Hey- everyone.
I'm interested in buying a 240 D and will be looking at an automatic trans tomorrow. I want to explore the stick shift 240 since I do know how to drive a stick and I heard that it is as close to a turbo as I can ask for if I am not successful in my search for a 300 TD.
I also heard that 240 D auto is very slow and want to make the comparison. I live in San Mateo CA. Anybody close to me who has a 240 D manual?
Cheers,
Frankie

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Frankie
It never ends!
1985 300D Turbo 181K Anthracite grey, "SOPHIA"
1984 300 SD Turbo(sold)
2004 Subaru Forester XT,Cayenne red.

Your W126 is still faster than a 240D manual. It is about as fast as a 300D NA with an auto trans. Still going to be slower than anything with a 617 turbo. It's more fun to drive since you have more control but 72hp is 72hp.

Pedal to the floor you'll still have to drive the bridge to the east bay in the right lane.

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1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k

Uh thanks and I try desperately to avoid driving in the right lane, nothing fun going on there. So do you think that the "newer" model 240 D (1982-1983) are about the same average power as your '74? I like going about 70 in my 300 Sd. The 300 SD has to work a bit to get to and hold 80. My Subaru Forester is my fun turbo toy.
BTW, the Bay area is much more relaxed than LA, no doubt!
Cheers,
Frankie

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Frankie
It never ends!
1985 300D Turbo 181K Anthracite grey, "SOPHIA"
1984 300 SD Turbo(sold)
2004 Subaru Forester XT,Cayenne red.

The 74-76 240D had 62hp and the 82-83 (correct me if I am wrong) had 72hp. Somewhere in there there were 67hp engines. The 82 engined car I have will do 70mph no problem but it doesn't drive comfortably beyond that. I was designed for economy in a 55mph speed limit world.

As fast as people drive in the Bay Area stay with a turbo 617 power unless you're just tooling around Burlingame looking for expresso on weekends.

BTW, I am from the bay area.

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1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k

Ha Ha. Curtis, the first time I ever looked at a 6.9 for sale, I didn't know what they were or anything about Mercedes either. A guy told me he drove across the San Mateo Bay Bridge in his 6.9 at 130 mph and took his hands off the steering wheel, at 130 mph, and the car tracked straight and true. Didn't believe him then.

I do now.

For test driving the 240D automatic, if I was in San Mateo, I think I'd be inclined to take it up highway 92 off the El Camino Real towards Half Moon Bay; or up to Canada College in Redwood City, or up the hill towards Belmont (past the private college)

Run it flat out WOT, up the hill, and you can see if there's enough power for you, that is the one area that gives these cars trouble, they don't climb hills too readily.

I personally would rather have the manual, because of the little extra power over the automatic, you *do* really notice it.

Plus they shift really nicely, not like stirring a broomstick through oatmeal.

Really good MB mechanics are thin on the ground in the SF bay area. Have you found one?

I never did, but have since heard that L.R. Spencer near auto row in Burlingame is supposed to be good, he fixes up Fintails, an Pontons and might be worth a call if you need a PPI or some work done. (No personal knowledge of him though, it's hearsay...

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

I currently own a 82 240D with a manual trans. I love this car! I used to own a 80 300D with an Auto and the 240D/Manual is worlds better in my opinion. I drive it 60 miles per day round trip to work and go over a large long hill in the process. I like to drive at 65mph and can maintain it with ease even up the hill. I've driven a vw rabbit pickup for the last few years and the 240D is a rocket compared to that so I guess its all in what your comparing it to. If I was going to get a Mercedes with an auto trans again it would have to be turbo'd, otherwise I'll stick with the 240D/Manual. (plus the milage of the 240D is way better, 32-34mpg)

Hodakaguy

Something's wrong with your SD if it's uncomfortable getting to and holding 80.

Sixto
93 300SD

Yup, I do have a good (and honest) MB mech down the street. I live a couple blocks off Old Coun ty rd. where his garage is). I'll also see if I can swing taking the test drive to the Belmont hills area. I know and drive that area well. You see, the 240 I will be looking at is in Hayward (across the SM bridge). I plan to ask this guy if he'll let my MB mech look at it.
FYI, I stated that the 300 SD has to work A LITTLE BIT to hold 80. Still think there is trouble Sixto? My mech told me yesterday, as my lovely car was idling on a mix of dino diesel and WVO 50/50 that he could hear that one of the injectors needed cleaning. Could that be a factor?
Thanks for the input and BTW, so far I've only searched SF Craigslist but 240 manuals are hard to find!!

Frankie

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Frankie
It never ends!
1985 300D Turbo 181K Anthracite grey, "SOPHIA"
1984 300 SD Turbo(sold)
2004 Subaru Forester XT,Cayenne red.

I haven't taken the car up that fast. I got the tire balancing problem solved but the steering alignment needs to be done. Once that's done......

I will bring the car up to the bay area once I get the 240D sold so I can focus on restoring that car.

Either way a 240D is too slow for 80mph average speed traffic. It just wasn't designed for it. 240D manuals are rare on the peninsula?

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1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k

When my 240 had the 4-cylinder it was pathetic. Going up that 92 grade between 101 and 280 it would get down to about 50mph if not lower. You have to keep your foot into it almost ALL the time when driving it. Since you have to do that, you dont get 32mpg, more like 22mpg. I hated hitting any kind of incline because it was a chore. But, drive it in the hills and see how you like it, thats what counts.

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1978 240D 4-speed converted to 5-cylinder turbo, Kevlar clutch, 2.88 rear end, nardi classico wheel, H&R springs.

My '83 240D is rated at 67 hp. I'm not aware of any 72 hp engines. I believe the NA 300D had 82 hp but with the extra drag of the auto transmission it would have about the same power as a manual 240D. I usually drive my 240D up to 75 mph. Beyond that it just spins too fast and is too noisy but that doesn't bother me because I don't need to drive any faster.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

[QUOTE= My mech told me yesterday, as my lovely car was idling on a mix of dino diesel and WVO 50/50 that he could hear that one of the injectors needed cleaning. Could that be a factor?
[/QUOTE]


Probably. Have you ever run diesel purge? Adjusting your valves and running some purge through will make a really big difference. Your 300sd should easily settle in at 75 or 80.

Shoot, that ^ was me. Darn family members don't sign out....

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"spreading a trail of obnoxious where ever we go"
1981 300sd w/ 341,500 miles

http://www.wecrash.com/pics/ddda_banner.gif

Maybe it's a difference in perception but both my 300SDs were very relaxed and comfortable at 80 including runs from SJ to SF on 280. Mind you it sounds like you're in a B-17 but there's no reason to think engineers came up with the 85mph speedo. I don't recall how difficult it was to run up 92 but even the SDL needed to have its momentum up by Anza Blvd to not embarass itself. Speed limit is 55 there but you either go 70 in the left lane with a Range Rover riding your tail or 40 behind a semi in the right lane :/

If you want to test your SD, I know a guy who uses a measured stretch of Calaveras Blvd east of 680 as a baseline. He ended up with my 83 SD which just about edged his Silver State Classic 84 SD (SSC midpoint speed = 115mph!) on the same stretch. Not a race, different dates, different times of year, maybe the same stopwatch

Maybe you're sitting too far back and it's your ankle that has to work a little bit

Sixto
93 300SD

Ha ha, sitting has been adjusted quite a bit when I first bought the 300 SD. It still sits a bit low-rider despite the functioning power seat.
Where can I buy diesel purge, Auto zone? Kragen? Internet? I've heard of the "purge " but didn't think that I would need to use it yet.
This is fishy, I just had the valves adjusted two months ago!
Fuel pre filter is golden clear color with scant amount of fungi ?black speckles.
Now I am curious about getting to 80 EASILY.
Should I do diesel purge every 6-7,000 miles?
I am a little discouraged about the 240 D auto trans but I'd rather hear the truth/experiences from you guys before I go see it. It is on Craigslist, San Francisco, Oct. 23 butter colored (san Leandro), 123K miles, $4500.
It is too much to pay but I would do a trade with this guy. I also take the fuel econo in consideration. If I have to floor it all the time, there goes the economy as previously pointed out, but I will get the tired leg.
Frankie

__________________
Frankie
It never ends!
1985 300D Turbo 181K Anthracite grey, "SOPHIA"
1984 300 SD Turbo(sold)
2004 Subaru Forester XT,Cayenne red.