need a gasser for the colleg boy - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

83-240D · #1 12-24-2005, 04:13 PM

yes its true.

he wants to be gone at night staying in the dorms and there is no place to plug it in. sooooooo i have decided to look for something less temperature sensitive. the thing is he really likes the 240. he said of his brothers integra ,,,'its a car but the 240 IS A CAR. i have looked for 123 sedaans but the sem to be few and far between right now. he goes back to school about jan 21 so i have a month.

how about a 190 2.3? any input is appreciated.

Veloce300DT · #2 12-24-2005, 04:20 PM

The W201 is a good candidate; good performance, relatively economical, built well, etc.. but if you are going to go with a gasser w201 go for a 2.6 model. And be sure you buy one that has been well cared for...seems that the w201's can be great cars and last a long time when properly maintained, but like any car, a botched, 4th owner with no records w201 will do you no good.

A w201 would be a logical progression from a w123 240D for someone in need of a quality MB gasser. Simple & solid.

rg2098 · #3 12-24-2005, 11:20 PM

PM sent with photo link.

PagodaLover · #4 12-24-2005, 11:46 PM

there are some certain things you can do to make the 240D start without block heater. assuming you have reasonable compression, any diesel can start without a block heater. lots of advice on the forum about all of it.

whunter · #5 12-25-2005, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PagodaLover

there are some certain things you can do to make the 240D start without block heater. assuming you have reasonable compression, any diesel can start without a block heater. lots of advice on the forum about all of it.

I have been helping by phone.
The 240D starter sounds slow/weak, and sucks a new battery dead in record time, even with his other diesel jumping it, add in the broken ball joint = last straw for him.

83-240D · #6 12-26-2005, 12:01 AM

pagodalover, it de[ends on the learning that the boy wants to assume. adam has more interest than my son. he just wnats to drive to school and around with no problems.

i should say the other 2 cars have 0-40 in them now. gee whiz 6 bucks a quart. expensive oil change for 2 cars.

83-240D · #7 12-26-2005, 12:05 AM

loking at an '86 2.3 190e tomorrow from craigslist in mke.

greasybenz · #8 12-26-2005, 02:10 AM

my grandpa has a 190E 2.3 and we hate it! full of electrical problems. Bought it with pretty low miles about 40k and from day one its been a pain in the ass! first off the spark plug wires needed replacing. cheapest were $100. second thing the radio crapped out no biggie just got him a simple $60 cd deck. third thing the fan clutch goes so it overheats when city drving because the electric fan isnt cutting it. fourth thing the gas gauge and speedomoter goes out and we take it to a mb mechanic best and cheapest in the area and after the estimate we said forget it and then they worked again!

fifth problem it chugs along sometimes (this was before the fan clutch problem) or will loose speed on the highway and then get it back. one time the wipers stopped working when my grandpa really needed them on a really rainy day!! so he had to pull over until the rain stopped.

So we are going to get the fan clutch replaced and we are selling the POS.

PagodaLover · #9 12-26-2005, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whunter

I have been helping by phone.
The 240D starter sounds slow/weak, and sucks a new battery dead in record time, even with his other diesel jumping it, add in the broken ball joint = last straw for him.

Yeah, I see what you mean. It's an understandable situation.
I've always wondered what the 230/250/280CE were like. Same appearance, but gassers. I have heard that the manual is very nice to have even with these gassers. Anyway, that's a way to keep the w123 heft, look and feel.

greasybenz · #10 12-26-2005, 02:16 AM

why dont you just get him a tdi jetta they are fairly cheap and they start in cold weather no problem without needing any heater to plug in.

whunter · #11 12-26-2005, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 83-240D

looking at an '86 2.3 190e tomorrow from craigslist in mke.

Critical reading for you.

Crankshaft Balancer Failure! UPDATED
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?p=390894#post390894

MB Quality
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?p=472366#post472366

MB Wiring Harness Failure
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?p=927185#post927185

$513 Wire Harness? $700 Idle Control Box? Whoa, Nelly!
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?p=117261#post117261

Is merecedes too troublesome ?
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?p=460194#post460194

Considering buying a new VW TDI
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?p=809967#post809967

83-240D · #12 12-26-2005, 02:23 PM

decided against it. body looked good but...
1. sellor thought it needed a motor mount.
2. exhaust leak in front of the cabin. sounded like manifold gasket with the hood up.
3. water in the trunk. cardboard box damp. it may have been the twirly whirlys in the rian run offs but that was enough.
4. o yeah, there was a switch missing on the dash. good thing so i could get a left hand finger to hold the sunroof switch in place to close the roof.

other than that.........

Palangi · #13 12-26-2005, 05:53 PM

I have looked at a few 190's and every one of them shows evidence of being poorly maintained. I guess being the bottom of the line car, they fell into the hands of owners who could not afford the maintenance. You might do better looking for a 300E. They seem much more substantial and are certainly more plentiful. I see lot's of them selling for less than $5000.