Looking at buying a '75 200D - what to look for?

[Esprit]

Hi everyone,
New guy to the forum. I'm looking at buying a 75 200D. It's a solid car from Vermont with 100000 miles. Owner states it runs well and he drives it daily. He said it is well undercoated. From the photos the body looks solid and seller states paint is original (albeit faded). The only problem he states is a drivers window (manual) that is off the track and won't roll up or down with the crank. He also states he thinks a "joint in the drive shaft is starting to wear" so I suspect it has a vibration. Are parts readily available for the driveshafts? What about the manual window regulator? Any other common issues I should look out for? Do these engines have timing belts? Where do these cars typically rust?
I appreciate any insight!
Thanks
Todd

[Pooka]

It sounds as if you are talking about a 240D.

These engines have timing chains, but they also have mechanical adjustments for the valves. This is easy to do, but if you hear a ticking noise coming from the top of the engine it is normally a worn cam and not a bad lifter. This engine has an overhead cam so there are no lifters.

The driveshaft may be a three part affair with two carrier bearings that will need replacing. Carrier bearings are about $120 each because you have to replace the bearing and the carrier it rides in.

The drive shaft is balanced as a unit, so when you take it apart mark it first so you can put it back just like it was.

Also check the steering box. These cars are known for snapping off the three bolts that hold the steering box to the frame. There is a fix for this that you should look into.

And check the floor for rust. The undercoating would catch water and cause the floorboards to rust out. Push them with your foot and if they feel soft it is because they are rusted.

But these cars are a blast to drive.

Expect about 26 mpg.

[alabbasi]

Unless it's a Euro, then it could well be a 200D. Rust rust rust rust rust.

[Esprit]

Sorry, my mistake. It's a 240D. Here's a couple of photos


Other than the dead paint it looks pretty solid. Seller wants $1350. Seem fair for a 100000 mile MB?

Todd

[Skippy]

The odometers on these cars fail with alarming regularity. I would not believe any claim of low mileage without extensive documentation. Where does a W115 rust in the U.S. northeast? Everywhere! Check the same things you would with any older car. Look for rust anywhere you can think of. If you see a little, expect a lot more hidden. Ask to have it sitting cold when you go to see it, then see how it starts from cold. The glow plugs on this model take a while to heat up. That's normal. After the normal long (something like 60 seconds) glow cycle, it should fire up very quickly. The car has admitted issues. Use these to your advantage when negotiating price. Be advised that any car pushing 40 years old is going to need work to keep it going. Also be advised that this car, even if everything is working perfectly, will be quite slow. Automatics are worse. Manuals are pretty liveable. If the car isn't rusty (unlikely but possible), and performs as advertised, and you're looking for something that you'll have to wrench on a bit, one thousand dollars would not be a bad price. If you can negotiate down to the five hundred dollar range, then you're getting a good deal. These cars drive very nicely (if slowly) when well sorted, and have excellent handling and braking, but expect to put some work into it.

[Mölyapina]

These odometers break if you look at them wrong and I believe that the W115 odometer rolls over every 100,000, so buy based on condition, not mileage. If the pedals or seats look beaten up, (the seats may be sagging a bit, but they shouldn't look like they've been to the thresher), the odometer is most likely inaccurate.

The car has a timing chain.

Rust on these cars tends to come in three kinds:

1) Outside/surface rust, such as in the fender skirts etc. This one looks pretty good in that regard, based on the pictures.
2) Rust from the undercoating. The rubberized undercoating sprayed onto these cars ages and eventually can form little pockets where water pools and rusts. This is something best found by crawling the car.
3) The most common and most nefarious: WATER LEAKS! These cars are so old that the seals are usually failing and allowing water to leak in. It then pools in the floor pans and invents its own way out (hint: it doesn't learn to open the door). Because this rust will begin inside the car, you need to lift all of the carpeting and thoroughly inspect the floor. Rust can oftentimes begin at the inside rocker area, so pull up any plastic caps that may be shielding wiring and check there too! Leave no stone unturned! In the trunk, the spare tire well is known for rusting out as well as the two side wells. Pull up everything in the trunk and check it out.

In terms of parts availability, I'm guessing that W115 parts are getting a bit harder to find due to the age of the platform... there is a guy here on the forum who goes by kraakevik who seems to have a lot.

If the engine is healthy, you should be able to get up to 30 MPG in 55-60 highway driving. A good indication of the potential honesty of the seller is this: ask him what the fuel mileage is. If he says something between 26-30, you probably have an honest fellow. If he says anything more than 30 (35, 40), he is either glossing that over/making it up.

[Mölyapina]

...and Tim (kraakevik) just relisted his ad.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-cars-sale/344186-1975-mercedes-280-sedan-114-115-parts.html#post3212593

[cooljjay]

Beware of the unusual maintenance these earlier models require.....from the oil bath filter, 2 piece oil filter, IP that requires its own oil and the leather diaghram.....which tears on the back of the IP....causing high idle....plus valve adjustment...

[DieselPaul]

Esprit, I'm parting a gas 115, if you buy it and need some bits send me a pm. A friend has a half a dozen 114/115 parts cars, but all are gassers.

[Mölyapina]

Didja BUY IT?