FS: 1983 240D 4-speed manual -- $3,000.00 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Aaron · #1 02-19-2013, 11:07 AM

Gents,

Long time no see I know

however various exploits have steered me toward a LOT of work on Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Ferrari as of late which, I'm happy to report, is quite enjoyable. Nevertheless, I took in a decent 240D as part ex for a Jaguar so I wanted to offer it to the group here before going 'public' with it;

It's an '83, 4-speed manual, 275K, Silverblue Metallic over Navy Tex, originally a California car with lots of stamps from W.I. Simonson and then from James Motor Company in Lexington, KY, after the original owner moved east. I acquired the car through my friend Gary Ensor of Silverstar Motorwerks when the original owner decided to sell a few years ago. I wound up selling it to a customer of ours who's had it since then and has kept it in good repair with regular visits for the usual services (3K oil/filter, 15K valve adjust/fuel filters, annual brake fluid, etc..). The car runs and drives well, and we recently put in a new radiator and t-stat as well as performed a major service and new front pads as well as a new preglow relay.

The body is overall in decent condition, some typical rust at the corners of the doors and the paint is well, shall we say 'patinated' as the old DB930 color used to do. Certainly it'll clean up nicely with a proper detail. Only thing to note is that the oil cooler leaks a bit at the bottom o-rings so a good secondhand one will be included with the car. With other projects in the way, I just don't have the time to mess with the 240, and as much as I actually wouldn't mind having it around as a spare car, I feel it would be better in the hands of someone who will use it regularly.

If you are in the Cincinnati area, you are welcome to come see/inspect and drive the car. It's one of the few which have escaped the veggie oil massacre so it's as unmolested as one could ask. Call me on (513) 519-7302 or email: QV5000@gmail.com if you'd like to discuss further.

jab0028 · #2 02-19-2013, 04:10 PM

Nice looking 240 with the manual transmission. I haven't had the opportunity to drive the manual trans. My autobox is slow but I have adjusted to driving it in city traffic. Wish you the best with your sale.

NC-Diesel · #3 02-19-2013, 08:27 PM

What's the rust situation from underneath as far as the rockers and floor boards? I've been trying to convince the wife to let me sell the three fixer uppers I have and get one that is in good shape, no rust and only needing maintenance without requiring major renovations. Just getting tired of the wife and kids whining I don't spend enough time cleaning and haginging out with the kids on the weekends and too much time n my cars. I can deal with Door rust. How about the other major rust areas?

Jim B. · #4 02-20-2013, 03:23 AM

That is one of the most completely filled out maintenance booklets I have ever seen on a car this old.

Those Mercedes Benz dealer maintenance stamps don't tell lies; they suggest a rigorous adherence to a lifetime of service..and at the dealers too, so good regular care was more important than thrift in maintenance, so if not a well loved car, certainly one with a fabulous history of care.

Jim Bess Motorcars in Canoga Park, and Auto Steigler in Encino are both long time Mercedes Benz dealers in the San Fernando Valley (though Auto Steigler is now called Mercedes Benz of Encino.)

The original selling dealer W.I. Simonson, in Santa Monica, boasts having been in business since 1937, when it sold new Studebakers under that name. I have had my car (the 560SEC) there a time or two for service / repairs and they are a good, fairly priced facility.

Likewise I have used MB of Encino for parts and repairs several times.

Both dealers are good ones, but Jim Bess of Canoga Park is not around now, so far as I know..

Very nice car with a great history of service, from what I see.

And for buyers in the Ohio rust belt, it would be a 30 year old gem.

I haver the exact same Weathertech floormats on the front, inside my SEC that this one has on ther driver side, and they are the best you can get. Totally protect the carpet and can hold lots of slush snow and dirt till you shake them out and clean them.

Best of all, it has that the wonderful manual transmission, that makes driving the car so much more fun and a bit faster ("fast" being a relative term with the w123 240D).

And that blue interior with NO aparent dash cracks like the blue ones of this era like most of them usually get is another bonus.

So if I needed another nice Mercedes Benz (though with 3 already, I don't) I'd nab this one for the asking price, and repatriate it to California.

I bet it'd make a great, reliable fun car for a wise and discerning buyer....but especially for a Midwesterner.

Aaron · #5 02-20-2013, 09:08 AM

Hi fellas,

Thanks for the nice words. It really is a good little runner. As Jim B says, the maintenance booklet doesn't lie, and it's apparent in the way the car runs and drives. Seeing as how one doesn't find cars like this too often any longer, I had half a mind to hang onto the thing as it almost isn't worth letting it go for $3K but be that as it may, I've a wonderful Jaguar XJR which, with 400bhp to play with, is a bit difficult to give up in favor of a 240D

I'll gladly pop it up on a lift when I have a moment to clear some things out. From my last recollection when it was in for service, it was still holding up fine underneath. Remember, Cincinnati is different from northern "rust belt" cities insofar as we see a fraction of the weather that, say, Cleveland, Pittsburgh or Detroit sees, so cars tend to hold up amazingly well here whereas if they were up north, they'd be toast by now.

I don't check in here too often, so if anyone is seriously interested, please email me at QV5000@gmail.com or call 513.519.7302.