240D, Euro, US, difference ? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Stevo · #1 01-10-2003, 11:58 AM

I am wondering what problems I am going to encounter when getting parts for my Euro "85" 240D. I am not complaining but I have not had to do anything but maintance stuff like valve adjustment, check chain stretch, fix minor vacuum leaks, and replace the clock. I pick up little hints off the forum now and then about things that are a different size or some how different between the Euro and US cars. Any advice on what to look out for before I get into something that I assume is gona be routine and find the part is N/A in the US ? Also are the "import police" gona notice the Euro bumpers and bust me,

and those adjustable headlights gota be worth a slap on the wrist.. Anyone ever get busted? When I went to get it covered by my Allstate insurance the agent gave me the impression it would take a little "finagling" to square it away, which he did. Anyway I am not loosing allot of sleep over this, just thought there may be a few things about "gray market" cars that would be good to know.

Have a good friday all

rwthomas1 · #2 01-10-2003, 12:40 PM

Don't sweat it at all. Ever notice how many snapjar retards are cruising around in riceburners with overpowered lights, rediculous ground effects, neon lights, fart-pipes, etc. A nice old Benz will attract little attention from anyone authoritarian. As long as you can register/insure it and get parts it won't be a problem. RT

#3 01-10-2003, 12:42 PM

I picked up an 82 300D last month, as a parts car, and as it happens this is a European model. I went down to my favorite MB guru yesterday and asked about any problems with getting parts, and specifically with installing the engine from that car into my old 300D.
He said he has lots of customers driving around with European cars of this vintage. Apparently they were quite a few brought in during the 80's. He told me that some parts are a little different, but mostly there is no problem getting them. Some things are not available, but one can usually work around those issues with a little thought.
Grey market cars were a hot issue with insurers in the late 80' and early 90's. Lots of them were brought in and then the owners found they could not afford the cost of the US glass, bumber , dash upgrades, and so forth. My guess is that by now either your car meets these, or the issue is long forgotten by the authorities.
But then keep an ear to the ground. Never know when they will come for you!

#4 01-10-2003, 12:43 PM

No sweat. I've driven my '84 over a half million miles and there's rarely been a parts problem. When there was, it was simply a matter of giving the parts guy the serial number.

Thanks for giving me another excuse to post a picture of ol' Silver. She's out to pasture right now, but I hope to get her back on the road this year.

Have a great day,

Stevo · #5 01-10-2003, 03:34 PM

Thanks for the repels. Ya, thats just about what I figured "don't sweat it". I really do like those bumpers now, can't believe I was whining about them I when I first got the car. I do miss that hand grip above the side window, the passenger side has one tho. It did not have a hood pad and everyone noticed how much louder it is than the others. I am doing that today using liquid nails as Bill suggests. Also the injector pump looks allot different than the rest. As far as the cloth seats, I would rather have the MB Tex, sorry cloth lovers. : )

#6 01-10-2003, 05:37 PM

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Stevo · #7 01-10-2003, 06:05 PM

Guess I had better go back and figure how to post a pic the right size, didn't mean to SHOUT

. Is there a way to preview your post that includes the attachment? I must have missed something

leathermang · #8 01-11-2003, 10:44 AM

Stevo, " or something".. you could just delete it if you don't like how a post comes out.. hit the edit button... and check the box....
But your pics are just fine.. and the cars look great...I think you are well on your way to cornering the 240 manual market in Washington...

McRoth · #9 01-23-2003, 08:27 AM

Stevo,

Your powder blue 240D looks JUST like mine!! Except your's is a little shinier right now!! I just found out that mine is a Euro model too.

Stevo · #10 01-23-2003, 11:00 AM

McRoth

The blue is, I think, my favorite color. That car is a US car and the brown one is the euro with no oil cooler and all the rest of the euro stuff. I haven't had to do much work on it (not complaining tho) so I haven't discovered much " hidden" difference, except last week when I read the post about not having a spare fuel filter. I put a wrench in all my cars (spare filters too) that would fit the top bolt on the filter housings and discovered that bolt is a different size than the other cars have.

Good show on the bio diesel, would like to look into that some day.

McRoth · #11 01-23-2003, 12:50 PM

I just have a crecent wrench in mine so I can use it wherever. I usually keep a spare set of filters in mine too.

What's the story on the Euro cars anyhow? Someone mentioned they were grey market, what exactly does that mean?

Stevo · #12 01-23-2003, 08:04 PM

MCRoth

OK, I know I'll miss some differences but here goes. Euro headlights as opposed to double round on each side, cloth interior, No oil coolers on the euro 240D, but I think all 617s had them ?? smaller bumpers on euros, I am sure there will be more things that might crop up like the different size nuts on the fuel filter. I asked the same question last summer when I bought my "85". My insurance man looked at me kinda funny and I had the impression it was a hassle but all went OK.

McRoth · #13 01-23-2003, 08:55 PM

Well, that helps with the differences. But what I was really getting at was the "grey market" thing. Where(how & why) did they come from, besides the obvious of Germany.

Does yours have the hydraulic suspension too?

Thanks!

#14 01-23-2003, 09:03 PM

I've had two euro diesels (currently just have the one--190D). There is basically zero problem with parts. Once in a while, you'll have to bug the parts guy a bit to make sure he understands it's a Euro, but MB will supply the parts.

I've also never had any hassle with insurance. I don't think the insurance company ever even brought it up.

Both my euros came into the US normally (military, I think) and were "updated" the way they had to be. My current 190D had to have the speedo replaced for some weird reason--don't know the details except that the previous owner gave me a lot of correspondence relative to it. But that was his problem--not mine.

If you've got a euro, feel blessed. They're generally better (simpler) cars than what was imported as a US Mercedes!!!!!

dave240 · #15 01-23-2003, 09:08 PM

Stevo & McRoth,

I think the gray might be missing that "safety" bar in each of the doors. Also, I believe the glass has some differences.

Hey I've got the powder blue too, she's sweet when waxed, but right now she's got lots of salt and dirt on her. I tried to do a quick wash today, but dag-nab hose is froze. (20f was the high).

Stevo, do you find the 5-speed much better alround? or just on the road? Or... not at all better than the 4speed?
I have often wondered if it is possible to swap the 4speed for the 5.

any comments wb appreciated
thanks,dave