Found 81 240D What should I test for?

[pj67coll]

I've located an 81 240D 4 spd stick with 347 000 miles (or possibly 374 000) in Phoenix for 2.5 k at a dealer.

Car's been resprayed and is in physically decent shape though by no means perfect with a few parking lot dings here and their. Only rust is slight under the doors behind the rubber seals. The interior is about right for the age. Couple of dashboard cracks and drivers seat is literally crumbling - horsehair pouring out from the squab. other seats are ok. No apparent water ingress under carpets despite perished (possibly badly replaced) windshiled seals. Manual sunroof. Central locking which works fine and it started right up and shut off immediately. The only thing I noticed was that when I turned the key the glowplug light did not appear to come on. Might not have noticed it though as I was also checking out a/c operation and windows at the time.

Also I noticed the car does not shake nearly as much as the three 300D's I've tested. I only started it and did not drive it as it was rush hour and I'd prefer a more relaxed test drive so might return Saturday morning. So my question to the list members, especially 240D owners past and present would be what to look for on the test. Last time I was in a 240D was age 10 in my uncles car so this will be a fairly new animal for me to test.

Two immediate questions. The shifter knob seemed loose so that it rotated probably thru 45 degrees while being moved. My 84 200 stick did not do so but I've heard people claim that some were made this way.

Also, every few seconds while the motor was idling I heard what sounded like a sharp metallic bang like a hammer striking a metal plate. Is this "nailing"? And what's required to fix it?

- Peter.