I had a guy in the shop today that is thinking about selling his. 133k on the clock. A little rusty but I don't mind. Needs front calipers and a few little things.

Don't know much about the 5-speeds....Good or bad???

I've been looking for a nice manual 240D, maybe this is it!!

Thanks

jim

I own 240d 4 speeds. If 5th gear is an overdrive and believe it is should be quite an improvement over the four speed as will reduce revs at highway cruise. Never rememember anyone mentioning the five speed is a weaker transmission than the four speed and it is tough. When you mention a little rust does not bother you just make sure it is not structural or into the floor pan to any extent. Unfortunatly a little rust is simular to being a little pregnant but not always. Wish one of mine were a five speed as not all that common. Best of luck if you decide to buy it. If not drop me a personal message. Thanks Barry.

I work in a bodyshop here and being in CT have seen my fair share of rust. I didn't put it in the air yet but thanks for the heads-up. The rear body panel is the worst that I can see from the outside. There's a little in the lower doors and on quarter too.

Hey Barry, I just got back from Nova Scotia last week. Spent a few weeks in Newfoundland and Labrador with the old Land Rover and did a few days in your province on the way north and then again on the way south. We were in Lunenburg for the Harbour Folk Fest too. Nice place, Nova Scotia, but terrible roads!!!

Thanks again.

jim

That would make a great highway car, but you will probably have to be near 60 MPH before you engage 5th gear, and keep the revs up to prevent lugging the engine. It should make for economy too.
Post some pictures. Maybe someone can run the VIN number to see if its a Euro or a conversion. If it has cloth covered seats its probably a Euro car (5 speed from the factory).

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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

No VIN #

As it's a grey-market car it's got a New York State assigned VI number. I didn't get a chance to see if there's still a number with the car but a quick look showed no door plate.

Lots of trips from CT to Canada so the car will see lots of highway time.

I had only a few minutes to look at the car today but I think I remember cloth seats. I made him an offer and hope to hear back in a day or two.

I'll keep you posted.

jim

There's a chassis number discreetly stamped on the middle of the firewall... It will be there - just look for it even if you have to rub off dust or dirt from the firewall. It's definitely there... all W123's (whether Euro, US, Japan - CKD or CBU units) WILL have the factory chassis number on the firewall... unless someone shaved it clean but this is unlikely.

Oh... and don't even second guess the W123's 5-speed tranny... this is a rare option that is desirable worldwide - so that's enough to convince most to get the car especially if it's reasonable priced and all factory original.

BTW, CKD = Completely Knocked Down units... and CBU = Completely Built-Up units... these 2 acronyms distinguished W123's lower models (such as 200D and 200) assemblies back in the day because some 3rd world countries had CKD's shipped to them from Germany and thus completed final assembly locally... while most W123's for the rest of the world (such as US, Germany, etc..) had CBU's - meaning the car was completed at the respective assembly plant in Germany (i.e. Brehmen, Stuttgart, Munich, etc.. etc...)

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My Mercedes-Benz Homepage and W123 Owners Photo Gallery and W111/W112 Coupes & Convs Gallery
2005 Northeast GTG and 2005 Mid-Atlantic GTG and Summer '09 Central FL GTG on YouTube

I saw a Euro 280 (W123 with 4 speed stick) that was from Brazil. It had the original Spanish language window decal saying "Hecho en Stuttgart' on it. I always wondered if it was built in So. America or not.

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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

I own such an animal -- an 84 240 Euro 5 sp, and I love it. It is perfect for Florida (no hills to speak of), less perfect in the NC mountains, so not sure about Conn. It feels like a regular 4sp with OD added. I always used to say my father's 115 240 4sp needed a 5th gear as it was pretty buzzy over 70 -- happiest between 55-65. I can't shift into 5th below 50 if I plan on cracking on any pedal at all, and 55 or 60 are better if I'm trying to merge onto the interstate (at which point I also turn the AC off for the extra 5 hp). I can cruise with ease at 80, generally do run 75-80 on the Interstate ..... I do not rev it hard in town .... generally get between 31-34 mpg.

Now if I can get the AC to actually cool the cabin .... mighty hot here at the moment.

Yep! I know a handful of people worldwide that own 5-spd W123's and none of them regret it at all.... Just having one car equipped with it is like the holy grail of MB tranny's... Heck, I wish I could even find one w123 w a 5-spd for sale locally!

__________________
My Mercedes-Benz Homepage and W123 Owners Photo Gallery and W111/W112 Coupes & Convs Gallery
2005 Northeast GTG and 2005 Mid-Atlantic GTG and Summer '09 Central FL GTG on YouTube

I dunno. I have a 240D with a 5 speed and I am not really that much et up with it. To me, it feels like it is geared way too tall to stay in the engines power band. I don't know what the diff ratio is, but it is definitely different than my old 115 chassis 240D. With the 5 speed, you really don't want to be in 5th gear below about 55, and even at 70 you have to drop to 4th on any kind of uphill grade. In town it is usually not happy in 4th, so you have to drop to 3rd or even 2nd. All in all, I think the 4 speed was much more "driveable" in real world conditions.

Note: This doesn't mean I am ready to sell it right now, it really ain't that bad. It's just that the 4 speed and whatever diff ratio the 115 had felt better matched to the engine.

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Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



TRUMP .......... WHITEHOUSE
HILLARY .........JAILHOUSE
BERNIE .......... NUTHOUSE
0BAMA .......... OUTHOUSE

Well, when you are... gladly inform us... I'm sure many will be interested if you're not anymore.

__________________
My Mercedes-Benz Homepage and W123 Owners Photo Gallery and W111/W112 Coupes & Convs Gallery
2005 Northeast GTG and 2005 Mid-Atlantic GTG and Summer '09 Central FL GTG on YouTube

If I decide to sell it, I bet I could sell tickets to the diesel forum fistfight that would break out.

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Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



TRUMP .......... WHITEHOUSE
HILLARY .........JAILHOUSE
BERNIE .......... NUTHOUSE
0BAMA .......... OUTHOUSE

Would the seller happen to be in Colorado?

No, he's in Connecticut. I've seen the car around and he just drove in the shop yesterday inquiring about some rust work.

The reason I’d like this car is the many trips to Canada we take each year so driving on the highway is mostly what this car will do. The Land Rover I drive (with a 616. in it) also has an overdrive unit and I’m familiar with when to use it and when not to. And being that the 5-speed is just a normal 4-speed with an overdrive unit, the car is driven normally and 5th gear is ignored until there’s opportunity to use it.

Having two vehicles with the same engine it them, (and a part car already sitting out back) has it’s advantages to it as well…but I don’t have to tell you guys that!