I recently came across a deal that may be awesome. Lately ive been looking for a car that had class and elegance, yet still had some balls under the hood. While my 240d has less performance than some scooters ive seen, It does have a very high class appeal. And now ive come across a 1974 california smog, 280s (WIch is the older body style, do not know the chassis number) No rust whatsoever, california car. Runs good, has auto tranny. this guy is willing to trade it for my rough looking 240d. Should i bite? Im very fond of inline six cylinders This one has the first year of the california emissions, wich he said it has the "gasoline return canister" wich helps keep the gas longer or something. The car actually only has 100k on it.

http://picasaweb.google.com/cervanz/Desktop/photo#5185653223715976754
http://picasaweb.google.com/cervanz/Desktop/photo#5185653206536107538
http://picasaweb.google.com/cervanz/Desktop/photo#5185653215126042146

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Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

As long as they would add one additional commandment for you to keep thy religion to thyself.
George Carlin (Wonder where he is now..)

1981 240d (engine donor 1983 240d) recently rebuilt engine hurray! - No more.. fought a tree and the tree won.

pearl black 1983 240d 4speed (Converted!@$$%) atleast the tranny was rebuilt.

Something doesn't jive. Those pics are a W114/115. A 114 with an M110 engine would just be a 280 (or a 280C if coupe). An S-class from '74 should be a W116, and they had a 116 280S, but not in 1974, and anyway those pics are not of a 116.

Anyway, whatever it is, if it's in good condition and you like it better than your 240, go ahead and bite.

Also, the "gasoline return canister" is probably a charcoal canister. It filters the vapor vented from the fuel tank, trapping the gas fumes while the car sits. The fumes get sucked back into the engine when you start it up again. Silly emission control stuff and not at all needed for proper functioning of the car.

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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.

Anything inherently wrong with these cars/engines? Its an inline six DOHC with a single solex carb. Ah and im wrong, he told me it was an s-class. But he was wrong, its simply a 280.

__________________
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

As long as they would add one additional commandment for you to keep thy religion to thyself.
George Carlin (Wonder where he is now..)

1981 240d (engine donor 1983 240d) recently rebuilt engine hurray! - No more.. fought a tree and the tree won.

pearl black 1983 240d 4speed (Converted!@$$%) atleast the tranny was rebuilt.

The Solex would scare the heck out of me, but I think I would trade a nondescript 240D for a clean no-rust W114/115. Even has the ultra rare column shifter! {I'm guessing it's automatic}
If it cleans up decent and runs well you would have a car that certainly stands out from the crowd a little more. I just love that body style but it is so hard to find one without rust.
If it's decent, "why not"! You can always run across another 240.....

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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

Im kind of scared because the 240d is the only car that runs for me right now. Why are solex carbs so bad?

__________________
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

As long as they would add one additional commandment for you to keep thy religion to thyself.
George Carlin (Wonder where he is now..)

1981 240d (engine donor 1983 240d) recently rebuilt engine hurray! - No more.. fought a tree and the tree won.

pearl black 1983 240d 4speed (Converted!@$$%) atleast the tranny was rebuilt.

My concerns:

- A W114 will rust in California. Check it carefully.

- An M110 that isn't kept up is like a sieve. It'll have external and internal oil leaks. Check for smoke out the tailpipe on cold start and accelerating after idling for a while.

- Don't expect more than 15mpg out of that car, but I think it takes regular. Did MB build pre-unleaded cars with hardened valve seats?

- External emissions stuff like charcoal canisters and EGR can be removed or disabled if you don't have state inspections for a car of this vintage. It's internal alterations like lower compression and cam profiles that are difficult to subvert.

- Those front seats look tired.

Sixto
87 300D

Well i talked to him today on the phone and had him in detail describe to me the condition of the body and underside, the engine and such. he says there is no rust whatsoever, even under the car. all of the floor pans are solid without rust. the exhaust is clean without rust. the car has 74000 miles on it... has a clean title. and the engine runs good at idle, but because the diaphram in the fuel valve wont let it get more fuel at higher rpm's. Other than that, everything works inside and out. No rust, and that door can be replaced easily. Sounds like a good deal to me for my shabby 240d. Anything i should be worried about with the solex carbs? what about the engine itself? the chassis?

__________________
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

As long as they would add one additional commandment for you to keep thy religion to thyself.
George Carlin (Wonder where he is now..)

1981 240d (engine donor 1983 240d) recently rebuilt engine hurray! - No more.. fought a tree and the tree won.

pearl black 1983 240d 4speed (Converted!@$$%) atleast the tranny was rebuilt.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/car/628530746.html

For $400, why not? Cheap enough to keep your 240D too, if you've got the space.

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Dale

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g1...MG_2277sig.jpg

1990 300D 2.5 Turbo -155k
2000 E430 - 103k
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ecodiesel 4x4 - 11k
2014 VW Passat TDI SE - 7k Bro's Diesel
2006 E320 CDI - 128k Pop's Benz

Pre-glow - A moment of silence in honor of Rudolph Diesel

That looks like the same car! Same crease on the right rear door.

If the Solex 4A1 gives you fits, you can adpat a Weber 38 DGAS (or DGES?). leathermang went through this a few years ago so check with him. Phil can help with parts for such a conversion.

Sixto
87 300D

ahah i cant belive somone found it on craigslist. Well, i bit im going to go see it tommarow and maybie trade my 240d for it that day. (i rebuilt the injectors right now, im soooo going to miss my diesel..has alot more power now) But i just need to figure out how to make this car reliable in order for me to drive it everyday to work and back.

__________________
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

As long as they would add one additional commandment for you to keep thy religion to thyself.
George Carlin (Wonder where he is now..)

1981 240d (engine donor 1983 240d) recently rebuilt engine hurray! - No more.. fought a tree and the tree won.

pearl black 1983 240d 4speed (Converted!@$$%) atleast the tranny was rebuilt.

IMO he would take $200. He is ready to crush it.

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Currently driving a very clean 1985 300SD from the West Coast.