240D: your mechanical reliablilty is second to none. You never break down, you never throw a rod, or have an engine failure. Yet, I am left stranded by you?

I love you for your mechanical reliability, I hate you for the fact that you won't start after sitting in 8 degree temperatures for seven hours at school. It is a true love hate relationship.

"Maybe I should get a SAAB?" I say to myself. Always starts, fast, elegant. Yet, I don't think I feel the same way about the SAAB. It's engine is not as tough as your's, nor is it's interior as big as yours. Yet, the SAAB is more environmentally reliable: it starts anywhere and I can drive you to 250K miles.

240D, what will I do with you...I don't hate you this winter, yet I don't love you either.

Move to Texas?

this winter is wreaking havoc on my car as well... fwiw.

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1984 300D Turbo - 231k....totalled 11/30/07 RIP

With a good battery, a working charging system, a starter that spins fast, and good glow plugs; a 240D should start at 0 degrees or even colder after sitting any length of time.

I would question your battery, glow plugs, and starter.

Years ago, I had a tough starting 300D. After the starter failed and I bought another, it cranked at twice the speed the old one used to. I was amazed at how much easier it started. Once at -20 degrees and no block heater!

__________________
Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)

It seems to crank fast. I am not dumping ANY amount of money into the car until I find what real problem is. Autozone says battery and alternator are fine, new glow plugs, and all I have to say about the starter is that it doesn't crank as fast as the one on my dad's Honda when cold.

that ONLY the dealer can fix for beaucoup money...or the lovely and expensive "timing belt" replacement, or other bunches of irritating and expensive problems designed to make ownership a nuisance...and make replacement of the product something you yearn for.

The W123 diesels are the last "sincere" automobiles that will ever be produced. After 20 some years, many are just hitting their service-life stride. This is antithetical to the philosophy of disposable products which is built into EVERY new car...including SAAB and sadly, Mercedes...produced since the mid-'80s.

My 240 wouldn't start either...for the first time in eight years, and due to a freakishly cold weather incident.

Would you still HAVE your SAAB after 8 years?
Or 20?

We'll let you off with a warning this time...

I am sorry. I have replace everything. What's the easiest way to check if my starter is cranking enough?


BTW Jim...I am speaking of the old 1976-1993 SAAB 900 series w/ 5 speed manuals. Probably still just as troublesome nonetheless.

heck Kyle your car was free.
I would suggest moving south.

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Jim

Any of you guys want to come to Texas we have plenty of room... particularly you 240d owners..

1. Are you using synthetic oil?
2. Are you treating the fuel with a quality antigel?
RT

__________________
When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K

No on the synthetic (it will burn it)
Yes on the anti gel.

You see what you gotta do is get a starter from a 300D, for they are larger and more powerful. Your engine should fire up as fast as you can turn that key (after charging the glow plugs of course). Also if your car is cold, you might want to try to charge the glow plugs a couple of times before you turn it over.

Seriously though my relationship with my car is really love-hate.

It's started fine throughout winter (knock on wood).

However... sometimes I can't stand just how sluggish it is when the engine's cold. I mean the transmission and engine are smooth but when you hammer it..... it just doesn't go!!

I just came back from a lil work out for my car. Since school started I don't drive it much at all (always walk). So I try to drive it whenever I can at least once or twice during the weekdays.

Weird... the engine had been sitting for a few days in the cold. Glowed twice and when I started it, it idled nice and smooth.
Really nice idle actually, very smooth, and none of the klatta klatta klatta...

it was a smooth rooorroroorooomm kinda idle. Seconds later it became the usual klackety-klack idle hehehe...

So many things i don't like about it especially compared to how nice econoboxes have become (in terms of comfort).

However this 123 has so much character. The way it drives, the way it feels and i'm just amazed.. very very amazed of how well the interior and the rest of the trim holds up in 20 yrs!!
I mean my friend's new cars have things falling off already!

Its looks, etc. I just can't let the 123 go! As much as I want a 500E I would be so hard pressed to get rid of this thing!! I mean its got its quirks but they are also what makes this car appealing to me!

Just a car that is fun and frustrating to both own and drive!

before this car I actually wanted an early 90s Passat/Jetta/Golf. I'm glad I didn't go that route after watching my mechanic try to fix a Passat of that era.

Enjoy them! Just drive it til it breaks completely! I mean you did get the car for free

*ps do maintain it though hehehe*

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2008 BMW 335i Coupe

I truly understand your love/hate relationship with your car. One minute I feel everything little creak, bump, groan, and imperfection accumulated in 234,000 miles, but then I think, "what the hell." Its still a cool car. The chicks dig it, it's got class, and I feel good in it.

Kyle, Don't be like me and sell your high school car! I miss mine dearly now and now realize what a righteous automobile it really was. And Holson, I love that CD you have. It's much cooler than a 124 car, not as fast, but definitly more stylin.' And I agree, quirks make cars special.

Mike

Kyle,
Try the synthetic oil. Ocean State Oil in Quonset Point, North Kingstown has Chevron Delo 400 5w-40 synthetic for $13.98/gallon. Even if you burned 1quart every 500miles that would only be $3.50 in oil burned. That is a very small price to pay to avoid the frustration of the car not starting. You can always change back to regular oil when it warms up. This of course is assuming your starter is in good shape. Either way it will make starting easier. My MB starts well at 0* as does my Jetta. The Jetta was a real b!tch without the synthetic. No block heater either. RT

__________________
When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K

Kyle, you've gotta show a little compassion for 240D w/ beaucoup mileage on the clock.... another good reason for installing more powerful 300D starter motor is to RAISE the compression, through faster revolutions, for starting cold diesel that fires on compression & heat.