I'm revisiting the idea of getting a diesel after a long pause due to the extreme weather here in Minnesota. I thought maybe if I get one that is not my main vehicle and try it out for a while to see how it can work out. So I have been doing some research here between a 300D turbo and a manual 240D and it seems like I'm leaning towards a 1980 240D 4M w/ 280k.
My question is if I'm going to get one with higher miles so the price is a bit lower, would the tranny last if its been taking cared of. Car in consideration has 280k. Is then about the time when things start to need to be replaced more to keep things running smooth? I see other members talking about 240D's with 300-400k on them, is that with the original tranny?

The manual trannys appear to last a good long while with just minimal care.

The autos require what seems to be regular adjustment of the vacuum controls once they get older and worn.

Manual transmissions are not that expensive to repair/replace compared to autos. I would not worry at all about the manual tranny on a car that appears to have been taken care of...there will be other things to concern yourself with

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2009 VW TDI Jetta Sportwagon 172k miles (rear-ended harder than Elton John on 8/4/13. Total loss)

1991 Volvo 240 142k miles (T-boned by a stop sign runner. Total loss)

My 240D is an 81 with 383000 miles on it.'s original 4spd manual tranny. The tranny now needs work. Grinds quite badly at times when changing out of 2nd. Definately needs new lubrication and probably new shift linkage bushings etc. Very notchy feel and sometimes cant get it to go int 1st. Not a huge deal as I just start off a bit slower in 2nd. Rather like the auto. Anyway. That's a car that's had a hard life with 100000 more miles on it than the one you're looking at and it's still my daily driver. So I'd say that purely from a reliability point of view you are probably going to be fine with this one.

- 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

so what do you mean by that?

this is almost a rhetorical question because every car is different. but how much time do you spend keeping it running smooth? say i get one that is decent and was taken cared of meaning regular oil changes, adjustments to get her running smooth, etc. are you guys out in the garage every other night after work? or one weekend day?

Like any other vehicle of a certain age stuff happens buying a used car will mean more upkeep probably more then you want first 6 months but after that less The 240 is a simple car compared to my 86 SDL much less to go wrong
All that said you can spend as much or as little on the car as time and money permit Like owning a home the list never really ends but priorties change
Just this week I thought I would look at littler issues Then i came out of a store and saw a puddle of coolant one new radiator and I think i'll worry about the little stuff later

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commercial fisherman diesel in my blood in my boats trucks and Dear old Dad has had me drivin them since i got my first license in 1968
1986 300 SDL 427654
1999 Chevy Crew Cab Dually 225423
1986 300 SDL 287000 Dad's
1987 190 Turbo 158000 Mom's (my inheritance)

I mean that a 20-something year old car with over a quarter-million miles is going to need regular attention, likely the least of which (or nearly so) will be the manual transmission.

You'll be out working over the brakes, the cooling system, the vacuum system, the radio may or may not work, the body and interior may be starting to fall apart...

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2009 VW TDI Jetta Sportwagon 172k miles (rear-ended harder than Elton John on 8/4/13. Total loss)

1991 Volvo 240 142k miles (T-boned by a stop sign runner. Total loss)

In order to keep it running smooth, etc, you will need to do the same level of maintenance the PO did. There are times when I spend a fews days "bonding" with my car, and there are other times I can go a couple of week with out "bonding". Either way, I do check under the hood every few days, do walk arounds, check lights, etc. It's one of those things...how much do you like the car? Mine's a daily driver, and I love my car. If you show your MB some love, it'll love you back, or so I was told. Actually, the better you like your car, the better care you will give it, resulting in the high reliability we come to expect.

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RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

99 W210 E300 Turbo Diesel, chipped, DPF/Converter Delete. Still needs EGR Delete, 232K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

Gone and still missed...1982 w123 300D, 1991 w124 300D

Yep, and the only reason a manual tranny should let go is sloppy maintenance like never replacing $9.00 shift linkage rubber bushings or never having shift linkage adjusted at the dealership (god forbid). Otherwise the 4-spd 240D makes for potential lifetime car if well maintained.

But I think the real question here is whether it will make a good part-time driver. Just my opinion, but the culture-shock difference between say driving a 2002 gasoline Toyota and 240Diesel is too severe. The happiest 240D owners are those who never drive anything else. It's hard to explain, but the 4-spd 4cyl diesel completely changes your driving habits. And then driving a normal car becomes a dead and lifeless experience.

True 240D cult nuts like me believe that every car built ever since is designed to remove the driver from the driving experience.

that's a very good point. i'm not a speedy driver in the first place. the only classic thing i've owned for a while is a '75 bmw motorcycle and i like to drive that at my favorite speed, 35mph !

there is a little concern about safety like ramp entrance and merging. how do you guys do it? how is it with the non turbo 300d with a bit more horse power (80hp instead of 65hp for the 240d) but with an automatic tranny?

there is a little concern about safety like ramp entrance and merging. how do you guys do it? how is it with the non turbo 300d with a bit more horse power (80hp instead of 65hp for the 240d) but with an automatic tranny?


I have had a 240D 4 speed manual for almost a year. Drive on I-40 daily and just drive 'full throttle' thru all 4 gears. While a little slow, I almost always have to slow down a little for 'gasser' slow pokes.

Bob
1981 240D

Actually I'm lucky in that respect for two reasons. One Phoenix has pretty long on-ramps and I usually dont commute during rush hour, and usually going against the traffic flow. That being said I find that by flooring it in all four gears I can usually get up to freeway speed by the time I have to merge. But you do need to plan it in advance and make sure you keep the pedal to the metal for most of the on-ramp.

- 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

Well said..It's about driving something thats a little different, I would much rather drive one of my 240Ds than my Dodge truck, and its nice, but I like the heating system on the MB much better, the MB tex is way more durable, just about the whole interior of the 240 is more to my liking. I'm not just ragging on Dodge, I haven't seen a "newer" rice burner that I like more than my MBs either.
These cars seem to be designed for the DIYers. If you don't want too work on it, a Camray or Sub might be a better choice, its almost like, dare I say ..having a hobby. Not that you have too let it get outa hand but working on it will definitely be part of your life. You might need a clutch some day but the tranny will proly last a long time.

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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"

Around here I have to preplan my course when driving. Most onramps are tough to gather enough speed but some are ridiculous where there is literally a 15 foot onramp joining the freeway It's unnerving when people just refuse to press on their brakes when they approach you at 80mph.

In traffic or freeway cruising, it's a champ.

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

240D gearbox works very similar, same slow shifts. But the 240D has a much narrower power band that keeps you constantly shifting gears and that's part of the fun. You just cannot lug along at 35mph in 4th while expecting to accelerate at will.

Sheer driving skill is required there and you must wind out the gears. 3rd provides decent acceleration by standards of normal cars at 55-60mph, but then 4th becomes a long throw that appears to bottom out, lugging the engine in anything at/below the same 60 mph speed.

But back to topic, if $4000 is what somebody is asking for 240D 4-spd w/280k miles then it better be cherry with service records, everything working and sunroof too. And with respect to automatics, it surprises me that MB built an automatic 240D. You must have direct drive to optimize hp in the narrow power band 4-cyl diesel, again part of the fun. The automatic tranny will clip horsepower by at least 20%.

But then another option would be the 300D turbo, arguably no prob for having an auto tranny - but provides a lesser diesel/driving experience compared with manually paddling through gears of the primitive 4-spd 240D.

just thinking about it, not sure yet. but the car in listed on craig's list. see link below:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/car/275508761.html

i should be getting some more pics soon.