Hello All.. I am happy to make my first post here and hopefully become a regular member here! I just bought (and am picking up in a few days), my first diesel mercedes, a *lovely* 1981 silver 240d!...

its got approx 180k miles, is a 4-spd, and i cant believe i got it for such a good price - $1500.. it really has been babied.. I have some questions though.. being myself 20 yrs old, this is my first (well, the family had a 76 300d 10 yrs back) diesel mercedes, i have some "first timer" questions!:

-the odometer is apparently broke, approx 25k back ago.. the owner said he did not know how to fix it.. is this a DYI job, or would it be good to take it to my local speedo-repair shop (i live by one).. [the Trip odometer, and speeodometer do work however]...

-The Owner (who has had the car approx 13 yrs), has always used "Chevron Delo 400 15w40" oil in the car, changed every 3-4k.. Would it be generally good to assume that this is the oil i should continue to use in this car, or is there a better oil out there i should investigate using?? Just curious! Also: what oil filter brand seems to work the best in these cars?? ( i hear its super-easy to change them!)

-the manual 4-speed transmission seems to shift fine, but.. maybe its me getting adjusted to the car during its test-drive, i don't know..- but.. i seemed to think that the travel of the shifter itself, from 1st gear - to 2nd gear seemed kinda far.. like the shifter had to be moved a bit "low"/down, farther than what i am normally used to in other cars..no difficulty shifting, mind you.. just that gears 1 - 2 are farther apart than what a 3rd-4th gear shift would be like, i guess.. Also.. I remember hearing an slightly audiable "rolling"/"rotating" noise that increases with RPM, seemingly emanating from the Tranny area, whenever it is in a drive gear or under load.. could this car be in need of a tranny fluid flush, or some other kind of minor adjustment? or would you think its time for a (ack!) REBUILD?? despite the slight noise, i noted no difficulty shifting or driving... just curious what it might be!..I would hope this would be something of relatively easy repair.. =)

-the car really is in otherwise sweet shape- garaged its entire life, glossy silver paint (i couldnt believe it- no oxidization!), the "bundt cake alloy wheels" , sunroof, etc.. i will definetly post a picture when i pick up the car this Friday

If anybody has any opinions/ideas as to how i should handle the above things.. please post a response.. i'd love to hear what all you think!.... Thank you all so much!,

Miles
(newly acquired 81 240d) =)

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milesb@mac.com