Sorry folks. I just have to shout it from the roof tops. I just drove home in a 1981 240D 4sp manual I picked up from a co-worker. I know everybody on the forum will think I paid way too much for it. $1300.00. And it's got 375000 miles on it, though only 190000 on a rebuilt engine. However I dont care. The drought of six years is finally broken. My god what a difference my daily drive home was in a car that actually has a suspension (even one as shot as this one undoubtedly is) compared to my 02 Kia. It's a rolling restoration for me and if the motor holds up I hope to have it in decent condition and running on WVO within a few years.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

Congrats!

I have a friend who picked one up with 280k on it and they're in the 390's now. Hardly any work either. I've owned a couple of those and consider them the best value in terms of economy and longevity. Easy to work on.
I'm glad for you.

Diesel Don

__________________
DAILY DRIVERS:
'84 300DT 298k (Aubrey's)
'99.5 Jetta TDI IV 251k (Julie's)
'97 Jetta TDI 127k (Amber's)
'97 Jetta TDI 186k (Matt's)
'96 Passat TDI 237k (Don's
'84 300D 211k Mint (Arne- Undergoing Greasecar Conversion)

SOLD:
'82 240D 229k (Matt's - Converted-300DT w/ 4 speed

Six years without one of these cars? Man you've got nerves of steel. I about went stir crazy last November when my '85 was totaled and I had to drive other cars until early January when I got the '84. Congrats on getting back in one. It's a great feeling.

__________________
Seth

1984 300D 225K
1985 300D Donor body
1985 300D Turbo 165K. Totaled. Donor Engine. It runs!!!
1980 300SD 311K My New Baby.
1979 BMW 633csi 62K+++? Dead odo

Hey congratulations! I've done the same thing yesterday, almost the same cash outlay.

In extreme sports lingo what we do here is called "sharing the stoke"

__________________
'81 M-B 240D 4-speed 132Kmi
'98 BMW 528i 5-speed/sport 125Kmi
'93 VW Eurovan GL 5-speed 166Kmi
'00 Hon RC51
'04 Suz SV650 track dog
'89 Yam FZR250R

BTW, while lugging along in traffic today I though about what would be an upgrade to this 240D 4-speed from about the same vintage.

The only reasonable upgrade I came up with is a RR of the same era. But that's a whole different can of nuts&bolts. They're reasonably cheap though these days.

__________________
'81 M-B 240D 4-speed 132Kmi
'98 BMW 528i 5-speed/sport 125Kmi
'93 VW Eurovan GL 5-speed 166Kmi
'00 Hon RC51
'04 Suz SV650 track dog
'89 Yam FZR250R

Thanks folks. I have to admit I was starting to get desperate. Anyway it get's better. From the time the engine was rebuilt in September 1990 I have no less than 25 pages in the previous owners log book of maintenance records. I'm currently transcribing them into an Excel spreadsheet. Seems this things Oil and Oil filters were changed every four to five thousand miles without fail for the last fifteen years of its life. Perhaps goes someway to explaining why the enging seems to be in pretty good shape.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

Well, being in AZ., how's the AC?
Sounds like you really got a good deal, and a nice little 240.

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

No AC. I think the compressors seized but I dont care at this point. I still have my other car. Like I said this ones' a rolling restoration. When I get all the mechanical stuff sorted out to my satisfaction then I'll deal with stuff like the AC, radio etc. My first concern is reliability for now, having a functional backup car for when my Kia breaks again.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

When I bought my 1982 240D 4-speed manual a couple of years ago, the A/C was working, but leaking, and needed recharging every so often.

I took it to an A/C shop and he said that they used a GM compressor back then, and although it was a very common compressor, it was probably the worst one GM ever built.

Anyway for around $900 I got a new (not rebuilt) compressor and a complete recharge with R-12. It works good now. I don't think that the A/C's on these cars were all that good when new, but I think going back with R-12 makes it run as good as can be expected. It is certainly adequate here in hot humid Arkansas.

Good luck, I know you will enjoy it

George

Well, I would say that's about the going market price. And if this is a no-rust AZ car then you got a better than market price.

The rolling restorations are enjoyable - it makes for good conversation at work. Everyone knows who you are "here comes that crazy guy with the old diesel Mercedes..."



Ken300D

__________________
--------------------------
1982 300D at 351K miles
1984 300SD at 217K miles
1987 300D at 370K miles