240D Fuel/maintenance log - Warning many pictures - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

pj67coll · #1 04-10-2014, 11:29 PM

Been wanting to do this for years and finally got around to it. Figured I'd post my fuel consumption and maintenance history of the 240D that I owned a few years ago before I screwed up by trying to do to much for my limited skills and finally despaired and junked the car, to my eternal shame. My motoring woes have only increased since then. This pic is the car in question. It didn't look like this when I bought it but I had done some simple cosmetic to the grille and paint and it cleaned up nicely. I should warn you in advance that this post will be a long one with almost 20 pic's from two excel spreadsheets that I just photographed with my I-phone off of my laptop and posted to photobucket just to get them online. So not the greatest quality but might be of interest to those fond of the 240D, curious prospective owners etc. Or else just the trenchcoat brigade who would bother to log every fuel purchase with date, mileage, cost, mpgs' etc as I did

So, here is the fuel consumption spreadsheet. Two pic's I'm afraid as I couldn't get it all one one screen.

The car was a manual transmission and being Phoenix the driveing was exclusively on the flat and mostly straight. Usually about a 50/50 mix of city and freeway driving. The A/C never worked so that was never a factor.

Now for the maintenance logs. I entered every record I could find that was provided to me by the third owner. The second owners daughter and a colleague of mine from whome I bought the car for 1300 bucks. No idea as to the first owners name but he was apparently from Vegas and left no records during his ownership. All records are from the second and third owner until I bought the car which event is recorded in red. Thereafter everything I did to the car is listed and was all done by myself unless there is an actual shop name next to the work performed.

And that was it. Shortly after this last entry I attempted to replace the brake booster to repair a soft brake pedal. As well as a leak from the original booster which was almost completely devoid of paint at this stage. I was never able to bleed the brakes successfully after that and could never get the clutch pedal back off the floor. In the end, like a complete idiot, I despaired of it as I was working on it in the apartment complex at the time in the Phoenix climate and the mangement were beginning to raise eyebrows so I had it towed to a junk yard. The most stupid vehicular decision I have ever made and I've been paying for it ever since.

I have no doubt it would have earned it's third mileage badge had I not been such an idiot.

- Peter.

spliteye · #2 04-11-2014, 12:28 AM

Very nice car, there will be time for another in the future. I admire how diligent you are with your maintenance records.

cooljjay · #3 04-11-2014, 01:20 AM

Man that is sad! I would have drove down there, pushed it out of the complex, fixed it and drove her here...

Stretch · #4 04-11-2014, 02:47 AM

Don't beat yourself up Peter - go hunting for another - there are still some pretty good examples out there. Apparently buying cars from chad300tdt is a good thing to do 'cos he looks after them!

pj67coll · #5 04-11-2014, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stretch

Don't beat yourself up Peter - go hunting for another - there are still some pretty good examples out there. Apparently buying cars from chad300tdt is a good thing to do 'cos he looks after them!

There are, and I am. But they are mostly in California it seems and more than I can afford at present. Just spent a miserable week during which I test drove six Mercedes, all but one of which turned out to be unsuitable and some, despite looking promising in the ads were complete wrecks. Makes you wonder about the mental acuity of some people. Their honesty I no longer waste time assuming is worth a damn.

- Peter.

Stretch · #6 04-11-2014, 11:18 AM

Probably too far away and not a W123 but now at $1900 to a forum member

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-cars-sale/353143-1975-240d-4-speed-san-diego.html

pj67coll · #7 04-11-2014, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stretch

Probably too far away and not a W123 but now at $1900 to a forum member

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-cars-sale/353143-1975-240d-4-speed-san-diego.html

I saw that already. It's tempting but I'm just not sure about the earlier ones. The 123 is insanely easy for a non mechanic such as my self to do quite a lot of stuff on myself. Up to a point of course. Not sure about the earlier ones though. Although I do like the look of this one but I'm not sure about heading out of state for one at this point.

- Peter.

Stretch · #8 04-11-2014, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj67coll

I saw that already. It's tempting but I'm just not sure about the earlier ones. The 123 is insanely easy for a non mechanic such as my self to do quite a lot of stuff on myself. Up to a point of course. Not sure about the earlier ones though. Although I do like the look of this one but I'm not sure about heading out of state for one at this point.

- Peter.

I thought it might be a bit too far away. Although I've never owned a W114 I'd guess it is pretty similar to the W123 - apparently they are nicer riding than the W123 - double wishbone front suspension

pj67coll · #9 04-11-2014, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stretch

I thought it might be a bit too far away. Although I've never owned a W114 I'd guess it is pretty similar to the W123 - apparently they are nicer riding than the W123 - double wishbone front suspension

A cousin of mine had one back in Durban many years ago now. I do remember it being a very nice car indeed. As I said. Sure is tempting but I'm still in regroup mode after my disasterous week and my truck repair. I have to take a little while and sort out my finances again.

- Peter.