Except for my own cars/PU trucks I do not have too much gasoline vehicle experience!
We all start some where. My start was going to a State sponsered Trade School where I took Diesel Mechanic courses and a few gasser type courses (tune up and brakes).
I would recommend anyone owning a gasser or diesel vehicle going to at least the beginners class; which us usually a theory/how it works type class. I will really save you a lot of time in the long run when it comes to trouble shooting problems. Most community colleges have some sort of automotive program though there are not as many diesel programs available.
Classes are usually 2 evenings per week or 1 class on Saturday.

I figure if you can program your DVD player and new TV you can fix most things on a manual 240D. You might have to wait a while for something to go wrong if the previous owner has kept it up tho:D

Wow, what a great bunch of posts Thanks to everyone.

Decided to start with a really clapped out, worn slam out, as the good old boys say NC. Found an '87 300td listed at $2,200 at one of the rough car lots. Was trying to get some idea of a well worn and poorly maintained Mercedes. Wanted to get an idea of what goes bad. Picked a good example. As far as I could tell the answer to problem list seemed to be just about everything.

Despite the overall condition, when up to highway speed, the original design showed through. Maybe I should back off and drive several in various levels of condition to develop a better feel.

Anyone have a recommendation for prepurchase inspection in Raleigh, NC?

Thats one of the problems with buying a used MB, even a totaly shot example will drive nicely.

nothin to it but to do it
 

Just find out whats wrong and fix it then forget about it there is no right brain, left brain thing about these cars, heck ,even a plumber like myself can wrench on them. Motor City Madmen.

Darn cable remote!!! Now how what button do I push to switch the TV to the DVD player??? Does this remote come in a BIG PRINT VERSION????:D:D:D

OP: you mentioned something about "Strong interest in vegetable oil fueling"

I'd use those words carefully. for 2 reasons

1) SVO does not equal WVO does not equal Biodiesel does not equal B20. Other fora have lots of discussion on which (one requires which kind of care and equipment

2) Some around here have marked opinions on whether or not you should run an old Benz on veg. oil. Those passions have mostly cooled, but let me sum it up for you here:

Run veg. oil if you want, but you MUST be vigilant about filtering, and either install a 2-tank system (do it well- we hate seeing hacked up VO systems in old benzes...) and be careful (sometimes that means no children or wife get to drive the veg. oil machine)... There is a time commitment involved with any type of VO setup

OR...

Either run (retail or diligently homebrewed) Biodiesel, or Dino Diesel only because, thats what MBZ had in mind when they designed it :)



I'm just summing up this debate. Sorry if youve seen/heard/read it before =)


If you maintain other cars, these things are almost too easy. Many of us patronize the "Buy Parts" link above - that business (run by "Rusty") is known for very good customer service, quick delivery and they support this forum financially.

If you dont go MBZ soon, you may do so later, we'll wait =)


-John

$2200 1987 330TD huh ? One of the fastest MB diesels before the electronic injection models came out in the late 90's and probably the best performance/economy compromise out there. $2200 is on the low end of the price scale (obviously) but if the trans works, and the cyl head isnt cracked (1st gen alloy cyl heads - MB engineers didnt have that figured out yet) then there is nothing you can't fix in an evening. that W124 chassis was the same as the 300E, which MB sold millions of so parts are still easy peasy.

Barring the cyl head cracking (never let it overheat...) these things see the same 300k miles as the earlier benzes do.

The only thing I've seen this forum fail at is trying a home rebuild of the automatic trans (most just buy a rebuilt unit), and that might be becuase I havent read enough yet. I have seen .PDF's of the transmission disassembly manual flying around...

I'f you dont mind wrenching to get it back up to spec, I'd rock a $2200 300D mightily.

-John