'79 240D auto for $100 ??? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Woodsie · #1 06-13-2003, 03:13 AM

Hello everyone

I had posted a similar message earlier today to the general forum and it was suggested I look over here so here I go again.

In about 12 hours, I am going to be looking at a '79 240D auto that the owner wants $100 for. It has a hole in the oil pan but was not run out of oil. The driver shut it off immediately after hitting the object. He observed the oil dripping from pan, left the car sit for awhile and when returned, there was a large puddle of oil. The owner was quoted $1500 for the repair so maybe there is more damage than just the pan.

They patched the hole w JB Weld there on the road to get it home. Drove it for about a month when the driver found a puddle under it one morning. Hasn't been driven since. I don't anticipate getting it running before deciding whether to purchase.

How hard is it to repair or replace the pan? I read some of the posts about oil pan work but remain confused as to whether the engine has to be pulled, lifted or just left alone. Can some one give me some advice here?

Tha car has not been run for 4 years so there's bound to be other problems getting it running. I'm sure the battery is dead, the fuel is bad and all fours tires need replaced. I thinking that for $100, I can recover my investment if it proves too much for me to repair. The owner describes the interior as "good shape" and the exterior described a solid as well. Some "nicks" she said. She believes the car has around 150K+ miles and, for a reason unknown to me, the engine had been rebuilt shortly before the oil pan damage.

The car has been in the same family since it was purchased new. I'd be the third or fourth owner. Clear title, not sure about maintainence records.

I've been excited about owning an older MB for several years and I hope this one can be my ticket into the Mercedes "club." If I wasn't so pressed for time, I'd read through more posts (gotta get some sleep) before asking this question. I see from the many posts I have read that I should be able to find help on just about any other problem I may run in to if I decide to purchase the car.

I thank everyone in advance for reading my note and replying.

Todd Woods
Round Rock, TX

#2 06-13-2003, 07:37 AM

The engine thing sounds okay, and even if it is the upper pan that is broken, it will not cost $1500 if you will get one from a salvage yard.

The part that makes me yawn is that it is an automatic. A 240D with a stick is drivable, a 240D with an automatic is worthless IMHO. But, it's worth $100 as a parts car.

Good luck,

leathermang · #3 06-13-2003, 08:19 AM

Hey, Todd, welcome to the forum,,, and to the Central Texas MB guys....
Amen to what Larry said.... have you ever been in a 240d auto?
You are in a real disadvantage given the quality of the road system/ lack of driver smarts in this area... Austin is famous for bad drivers.... Austin makes Houston drivers nervous.... At $100 though... you could afford to change it to manual trans at some point in the future....

Fisherman · #4 06-13-2003, 09:14 AM

Buy it for $100! You very little if anything to lose. If you don't like it then we'll talk about shipping to Oregon. I personally find my 240 Auto to be just fine for driving out here. Since I have slowed down it works out nicely to match me.
I miust say I do prefer the 115 body but hey you can't have eveything...
If you can get it to run then you can double your money on it!

TX76513 · #5 06-13-2003, 09:21 AM

Woodsie I checked into the zonning covenants in Round Rock - it appears that it would be illegal for you to won a 240. So I must ask that you surrender the sellers name and telephone number to me.

Rick Miley · #6 06-13-2003, 09:50 AM

Snap it up if you have the time to deal with it. An old Mercedes will eat up either a bunch of your time or a bunch of your money to put it right. Then with a little regular maintenance it will be touble free for a long time.

leathermang · #7 06-13-2003, 09:57 AM

TX76513 , I will meet you at dawn Sunday at the OLD SETTLERS PARK in Round Rock....your choice of weapons , thirty paces, one left standing gets the address and phone number....