Just got a 240D - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 02-12-2009, 08:38 PM

Hello all, Just introducing myself. I just bought a 1983 240d from Kansas City for $1200. It has a nearly rust free body, with 180,000 miles. Included the original first aid kit, and documented maintenance in the owners book from 1983 till 2001. Each and every oil change, brake fluid change, coolant change, and repair. Its metallic blue with beige interior. The guy bought it from the original owner 2 yrs. ago for his daughter. The daughter drove it twice and stated that she hated it, it was too loud and slow. So it sat for two years. Hence when I got it, the brake rotors were plated in massive rust, and it needed TLC. I just finished replacing the lower ball joints, new upper control arms, new tie rod ends, idler bushings, and new shocks. Rides great, I plan to make me an "apple-seed" bio diesel processor, learn titration, and proper methanol mixing, and produce my own fuel. Veggie oil sounds good, but I am leaning towards something that is easier to digest for my benz. No second tank needed. Anyways, just saying hi, by the way, my car has a name, Mertle the turtle!!!

ImBroke · #2 02-12-2009, 08:58 PM

Welcome, and congrats on the diesel.. Be careful, these things get addictive.

JimmyL · #3 02-12-2009, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 83240D

Aus irgendeinem Grund als ich mein Mercedes kaufte, fand mich ich sprechender Deutscher alles plötzliche. Jetzt kann ich nicht scheinen zu stoppen. Könnte dieses ein Virus sein, das ich von meinem Auto mich verfing? Oder ist es eine Obsession?

Translated:
For any reason as I my Mercedes bought, found me I speaking Germans all sudden. Now I cannot seem to stop. Could this be a virus, which I from my car me got caught? Or is it a Obsession?

Welcome!! Myrtle is my sainted mother's name.....

Actros617 · #4 02-12-2009, 09:45 PM

Welcome to the forum... If your doing it biodiesel on a single tank, you might want to take the fuel tank and wash it down until all of the residue is out... Dual system is better since Kansas gets cold, unless your putting heater in the tank... some pics of the 240D would be great

#5 02-12-2009, 11:40 PM

Hey Jimmy L, I remember reading a post where you were selling "The Squash". That was a very nice looking car. Infact, it was that post which inspired me to name my car. I was fumbling through avatars and found the one I have, a blue turtle. I decided that Myrtle rhymed with turtle, and the rest is history. Sorry if my German sounds crazy, I used Babel Fish to write it. I understand that Babel Fish isnt always accurate. But you guys get the idea. I will get some pics as soon as I can. I have read that these cars are very slow, especially an automatic, but I have found that If I wind her out, I imagine to 3500-4000 rpms, then its isnt slow at all. I can get on the highway and get right with traffic no problem. It probably also helps that Kansas is mostly flat....lol

TylerH860 · #6 02-13-2009, 12:19 AM

Was this car advertised on craigslist? I called on an 83 240D but the seller sold it before I could drive up and take a look. He told me the same story about the daughter, and how he used it as an around town shooter but didn't like it. Same color, IIRC.

It had 174k on it, according to the "Lease" thread I care not to relive.

Nice purchase, though he told me over the phone that he was lowering the price from $1200 to 1k. Hope I didn't encourage him to keep firm on his price since he had someone driving up to look at it.

I think it sold on a Monday...

TylerH860 · #7 02-13-2009, 12:23 AM

Your from Halstead, Ks??? That's pretty darn close to me. Not many Kansan forum members that are regular posters. Hope you keep with us.

yellit · #8 02-13-2009, 12:27 AM

Welcome here...Lots of fun and great info all over the place....

JimmyL · #9 02-13-2009, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 83240D

Hey Jimmy L, I remember reading a post where you were selling "The Squash". That was a very nice looking car. Infact, it was that post which inspired me to name my car. I was fumbling through avatars and found the one I have, a blue turtle. I decided that Myrtle rhymed with turtle, and the rest is history.

Makes perfect sense!!

You can't force a name, so I'm glad you found one you're comfortable with.
Ah, the Squash. Man I loved that car! Sadly, Andy has had some awful luck with it, though. Something happened to the engine and he is going to either replace it or rebuild. But that is easy on these cars. [replacement]
You are certainly correct about a 240 being plenty fast enough for daily life. You won't win any races but it does everything you'd need a car to do.
This forum will provide you with pretty much any info you could ever need. And being close to Tyler gives you a good forum dude in proximity......

#10 02-13-2009, 01:15 AM

Tyler, I believe the car I bought, was indeed the one you were going to buy. It was from a guy named Gerald in Raytown(KC). He told me a guy was also interested in buying it, I told myself "Too bad for him, its mine now" LOL
Gerald was a strange guy, he laughed repeatedly at me saying " why would you drive so far for this old car?, this thing is slow and makes roaring noises" I told him "Thats not just an old car, its a classic, a diamond in the rough" He laughed again. Turns out, the roaring was bad front bearings, which are replaced now. New rotors, control arms, ball joints, plastic hood latch, all filters, bulbs, so on. Where do you live Tyler? I will have to let you check old Myrtle out! Gerald wanted $1200 for the car and I didnt really bother talking him down much, I figured, it runs, and the body is almost rust free, that in itself is worth alot to me. Its cool to know a forum member is so close by.

TylerH860 · #11 02-13-2009, 01:22 AM

Yup, Gerald rings a bell.

I live in East NE Wichita, ks. It looked like a good deal, and even though I already have 4 benzes, I thought it was worth a look.

You're welcome to come by anytime. The local Mercedes club will be having a huge GTG in McPherson in May.

IndianaJo · #12 02-13-2009, 06:03 AM

Congratulations! If your automatic is allowing the motor to wind out, your vacuum system is perfect. It may not stay that way without effort.
If you install a goldenrod 495 filter (available at TSC) with the water drain to capture metal, you can run 1/3 used motor (10w or 5w dino) oil in warm weather without all the mixer valves plumbing heaters and tanks used for vegetable oil. Let the oil sit for a month to let the water and garbage settle, and don't pour that part in your tank. Strain it through a paper towel as you pour it in. I've got 300 gal of used 13 weight hydraulic fluid I picked up somewhere, I'm using. Pity my yard tractor diesel has a swedge plate drive injector pump.
I used to pine for a girl in Halstead that sang in a bluegrass band that performed at KBA, twenty five years ago. She probably has 5 kids now. I drive a stinky car that makes a loud death rattle, and I don't have any kids. Pity.

#13 02-13-2009, 10:50 AM

Im responding to several of you guys so here goes.
JimmieL, I really did admire The Squash, I really really love that color and wish Myrtle was the same color as The Squash. Im sure he will be missed by you.

Tyler, that white 500sl you have, is a dream car of mine. Well, my dream car is a late 90s 500sl, but that one you have is no less beautiful.

IndianaJo, I bypassed my 3/2 valves and deleted them. My vacuum pump is pulling 21 inches of vacuum, as with my mightyvac guage. My power brakes are now... POWER...lol, and it shifts almost perfectly now. It will wind her out good. Old Myrtle hasnt rolled back on her shell yet... shes running great.... except my next project is new injectors. Myrtle is nailing at idle, and smoking alot. I can get new one from my fav parts site... MB warehouse, for $57 each. I figure... $240 and she will idle smoother and run even better.

As for all my cars, I have the following
2005 Cadillac Deville
2006 Mustang
1998 Land Rover Disco I
1983 Mercedes 240D (Myrtle)

As soon as the Caddy is paid off, in about 2 yrs or so, I am hoping to sell that american garbage and get me a 500sl, or maybe a CLK, I am through with american cars, Ive done some work on my Caddy and the integral parts are not much different than a 1995 Corsica!!! WTF???
LOL

pawoSD · #14 02-13-2009, 11:01 AM

You'd be better off just buying some monark german nozzles for your existing injectors and having a local shop rebuild them. Or put them in yourself. Thats what I did and it worked great. The online rebuilds usually have the cruddy Bosch nozzles in them, not worth it.

You can get a set of 4 Monark nozzles for less than $90 probably, if you shop in the right place....

frontwheel · #15 02-13-2009, 11:23 AM

I MISS DRIVING SQUASH! he should be on the road soon! just trying to decide wich route to take. replacing with a 300D or getting the 240D rebuilt -would be nice not having an oil spot in the driveway. hopefully starting the project in mid march when the folks leave town so i can use their garage.

for now, i'm stuck driving a 2005 mustang GT and listening to heavy metal getting 18mpg.

enjoy your 240. it might be slow but what style! post some pictures.