W115 230.4 and 200 (gasoline) - experiences?

[j-galap]

Hi folks,

I've been looking at options to get myself another W115. I've been ideally looking for a 240D, but I've seen a fair few 230.4 examples come up. I hadn't really considered getting a gasoline model before and don't have any experience of this engine.

I've also seen a few 200 (gasoline) models come up. Wondering the same about those

Anyone got any insight?

Cheers!

[Sugar Bear]

They are basically a more powerful and quieter version of the diesel. They were nice to drive. The downside was low fuel MPG and requiring premium fuel.

[subforry]

More power will make the car more usable around modern cars. Oddly I have driven many sixes and 300 turbos.

How much are you going to drive the car? I would say that in cold weather, once started, a diesel will run great, but a gas car could be a little moody until it hits operating temp.

Personally, I would rather breath unburnt hydrocarbons over diesel soot - not a statement of one being better or worse, just a preference. They are both bad for you.

[j-galap]

Thanks for the thoughts, folks. I've had a couple of automatic 240Ds in my time and they weren't quite glacially slow, but not far off. I've driven a stick-shift 240D too and that was of course significantly better. I'm mostly concerned with reliability (240D is bomb-proof which always makes it a good option) and fuel consumption (diesel is, well, diesel - but I don't mind paying a bit more for fuel to have a car that actually accelerates a bit)

Full story: I moved from Canada to Turkey a few months back (why not? The food is exceptional, a ton of history and culture, it's close to Europe/my family, and my better-half speaks Turkish) and want another W115, which I'll one day bring back to Canada whenever we move back.

I daily drove my last 240D - west coast Canada rains a lot but it's not the snow-filled apocalypse the rest of the country is during winter so it was fine. This one will be our only car here but once we get back to Canada it'll be more second/fun car status.

Labour is cheap in dollars here too and cars being parted out are abundant so it's quite straight-forward to sort out a car that's been messed with and needs some OE parts (interior, trims, etc) reattached.

There's quite a few options around here. Some diesels (a few 240Ds dotted around and a bunch of 200/220Ds) but 230.4s/6s/200 gassers are quite plentiful too, so they're now under consideration too.

Tough choices!

[Idle]

I drove one for years and got 25 mpg. Same as a 240d of that era.

The sidedraft carb is tricky to set up until you get it figured out. Then it is super simple to work on.

Some of these carbs require an oil change when the seasons change. Do research on this as it is too complicated to go into here.

Stay away from anything with a thermal reactor or air pump. Hopefully over there such things were never used.

Watch the steering box bolts. If the car was ever in an accident it is tough to get the frame part back right and the steering bolts will snap on a regular basis.

Other than that it was a joy to drive.