Hey All,

It's been a year since I got Dieter (The wife came up with the name) and a lot has happened. Long story short, It started with me taking him to a dealer and has ended up with me taking welding at the local community college along with putting lots of tools and manuals on my Christmas list.

And I would first like to thank you guys for all that you've shown me and all the questions that I've asked directly or to the search box that have been answered quickly and completely.

But it's time to ask some more questions that have come up recently:

#1. I know it's a 4 speed non-turbo, but is a 0-60 time of 24 seconds and a top speed of 80 (after a very long straight on the highway) sound about right?

#2. The gap of the front doors and the b pillar right at the bottom of the window, is it supposed to be big enough to stick my finger in there? It's the same on both sides, so I have nothing to compare it to. If you need pics, just ask.

#3. Trying to find parts. I know I can get some things at the local "O'PepZoneParts" but I know that the w123 chassis covered alot of cars, so what range am I looking at? And is there anything from a w124 that I could steal?

#4. Speaking of parts, how does one find out where all the local junkyards / PNPs are at? And where can people get replacement body panels outside of the yards? I know there are some part numbers that I could ask the dealer about on the EPC, but that might start to cost some $$.

#5. While doing the oil-change, I was taking a look under the car and noticed that that rear left outer CV joint is now torn all the way around at the top. Since there is no torsional play, I'm thinking that the axle is still good and the cv joint needs to just be repacked and rebooted. Am I right / wrong? Should I replace both boots on that side? All of the boots on the rear? And am I going to have to take the axle off to do any repairs?

#6. I'm also in an apartment, with no sort of garage to work in... and it's getting cold outside. Suggestions about what to do? Since I'm currently unemployed the cheaper the better.

Thanks in advance...

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1983 Benz 240D - 263,060 (Current)
1983 Cadillac DeVille - 130,000 (Scrapped - Stupid HT4100)
1992 Dodge B350 - 150,000 (Sold)
1984 Mazda 626 - 299,997 (Scrapped)

There's only one question I can answer:

A: Uh, oh!

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Cheers!
Scott McPhee

1987 300D

I have never timed my 80 240 for a 0 - 60 time. I just figure I`ll eventually get there. I usually cruise around 60-62mph, no reason to push it being so lowed geared.

Iam not sure about the Gap, I`ll have to check on that one, but the 240 should be the same as any W123.

The W123 covered the years from 77 to 85. and Iam pretty sure the W124 parts won`t fit, totaly different chassis.
For parts, just click on the tab at the top "Buy Parts". I stay out of Mc parts type stores if I can. the pimple faced kid or the one that doesn`t have a grasp on the English language, has no idea what you are asking him/her.

http://www.picknpull.com/ not sure if there is a yard near you, but maybe other pull it your self type yards in your area.

With your CV boot ripped all the way around, it is probably getting filled with sand/salt and snow slush. can`t be a good thing. if you cought it early on, then just re boot it. VSTECH has the rebooted axles. or then there is the Mc Part stores with the Chinese axles for around $70. no guarante they will work out of the box.

Living in an apartment. HMMMM not good. I don`t live in one, so no good advice there. being in Michigan this time of year. maybe start building an Igloo . I don`t envy you guys in the deep freeze this time of year.

this guy might have some sheet metal body parts for the MB.
http://www.shermanparts.com/ecat/base/index.php

This is over in Germany, but has body parts for a bunch of MB chassis.
http://www.mercedes-reparaturbleche.de/w_123.html

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

well. I can't imagine any panel gap being over 10mm so unless you have Really skinny fingers, no, that's not normal. please take pics. get a good shot showing where the gap is, and put a quarter in the pic near the gap. also take some overall shots of the car. we can look at a car and tell what's happened to it. it's possible someone bo duked it...
the axles, if they are open, but still full of oil, then REALLY cleaning them out, and putting fresh oil and new boots is an option, but you need a special type of boot, and a boot installation gun. I have them, but they are nearly impossible to do when it's cold outside. I do mine in my mudroom in the house. (air compressor in there is fun...) I can get you a set of axles that are from cracked but not open original MB axles. cleaned and new oil and boots installed. drop me a PM for details.
0-60 on a empty 4speed 240 should be in the 18-21 second range. 24ish sounds like you need to adjust your linkage, or change your fuel filters. couldn't hurt to adjust your valves, and make sure your air filter is clean. also, altitude will drastically cut down your acceleration.
in addition to pnp you can check pullapart.com for self pull parts.
and of course there is always the parts section of our site! not to mention dropping me a PM, I've usually got parts cars going through my yard, and I have 2 240's I'm tearing apart at the moment...

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Trying to replace boots is a PITA unless you have done a few. Save yourself the grief & just get a set of re-booted ones from John. It makes life much more easy. I have done it the hard way in the past !!

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Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

Well, to update:

#1. I was only able to do the test once, and since it's snowy out it's hard to try it again, but I have hit 15K since the last valve adjustment, and as long as I'm poking under the hood, I can easily replace the fuel and air filters as well and see if that helps out. side note: With the cruise control option - man, there is alot of linkage on the engine.

#2. You want pictures? I didn't have a quarter, but I did have my cheap calipers in the car. And looking from the outside, everything looks fine, there is no variation between the doors and the rest of the frame, it sits fine at the top and bottom.

The first is my drivers side:



And the second is the passenger's side:



#3. Well I've now setup my phone to notify me anytime somebody posts something benz related on craigslist. I'm actually figuring out the search string parameters to narrow it down to model years as well right now and I'll post that when I figure it out.

#4. Thanks for the suggestions, but neither of those places are in MI. Granted, one has an 83 300 that's only 100 miles away. Road trip? My dad pointed out two of his places to go to find parts... car-part.com and the phone book. And holy cow, that German site has everything that I would want body wise. Now if only the dollar was better against the euro right now.

#5. Yeah, I have no clue about doing the boot, so would it be odd to pull off the axle and take it to a shop to have them put a new boot on it and then put the axle back on myself?

#6. Well talking to some former co-workers, it seems I could work in their garage if needed, I just need to have all of my ducks in a row so I can be in and out of there as quickly as possible. I might also be moving to the other side of the state, So that means being back closer to family and their garages.

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1983 Benz 240D - 263,060 (Current)
1983 Cadillac DeVille - 130,000 (Scrapped - Stupid HT4100)
1992 Dodge B350 - 150,000 (Sold)
1984 Mazda 626 - 299,997 (Scrapped)

That looks normal to me. The weatherstripping at the top that turns around the top and front of the door is two pieces and usually falls apart but the area you are measuring looks just like the ones I've had.

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