picked up a 240D 5 Spd today - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Stevo · #1 06-29-2002, 01:27 AM

I feel very lucky to have found a very nice '85" 240d with a 5 speed. It was 500 miles south so when I talked to the guy and it sounded like a winner I offered a $200.00 deposit contingent on it being as good as he said it was or there abouts. Anyway I spent last night on a Grayhound bus arriving at Grants Pass OR at 7 am where the guy and his wife meet me. Car was even better than I expected so I had no problem giving him $2400.00. NO rust, 90.000 mls on the clock and he said it burns no oil ! He was rather embarrassed to tell me that the clock takes a notion not to work some times. Ok, I can deal with that.... Needless to say I am a happy dude right now. Made the trip home in pissing down rain and she did fine. Gota get rid of those whimpy little bumpers but the Euro headlights are nice. Guess I can play with the new stuff tomorrow. Hope I dont find any ugly surprises. On the bus ride down I got to thinking what a bummer it would be to have to go back home on the bus after finding the car was really a pile of rust or it had been home for a family of goats for the last couple of years. Better stop rambling and go to bed.

Good night all

Holson Adi · #2 06-29-2002, 01:52 AM

Wow! a 1985 240D 5-speed for $2400!@#!@#

Damn! Why don't we get these deals in Mass.

You have to take pictures of that 'beast'...

90k mi.! That thing will last forever!

BTW, those thin bumpers are nice IMO. I do agree that the big US 123 bumpers don't look bad.

Better go to sleep now.. if you can

sleep next to the car if you can't.. hehehe your gf would be upset though.

ck42 · #3 06-29-2002, 02:47 AM

Wow! Steve. Sounds like to made a GREAT find! Def. want to see some pix too.

Only thing I'm confused about is that I though the 240D's ended in '83 ??? I'm sure I've not got something right here. Someone please fill me in.

Palangi · #4 06-29-2002, 09:52 AM

I was thinking the same thing as CK42. 1983 was the last year for the 240D here, but I imagine they made it for Europe until 85. Sounds like it might be a Euro model. The first 6 digits of the vin will clarify what national version it is.

Clock can be fixed with a few Radio Shack parts.

Congrats on your purchase. Should be a great car.

How did you find it? Newspaper ad?

Holson Adi · #5 06-29-2002, 11:39 AM

BTW, maybe you could try to retrofit a tach + clock in place of the huge clock!

Stevo · #6 06-29-2002, 01:17 PM

I was going to sleep in the car last night but my wife pointed out I MIGHT sleep better in bed.

What I understand is they were not imported into the US after 83 but were made untill 85 which was the end of the W123 line.

Inlaws are in town and since I need to make all the points I can right now, I will have to put off doing anything to the car for a couple of days. Wife loves the car too so thats a good thing.

leathermang · #7 06-29-2002, 03:28 PM

Holson, you mentioned retrofitting a clock/tach combo... my big clock does not work and I would like a tach,,, is that how they came later ? Is yours that way.. could you or someone post pictures of it if they have it ? Thanks, Greg

__________________________

1980 240 manual

leathermang · #8 06-29-2002, 03:32 PM

Paul, My clock runs fast by a couple of hours per day... is that a problem which the parts you have gotten from Radio Shack would fix.. or are you talking about simply substituting a new mechanism behind the hands ? Thanks, Greg

JimSmith · #9 06-29-2002, 05:36 PM

TXBill is correct. The 240D was never supplied from the factory with a tachometer. But they were available into the 1985 model year as in Germany the W123 line in its entirety was available until the W124 line came into being. The US let the W201 stand as the entry level/low priced model and that kind of excluded the 240D from our market. Jim

#10 06-29-2002, 06:06 PM

I once saw a 240D (us model) with an aftermarket VDO tachometer attached to the steering column. It was quite cool, but I doubt you will be able to find that guage or kit.

Eberhard Weilke · #11 06-29-2002, 06:22 PM

...first of all: congrats to the nice purchas, 240 D Fivespeeders are hard to get even in Germany. In my opinion it is the ideal W 123. You will be surprised about the mileage. It was the most economical W 123 of all of them . Even a Euro 200 D would need more fuel, since it had a shorter ratio at the diff.

Concerning the tachometer: The fourcylinders never had a factory tach. But good thing you got them in the US on the 300 turbo. They fit perfect. It ist not operated by impulses from the ignition (what a surprise) but by a signal on contact "W" from the generator.

Either you try to fit into the car a generator with contact "W" or you try to modify your existing one.

Kind regards
Eberhard

Palangi · #12 06-29-2002, 08:23 PM

Greg
I was referring to fixing a dead clock by replacing the electrolytic capacitor. There are some old posts which give a Radio Shack part number for a suitable replacement part. Never seen one run fast. Seems like that would be an unusual failure.

leathermang · #13 06-29-2002, 09:02 PM

Thanks everyone for the good information... and Paul, this is the only electric clock I have ever seen that runs fast... I just kept setting it and not believing my eyes...

Greg

Stevo · #14 06-30-2002, 01:20 AM

Thanks for all the replies. I am sorry for not getting back sooner but with inlaws in town family biz takes priority, for some reason, over car stuff. I like the idea of a tack and would appreciate hearing about anyone installing one. I know Joe (Boatrash) had one where the AC controller would be but it was not working. Maybe he'l comment on that, seems a good place for one. The clock on my blue 240d was not working when I pulled the instrument cluster to fix the odometer. I figured I had nothing to lose so I gave the clock works a good soaking with a greaseless spray lube and it started working. Its been keeping near perfect time for 6 or 7 months now, I was gona try that with this one but it works intermittently so maybe trying the Radio Shack fix would be more effective.

As far as the 4 spd vrs 5 spd, I can not tell any difference between the gears yet as far as the ratios of 1st, 2nd, 3erd, or 4th. Maybe when I drive the 4 spd again I will notice but as we dont have any freeways around here they both seem the same to me except for where reverse is. I got 33mpg on the trip home which was mostly freeway driving, lots of hills though. I will post a pic or two when I get a chance

Thanks again for all the great replies

Ridge · #15 06-30-2002, 01:28 AM

Stevo,

What a steal!! I've had my 240D for three years and have been trying to find a 5 speed all that time. Found one two days ago and it's on it's way. You definitely have the best 123 Series made. Some did come with tach drives. My daughter's 240D has one that runs off the crankshaft counterweight. The tach and clock gage fits right in in place of the clock. Get a Haynes manual now!!!

BY the way, I replaced my 240 with a 300D G-wagen engine and went with the turbo rearend.

We're currently intercooling one of my son's turbo 300D, so you'll soon see just how far you can take one of these great cars.

The 240 has a stiffer spring rate and quicker steering as well. Not to mention it's a bit lighter due to manual windows, etc.

Congrats again!!!

Ben