New to Diesel - New to Forum - 240D

[courier47]

Hello everyone - I am fresh to this whole diesel thing so you'll have to forgive my ignorance when I post.

I have a 240d standard transmission with around 700k on it.

First of all, do you think it is possible for the engine to have never been rebuilt with that many miles and it still be running...relatively good?

Secondly, this weekend I am changing all belts, replacing motor mounts and adjusting the valves. I changed the belts with relative ease (with the help of the forum). I've now started into the motor mounts...the drivers side is real bad...basically fell apart while jacking up engine. The bolt that goes in from underneath the car is stuck in there pretty good and I have to get a hex socket tomorrow as I stripped the one I was using (might be a stripped bolt as well). Does anyone have any advice thus far?

So far I'm really enjoying this car...I hope to get it in "tip top" shape soon.

Robb - Dallas, Texas

[iNeon]

i dont think 700k is going to happen with no internal work, but im kind of new here as well(since january)

congrats and make those next 300k happen!

ive gotta get to my mounts as well, gotta change out all those rubber bits!

[pawoSD]

How many miles did the car have when you acquired it? wow..700k....thats almost triple what mine has I'd think that engine would have had to have been replaced or rebuilt at least once in that time span....then again you never know, that guy with that 60's volvo with 2.2 million miles on it is still out there roaming the roads....

[trontek]

40350.6. Must be an old MB 'cause I don't know how many times it has tuned past there....

[whunter]

Originally Posted by courier47

I have a 240d standard transmission with around 700k on it.
Robb - Dallas, Texas

It is possible that it is not rebuilt, but if it is not, the engine would be worn out, and in dire need of rebuild.

[courier47]

Well...I traded a 63 Lincoln Continental for the 80 240D about a year ago. I did not start driving the car until about 4 months ago when I sold my 94 Jetta Daily Commuter. The car was not registered or inspected so all I did for almost a year was start it once a week. Anyway, long story short...the benz is now my daily commuter car...and will be a dependable one soon.

I've put about 6k on the car in about four months.

About my mechanic weekend....I did the belts...and I started the motor mounts. The drivers side motor mount bolt stripped out totally. So I had to take the whole arm off the engine. It was tricky to get in there but with a lot of patience and a swivel socket...I managed to pull it off. Finally, after trying to wedge something into the stripped bolt to no avail...I just took a hammer hit a couple of times in the direction of loosening the bolt and voila. I then thought to myself...why didn't I just do that with the whole arm on the engine .

Anyway, I now have to take a trip to the dealer. This will be my second time to ever go to a MB dealer. It's an experience...all these really nice luxury cars...and sales people in Armani suits...and I'm trying to buy bolts for a beat up old 240D. The parts guys is like "uh....what kinda car do you have? and is that a Mercedes Benz?"

Cheers to all who worked on cars this weekend and all who thought about it!

[t walgamuth]

it is very possible for a 240 to have done 700 and still be in good condition if the owner was religeous about changing the oil, air and fuel filters.

tom w

[Palangi]

Welcome aboard.

If you get stuck trying to find parts in Dallas, try the Park Place location in Bedford. The parts guys there (Rodney and Randy) have been very helpful to me, and they definitely know what a 240D is.

[Legal Eagle]

My 1983 240D 4 speed manual has just over 472,000Km on the clock, worked two years as a taxi (sacriledge) and the lasttime I had the valves adjusted (three weeks ago) the mechanic was saying on how I have a new head in there.... I've had the car 2 1/2 years and didn't change no head, the guy who used it as a taxi didn't put any new head on it either in about anouther 2 1/2 yeras, so that is at least 5 years that there has not been a new head put on it.
Of course I did start it on a steady diet of B100 (100% pure biodiesel) and included SVO this year in March too, so all that cleaning ability seems to have done it's job.
I love the car and am slowly getting it into some sort of respectable shape. Engine is strong and looks to last another 400,000Km with regular and standard maintenance. Check the oil levels often and do not overfill the engine oil, it's as bad as underfilling from what I have read about it.
Enjoy the ride. You won't be breaking any land speed records but will love it all the way.Speaking of speed, adjust the linkage (tighten it up) for wear and tear, and it WILL make a difference.

[whunter]

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

it is very possible for a 240 to have done 700 and still be in good condition if the owner was religious about changing the oil, air and fuel filters.

tom w

1976 Mercedes-Benz 240D covered more than 4.6 million kilometers - roughly 2.8 million miles - this "Stroke Eight" is the Mercedes-Benz with the highest recorded mileage known to date.

During those 23 years, the owner rotated two spare engines in with the car's original motor "a total of 11 times".

http://www.mbusa.com/brand/container.jsp?heritage/history/historical-news/greek-taxi.jsp

Two point eight million miles divided by eleven engines = roughly two hundred fifty four thousand five hundred forty five miles between rebuilds.
Granted this is a man who depended upon the vehicle for his living, but he would not swap engines without reason.

[t walgamuth]

did they start using the steel sleeves? i know that my '72 didnt have them. i think my 74 did have them. i would not think that a 240 wo the sleeves would go 700k wo a rebuild. and the greek taxi guy may not have been following strict proceedures for maintenance and rebuilding practices. he may have simpley changed out the engine whenever it developed a significant problem.

larry bible has a 240 with over 500k i think. and i think it has not been rebuilt.

also depends on driving conditions. obviously taxi service is the worst with a lot of idling and stop and go.

tom w

[J. R. B.]

[QUOTE=courier47]Hello everyone - I am fresh to this whole diesel thing so you'll have to forgive my ignorance when I post.

I have a 240d standard transmission with around 700k on it.
Call Mercedes and get your forms for your high mileage achievement awards. If you want your grille badges before next year apply now.

[courier47]

finished the mtr mounts today...man when I first got the car I thought to myself...diesels are so freaking loud and they vibrate like crazy. Okay...I was wrong! When I first started the car after doing the mounts...I didn't know it started. It's so quiet...before running the A/C was a nightmare when at idle...but now not a glitch. Anyway, thought I'd share that. This is my first bonding moment with this car and I'm pretty stoked so far.

[t walgamuth]

show! it is really gratifying to fix something and have as dramatic results as badly needed motor mounts!

tom w

[JimmyL]

Originally Posted by courier47

finished the mtr mounts today...man when I first got the car I thought to myself...diesels are so freaking loud and they vibrate like crazy. Okay...I was wrong! When I first started the car after doing the mounts...I didn't know it started. It's so quiet...before running the A/C was a nightmare when at idle...but now not a glitch. Anyway, thought I'd share that. This is my first bonding moment with this car and I'm pretty stoked so far.

It's nice to finish a project successfully! (so I hear ) Glad you found your way to this forum. It will be your bread and butter.
What part of the DFW area are you in?