You got me wrong, Dog. I agree with everything you said and for those very reasons I'm looking to add a standard 240D.

I'm far from sensible!

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

Basically when your looking for a 240D, simplicity is the key. Look for one with no sunroof, manual windows, no passenger side rear view mirror, manual climate controls, no rust, evidence of PO's attention to service, and those awsome steel rims with the painted hubcaps.

But I must admit, I bastardized mine with a OM617.

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No matter how many times you explain it to me, I'm still right.....Surf-n-Turf

Does the picture below answer your question?
Do you know if your car still has the stock rear end?
(who would have thought a couple of days ago, when we were having our spat, that 2 days later I would be asking you about your rear end.....)

Attached Thumbnails

 

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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

Even the 240 with some options is fairly simplistic.
Manual sunroof is fairly similar to a manual window. Right?
Manual passenger side rear view mirror. Manual. And I can't drive a car with out one.
No rust. Well, that is true for everything.
Hubbies. I am right there with you on that one.....

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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

And the problem is that 4-spd 240D's are dying out - soon to be on the endangered species list in another 5 yrs..... So if y'all wanna experience owning one - then better act fast.

Lucky for me I've got a cherry body '83 that runs fine with backup low mileage engine in fully operative parts car that can keep me going at least another 250k miles - otherwise I'd really be pissed.

Yes, mine has the high numerical number 3rd member.... it really winds out tight..

ROFLMAO, no doubt that's true...... paddling through the gears of the close ratio, high rev & narrow power band 4-spd 240D provides the ultimate hard-on experience thats entirely lacking in automatic transmission cars - thats *any* automatic transmission car especially diesels.

Y'all oughta ban me from this forum - everything i say about 240D 4-spds is likely to be taken as pure pornography.

There are many ways to go once you own a fairly reasonable example of a 240d.
Very soon they may also draw more attention than presently as their style and numbers surviving becomes less in general traffic. If you really like the 240ds as I do a five speed transmission is a good and worthwhile improvement. Although scarce and perhaps costly. Or drop in a five cylinder natural aspirated engine and a much lower ratio rear end. Either one will quiet the car at speed. Another challenge is to work at getting the car as quiet as it was when new. I think that is possible on many of them. But first you have to find a reasonably good example.
There are still enough 240ds coming up that it is still possible now. In a year or two it might become far more difficult. The 240d can grow on you over time as well. If you have the space to spare I consider them keepers. A reasonable cost with access to a site like this can keep them going for a very long time. Also try to avoid rust in your first aquisition. It is miserable to deal with properly and this is a unibody car. Pay a little more if you have to. The 240d is different from the general run of cars in my opinion and will remain so.

I have 1979 240D with 4 speed, manual windows, manual heater control, but I do have electric sunroof. Guess what. All works great except electric sunroof. Stay simple, working with a 25-30 year old car, anything that can break will break. Fortunately, lots of the stuff on the car CANT break, and the little things that can are easily fixed. If you find one that is before the auto heater control, has manual windows, and manual transmission, you might want to buy it. They seem to be hard to find.

Just my 2 cents though. This is my first MB so my expertise is...... lacking.

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'79 240D 4 speed manual 105k miles

Ok,guys,I'm in Juarez,Mexico right now 2800 miles from home in Ct.USA. All this diesel MBZ talk has gotten me more excited about going home and taking out my '79 300cd non-turbo,out of storage,and getting out the wrenches for a good tune up,Some glow plugs,the new radiator(broken neck on mine)a new battery,and just putting her in the wind for the next 100,000 miles or so.Than I am about my 88 560 sec,amg,euro car,I just purchased.In fact the car isn't even in the country yet,but the 300cd is in my basement/garage,just awaiting my return home...HI-HO Silver...Awaaayyy!!!

I dont think 240D's ever had the ACC with the vacume operated push buttons did they? At least I've never seen one.

No doubt. But the trick there is finding one.

I love the 240D. And I dont believe I'll ever get rid of it. But I think it's companion will be a 300D, hopefully NA and ideally with that magical 5spd... I need a freeway car now as well as my town commuter.

Oh. And one other point. I also like those manual sunroofs. An incredible feel of superb engineering and none of the electrical stuff to breakdown.

- Peter.

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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

After checking the book ... no.... it looks like they never had the pushbuttons...

When looking at MB's in the past ( like through the window on a car lot ) I just look for the sideways wheel temperature control....and run the other direction if I see it..
but it looks like in the 123 that the wheel can be there ( which still introduces extra vacuum operated things like flaps ) without the pushbuttons being on the dash...

So my refined advice is to look for the wire controlled flap model...this will have the normal rotary black temperature switch and either one or two slide buttons to control flaps by wire.

Ok. That sideways temperature control you hate so much was the standard temperature control for all non US MB's worldwide. I wasn't aware of there being any vacume operated flaps outside the US with its ACC monstrosity. I guess there could be something inside the heater box that regulated between the amount of hot or cold air being blown thru but I have my dash in pices right now trying to fix issues with the heater box on my 240D and I see no sign of any vacume related stuff at all. Everything is bowden cables and sliding levers.

- Peter.

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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

I've got one of each....a TD and an '83 240.

The 240 is a 4 speed manual and the smoothest shifting manual I've ever driven. Crank windows, no sunroof. Type 2 heat/air but I've never had a problem with that other than a 20 plus year old fuse that blew. It gets in excess of 30 mpg so no complaints there. The most major repair I've had to do was to rebuild the front end and replace the shocks. It still needs the rear and front windshield gaskets as the trunk and the cabin both take on a little water. I drive the 240 way more than the TD.

Best thing about the 240 is someone gave it to me. Saw me in the TD and commented about how nice a car it is and how I must really take great care of it, blah,blah,blah. As I was getting ready to go he says he's got a 240 that he's owned since new that needs a clutch. Got there to pick it up and he comes out with the shop manuals, receipts from day one [worked on by the dealership where he bought it!] then, as I was getting ready to leave, he says he's got the hubcaps in the garage. Took them off the car when new, afraid someone would steal them. Got the car home and found it didn't need a clutch but only a clutch slave.

So, when looking for a car I would check the front end over good along with the normal things like brakes, etc. and look for signs of water getting into places where it doesn't belong. Also check the gauges making sure they work, especially the fuel gauge. Ask me how I know to check that.

Cheers,

Bill

[QUOTE=bill murrow;1392108]
Best thing about the 240 is someone gave it to me. Saw me in the TD and commented about how nice a car it is and how I must really take great care of it, blah,blah,blah. As I was getting ready to go he says he's got a 240 that he's owned since new that needs a clutch. Got there to pick it up and he comes out with the shop manuals, receipts from day one [worked on by the dealership where he bought it!] then, as I was getting ready to leave, he says he's got the hubcaps in the garage. Took them off the car when new, afraid someone would steal them. Got the car home and found it didn't need a clutch but only a clutch slave.

Thats a great story, a 240D lovers dream come true, INCLUDING manuals. LOL, I saw an add on Craigs list, "Mercedes Bendz, 240D, $1.00" , I email the guy and he calls me a few minites later and asks me if I really want it, I say yes, figuring its trashed, but what the hay, free car. I get down there and its a nice car, sitting it the middle of the family vegatable garden. They wanted it outa there as they hadent been able to start it in the last year. (they were what I would call 'well off") I dollied it home and all it really needed was GPs and a little TLC. The car was an 82, silver, black interior, rust free, 4 spd, 240D. I gave him cash
I know lots of folks have gotten these car from people that are a little "off" and I mean that in a kind way

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"