Considering 83 240D - know they are slow, but any way to improve power? Also- good $?
 

I am considering a 1983 Mercedes 240D. It has 138K actual miles and it is in very good conditions. The owner states that the car runs and drives great, that it is 100% rust free and the interior is in very good shape, according to the photographs I have seen of it. The engine looks very clean and he also states that the car has NO leaks of any kind. I think I can get it for less than $2000 - shipping included. First of all- is this a good price on this car?

Secondly- I have heard that these cars are VERY LOW on power- especially the automatic models. Just how slow can I expect this car to be? Is there anything out there these days that increase the performance of these cars? Now I have a 1989 Pontiac Safari wagon (a 4200 pound, 9-passenger car), with a 140hp V8 4bbl Oldsmobile built engine. It is very sluggish. I think someone said that the 240Ds (early 80s models) have a 76hp engine. I am unsure of the weight of the 240Ds (around 3000 lbs?), so I am guessing with the weight/hp ratio- that it could not be much worse than my 89 Pontiac wagon. ANY advice / information appreciated.

The '83 240D is slow, but you learn to deal with that. My wifes Jetta TDI will do actual 127 mph, the Benz 80 mph tops.

But I'd rather drive the 240D anytime over the Jetta.

The thing about the 240 is simplisity, and style. Sounds like a deal I paid $2600 for mine 3 months ago with 143,000 miles and I drove to Memphis and drove it back home.

Thanks. 80 MPH tops may take a while to get used to, considering I am used to driving my 90 Lexus that will cruise 80 MPH easily at 2500 rpms, but I will just be using the 240D here in the city anyway. I will leave the freeway driving to the Lexus or Buick. I can get to 80MPH on the interstate and not even realize it. :eek:

Do you know what that thing is between the two buttons on the center of the instrument panel, below the speedometer and above the steering column? I cannot make out what it is on the photos of this particular 240D. I know that the 83+ 300SD's have an outside temperature guage there, but I do not think the 240s have this. Thanks again.

howdy there,
As to powering up a diesel, the best most reliable and fairly simple is to add a turbo. eirther get one off a wrecked car just like the one ya got, or find a aftermarket one. I hope I understood what ya was asking.

Lots of previous threads on this--try a search, then settle back for a few hours of reading.
I drove my 240D 30,000 miles in a year. I loved every single mile except one particular on ramp to the Baltimore beltway--not enough room to get up to speed .
You need to develop the attitude that the 240D is adequately powered and that everyone else is just in too much of a hurry. You can't blame them, after all they aren't driving a great, classic Benz!
The beauty of the 240D lies in its simplicity, and its longevity. Accept that or don't drive it. Do not turbo the 4 cylinder engine--it wasn't made for that. The turbo will reduce the longevity by a significant amount.
When you say "no rust". Make sure thats true--not just the painted areas, but under the car. Check carefully around the jack points and the rear suspension mounts. Check the floors, too, as thats where water will collect.

I think you may be seeing the manual throttle lock for cold starts, that alllows you to up the idle about 500 rpm. It's just to the left of and a little above the steering collum and below the instrument panel, this thing is kind of wing nut or thumb screw shaped.

Thanks for the replies guys. Here is a photograph of the instrument panel. I think I know the knob you are talking about, but rather this is not a knob I am inquiring about- it just looks like a hole where the temperature guage is placed on the 83+ 300SD's.
I e-mailed the seller and he is supposed to be checking this for me.

MSfowler- I agree 100% about the rust issue. I specifically asked the seller if it had any underbody rust and he said no. I know that these cars can appear to be 100% rust free, but trunk and underbody rust can be a problem on some of them. I had a 74 240D a few years ago that looked 100% rust free, but it had very rusty floor boards- not because of leaks, but because it had set on the ground on four flats for years. I ended up selling the car for $75.

Here are the photos:

http://www.carad.com/ebaymotors/viewPhoto.htm?http://carad.ebayimg.com/i5/01/a/01/dd/2e/64_4.JPG

http://www.carad.com/ebaymotors/viewPhoto.htm?http://carad.ebayimg.com/i7/02/a/01/dd/a3/85_4.JPG

http://www.carad.com/ebaymotors/viewPhoto.htm?http://carad.ebayimg.com/i17/02/a/01/dc/df/5c_4.JPG

http://www.carad.com/ebaymotors/viewPhoto.htm?http://carad.ebayimg.com/i24/01/a/01/dd/51/c7_4.JPG

http://www.carad.com/ebaymotors/viewPhoto.htm?http://carad.ebayimg.com/i4/02/a/01/dd/2a/0b_4.JPG

http://www.carad.com/ebaymotors/viewPhoto.htm?http://carad.ebayimg.com/i12/01/a/01/dd/5d/d9_4.JPG

Shipping is going to cost $595. I want to spend $2000 or less, but this car may sell for more than $1400.

Thanks again for any advice.

The spot you're talking about is blank on a 240D. I've read about some Euro cars having automatic transmissions with the shifter on the column. If that is true, then the gear selection indicator would be in that spot. It could also house an outside temperature indicator, but I've never seen one on a W123.

As for acceleration, expect about the same as a city bus. There's no good say to make them faster, so just get used to it. If it turns out to be too slow for you, then someone else will want it so just sell it. Factory specified top speed for a 240D is 86 mph. Mine had no trouble doing that before the head gasket blew.

My '83 automatic will hump along all day at 85...
 

and still have enough juice to pass if driven carefully. Interesting that an '81 240 with MANUAL I bought a few months back maxes out around 80.

'83 was the last year for the 240 in the US. Many had very nice packages (AC, sunroof, PWs, etc). Price seems VERY fair. IMHO, THE last great "utilitarian-luxury" car.

Yes, I thought that on others I have seen- that spot is blank. Perhaps someone just had something placed there?
I guess I will wait and see what the seller says.

In that first photo link- you can see what I am talking about.

Jim B- you are right- this one is one of those "loaded" 1983 models. In addition to the automatic transmission - it also has A/C (COLD), as well as power windows, power locks, cruise, etc. Not sure about the sunroof though, but I really do not care about that.

Here is the description the seller has written about the car:

"You are bidding on a well pampered 1983 Mercedes 240D with only 138K original highway miles .Car is in excellent driving condition . Clean inside and outside . Everything works on this car ; from gauges to AC which blows ice cold .Car has new glow plugs , new fuel filters , oil has been changed and all fluids topped off .It's rare to find the 240D's at such great condition . being a 4 cylinder and having a diesel engine , this car is extremely good on gas mileage ( diesel ) consumption . At 138K , this car has a very long life span ahead of it . Never smoked in, upholstery in near perfect condition. There might be few dings and dungs on the exterior . There are no signs of prior damage on this vehicle. There is no damage present on this vehicle. The owner kept this fine vehicle in the garage. The transmission in this vehicle still shifts like it did when it was brand new. This vehicle engine runs very, very smooth.No rust ! There are no electrical problems with this vehicle whatsoever. This vehicle is perfectly sound, no known defects. Pride of ownership is evident in this clean vehicle. This vehicle's interior is very clean. These tires have about half their life span left.Car is ready for a happy new owner"

This is easier: Ebay

There's a little black plastic strip that is supposed to go in that spot to blank it out. Every time I pulled my instrument cluster, that strip fell out on the floor. That could explain what happened to this one.

Do the photos look a little...rough?
 

Seemed like there was a good bit of interior wear, and rear door panel is missing. Would lead me to question alleged "creampuff" status of item.

I didn't see any missing door panel, but did notice what appears to be a heavy crack in dash and and one other smaller one. But the blue interior should have had black steering wheel and collum not brown.

I'm supessious, I paid $2600 for mine at 143,00 miles and got all service papers and service book with stampings and the window sticker. It has all factory options available and only thing that doesn't work is CC, a/c blows 38*F AIR TEMP FROM CENTER VENTS. :D

Thanks. I thought I had posted that link. Guess not.

Anyway- I do not see any missing door panel either, nor do I see the brown steering column. It looks black to me as well as the steering wheel.

Thanks again.

No big deal but, those aren't 83 front seats. Methinks those are pre 81 (5 pleat) front seats.

Be VERY careful about east coast cars claiming 'no-rust.'

Thanks. I guess with all of the negative comments about the car- I will pass on it. Thanks again for all of the replies.

I retract "missing door panel" remark...
 

just what it looked like at first glance...however the general scruffiness seems at odds with a "low milage" 240 that's been reasonably well looked after..."brown" steering wheel also appeared to be the correct black, IMHO.

Man that 3rd picture of front seat from the side the steering wheel sure looks brown to me, but it doesn't on the other pictures. :confused:

Sometimes it is the lighting that makes the colors look differently in photographs. Sometimes even a car with dull painting will appear to gleam in some photographs.

I am not going to even bid on the car, not a big deal anyway. I will probably just continue to look for a local 300SD. Thanks again folks.

I bought my little sweetie in Germantown, TN so they are around your neck of the woods. :D

http://pics.tdiclub.com/data/500/5627MB_TN.jpg

Re: Considering 83 240D - know they are slow, but any way to improve power? Also- good $?
 

They only had 67 HP.
Not much for a car that weighs around 4000 lbs.:(
Anyone have the 0 to 60 times?

In january I bought my 240d

1 owner odo died about 5-6 years ago at 302k. Runs like a top, 4-speed
$300...best deal ever, ok maybe not but I was thinking "LAST LEG" on the life of this thing, but now that the summer has rolled around it puuurrrrssss. That interior is really nice, the car is painfully slow, but it handles nicely so you can carry speed through turns ;) Enjoy it.

The people who I got my diesel from bought it in '81 drove it, gave it to their son and I bought it from him, I hope to let my kids drive the car...hopefully.
-Nate

Re: Re: Considering 83 240D - know they are slow, but any way to improve power? Also- good $?
 

Seems I remember the curb weight as about 3400 on my loaded 240D, but could be wrong.

0-60 in about 15 seconds would be my guess, but I've never timed it. About double that with a/c blowing. :eek:

Is asking for a 0-60 stat for a diesel "fair"?
 

It's important to realize the power curves of diesels vs gas engines are different...acceleration will be the strong point of a gas engine, but diesels have an edge in some areas such as fuel economy, cruising range, cruising speed, etc.

To me, it's a lot like comparing the "acceleration" of power boats and sailboats...a very apples-and-oranges area, where mental adjustments and expectations of "normal" performance differ.

Few people expect a four cylinder roadster and a V-8 sedan to deliver identical driving experiences.

Re: Is asking for a 0-60 stat for a diesel "fair"?
 

I think it is. Its a good way to get a rough idea how you could expect one of these cars to perform. Every car can be measured by this and is one of the items that every car is evaluated for when tested by the various auto publications.

as far as how to get more power out of any diesel see this thread.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/94864-propane-veg-oil-%3D-vroom-vroom.html

Re: Re: Re: Considering 83 240D - know they are slow, but any way to improve power? A
 

I've got a non-turbo 300D up in Denver. Altitude makes a big difference, but I used a G-tech to measure my accleration, and I ran a 1/4 mile in 25 seconds with a trap speed of 55. Effectively my 0-60 is longer than 25 seconds! They are slow cars.

Somewhere I heard that changing the fixed fan blade to a clutched 9-blade can save you 5-10% or more horsepower.

The beauty of the 240D lies in its simplicity, and its longevity.
 

I would say the 0-60 somewhere in the 20 second range is good for a stick 240 running very well. It will definitely not beat the new suburban chicago city busses. They will walk all over it. :o

Re: Re: Re: Considering 83 240D - know they are slow, but any way to improve power? Also- good $?
 

I posted earlier, at sea level the 240d I have now ran a 1/4 mile in 25 seconds at 55mph. That puts the 0-60 somewhere around 30 seconds. This is with over 300k miles, stock clutch, stock engine, but it runs pretty well, I wouldn't doubt if those numbers are CLOSE to stock.
-Nate

Re: Re: Re: Re: Considering 83 240D - know they are slow, but any way to improve power? Also- good $
 

How long should a factory clutch last? 300K seems quite alot for an item under such heat/stress/pressures.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Considering 83 240D - know they are slow, but any way to improve power? Also- good $
 

I think sometimes why it seems faster, is because I'm in a different time zone then everyone else when I drive the Benz. :D :p The driving style required to be a sucessful 240D wheel man is serious preplanning on all entries and exits. ;) Most of the time here in my little hick town I beat most people away from the light and on down the street. :cool: Most have a phone in the ear, trying to corral a kid, or afraid of mashing the gas pedal for fear of bankruptcy at the gas pumps. :eek: :eek: :D