Has anyone had a Mercedes 240D?

bgkast wrote: W114s have a 5 digit odometer, so who knows how many times it has turned over.

^^^ This.

bgkast wrote: W114s have a 5 digit odometer, so who knows how many times it has turned over.

I had a suspicion that this was the case but I wasn't sure. In that case, unless there is proof that the car hasn't done any more miles than stated I wouldn't bank on it being an extremely low mileage car.

Yes, it does have a 5 digit odo, but the first number is still a "0". I would think if it had rolled over, that first number wouldn't still be "0", but I could be wrong on that.

In reply to bgkast:

I never got more than 25 mpg with mine. Automatic. Perfect for cruising at 55-60 mph. Above that, the engine screams like a freight train. Moved decently enough around town, but I had a friend riding with once who said, "Man, it sounds just like a school bus. Brings back memories."

With the body roll, come to think of it, it kinda handles like one too.

Don't seem that slow? That was the slowest car I've ever driven.

In reply to BrianFreeman:

Huh? The odometer goes from 99,999 to 00000 when the car hits 100,000 miles, and continues counting from there. My 240D has 350,000 miles on it and I recently sold a 300D with 430,000 miles on it. These cars last well. I can guarantee you it's turned over at least once unless it has been sitting for the last 35 years.

BrianFreeman wrote: Yes, it does have a 5 digit odo, but the first number is still a "0". I would think if it had rolled over, that first number wouldn't still be "0", but I could be wrong on that. In reply to bgkast:

So you don't think it's possible to have 104,450 or 204,450 miles? Uhhh...

If the car literally had 4,450 miles it would likely NOT be a runner if it has sat this long...if anything it is MORE likely that it has rolled over at least once. Diesels run better once they get some mileage in anyways.

I have bought a few cars that have sat for 2-3 years and they are always a bitch to get running right. If it has supposedly sat for 35 and then just started right up and ran then I am going to call BS right now. Diesel Mercedes are tough, sure, but not "sits-for-35-years-and-starts-right-up" tough.

mattmacklind wrote: I have an 84 300D turbo, and love it. Its been my DD for almost 10 years now. I switch to synthetic oil in the winter and it makes a huge difference. Never have driven a 240, but the 300 is slow enough. I actually find the handling to be a strong point, but its hard to explain why. It feels like an airplane on a runway, just solid and planted. Its underpowered so it can never get away from you. I love it but I've been acculturated to them.

I was going to answer but luckily I noticed I had already posted. I just hit 311,000 today.

amg_rx7 wrote: Don't seem that slow? That was the slowest car I've ever driven.

You have not lived until you've driven a 36-horse VW bus...

If maintained properly their whole life those engines last 750k or more before they get too worn out, so it's likely fine. But, I agree with everyone that doesn't believe one would have mileage that low. I ended up getting a 300sd that has 400k+ on it and it still runs great.

Just test drove the "low mileage" car in question. Seemed to run perfectly. No oil leaks, the engine looked clean and nearly new, there was no rust anywhere on the car, the interior looked new with zero wear. The rubber seals and gaskets around windows, etc. were in good shape. The sunroof gasket/seal did show some weathering. Everything in the car works perfectly, including AC, sunroof, buttons, knobs, etc. The current owner said they keep it in the garage and start it up and run it a short distance about 5 times a year. I dug through all the paperwork in the glove box and trunk - which seemed to be nearly everything since the car was new - the original Mercedes detailing kit that came with it was still in there and looked like it had been used once or twice. I found the receipt and warranty for the "sears" brand, white walled tires on it. They have been on the car since 1986!! The warranty lists the serial number of each tire - and yes, they match! They still look like 95% tread, with some cracking from age, but not much tread wear at all. The only thing I could find that would suggest it had seen some time on the road was rock chips on the front of the car - but this was also in a day when they would have been driving on many gravel roads and might have seen more rock chips as a result. I was just as skeptical as you before looking at it and driving it. Any further thoughts? Things to look for?

In reply to SlickDizzy:

At this point, only you can make the call, really. Did you enjoy it enough to give your truck up for it? Are you okay with the idea of expensive, unexpected maintenance popping up? Bear in mind that value is relative and a thing is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it...and a "low-mile" W114 240D is not easy to peg a value on. Especially if you are planning to drive it, too, and not just leave it parked on display, it will only lose value. Also, where are you located? What about corrosion?

If I were in your position I'd sell the truck and find a Euro W123 300D turbo 5-speed. Better car in every way, much easier to drive in modern traffic and easier to find parts for too. There are a surprising amount of them already in the country, and without taking mileage into account, should always be worth more than a W114 240D. A low mile W114 240D is still just that: a W114 240D, which I don't think ranks #1 on the M-B diesel desirability index.

Unless the car is an absolute creampuff you are going to find a lot of equally skeptical people when you go to sell. If you just want something to drive I would forget the W114.

In reply to SlickDizzy:

There is no such thing as a euro W123 300D turbo 5-speed. No turbo cars came from the factory with manual transmissions, and Europe did not get the Turbo 617 (I think it's the one time in automotive history where the US got the good model and Europe got the shaft)

To the semi original poster: It sounds like the car is in good shape and was well taken care of. Rust is the big killer of these cars, especially the W114s. I've never seen a working AC system on a vintage Mercedes and I have been around them for quite awhile and owned about 15 of them. That being said if you are thinking about ever selling it and getting the value of your truck out of it I would reconsider. Most buyers will be skeptical of the low miles like we are unless there is iron clad documentation, and without that documentation it is just a nice W114, maybe $4000 tops.

bgkast wrote: In reply to SlickDizzy: There is no such thing as a euro W123 300D turbo 5-speed. No turbo cars came from the factory with manual transmissions, and Europe did not get the Turbo 617 (I think it's the one time in automotive history where the US got the good model and Europe got the shaft)

Actually they did, but only as a station wagon (300TD Turbodiesel). It's a pretty rare car (they were rather expensive when new even by Mercedes standards) and the engine quickly developed a reputation for cracked cylinder heads when you drove it down the Autobahn with the loud pedal buried in the carpet.

The ones we never got in Europe were the W116 and W126 turbodiesels.

I beg to differ. No OM617 turbo engines were paired with a manual from Stuttgart.

Never heard of cracked head issues with the 61x family of engines.

bgkast wrote: In reply to SlickDizzy: There is no such thing as a euro W123 300D turbo 5-speed. No turbo cars came from the factory with manual transmissions, and Europe did not get the Turbo 617 (I think it's the one time in automotive history where the US got the good model and Europe got the shaft)

Thinking about it again you are probably correct, I have seen a lot of Euro 300D 5-speeds for sale and assumed (mistakenly) that some were turbo. Regardless, I still think a nice 300D 5-speed would be a much better buy.

I had a 77, which was a W123 car. Mine had a 4spd manual and was the absolute slowest car I've ever driven. It also had the crappiest rubber-feeling shifter.

shadetree30 wrote:

amg_rx7 wrote: Don't seem that slow? That was the slowest car I've ever driven.

You have not lived until you've driven a 36-horse VW bus...

Spoken for truth. I've owned both.

My first car was a VW bus, these MB diesels seem like sports cars in comparison.

I had a 79 240D automatic as my first car in 1996. It lasted only 2 months before it died. Let's just say that you always remember your first car, but this is one I would never purchase again. Funny, I still point them out when I see one but that's about it.

Slow doesn't even begin to describe this car. 0-60 times are taken using a calendar. The term, can't get out of it's own way comes to mind.

I did like the quasi-leather/plether/vinyl interior and it always had that German interior smell. But other than that not much.

My 240D was replaced with a 73 standard VW beetle. If it says anything the VW felt like a rocket ship compared to the MB.

amg_rx7 wrote: Don't seem that slow? That was the slowest car I've ever driven.

Slooooooow. Scary slow. Has two fuel tanks, which is neat.

A few weeks ago, I started having this "dream" where I did a sort of Route 66 thing....but instead of a Corvette I wanted to "pretend" I was cruising in Europe by touring the states east of the Mississippi River in a 240D or similar car. I even visualised the car as being painted that "desert tan" or washed-out grey that old M-Bs were painted. Then, lo and behold, THE car showed up on the lot of the local Subaru dealership. It's an '82 240D with a claimed 127K miles. I knew these cars were underpowered, and I've driven slowish cars, just not sure if I'm ready for SUPER SLOOOOOW. Before posting this (and reading what others had to say) I was hoping there might be some horsepower "help" available on the aftermarket.

For $3K, I suppose I can still give this a try, but I now wonder how hard it will be to "dump" this car when I get tired of playing Euro-taxidriver.

I was going to answer but luckily I noticed I had already posted.

Im glad im not the only person that has happened to!

It is a W115 (four cylinder) not a W114 (six cylinder). Rust is the biggest issue with these - they can and will rust anywhere and any climate it seems. They aren't worth big money - especially a big bumper version. I have a '70 220D which is roughly the same thing with a smaller motor and nicer bumpers. I had a cache of parts stripped off a parts car too. Most things are reasonably priced but there are a few things like heater fans that are crazy expensive. I haven't driven mine too much but it is definitely slow but not awfully so. Handling seems pretty ok for a big old boat. I plan to auto-x mine this summer ... just because.