I'm considering trading my '82 300CD for a 240D.
I like the idea of a manual transmission, manual windows, manual heat & A/C controls, simpler engine, and going from 25mpg to 33mpg... If I've heard correctly. Have I? What year 240 would I want?

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I suggest we solve high gas prices with environmentalists... unfortunately they don't burn well.
1982 300CD, 220K miles: This vacuum system will be the death of me yet! (OBK #26)
1977 F150 400 C6 2wd, 10.2 sec 1/8 mile with 2.75 gears.
1965 Mustang. Mostly stock... LOL!
2001 Ram 2500, cummins, 5spd, 202k miles.(girlfriends)

I have one of each.

Manual transmission=good

Manual windows=better than electric in that they are lighter and almost never fail. Electric are better in the respect that you can roll them all up and down from the driver's seat. Slight advantage to manual IMO.

Manual HVAC controls=good

Simpler engine. Yes, but not really that much simpler. Just the lack of a turbo and associated items.

25 vs 33 mpg? Not in my experience. I drive the turbo a bit on the conservative side, just a hair faster than most traffic. I drive the non-turbo pretty much like I stole it and barely keep up with traffic. I consistently get 2 mpg or more better mileage with the turbo.

You also want to consider the difference in power. The 240D will not maintain the speed limit up a 6% grade. The 300D will. I've been passed on hills by semis in the 240. I've passed sports cars on hills in the 300.

I don't mean to steer you away from a 240, but you should be aware of the fact that driving one is a very different experience from driving a turbo-diesel Benz. It's more like driving a heavy truck in terms of speed and acceleration. The main draw of mine (at least to me) is the manual transmission.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

I would like to know why you think the manual 240D is so much better than the automatic? I have driven some strong running 240D auto's & I find it had to know why a manual is that much stronger with the same HP rating.

I'm told the automatics are about 3 seconds slower to 60, and that the manuals get slightly better fuel economy, but neither of these is my reason for preferring the manual. The thing is I just love manual transmissions. That and the early 80's German automatics I've experienced are harsh crude things. I've met an automatic that I almost like, but it comes in the MTVR:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium_Tactical_Vehicle_Replacement

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

Get the one you described....I did and haven't regretted it!
Manual everything I could get.
As I said recently in another post, I never feel too slow on the road. I am slower off the line, but by second gear I am passing 1/2 the cars out there
I agree the experience is different from a turbo with auto - though my experience with that is limited to the 300TD

In fact, tonight I drove the 240D from work and met my wife at a friend's house for dinner, then I drove the wagon home, so I drove both back to back. The turbo/automatic is a lot smoother and more refined, but the 240D puts you right on the road....it's rougher, but more like a driver's car from an earlier time...

I never get over 30 mpg - - I get 28-29 on the highway, and 22-24 in traffic. I hope to squeak 1-2 mpg on each end out of a valve job this spring, but I bet that's hopeful.

I could probably get over 30 if I had 5th gear.

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Current Mercedes
1979 maple yellow 240D 4-speed

Gone and fondly remembered:
1980 orient red 240D 4-speed

Gone and NOT fondly remembered:
1982 Chna Blue 300TD

Other car in the stable:
2013 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI / 6-speed MT

I've always preferred manuals over automatics in driving experience and they are usually more reliable.

I'm getting a lot of that... 240D fuel economy varies from 24-34mpg depending. I consistently get in the top 25% of mileages reported in any vehicle I drive, so if that's driving style I'll get 30mpg easy. But could it have more to do with engine condition, gear ratio, body style changes, etc?

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I suggest we solve high gas prices with environmentalists... unfortunately they don't burn well.
1982 300CD, 220K miles: This vacuum system will be the death of me yet! (OBK #26)
1977 F150 400 C6 2wd, 10.2 sec 1/8 mile with 2.75 gears.
1965 Mustang. Mostly stock... LOL!
2001 Ram 2500, cummins, 5spd, 202k miles.(girlfriends)

Why don't you just put a stick in your 300CD?

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

I like the idea of the 240 5 speed.... Actually, I like the idea of a Force Motors 616 with a 5 speed....

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99 E300 Turbodiesel 100k

So do the rest of us, but good luck finding one!

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

I tried to contact them to get an idea of what price it would be but they didn't respond. I think they make a 5 speed that they sell along with their 616/617 hybrid... but they are in India and we are not. Could you imagine what a brand new drivetrain would feel like in these cars?

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99 E300 Turbodiesel 100k

Why not have both? Seriously...

Fix the vac system when you can on the CD, make her the showhorse. The 240 can be the workhorse.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

My father's 115 240 (74) averaged around 25 mpg. That was a little heavier body than the 123.

My 84 Euro 240 5 sp averages 29-30 at the moment, and I keep careful records.

True, my front end is a bit up in the air (Federalization - to bring the Euro bumpers up), and the valves need adjusting. The folks who get 33 out of a 4 speed must drive slower than I.

Force Motors makes the turbo 616 and combined with 5 speed its quite a peppy package which moves even my heavy Gurkha quite nicely.

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99 Gurkha with OM616 IDI turbo

2015 Gurkha with OM616 DI turbo

2014 Rexton W with OM612 VGT

I tend to think that folks reporting 32-34 mpg have slipping odos, but I am sure someone will set me straight

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Current Mercedes
1979 maple yellow 240D 4-speed

Gone and fondly remembered:
1980 orient red 240D 4-speed

Gone and NOT fondly remembered:
1982 Chna Blue 300TD

Other car in the stable:
2013 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI / 6-speed MT

I'll set you straight, if the ODO was slipping you would seem to be getting fewer MPG.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine