It should nearly equal a 300 in performance.

I used to set my cruise on 73 with my 240s.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I drove a manual 240D in top shape and well maintained. 30mph and already 3rd gear. I barely fit inside, so my experience wasn't that great. It felt like a tractor. I can imagine driving it through countryside, but in a big city, I wouldn't want that. Even in my om603 turbo I have dangerous merges onto highway, because you know, people really don't care about others and won't let you in.

I've been reading about tranny/engine adapters for various Mercedes diesel engines that will allow one to accomodate various manual trannies. These guys have some wild stuff. This one is for the 617, I'm guessing the 616 perhaps has a different bolt pattern but I don't know. I do get that you'd have to be pretty damned devoted to the 240D to go this route, that is if it works.

OM617 to BMW 6 Speed 37DZ Adapter Kit


One issue I think I'm seeing, the models that sport this tranny are not common in US boneyards. They say the US model that has it is the E87 120d.

I found one on eBay for $1300. You can get a manual tranny for a lot less at a Pick n Pull.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

240 same pattern as 300 and 280.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

That same company offers a kit to mount a gasser BMW 6 speed to the OM606. Given the general durability of manual trannies, you would think a better donor could be found, one that could be easily found in boneyards. If I was about to spend $1600 on a kit I'd write them and suggest a much more common BMW gasser tranny in the US. I'd have to do some looking to determine what that might be.

I know that back in the oh-ohs the boneyards around here were lousy with E30 5 speeds. Manuals perhaps less common in later model Bimmers, not sure.

Adapter Kit for BMW ZF 53-BZ to Mercedes OM606

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

One "modification" I would definitely consider is the 14" aluminum "steelie" wheel, which was a US market option on the W123. I have them on my W115 240d and W123 300d and the difference in ride, handling, economy and acceleration on both cars is definitely noticeable.

They weigh 11+ lbs less than the steel wheels and can still take the chrome wheel embellishers. That's 45 lbs of unsprung weight savings, which is massive even by race standards. This, combined with a thorough tune up, will keep you smiling at your own pace as the world speeds past.

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Why I will never do business with "DieselKraut" again

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-benz-used-parts-sale-wanted/378935-why-i-will-never-do-business-dieselkraut-again.html

If you have a luddite bent, like I do, for sure see the appeal. When I lived in Los Angeles, there's no way I'd have one now, just too scary with those short onramps due to access lights. You know those killer onramps where the traffic control lights are basically 100 ft from the freeway. Also, since the average speed in CA is 80mph, it's rough, up here in Washington though, it'd be no problem at all, no one goes up here, so no worries at all! Hell, I'm constantly running over cars in front of me with a JDM Mazda Bongo.

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1983 W123 300TD US spec Turbo engine, with Euro bumpers and manual climate control, and manual transmission.

I drove my '83 240d Auto as my first car for about 15 years now and having recently swapped it with a euro 617 with manual 4speed drive train, I do really miss the way the 240d handled it's speed around town in the automatic form. It is a much less smooth ride overall now although much quicker off the line with the extra cylinder and stick shift. The 240d auto has a nice way of being really responsive to weather you are flooring it or not, determining when to up or down shift. I miss how effortless it all was to hop into a 240d auto. I also never felt like it was too slow except in high altitudes and on really fast interstates out west. I would do 75 in the 240d all day even though it likely puts a little more wear on the engine that way. That being said, I love the quickness off the line with my new manual 617 setup in the car but, I think it is a much jerkier ride compared to the 240d auto. I'm still getting use to the swap and am not looking back in time too much and I only did the swap because I needed a new transmission and didn't feel like maintaining another automatic trans. Overall, I would be happy with the car in either form.

my 77 240d auto is quick enough for me. I removed the fan and vacuum pump to free up a few ponies. I really have no problem in traffic, and I'm glad its an auto, working a clutch in traffic is just too much for me now, I just want to relax in my car.

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1977 240D auto w/OM616.916 engine
2005 Matrix 5spd
2006 Prius

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It very much depends, in heavy traffic no, they are not safe anymore. In a less populated area it would be fine. Even my 300SDL is too slow to be ideal for the traffic where I live, it can't get up to freeway speed from metering lights easily, or accelerate from 55-85 mph fast enough to pull out to pass a semi truck on the freeway.

Get the manual. I test drove an auto before I got my manual and it was awful. Push down the pedal and wait for something to happen. The manual was drivable...but it required a great amount of skill to daily drive.

I’d commute in mine in the Bay Area for eight years. My coworkers would tease how slow it was but I’d tell them my car requires far more skill to operate than their Camry. They didn’t believe me of course. Wringing performance out of that thing required traffic anticipation like Nostradamus. Perfect shift points. And lane change planning a mile in advance.

It worked well on a city/highway commute once I learned the route and it’s traffic patterns. You try not to lose momentum.

As for climbing hills it was great. I went up and down the hills of San Francisco and Berkeley (Marin Ave) all the time. It just does it like a tractor in 1st. If you have the time it’ll climb the hill.

I moved to socal and got rid of it. I only drive my turbodiesels now. Too many hills in my neighborhood. I live on a 15% grade and I have impatient neighbors in 200hp+ SUVs. One lane with a 40mph speed limit that everyone breaks. The 240d wouldn’t work well here.

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79 300TD “Old Smokey” AKA “The Mistake” (SOLD)
82 240D stick shift 335k miles (SOLD)
82 300SD 300k miles
85 300D Turbodiesel 170k miles

lol it's not that bad, but you certainly do need to think about what you're doing. I also live on a 15% grade and making that hill first thing in the morning requires expert clutch work.

I'm in and out of LA traffic, on the 5, etc, it's fine... also, people tend to give you a wider berth when they see you're driving a 40 year old classic. Less middle fingers, more thumbs ups.

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1981 240D 4sp manual. Ivory White.

Another wildly happy 240D slushbox owner here .

Yes, they're not quick so if you need that, DON'T BUT IT because flooring it all the time will over rev. the engine and make it dribble oil every where .

I drive mine at 65 all over America, it slows down on the steeper freeway hills .

You have to be aware when you merge into the freeway as it's not often you'll be going over 50MPH at the time .

Doable but drive defensivly ! .

Maybe get a test ride in one first ? .

The light alloy disc wheels really do make it nicer, I have a spare set if anyone is interested .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

In a 240 you have to plan ahead. I'll always take the stick over the automatic.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

In 1972 I took the Grayhound commercial driving lessons, they were very adamant about always planning and looking ahead ~ the 7 second sweep, so on and so forth .

A stick shift is nice but looking at what's going on, situational awareness is critical no matter what you're driving / riding .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better