i purchased my 82 240d from a older guy who was moving to florida for $500. the car had 125,000 miles. i initially bought the car as a weekend toy. something to tinker with on the weekends. My other car is 1994 volvo 850 wagon.
Needless to say that after driving the 21 year old MB, I am a convert. I feel safer in it, the seats are more comfortable, the mileage is better (duh), the maintenance is cheaper (diy parts), the engine is very mechanic-friendly.
So the volvo is now for sale. I never thought the day would come but the MB is a much better car.
The best part is I bought the MB for $500 and it is a manual transmission. Go figure. I welcome similar stories and would like to hear yours!

rodsob

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$500 1982 240d owner "Gunter"
125k miles,4 speed manual
crank windows, MB Tex, all original
no a/c, daily driver
Scorecard so far....
$230 Maaco paint job
$27 dimmer switch, $40 shutoff valve, $45 brake MC, $260 calipers, $40 brake hoses, $40 side fender trim, $20 balancing, $109 lifetime alignment, $10 fuel return lines, $115 oil&fuel filters for next 30k miles

rodsob, I to was a long time volvoowner, thought there was nothing better, then I drove a friends 300sd and had to have one. I sold my 83 240 turbo intercooled X cop car and bought a 83 300sd and I can say so far I've never had so much fun working on a car Its great. steve

Sometimes I am inclined to think that half the fun of owning a car is never needing to work on it. It gets old when you get nickle and dimed to death.

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

I agree there...that's the single biggest reason I gave up on gasoline engines.

I'll admit that I enjoy working on my vehicles, but needing to do something every week to keep a car running gets old after awhile...

So far, with my Benz, the only non-routine maintenance I've really had to do were the axleshafts (twice; got one bad rebuild) and the front wheel bearings...

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2001 VW Jetta TDI, 5 speed, daily driver
1991 Ford F-350, work in progress
1984 Ford F-250 4x4, 6.9l turbo diesel, 5 speed manual
Previous oilburners: 1980 IH Scout, 1984 E-350, 1985 M-B 300D, 1979 M-B 300SD, 1983 M-B 300D
Spark-free since 1999

I haven't given up on gas engines yet. I like the fact that a gas engine is still easy to start in sub-freezing temps were as the diesel takes a few minutes to warm up before I can drive it.
Also I don't like getting diesel fuel on my hands when refilling. Those pump handles are always wet with fuel and I'm not one of those who will wear one of those sissy gloves to re-fuel. I can keep going but I already sound like too much of a complainer.

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

Sub-freezing? What's that?

I'm weird enough to actually like the smell of diesel fuel...although I'll admit that sometimes I'll take a paper towel to the nozzle, simply 'causI don't want to get the fuel all over the steering wheel and whatnot...even though the seats are trashed, the rest of the interior's in good shape and I want to try and keep it that way.

I forget, that's something that Californians know nothing about .
I do use a paper towel from time to time as well. I've got an interior that's in great shape that I don't want to spoil.
I don't like the smell of diesel fuel but I do like the sweet smell of the exhaust better than gasoline exhaust.

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

I have both gas and diesel tractors, and I've come to despise climbing onto that old Ford cuz it makes my clothes stink like petrol exhaust--yuk! I switched our vehicles and the little Iseki tractor over to biodiesel, and I simply love the smell.

My old OM 615 was a real bear to start in anything below 30 degrees, but our OM 603 fires right up at temps into the teens--of course I'm running Mobil 1 too.

My progression began with a little Isusu diesel in a Chevette. Next I went to a Volvo 244 Sedan diesel and now to MB's. No comparison. The Volvo was well built but the engine was weak compared its MB counterpart.

Don

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DAILY DRIVERS:
'84 300DT 298k (Aubrey's)
'99.5 Jetta TDI IV 251k (Julie's)
'97 Jetta TDI 127k (Amber's)
'97 Jetta TDI 186k (Matt's)
'96 Passat TDI 237k (Don's
'84 300D 211k Mint (Arne- Undergoing Greasecar Conversion)

SOLD:
'82 240D 229k (Matt's - Converted-300DT w/ 4 speed

Here in the rural northwest corner of the state of Washington, 240 series Volvos once were the popular choice for a blend of comfort, style, and economy. But, now that the Volvos are close to the end of their lifespans, the 123's of similar vintage have replaced them, such that must be more 123's per capita here than anywhere else on the planet. I'm reminded of the three things that every Volvo owner knows: 1 -- Volvos get good gas mileage; 2 -- Volvos are very dependable; and 3 -- his or her Volvo is the only exception to items 1 and 2.

Phil

'84 Euro 300D
'85 300D