Hello everyone! I have the opportuinty to purchase a 1972 220D manuel trans. I The car is in great condition cosmetically, an in ok condition mechically. I am having a hard time finding specs and owners experences with the 220D.

Are there any 220D owners that could give me some avice on the car? MPGs, reliability, anything to look out for before purchasing the car. This will be a daily driver for me, and will see a decent amount of miles, I just do not want to be getting myself into a older Mercedes because I like the styling, when I am better suited for a newer model Mercedes.

Also, has anyone had experence running their diesel on vegitable oil? This is a conversion I would like to do to a diesel Mercedes, wether the 220D I am looking at, or a different model if the 220D does not work out.

Great meeting you all, thank you for your advisment!

The Mercedes 220D, W115 bodied car can be referred to as the "Chevrolet" of the Mercedes line. Nothing overly fancy or complicated but a good workingman's car.

It's reliability is dependant on how it was cared for. A well maintained 220D will run forever or at least until the piston rings wear out. 250,000 miles is pretty common.

It is a low powered car but the manual transmission will help. Expect 22-27 MPG if the engine is in decent shape.

As with all the W114-115 bodies, RUST can be the killer! Check the floorboards, trunk deck, jacking points, around the w/shield and the rear window, frame rails, etc. for rust.

Compression should be at LEAST 250 p.s.i. and preferably 300+. Low compression means harder starting mostly but performance (not a word usually used for describing this car) and mileage will be affected.

Plan on replacing the; subframe mounting bushings, fuel injector return lines, glow plugs, primary fuel pump, window regulators, alternator mounting brackets, rear suspension trailing links, windshield and rear window gaskets, maybe driveline flex disks and changing that damned oil bath filter to a paper cartridge style air filter.

There's a few people over on the diesel board who are running those "french-fry" machines and they can help you on the conversion.

I had a 72 220d. It was very well built and I enjoyed owning it. Not much power for running on the freeway. Mine had no ac and no power steering. Best for northern places where it doesn't get too hot.

Unless you have a particular love for the old dear, I would recommend the newer 123 body as being easier to get parts for, easier to work on and more able to cruise at legal speeds.

Cost to purchase in equal condition should not be much different. The best 240d was built in '83 IMHO. I have owned about 12 240ds both 115 and 123 style.

The 115s are very rust prone. The late 123s are much much better that way.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

All that is great advice...despite the disparaging comments about our beloved 115/220Ds, they are great looking, well engineered cars. My personal opinion is the 123s and later models represented a trade off of performance for style culminating in some of the most boring looking production cars Mercedes produced in the 80s and 90s. Now don't get me wrong...they looked a lot better than what was coming out of Detroit but really...Detroit is also the same group responsible for the Pontiac Aztek.

The car is great if you drive it within its limitations. As discussed, they are not sprinters but they operate well when cruising unless a truck steals your momentom goinjg up a hill. I inherited my 71 (with power stearing and a/c) from my aunt who, as I recall did a great deal of down shifting as she drove.

As discussed, it all depends upon how it was maintained but once you have everything mechanically sound they will run forever...with regular use. As many members of the forumn will attest, many of the old cars run best when run regular as opposed to all those things that seem to go bad from simply being parked in the garage too long.

Finally, if you are looking for performance over style...then go for the 123 and a TD. If you just want a fun car and can appreciate how well a small underpowered car can perform and can appreciate it in contrast to say a 71 Plymouth Fury or anything else put out by Detroit in 1972 then go for it.

Send some pictures and what they are asking for it if you haven't bought it yet.

Bill Abb

W115's are great but they sure do rust. My 76 is nicknamed the "Flinstones-mobile" for obvious reasons. The 220D is even slower than the 62hp 240D so if you're going anywhere fast....don't bother.

Run it on veg? Sure you can but if you're not inclined to deal with oil spills, lines leaking, seeping air, glycerin and oil stains everywhere, and often inopportune breakdowns due to pumps, fuel gelling, and solenoids failing, .....then that is NOT for you.

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1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k

Although the 115 has a more vintage style, I think the 123 is just as good looking overall.

The 123s have more plastic in them but overall I think they are better engineered than the earlier cars.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

True, the W123's don't flex as much. My old apartment subterranean lot required a sharp lefthand turn that the W115 would slightly groan on whereas the W123's both sedan and wagon even when heavily loaded was rock solid. But then again the W116 didn't either.

Gotta love the chrome trim dial gauges.

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1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k