.

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daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
No longer selling Cluster Needles Paint
No longer selling New Old Stock (NOS) parts

Past:
3/2008 1986 300SDL "Coda"
04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more

Looking good. I recently picked up an 81 240D myself, very similar mileage and condition.

Been curious about doing the clock/tach upgrade as well -does anyone know if the 81 240d is equipped with an EGR?