This is this old, brown, 1980 240d that I've seen for sale for a while. Didn't think much about before, but after the crap with the dealer (other post), I thought, "Well, I might as well go take a look at it."

It's pretty rough. Looks like it was hit in the drivers side rear corner. Bent up the fender. Trunck still closes, but it makes a little bit of noise moving down the road, like it's not closing all the way (but it does latch).

Brakes are good, tires are o.k. Engine looked o.k., too. The bottom of the oil pan was pretty wet and the bottom of the oil cooler (ATF cooler?) was wet as well.

Also, the engine seem to make a tapping sound (I know it's a diesel, but...) couldn't tell for sure. I've heard a few diesels, but the tapping sound a little different. Didn't smoke. ATF fluid was nice and red/pink. Radiator was green, didn't seen any oil or oil scims.

Engine seem strong, shifted a little hard out of first, but after that, it was too smooth/slow. If you pressed on the gas pedal good, it would kick down just fine and move...no really it would

Rear door locks are messed up, front are o.k. I checked the vacuum lines and they looked new. Also looked like a new fuel filter and a new vacuum three-way regulator/distributor. I mean, you can hardly force the rear door locks down.

So, the back end is messed up, interior isn't so good. Oh, and the odometer doesn't work How many miles could one expect on a 240d before a rebuild? I've heard about 175k miles. He was asking $1,250, I offered $750 and he said $800. I'm thinking about it.

I figure if it runs for 6-months with little or no $$$ put into it (I would like to adjust the valves myself, I'm sure that would be a good job for a newbie then I would be ahead of the game so to speak.

Couple of questions, how could I tell if the frame is messed up from the rear-ender? How hard are parts for the interior to come by? I've looked at SilverStarRecycling and they have a few 240d's in their yard. Do 300d interior/exterior parts swap out with the 240d?

So, no 300d (other post), looking at a 1980 240d for $750 that does drives down the road, and stops and moves along o.k.

Any ideas???

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1994 C280 204k miles

Yeah, dealers are no good. $200 car, eh? Hmmm. Not really in a hurry. Chuck did say that he had a 300Td and I _think_ he said he had a 240d, but he may have said that it was already sold to someone at the shop.

I think convenience is more important, meaning, a vehicle that is fairly close. I know of a 300sd in Denton, TX, but I've heard they can "take you for your last pancake" as someone said on the list if it hasn't been maintained.

I think the 240d would be a good little commuter and something good to cut my teeth on as far as working on it.

Plus, I'm cheap so that makes looking a little more difficult.

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1994 C280 204k miles

Drop me a note if you find a decent w123. Thanks again for all the help!

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1994 C280 204k miles