I have been a lurker long enough... I will be picking up my 240d this weekend.
I will finally own a diesel
81' 240 D, 4 speed 134k miles ..best part no rust..
I have a few questions...

what color is it?
Is the 240 going to be a dog on power? ( I have driven a 300 TD and liked it)
What would you suggest be the startup procedure... it has been sitting since early December. It was running at the time of the wreck.
Think I can pull out that fender and radiator support?
Where is a good source for the front lights and housing etc..
Just curious what the board thinks.
any comments appreciated... this will be my new hobby. I'm excited.. my 2 sons think I'm nuts

oh and what kind of MPG can one expect out of a 240D driven by a 50 year old in no hurry to get anywhere?

Bennett

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Hello Bennett, I can't help on color, I'm bad at that. I'm sure there are members here who know that color by heart.
It will be a dog unless you keep the rev's up and plan ahead i.e. pulling out into traffic, highway on-ramps etc. Once that becomes second nature to you it'll be fun to drive.
December is not that long. Even if you have service history, check all fluids, prime manual fuel pump and crank away.
Here's a link to Ebay 240d parts search, I check it every day myself, http://search-desc.ebay.com/search/search.dll?GetResult&SortProperty=MetaNewSort&query=240d&srchdesc=y&from=R10&siteid=100&s_partnerid=2&currdisp=2&itemtimedisp=1&categorymap=6000&maxRecordsPerPage=30&category0=6000&combine=y&st=2
I personally get a steady 29 mpg in mostly city driving, though of course your mileage may vary.
Good Luck with your 240 experience, hopefully it will be a long one.

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1981 240d
Newport,RI

When I got my 240d last year, my wife and son thought I was nuts too.

Mine gets about 24 mpg. I had to tighten up the accelerator linkage as it was very sloppy; had to recharge the a/c with R12; has a good clutch, had to get the radio cassette player fixed, but it's a dream to drive if you don't want to have any bugs splattered on your windshield.

I did impress the 16 yr old by maxing it out on the limited access road going downhill with a tailwind by reaching 79 mph.

Ah, the sweet pleasures of motoring simplicity!!!

Love that color of yours. Mine's dark green, exterior, banana yellow interior...

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71 220D 169K wrecked
83 240D 118K sweet 4 speed
91 350SDL (one of the 60% good engines) 156K
84 300d (loaner to my sister) 189K
79 300SD (partswagen)
86 420SEL partswagen
70 220d (partswagen)
68 280s GASSER!!! under construction now
85 300sd 310K miles winter beater car retired
93 300d 2.5 turbo 168K wife's car
83 280SL euro 5 speed 155K
69 250S newest project 54K

Welcome to the forum! Your 240 is going to be much less snappy than the Turbo you drove, but you'll get used to it. At sea-level, a 240D with a stick can be almost fun. It's a shame about the body work. Your car looks to have really nice paint, and I'd hate to see a respray detract from that. Parts are everywhere.
My neighbors 240D automatic gets over 30 mpg - you'll do better with a stick.
What do you know about the condition of the engine, etc?

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'78 300D 310K Maple Yellow / Bamboo
'87 300D 81K Barolo Red / Safron (RIP @ 113K)
2003 E320 34K Pewter/Charcoal
-------------------------------------

I believe that color is China Blau (china blue). Rarer on 300D's and 300TD's, more common to the 240D's. Good luck with your new project car!

__________________
Nate

1995 E420
1992 BMW 525i
1984 300D Turbo sold
1993 Volvo 244 sold
1995 Volvo 944T R.I.P!


"The details are not details. They make the product."
-Charles Eames

www.cbs.nu

China Blue looks best on W123s, here it is on a W126. I guess it wasn't too popular, a color that ran from 10/79 to 12/82.

__________________
'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.

1978 240D, mine is dark green too, I love that color. Real light tan on the inside.

Managed to just barely scrape 93mph on I-70 going down hill, behind another car, the wind behind me and my passenger blowing a fart.

Still a great car to drive when I want a challenge!

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1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350

China Blue on a w126...I have to say...looks fugly...

but it matches that blue cali licence plate so well! ...lol

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1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350

where ya located I have a good hood in California

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1984 280SEL, 62,000 miles
Euro model in the USA
1983 300D (Totaled out 10/2004)
New Factory Mint Green paint
Palomino int
1982 240D (Steak dinner for two)

Car is in Vegas....

I think I can fix the hood .... new repro fender is under $50 if I need one

Going to pretend I'm south of the border and pull everything out..
make a "silk purse out of a sows ear"..as my dad would say

I'd change the fuel filters before I did anything. Super cheap and can save a PITA later. If you don't have service records stating that the valves were adjusted this fall, do them as soon as you get a chance. I'd definitely top the tank off w/ fuel from a high volume service station and add a can of cetane boost to make sure the fuel is not in anyway funky. I'd prob run a can of purge through it after I got it running as well.
Oh yeah...check the brakes before you too much of a head of steam...that one's from experience Unless you want the fenders to match. lol.

Cheers,
-Matt-

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Currently:
1972 350SL Euro 4spd
1973 BMW R75/5
1981 BMW R80GS
1995 FZJ80 with OM606 Conversion In Progress

My 240D is the same color =)

I get 26mpg with a stick shift, but thats with me beating the heck out of the motor and commuting for 30 minutes each way with the pedal all the way down (hilly commute).

I second the "check valves" idea- that and good glow plugs (remember, most other guys here have 5, we got 4) will make winter starting a non-issue. It **wont** start at less than 10*F with only 3 glow plugs (ask me how I know =)

If you've been lurking here, you already know that you are gonna love owning and playing with the thing. All the guys adjusting ALDA's and fixing power windows will be jealous =)

-John

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2009 Kia Sedona
2009 Honda Odyssey EX-L
12006 Jetta Pumpe Duse
(insert Mercedes here)

Husband, Father, sometimes friend =)