Hey Everyone,
My wife and I own an '83 300td and are looking at a '74 240d. Its sure is a beautiful car, but I don't know much about this year/make. Can you guys offer some feedback. Any input will be appreciated. Lets talk....
Oh yes...someone was VERY helpful recently and directed me to a website where I printed an application for a high mileage award for my 83. I sent it off in the mail last week and should be getting it soon. THANKS!
Your looking at a whopping 65 hp, at about 3500 lbs, so be prepared for a dog. If you can find a manual, all the better. Check for the usually rust problem areas. Also check for oil leaks, blowing smoke, leaky fuel line and injectors, and vacuum leaks. Mostly the same issues you might have with the 300D.
Vehicle: '73 280SE 4.5, 73 280C (sold), 65 220SEb (stolen), 03 BMW Z4 (upcoming death trap/prison sentence)
Location: Chula Vista, CA
Posts: 237
If you drive it, be sure to bring a calendar - they are useful for finding out how fast it takes for a 240d to get to highway speeds. I will never understand the lure of a diesel - clattery, loud, smoky, gutless ...
The cars are not that slow. It takes a REAL driver to handle one.
The thing you need to look out for is rust. Lift the mats, ALL of them including the trunk and look for rust. Also look at the jack points for rusting. Unless it's rust free I would walk away or deal them way down due to that fact.
Usually the odometer is broken and so is the vaccum diaphragm which causes the vaccum to affect many functions, brakes, doors, climate controls etc.
Other than that they are wonderful cars and have much better visibility than the W123's. The trunk is more spacious and it has a more classic look with chrome on the dash with round gauges.
i won't stop lovin' the diesels. i'm actually the proud owner of a 300td. I was looking to buy a 240d because my brother fell in love with my 300td. Looks like its not going to happen this time around, but I'm keeping my eyes open for the right one. cheers to everyone who left their thoughts on my thread...even the anti-diesel dude.
If it's a good well maintained car, it can be quite peppy...no, it is not a huge fuel burning monster, but if i put the petal to the floor and do not shift prematurely it is pretty zippy for a little four cylinder (i can certainly get out of the gate faster than general traffic if i want to)--bottom line, if you don't have to have muscle car and you don't shift prematurely it should not be a problem getting onto the interstate.
Hey DSWest,
I'd really like to see more photos of your 240d. Seems like they are hard to find in your body style. I've been keeping my eyes open since I lost out on that '74 a couple weeks ago. Send some pics if you don't mind. You can post them here or at my email address: jason004@gmail.com
Would LOVE some feedback on a 1974 240d
Linear Mode
