A 240D stick lacks many of the power comforts of the 300D (power windows, etc.). OTOH, those can be maintenance headaches. Many of the body parts are the same between the 240D and the 300D and lots of them were imported in the 1982-85 time frame.

There may be more 300Ds to choose from -- I don't know the relative numbers. The 300D is more powerful and in ways a nicer car but there is more to take care of. You will have to decide which way to go. You might want to stay open and pick the cleanest car you can find, regardless of whether it's a 240D or 300D. Note also that the older non-turbocharged 300Ds are less desirable -- less power, older climate control design, etc.

The 240D has a 4-cylinder engine while the 300D has a 5-banger. They are essentially the same engines so many parts will also be the same.

The 240D engine is not turbocharged. With a manual transmission, it gets along pretty well anyway but forum members do not seem to like it with an automatic (too slow) so I would recommend avoiding the 240D automatic.

Low mileage is not critical, as was previously said. Avoid rust -- it's too hard to really determine in a pre-purchase inspection how deep it goes. Use the search function and see what others have done -- lots of good info here.

The advice to buy the best one you can find is sound -- there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes.

Remember that we will want to see pictures of what you eventually buy!

Jeremy

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970