'82 240D purchase - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Schieggster · #1 05-03-2015, 09:09 PM

I'm looking at a '82 240D with a bout 194,000mi on it. It looks to be in pretty good shape it drove well and actually got up to "speed" on the highway.

I'm just looking for anything I should maybe look out for on the car but here's what info I have so far based on reading other posts from a long way back.

-Blow by seems fine, the cap dances, but nothing too bad (I'll upload a horrid YouTube link here shortly)
-Rear trailing arms look good
-Idle seems fine, but this is the first I've looked at

Issues
-a bit of rust on the front fenders along with a dent
-dash is cracked, but what do you expect from a 33 year old car

-There's a bit of oil in the engine bay, nothing too serious
-(Not sure if it's an issue) but it's a quick shift from 1st to 2nd

-I still need a look at the Trans fluid and Engine coolant

Is there anything I've missed?

(Side note, 8-10 days after I buy it, I'll have to take it on a 1200mi journey)

If I've missed a sticky that covers this, please let me know or delete the thread. Thanks for the help!

pj67coll · #2 05-03-2015, 09:24 PM

What is your location? It's relevant regarding rust. Rust you can see is not the problem on these cars. You need to do a more thorough check, under the foot wells and pull up the carpets front and back. With 194K on it there should be plenty of life left in it yet. I just bought one a few months back with 316K on it. A bit of oil in the engine bay is pretty normal. I'm in the process of trying to clean mine enough that I can figure out where all the leaks are coming from. I've been working at it for a couple of weeks solid now and am finally starting to make progress...

- Peter.

Schieggster · #3 05-03-2015, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj67coll

What is your location? It's relevant regarding rust. Rust you can see is not the problem on these cars. You need to do a more thorough check, under the foot wells and pull up the carpets front and back.

I'm in West Colorado (The car came from Utah). It doesn't snow much here,, but it hasn't been here long. I could probably run the VIN number to see where it's been

Pulled up the rear floormats and floors were fine, I forgot about the front so that's something else I'll look at. trunk looked good. Under the body it looked good, there looks like there was once a coating, but it cracked away.

Other issues I've thought about
-Sender is shot
-Trip ODO doesn't work, but the main one does (at least appears to while I was driving).

Caseyc · #4 05-03-2015, 11:00 PM

Hi, I'm in Colorado Springs, and I got my 83 240D from the Ft Collins area last year. It's an original CO car and I got it from the original owner. My is almost perfect and was garage kept most it's life. I only had a small spot of rust on the rear quarter panel from a trunk seal leak. I pulled the inner plastic to investigate and it was pretty bad. I got that fixed, and and picked up a front euro bumper last week. When I pulled the original bumper I found a mess of rust behind it. It seamed to have started on the bumper mounts and spread throughout the lower front fender. So far it's all I have found in a year of searching for the rust. IT CAN BE ANYWHERE. Even in my garage kept Colorado example, there was rust present. Attack it early before it spreads.

BTW, yours looks nice too. Are those euro lights I see?

Schieggster · #5 05-03-2015, 11:18 PM

Here in Grand Junction for school actually.
Well, the one side is good, the other, not so much.

As per the lights, I'm not sure. That's one of the issues I have with going through is the current owner not knowing too much about it. Part of me wants to run a VIN check to see where it's been, but part of me wants to stay ignorant

I figure for $1300 it shouldn't be bad( then again, I could be wrong), but I'll need to trace the A/C issue if I'm going to drive it in Houston at all this summer.

Schieggster · #6 05-03-2015, 11:34 PM

Also, here's a terrible quality video of the "Blow by Test"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3X7-nSp7SSY

pj67coll · #7 05-03-2015, 11:35 PM

That fender isn't a big deal. If it drives well and the rust isn't too bad for that price it's hard to go wrong. However... If you are expecting to drive it in Houston without A/C it will be a miserable experience. I know. Because I currently have a 240D with non op A/C in Phoenix, and my previous one, also in Phoenix, had a busted A/C. It might be a simple fix, but I doubt it. If you are not able to deal with a car without A/C, at least for a while it may not be the car for you.

For example. While I would love to get my A/C sorted I regard the mechanical aspects of the vehicle to be more important. So in the last few months I have replaced the glow plugs, fixed the rust hold beneath the battery tray, fixed the air cleaner mounts so that the air cleaner no longer rattles around loose in the engine bay, replaced the drivers seat belt, and stripped the interior to clean it and install a new radio. I'm currently in the process of tracing leaks in the engine bay to determine what should be tackled next. I'm suspecting an oil pan gasket leak, an oil filter housing leak and a power steering leak for starters. Oh, and also a leaky # 3 injector.

So the A/C will have to wait.

Your car has about half the miles as mine, assuming your odometer is accurate so your situation may be less problematic, but these are things you need to be aware of.

- Peter.

pj67coll · #8 05-03-2015, 11:54 PM

Blowby looks about the same as mine. And the same as the previous one I had for that matter. Thing to remember is that car is over 30 years old and only 1300 bucks. Not saying its a bad car. Just that you have to have realistic expectations. I think I might be inclined to buy it if it were me. But then I already have two other vehicles so I have backups if there are problems.

- Peter.

pj67coll · #9 05-03-2015, 11:59 PM

By the way, a comment on the lights. If they are genuine Euro lights then have you driven it at night? Because if not and they are I suspect they are toast. At least the one side. I would assume they need replacing. Simplest bet would be to replace both light assemblies with the us spec ones.

- Peter.

Schieggster · #10 05-04-2015, 01:05 AM

Thanks for the input PJ

It's not that I expect more, I just wanted to make sure I know what to expect (if that makes sense).
Also, I have an '03 C240 that's my daily driver, this is more of a wrench turner until I can get it equipped for Houston summer.

As for the lights, I'll have to look at them next time I go to talk to the guy, the only issue is that I have to meet the guy about 30min away from me so it's usually in the afternoon, so maybe I can meet him when it's getting dark next time. Not sure if they're true euro spec so I couldn't help y'all there, but thanks for the info I'm sure there's a parts resource that will have them.

Apparently my father has made me a bet that he'll give me what I paid for the car if it makes it from Grand Junction, CO to Houston, TX. I think I'm almost required to take him up on it now

pj67coll · #11 05-04-2015, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schieggster

Also, I have an '03 C240 that's my daily driver, this is more of a wrench turner until I can get it equipped for Houston summer.

I see. In that case I'd be inclined to buy it.

- Peter.

Schieggster · #12 05-04-2015, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj67coll

I see. In that case I'd be inclined to buy it.

- Peter.

I figure at worst I get a good story out of it, an opportunity to take some picture (Probably won't go over the rockies, so I'll take the "scenic route"). and some good experience.

I welcome any more advice, and I'll make sure to keep the thread updated with new info.

toomany MBZ · #13 05-04-2015, 11:07 AM

Entirely possible the A/C fix will cost more than the car, just be aware.

Inspect the rubber under carriage components.

You mention a sender is toast, which one? Fuel, no big deal.

Has this car sat around for a long period of time? If so, the fuel may be contaminated, expect the filter/s to become clogged.

A quick 1-2 shift may not be an issue, this depends on how aggressive you are with the go pedal. However, do a baseline, if purchased. A baseline simply means replace all routine fluids and filters.

Before a long trip also check the condition of the disc brakes, there is a minimum thickness.

I image using your favorite search engine you will come across a thread on what to look for.

Good luck, we'll be waiting your decision.

84-300dee · #14 05-04-2015, 12:17 PM

Check the hood hinge pockets and behind/below the battery if you can.

Mine looked great but I had to rehab both sides as there were rust holes behind the battery and inner fenders.

Pull both trunk trims and check those floors.

Also, the underside and footwells may look good, but tap it with something hard. If it sounds crunchy... That undercoating is thick and traps water.

Could be further price bargaining for ya if you find some of the above.

Schieggster · #15 05-05-2015, 11:40 AM

So it looks like I'll be doing a final look over/ haggle/ buy this Thursday.
Thank y'all so much for the input on things to look at!

Now for road trip preparation.
-I've got Oil, Air and both fuel filters on order and I'll be changing them and their respective fluids.
-I'll take a look at Trans fluid levels and coolant levels
-Probably going to replace one of the tires and the spare, the rest look relatively new.

Any thing I'm missing or should take for the trip beside extra fluids, a pre-filter, maybe belts and hoses?