Well, I'd decided against selling the 240D. After a smoking issue was cured with a valve adjustment and some Diesel Kleen, it was running very well. Still, I reconsidered and listed it last Thursday. The first person to look at it yesterday bought it on sight for asking price. He took possession today.
I was wondering what it had cost me to own it for almost exactly two years, so I did some quick math.

I bought it for 2300 and sold it for 2600.

I spent:
275 shocks
375 front end work
100 one valve adjustment
100 5 oil changes
375 tires
20 fuel filters

total - 1245.
purchase price + maintenance =3545 minus sale price = 945 total cost to own minus fuel.
Estimating fuel is pretty easy. We put 24K miles on the car in 2 years. The car consistently got 29mpg. So, 828 gallons of fuel.
Guestimating an average price of 3.35 /gal. =2775 bucks.

2775 + 945 = 3720 total expenses on the car. For a total cost per mile including everything but insurance.......FIFTEEN AND A HALF CENTS PER MILE.

I wrote up an honest ad for it and didn't try to BS anyone, turned down a couple of calls who wanted it for a WVO incinerator. Here's the ad if you want to see it before I take it down.

http://flagstaff.craigslist.org/cto/2564065626.html

I confess I didn't advertise it here because I wanted to try and maximize my return and frankly couldn't believe anybody'd actually go the 2600 on it. I didn't want to cause any hard feelings here and have actually never liked selling anything to anyone I'd consider a friend. Even a friend I've never met.

i sure hope the guy who bought it appreciates it as much as we did. I suspect it won't be long till I find myself looking at them again. It was my son's first car and even though he loves his Subaru, we were all sad to see it go. It made the hill climb from here to Flagstaff, an altitude gain of 4000ft. plus at 65 without complaint and only a bit of smoke at the very top of the hill. My first old Benz, but I doubt my last.

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You're a daisy if you do.
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84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

Always sad to see a Benz go.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

dude!!!! all that math makes my brain hurt.

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For the Saved, this world is the worst it will ever get.
For the unSaved, this world is the best it will ever get.

Clk's Ebay Stuff BUY SOMETHING NOW!!!

I'd say someone got a bargain!

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1992 300D 2.5T
1980 Euro 300D (sadly, sold)
1998 Jetta TDI, 132K "Rudy"
1974 Triumph TR6
1999 Saab 9-5 wagon (wife's)