I wrote the article because I really enjoy owning a 240D, and would love to be able to buy a new one. The thought of having to purchase a new car today is depressing. Today's new cars are nothing more than a collection of gadgets.

Nearly everyone I speak to wants a car that is dependable and simple to maintain. Car manufacturers are ignoring this, preferring to up the ante every model year with more unnecessary gadgetry and complexity. They also conveniently igore the fact that people like cars that have parts interchangeability over a ten year model period.

I'm hoping some manufacturer will have the balls to design a modern car that is dependable, simple to maintain, and is designed to last. They ought to take a long hard look at the 240D and try to understand why we like those cars so much.

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1977 Mercedes 240D. 4-speed transmission. Windows, A/C, and sunroof: all manual. Medium Red. 204K miles.
1988 Subaru GL wagon. Dual range 5-speed 4X4. Daily driver w/ twin parts car.
1994 Subaru Loyale wagon. 5-speed 4x4
1966 International 3/4 ton 4X4 truck. Ooh yeah!
1952 Ferguson TO-35 farm tractor.
1984 Snapper rear engine riding mower. Just like Forest Gump.
1988 Nimble 20 sail boat
--Older stuff is built better--

It's not really a W124 - it's a Korean car which uses the basic underpinnings of the W124 but none of the interior pieces are the same. It uses the 2.8 and 3.2 liter M104 and there's other shared tidbits, like the wiper. The interior is a heck of a lot more plush than any W124 though. You can read about it (in English) here: http://www.ssangyong.com.my/content_chairman.htm

The Korean W124 is called the SsangYong Chairman, pics and other info here, it looks nice, I wouldnt mind having one with a 3liter OM603 in it.
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/9323/sych600.htm
-Joe

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

You like your 240D too eh ?

I believe the Chairman is only available with a gas engine. But Ssangyong is also licensing diesels from M-B for their SUVs. Not sure what models they build, although the pictures I've seen look like a 602 from the 300D 2.5---five cylinders with the crossover pipe from the turbo to the intake over the valve cover.

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AlexTheSeal: hack mechanic, inadvertent drifting champ, builder of infernal devices, professional epistemologist

'87 300D Turbo, roadtrip mileage champ (for sale!)
'92 Isuzu Trooper, mudder extraordinaire (for sale!)
'82 Honda Silverwing, cockroach of motorcycles
And various boring daily drivers...

Alex, you are correct. An interesting twist to the plot though - Ssangyong tweaked the OM602 a bit, and added an intercooler. See the photo below:

Attached Thumbnails

 

Wow, a factory-intercooled 602!

Where's the "drooling" smilie when you need it???

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AlexTheSeal: hack mechanic, inadvertent drifting champ, builder of infernal devices, professional epistemologist

'87 300D Turbo, roadtrip mileage champ (for sale!)
'92 Isuzu Trooper, mudder extraordinaire (for sale!)
'82 Honda Silverwing, cockroach of motorcycles
And various boring daily drivers...

While on subject of Intercoolers for turbo, all the Euro-II and above versions of OM 616 turbos are intercooled with electronically controlled IP OEM from the factory here in India.

I sold my '83 240D to a forum member who lives in WI and they drove it home from my house in SE MO, a trip of about 600 miles and cruised 65-70 all the way without any problems averaging 26 mpg on 49 cetane B2 diesel.

One of the reasons for selling the car was because my wife was never happy with me for buying a 20+ year old car and worried about me being stranded somewhere. So I when I finally decided to let the car go I wanted it to go to a deserving forum member who would take care of the car and enjoy many years of happy motoring. I think I found that in forum member 83-240D who already had one 240D and bought my 240D for his wife.

I shudder to think I will never own another car that is as well built, dependable, and as fun to drive as that or any 240D. The one thing that was unsual with this car was it had the Henna Red interior, which seems to be very unusual in 240/300D series. More pictures and info can be seen HERE.

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'10 Chrysler T&C Stow-N-Go White. Grandpa's ride.

'13 Chrysler 200 Touring Candy Red. Grandma's ride.

Age and cunning will always over come youth and vigor.

OldNavy, I was wondering why your sig said that you were now driving a Magnum! I'm glad to hear that your much-loved 240D went to a good home where it will be driven and maintained properly.

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AlexTheSeal: hack mechanic, inadvertent drifting champ, builder of infernal devices, professional epistemologist

'87 300D Turbo, roadtrip mileage champ (for sale!)
'92 Isuzu Trooper, mudder extraordinaire (for sale!)
'82 Honda Silverwing, cockroach of motorcycles
And various boring daily drivers...

Oldnavy, sorry to hear about selling your car! That was a wonderful example of a 240, with absurdly low miles! At least its gone to a good home.

Does this mean no GTG in the spring? Or do you want us to come and let you drive ours around for old times sake?

Hope you enjoy the magnum, as much as I dislike the macho commercials and "Is that a HEMI???" billboards, the magnum does look like a really practical vehicle. If it had an MB CDI diesel in it, I'd be looking a lot harder.

peace,
sam

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"That f***in' biodiesel is makin' me hungry."

1982 300TD Astral Silver w/ 250k (BIO BNZ)
2001 Aprilia SR50 Corsa Red w/ 5.5k (>100 MPG)

Nothing's changed with the GTG, there has been MB's driven to it before by members who have both VW & MB diesels.

A rose by any other name is still a rose. The Magnum & Chrysler 300 are built on a S430 MB chassis, uses MB electronics, drive trains and even seats. It rides and drives better then E320 wagon and the E320CDI which I drove recently at a dealership.

The new MB V6 engine will be offered in the Dodge trucks starting in '06 in the Sprinter, then with the rest of the Dodge trucks & cars in '07 if no production problems are incountered. When that happens the current Magnum will then be traded for a new Magnum with a diesel engine.

One really should look into these Dodge & Chrysler cars using the MB chassis, the dollar savings for not having a MB star is unreal. A fully loaded AWD Hemi Magnum only list for about $34,000 and will have about every option a MB S430 is equipted with for $40,000 less.

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'10 Chrysler T&C Stow-N-Go White. Grandpa's ride.

'13 Chrysler 200 Touring Candy Red. Grandma's ride.

Age and cunning will always over come youth and vigor.

If you weren't planning on trading the Magnum in, a fun project would be to go over it and properly 'rebadge' it as an MB. That would sure put question marks over a few people's heads. ???

If I get that sprinter I'm dreaming of, thats definately going to happen to it.

peace,
sam

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"That f***in' biodiesel is makin' me hungry."

1982 300TD Astral Silver w/ 250k (BIO BNZ)
2001 Aprilia SR50 Corsa Red w/ 5.5k (>100 MPG)

I'm happy that you kept it in the "family".

Just got back inside from my garage, where I was crawling around under my stored-for-the-winter 240D, just looking around. Thermometer says 11 degrees F. Wife thinks I'm a bit nuts.

- Patrick

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1982 240D. 198k, Marine Blue/Blue, 4 Speed, Crank Windows, No Sunroof, No Rust, No Oil Leaks
2001 TDI. 197k, Lagoon Blue/Black, 5 speed, Chip, G60/VR6

I wish I would have gotten the chance to buy it.

That car was a one of a kind find, and I would have had the gem that I wouldn't have had to do anything to.

Oh well, 83 240D, enjoy it. You got yourself a cherry car.