PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

Cervan · #3 08-18-2007, 04:13 AM

Well ive had a 1981 240d for 2 years now, these are good cars. the engine is a 4 cylinder naturally asperated engine with all of its 68 horses glory. with those of us fortunate enough to be blessed with a manual transmission that will cut down the 0-60 times to about 30 seconds, (thats with the ac off mind you with it on its more like 35) now with the automatic transmission add 5,10 seconds (forget about having the ac on with an automatic transmission you would have a better chance at pushing it) the engine is basically bullet proof, you take care of it, and it will take care of you. one of the things about the engine though, is its valvetrain is chain driven, so you must check the chain stretch but overall the chains are very durable. last forever. you should try to avoid running it out of fuel, because diesels do not prime themselves if they loose there prime due to a leak in the system, or loss of fuel they will have to re prime themselves by pushing fuel into the lines, basically a primer pump or alot of cranking. NEVER EVER EVER EVER NOT IN YOUR WILDEST DREAMS EVER USE STARTING FLUID OF ANY KIND EVEN IF IT SAYS ITS SAFE FOR DIESELS GOT THAT? if it preignites it can Bend the crank, bend rods throw you into a world of pain. just dont do it. The ac systems on this car are.... problematic at best. allthough if you have the time, the patcientce of a saint and a little money and knowhow you can figure it out and lay in the luxery of automatic climate control. the steering is known to have alot of play in it, just drive it till you cant stand it anymore. you cant really adjust it out when it gets to a certain point. Ah, looks like you have the old style pump. the vaccume pumps on these cars have a very bad history of destroying the engine when they go out, make sure to check yours if you buy it. thats all i can think of... drive the wheels off of it?