Been a while since I was here. Fighting my wifes cancer and beating it for 3 years.

I joined here several years ago and learned a lot thanks to everyone and my friend Todd that got me on here.

I ended up buying a really nice minty 240d shown in link and it stays covered under garage, and started and driven as often as possible but not as much as I wanted to in the last few years.

The little jewel honestly starts and runs perfectly, drives as good as a new one and still smells new inside. Pretty well perfect inside and out.

It has about 89k. all original motor and nothing ever changed at all.

It needs used. I hate to not drive it more. My question.......should I consider thinking about asking my wife if she wants to sell it or keep it so we can use it when we get all done.......I never want to get rid of it....ever.
But if it could harm it by not driving it more than about 4 or 5 times a year than maybe we should consider it. This is not a sales ad, it is an advice/opinion request from my pals who know what it takes to keep these things in good shape.

Here it is and thanks,

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/members/revolverman-albums-1981-mercedes-240-d.html

Revolverman

hi mate,

sorry to hear about your wife, I sincerely hope that she will get better.
as you said "motor" I suppose that you are euro guy which means keeping the car in mint condition can be easier considering options and OEM parts available
here in Europe.

one can not advise ultimate solution,but if I were you I would also never
sell it,...that is,...only if I had to. Consulting a wife,in other hand, is always
a clever move .

wish you both best of luck


cheers
ChO

.

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w126 500SEC gen II euro, powered by OM617 turbo stolen from 84 300SD 2.88 diff,EGR blinded
next wish/project: w114 coupe OM603 powered

Cho, thank you sir for the kind wishes it means so much. It has been a hard time and now we are on chemo for a year but Dr.s say 90% success when done.

The car means so much to both of us because this is her favorite color and it is truly a little gem.

It is such a pleasure to drive and shifts so perfectly. Ac works cold and heat is very hot.

It is secure and dry in storage while not being driven but I worry about everything happening while sitting.

It never fails to start except when the battery went down which I just replaced with a really good one.

The man that sold it to us offered to buy it back with a good profit but it was never about the money. We wanted something different and special.

These wont be made ever again like this. I just hope my decision to keep it and drive it a few times a year will preserve it for family members or someone else down the road. I have looked for many years on many forums and have never found one as nice and solid as this was is. I know they are out there, but very hard for me to locate until this one. This one has 0 cracks, tears of any kind any where, including the dash, trunk or anywhere else. I think this is one thing that makes me so nervous and worry.

Thanks for any input or advice on any part of this discussion and thanks.

Revolverman

For your wife and you. It's obvious that when it comes time for the car to find a new owner, it will be in outstanding shape. In the meantime, my opinion is that you should drive and enjoy it! These cars have personality and work best when they have an opportunity to stretch their legs. And you can enjoy others admiring you and your wife driving it.

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1985 300D 172,110mi and goin' strong

These cars can sit without much damage caused. If you can get it out for a good run every two months, and change fluids every year, it'll chug on like that forever. Very beautiful car; use it as a break to get away from the tough parts in your life.

__________________
- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

+1 Keep it. Forever.

__________________
Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

In the grand scheme of things it matters. Keeping this car although it in reality is just a mechanical contraption should cause no Long term regrets. In fact it is far more likely to cause regrets if you let it go.

Monetarily it should not be a signifigant issue either. The 240d is bound to be pretty scarce at some point. Good ones with lower milage even currently are probably getting scarce.They really will never produce cars like it again.

You are fortunate to have good storage conditions and this does matter. Hope it all works out well with the wifes illness. She probably would suggest you not sell it either.

^^^^

Not the same as illness, but in some ways a parallel, in the mid-2000s I was in a situation of layoff then sporadic contracts/under-employment for several years and became so depressed of things getting better I disposed of two of my old cars, one running and one in mid-project, for money that in retrospect makes me shake my head (neither was particularly valuable).

I would say, hang onto it, unless circumstances DEMAND it be sold (as opposed to "maybe it would be best in the long run if I sold it"). They may seem the same at the moment, but in 20/20 hindsight the difference between actual need and overthinking the situation is pretty clear.....

__________________


Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

I've owned my 240D since new. In the last ten years or so, it has probably averaged about 500 miles a year. I filled it up this week - first time since last May. The car is always garaged and I only occasionally take it out for a little exercise. It's in great shape, but is worth more to me to keep it rather than take maybe a couple of grand for it by selling. I still do the brake fluid every other year, coolant every three years and do an oil change every two years. I also do anything else that I see that it needs (which isn't much) when I look it over.

I say you keep yours too.

Best wishes to you and your wife.

__________________
Len
'59 220S Cabriolet-SOLD and living happily in Malta
'83 240D 351,500 miles original owner-SOLD
'88 560SL 41,000 miles - totaled and parted out
https://sites.google.com/site/mercedesstuff/home
'99 E300 turbo 227,500 miles
'03 SLK320 40,000 miles - gave to my daughter
'14 Smart electric coupe 28,500 miles
'14 Smart electric cabriolet 28,500 miles
'15 Smart electric coupe 28,000 miles

I think that you answered your own question. If both you and your wife enjoy the car, and you can afford to keep it, why not? The opportunity of owning one of these fine older diesels does not come along every day, and I think you would regret selling it. My wife was diagnosed with breast cancer 10 years ago, went for radiation for about a year and a half, and has been cancer free since. I will keep both you and your wife in my prayers.

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96 E300d

The PO of my DD's wife died of cancer. It was her car. He was much in a similar solution. Not to be a negative Nancy but if your wife didn't make it, would you keep and drive the car? I think in the end for my PO, it became an anathema for him. As much as he loved her and loved the memories from it, he was very relieved to see it go and be used by someone every day. Assuming your wife survives, will it be anything more than a momento? Will she start driving it more frequently again?

__________________
http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

End of issue, your wife loves the car.

My lady is breast cancer free now coming up on 15 years

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1985 300D 198K sold
1982 300D 202K
1989 300E 125K
1992 940T

"If you dont have time to do it safely, you dont have time to do it"

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

It seems like you have no reason to sell the car. Keep it, drive when you can. If not, it's only a thing. Enjoy your wife. May you both have good fortune & beat the cancer.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

No major harm can occur even if driven as little as you suggest. If none of you want to sell it then you just answer your own question
I wish you both the best enduring the already achieved trimph against cancer (Hope you understand these words) I will pray for her everyday recovery and for you both to find the strenght from day to day.
That's a beutiful and remarcable car! I owned a Harley Davidson Fat Boy in my younger years, it was a true "dream come true". Every time I rode that bike I git the buterflies in my stomach, everytime I cleaned it... I was forced to sell it, tried to hold on to it as much as I could but in the end I lost the battle. Sold it hoping that maybe one day I'd be able to get it back or get back in anoter one but I never did, that bike was the one I developed a relationship with if you know what I mean, none of the others I ever looked at or drove ever felt the same. 20 years and many toys later I still havent been able to replace it.
DONT SELL IT, specially if you don't need to!
Best regards to your wife

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W211 B-PILLAR TRIM PANEL REPLACEMENT
My Continental Tire Experience

By Land:
2005 E320 CDI (Unnamed as of yet)
2011 Toyota Tundra DC limited 4x4 "Big Red"
1965 euro import VW Beetle "Mojo"
By Sea:
22' Grady White Seafarer "SeaSun Pass"

Hey everyone, first let me say thanks so much for all the kind thoughts and prayers and.........well just an overwhelming kindness to a stranger.

Your thoughts about the little "Blue Boy" as my wife calls this car is exactly the reason we are keeping it safe and secure. Your wisdom and knowledge of the craft, so to speak, and of this hobby is enough to convince us both that there is only one thing to do, and that is not to ever get rid of this little car....we were not going to but I did want to get some solid opinions from the pros.

My wife thanks you all for your kindness. She is so much stronger than I will ever be. The Dr. says after a year she will be 90% out of danger from ever having any more problems with this disease.

As for the little blue car under our carport, tucked in and covered securely with it's own $500 custom cover.........it will be spring before it sees daylight. But I plan to roll it out and crank him up.

I'm thinking a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains national park for a day long stretch and pic nic..........Thanks so much for the input.

Revolverman.

BLUE BOY SHORT: http://youtu.be/guX_MGdSqiw