240D speed

[WANT '71 280SEL]

What kind of speed do you get out of your 240D's? Automatic/Manual. They are highly recommended, but being 17 I want a car that can at leats go over 75mph+. That way when I am on the highway I can at least get in the fast lane every once in a while.
How often would I have to take it on the interstate to "blowout the crud from the exhaust?" I drive two miles to school each way. I then get on a highway and average around 60-65mph for 40 minutes. That is every weekend to go to work. Would that be enough highway driving to keep the engine in good shape?
How does it accelerate at high speeds. Example: 45-70mph. Yes, I know that diesels are slow and that 240's are no exception.
I am no speed demon. I normally drive my mother's Volvo 240DL wagon 5spd. to work, so I am use to slow cars.
David

[Peyton300TD]

my sister's 84 240D euro tops out at 85mph. acceleration is not bad at all. 1st gear it really steps out.. but you learn to choose your battles when pulling out in traffic.

running it on the highway once a week should be more than enough to clear it out and keep it running well!


keep us posted.

eric

[leathermang]

peyton300TD did a good job of describing it... I have not been in an auto... my manual is pretty peppy... but there are some highway on ramps which I avoid... just TOO EXCITING hoping they will let me in....
But get it out on the road.. and it really enjoys GOING.... it wants to cruise at over 70... but I keep it at that.. the 'sweet spot' seems to be at 75 ... seems funny for such a little engine...

If you want speed, get a 300D with a turbo, and if you want fast, get a 1987 300D...

[dbgrate]

Same here with my '82 240D,top speed @85,but does that even uphill on long,steep inclines! Probably only the first 20 seconds from a stop that it's "slow". Like someone recently described it,as not "slow",but,rather,"stately" !!!

Want -

You really need to search the archives - everything you ask is in there.

Also, if you have ANY concern with acceleration, you should not even consider a 240D, even a manual example.

What is your budget?

Here is what to avoid: Anything made before '83. Cars from the 70's used steel imported form Italy, Latin America and Russia, and that steel spent to much time on the boats or trucks or whatever. There was a German steel workers' strike in the second half of the seventies, which resulted in this sub par, imported steel.

Someone (Eberhard?) please chime in and correct me if I am wrong here.

I would recomend for you the following cars: 124 300D 2.5, 123 300D, 126 300SD, 126 300SE or 560SEL.

You need to provide the 'Shop with more information as to how the car will be used, $$ situation, and your personal preferances.

Hope I helped you in some way.

Mike

[WANT '71 280SEL]

I donn't want to spend more than $1500. A little over is not unreasonable. The less I spend the sooner I can get it. I want to get one by the end of July.
Thanks
David

One thing you need to keep in mind with these cars is that you will probally put another $1,000 into the car within the first year or so, and for your price range, it might be more...

[WANT '71 280SEL]

I would be doing all the work myslef at my uncle's car dealership. So maintencance is not a major issue.
Thanks
David

[MS Fowler]

Just another 240D ( auto) driver who has seen 85mph, and still had some left.

[WANT '71 280SEL]

I am curious as to what I would have to put another $1,000 into? I can live without AC and a 4spd. 240D would be a rather low maintencance car as long as I do the maintenance myslef, right? Or am I mistaken. At my uncle's dealership I have access to just about any tool known to man and a hydraulic lift. Would a 240D take someone who already knows about them to maintain them or could I learn on one?
Thanks
David

If you get a 240D with a 4-speed manual transmission and a manual climate control, you might not need to put as much money into it. You will probally find that you will need to replace the tires, or replace the battery, and maybe you need to replace the glow plugs. Maybe the shocks are going to be shot, that will be around $400 if you replace them with Bilstiens, and you do the work yourself. What you will find is that the money is well spent, and once you get things fixed, that you will only be spending money on fluid and filter changes...
Actually if you can get some kind of a discount on parts through your uncle, then you might not need to spend that much at all...

[dieseldude]

Like the posts above say, the auto 240D is a dog. It has a hard time getting out of its own way. That being said, once they get up to freeway speeds, they just cruise right along. Top Speed is 86mph per the factory specs.

I was more than pleased finding such a nice '74 240D Stick for $1700, but it's in very good, near-oringial condition and probably would have fetched $4k+ on ebay - owner didn't know what they had. The manual tranny, almost turns it into a normal gas car speed-wise . It pulls up on-ramps with much more confidence than did my non turbo '77 300D. The W123 is on average 500lbs heavier than the previous generation W115's. If you can find a fairly rust-free W115 ('74-'76) - you'd get a little better performance for less money.

Regards,
- Ryan

[WANT '71 280SEL]

When did they stop making 240D's with a 4 speed. Did they ever have a 5 speed, or would it just be rare.
Thanks
David

The 240D were an offical US model until 1983 and they had the 4-speed manual until then. They stopped making the 240D in 1985, and some of the Euro spec model came with a 5-speed, I think???