It is an automatic, but I just couldn't pass it up for the price. My first Mercedes back around '95 was a grey market 300D, no turbo and tons of blowby... so I'm no stranger to conservation of momentum. Also, MPG isn't too big a deal for me,anything over 20 is fine. Actually, that does sort of rule out most of the gassers

My first diesel was a rusty, tired, 1982 automatic 240D, with a collapsed left trailing-arm, that I bought on my 50th birthday for $200. A friend joked "So, for your 50th birthday, instead of a wheelchair or a walker, you got a 240D!" Fixed, patched & cleaned-up, it was great for local errands and weekend yard-sales, but very noisy at highway-speeds. Performance with the automatic was fair - certainly not the worst I've ever sampled in a 240D. In defense of these automatics, I've actually driven a couple automatic 240Ds that were quite peppy. Maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones.
I can't complain too much about mine. After 8 years use as a second-third car, I sold it for $1000

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

Great story and details, Mark!

My first "old" MB was an 8-year old, one-owner in almost perfect condition, '83 300SD with 93K on the clock. Unlike many here, the MB was bought as my only car, and a work-car at that. Many here seem to own several old "project MBs" that barely run to tinker with. I was 40 years old though - hardly needing a "walker." I thought I'd save my "walker" purchase for a new Corvette ZO6 Coupe, with an AT - for when I buy myself a "walker-car." BTW, I kept that car for 8-years and running it to 305K miles - before selling it for about 1/2 of what I paid for it, still running perfectly, I might add. Hardly a "project-car!"

Yea, I'll definitely be taking better care of this one than my first...

For now it's going to replace the Mini Cooper Roadster as my daily drive to the van pool. Once I'm satisfied it's in good shape, it may occasionally make the 120 mile round trip to work. Though I only really drive in when I get bumped to swing shift... hmm... it better not leave me in the Mojave Desert after midnight. The coyotes might get me.

Oh yea, almost forgot... you'll all get a kick out of this one.

The brake shield has a corresponding flat spot. No damage to the brake shoes or undercarriage... but yea, lost a tire at some point. New rotors showed up last week. Just need to find the time.

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I still don't need a walker - yet. My current pair of diesels are both stick-shift - something I also learned to prefer in these relatively low-power vehicles.
Having owned 4 W123 diesels on the way to my current pair, something else I learned is how much difference a decent body & drivetrain can make with one of these. My current 240D is a 4-speed, with a factory replacement engine and very solid body. When revved, or on the highway, this car sounds more like a 4-cylinder gasser, without the oppressive racket my first 240D produced when pushed above 60 mph.
But I don't regret buying that car, as it became a valuable learning experience.
Though it had been well thrashed by the PO's teenagers, being creative allowed me to make many of the repairs and keep it going without spending tons of money, and then sell it for more than I paid. It's not always true that there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

Ahh - the delightful things one finds on a pre-owned vehicle. NICE!
At least they're easier to change than a trailing-arm.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

Ah yes... couple cans of diesel purge, oil change and filters all around, belts, brakes and rotors, a handful of bulbs and a fist full of aluminum fuses later... and she's rolling pretty sweet.

I do have one steep hill out of the valley that drops me to 35... but I'm usually alone on it so no worries. Thinking a valve adjustment is next... do I really need the wrenches for that? Even for a 4 cylinder?

And swapping one leaky connector fixed my door locks. I can now get three cycles before the reservoir gives up... Not great, but very livable.

Appreciate all the input.

Cheers,
Vince L.

You really shouldn't use aluminum fuses, only brass or copper with ceramic bodies....aluminum and copper don't mix well in the fuse box....

I did my first one with regular short 14mm wrenches....it was possible but the bent wrenches are much better...

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Good point, I should have clarified... the fist full of aluminum went into the trash. There was only one copper fuse in there but I'm all brass/copper now.

I have a couple gaskets... going to try the valves with some thin wrenches I have. Maybe I'll get lucky and not need too much adjustment. Appreciate the heads up.

I must say the 5 cyl NA Diesel has more than enough power for highway driving in NJ. Even with a max indicated speed of only 96 MPH, if the traffic is faster, I use the right lanes.
The high RPMs make it a bit draining though for longer drives at higher speeds (above 65 MPH)

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1977 Mercedes 300D

I've had it just past 85... (confirmed by the wife following in her mini), but it spends all it's time on our little town roads. Lucky to even see 60.

Maybe I'll drive it out to work some day... an hour out with about 45 miles of freeway. And back... need to get the radio working first...

I have had the same experience

(yes yes Skid Row Joe it did work once and wasn't always a project car!)

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

my comment is completely off topic here, but since this is your OP, I figured it'd be OK to ask. I'm assuming since you moved into an equestrian community, that not only do you ride, but likely own horses. Am I right? So what do you have in the stable? I've never even seen a mention about horses on this forum and I've been here for years, LOL. Anyways, I have an APHA and a draft horse and ride them in the National Parks and Nature trails around here.

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2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Cummins Turbo Diesel 4x4
1994 GMC S-15 pickup 4.3 5MT
1985 300 SD
1978 300 CD
1962 220-S Fintail - awaiting restoration

Nope, no horses here... just love the area. Have a loafing shed and fences on the property (almost 5 acres) but the last owner just kept 5 lamas. The wife was thinking alpacas.

Neighbors down the road have a couple Trakehner mares and there are plenty of hoses down on the valley floor. All crazy hay burners... especially out in California these days. Between the 240D I'm rebuilding and my r/c aircraft, there's no way I could keep a couple hoses as well.