240d rebuild or not?
 

My sister-in-law has a 1981 240d with approx. 117,000 miles on it. The car has been in the family since new. However, it appears that the lower-end of the engine is shot. Sister-in-law doesn't want to put any more money into it and will give it to me for free or if I don't want it, she is going to donate to her favorite charity. I have a 1983 300cd and have been considering a four door sedan, likely a 300sd, for the family.

Here is my dilema. The 240d is in great cosmic condition but I suspect my sister-in-law drove it hard as she has little to no knowledge of automobiles. A new engine would likely run in the $4000 to $5000 range. It is an automatic and I am not sure that I will be happy with its performance.

Conversely, I expect that I can pick up a nice 300sd for about the same price.

What do you recommend? What would you do with the 240d?

What symptoms make you think the engine is shot?

You can find a running rust-belt 240D for $500 or less. There is some element of chance in getting one with a really good engine, but that's what a 240D will go for if its rusted out.

Get someone to transfer the engine into your good body, and away you go for $500.

Ken300D

Apparently an independent mechanic pulled the oil pan and inidacted that there were problems with one or more of the rods and possibly some crankshaft damage. I have not talked to the mechanic personally and am hearing this second hand through my sister-in-law.

I suppose you are right about finding a rusted out body with a good engine. My biggest concern is that I live in a low populated and somewhat remote area in Wyoming and finding and getting a rusted out car poses some potentially expensive logistical problems that start to make the rebuilt engine look better.

Thanks for your input.

If he's seeing bent rods, and/or a broken crankshaft, then the timing chain probably broke, or worse. Either way, it obviously needs an engine. If you can do the work yourself, it's DEFINTELY worth it to save an otherwise nice 240D. There's often parts cars for sale on this forum, there's eBay...I've got a couple of connections here in Atlanta, GA too, so I might be able to help you find an engine...The 240D has plenty of room to work under the hood and around the engine...swapping in a good used engine is not a difficult thing to do, if you have a few tools and an engine lift.

I'd go for it if I were you. I can't imagine turning down a FREE 240D, if it's nice! :D

Mike

jfenn

Can you do any of this rebuild yourself? Otherwise I dont think it would be worth it. I spend about 3K for parts and machine work including crank re grinding and balancing on mine. That includes new clutch, radiator and starter, allot of extras. As you know the automatics are slooow and not real good on resale. If the crank is bad it may not be saveable in which case the engines is a door stop. Also If she neglected the engine, hows the tranny? As was suggested a junk yard engine would be you bast way to go IMO. The engines are easy to swap out.

The Pull and Save here in Denver often has MB's. About six months ago there was a 240d hit in front left quarter. 175k. Engines go for $127. It would be worth taking the chance with those prices. I was there last week but no diesels.

I just put a junkyard motor in my 240D yesterday, and it is really not that hard to do. As long as you have a cherrypicker, metric socket set, metric end wrenches, and 6mm and 8mm allen wrenches, you are set.