Driving the 1976 Mercedes-Benz 240D Manual 4 Speed - Quirky Diesel Luxury (POV Binaural Audio)
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- Опубликовано: 6 окт 2024
- Thanks to Acton Auto Boutique for tossing the keys to this well preserved W115 1976 Mercedes-Benz 240D Diesel Manual 4 Speed. Check out their incredible inventory at www.actonautob...
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These cars may "last forever", but most definitely not by themselves. I own one, and know what it takes to keep them up. This one is *exceptionally* well-preserved (which those viewers can appreciate who know what to look for). Many, many, many hours and dogged commitment go into making that happen. Kudos to the owner. And double kudos to them for even letting out of their hands so you could drive it. 😊
i also have a 74 c114 2.8 , its a lovely car and i cant wait to get into it each time. my seats are leather and are not as good condition as that mb tex.
If you get a good one to start with I find it pretty easy to keep up with them. Valve adjustments and oil / filter changes are key. W123 is a superior car.
That’s any car. But you cannot deny that Mercedes from this era were FAR better built than the rolling pile of crap they build now.
Kent Bergsma/ www.youtube.com/@Mercedessource
no shit, it's called maintenance, which all mechanical systems need. There's a reason why MB's world record for mileage is a 240D at 2.8 million miles.
Old Mercedes like this looks elegant, feels mechanical, gives direct feedback and feels substantial. It is a proper car that is fun to drive regardless of speed, and makes one feel dignified being inside.
Elegant without thoses f...in US bumpers and co..
i have old solviet cars and it is pretty fun to drive them because they don't have power steering abs and this kind of things they are fully mechanical and it is super fun i am dreaming of buying mercedes w115 240d
The models sold i Europe are prettier. For some strange reason I never understood, and never will understand, each and every Merc model sold on the American market had their fronts and mostly also their rears changed to suit American style. This one is absolutely no exception. The European ditto model is much prettier. "We gotta make'em ugly for the Americans" - but why?
@@MeBallerman Safety regulations in the US. Apparently the impact bumpers were safer or something. But that is the reason.
@@antonmk1244 I like the US bumpers and lights better than the European models.
Beautiful looking car. I love these old-school Mercedes-Benz Diesel models. What they lack in acceleration and performance, they make up in fuel economy and longevity. This looks brand new, like it left the Mercedes-Benz dealer. I'd buy one if I knew someone who's also into old-school Diesel Mercedes-Benz.
my neighbour has a 1975 280CE Coupé with only 3450 km on the odo. One of only 3942 ever made, and probably one of the nicest and best preserved ones. Kept in a garage in northern Italy, so it is 100 % rust free. Such an amazing car.
@@dereinegreg Nice. This has always been my favourite generation Mercedes-Benz Diesel, along with the W123 240D.
@@dereinegreg gaskets probably rot out every single year being driven that little. It's not good for any car to sit around that much
@@papa_pt Of course it is not beneficial for a car to sit much, but he really does his best to keep in mechanically and cosmetically perfect condition. Last year his mechanic did a full engine-out-service and replaced every single hose and seal, water pump and ignition distributor and cables, piston rings and bushings. His father bought it new back then. After he sadly passed away in 2001, the car has been handed over to him. He does spend a fortune keeping in this pristine condition.
@@papa_pt and in italy with all humidity it´s a hard work
I love the “chunk” and “thunk” sound that emanates from every door and trunk space. It reminds me of my childhood in the 80’s.
This car is quality without flash. The “Thunks” and “Chunks” say it. The soft cruising is doing its best in a luxurious everything interior.
@@bwofficial1776 A Mercedes diesel with 100k miles was just getting warmed up.
@@edalder2000 that´s almost new
Yes
Benz seem to stick in most childhood memory more than any other car
It's probably the hood ornament
@@mtdteedee2856 it´s only because in the 60´s felt better than today´s cars and hood ornament was to break and put it on the bicycle ,that was in other world still with hope in the future but today ,no future at all. Regards
@@bwofficial1776 sadly a mercedes of that time would rust away before getting to 100k miles anywhere where it's not nice weather all year round...
This is my dad's car except his was dark blue with an automatic. He loved that car. Seriously, he LOVED that car. Very roomy and comfortable and a great travel car. Annoyingly loud at idle, like something was wrong with it. "No...," he would say, "that's what they sound like". Drove it till it was a little ragged, maybe 300k plus miles. Tires, brake pads, oil change and filters and maybe the glow plugs were replaced towards the end. That was it. Nothing else broke (wore out, maybe but nothing broke). His wife made him sell it because it was a little raggedy. He would have bought another but the prices almost doubled during the 15 plus years he drove it. My father wasn't overly enthusiastic about anything but he loved that car. This brings back memories of chilly atumn days cruising about with my dad doing errands. Lovely video
it was a perfect car to travel ,no noises with windows closed just the tires rolling on the road and i´m talking about the diesel version, better isolation than most of the new cars today
Where are you from?
@@cabdiladiif7902 South Carolina
I daily drive an old Mercedes diesel car, and the "No, thats what they sound like" is perfect, I find myself saying that all the time LOL
That interior is so far ahead of it's time I hardly believe it.
Mercedes always try’s to shine brightest
And to think this was last year of production, it came out in 1968
@@peachfuzz4123 These days they take that literally instead of where it actually counts.
Indeed
that is a 74 or 75 but came out in 68, but at the time i had a gigantic 280 S
For years, if you flew into Frankfurt's airport, there would be tens of these parked outside in the taxi stand ready to take you where you needed to go. Surprisingly, this was also true elsewhere in the world. I was once picked up by one at Kuala Lampur's airport. They were comfortable, could carry lots of stuff, got great mileage for the time and would last forever! The quality of the engineering in these car, and the attention to detail was worlds better than just about any other car of the late-'60's/early-'70's.
When I was a child, this was THE taxi at every train station and city center in Germany. All in the then mandatory RAL1015 "hellelfenbein" taxi color. Today taxis have 200 hp and I'm not sure if that's a change for the better.
I owned a 1981 240D with the 4-speed manual and I never had any trouble keeping up with traffic. Although on the highway you can tell the 4-speed was clearly geared more for the 55 MPH speed limit era. The Mercedessource channel has a video showing how swapping in a rear end with a taller final drive ratio really makes it a more peaceful highway cruiser without any noticeable sacrifice to acceleration (since you're not going to be in a hurry in a 240D anyway!).
And I doubt you'll ever come across one, since they're incredibly rare in the U.S., but the Audi 5000 diesel was a direct competitor to the 240D, with a slightly more powerful 5-cylinder engine, a 5-speed gearbox, and a sportier-feeling chassis. And it got better mileage, too -- up to 40 MPG on the highway. They had a turbo-diesel version, too, but you could only get it with an automatic.
I'm pretty certain that Mercedes geared it to reach it's top speed where the maximum power is: At 4400rpm. A taller drive ratio will it make more peaceful, but at the cost of some top speed. The last of the indirect injection diesels (the 4 valve engines) had their max power at 5000rpm -and were geared accordingly, 5th was no overdrive on these!
i went to germany and bought there the first turbo-diesel with manual but a 300D,regards
1979 240D owner here also with the manual. My only complaint is that third gear is too low and the car will lug around 30 to 35 mph. In terms of top speed, my car will cruise at 80 all day and hit terminal velocity around 95.
@@CreRay The diesel engine in the W123 is a Vorkammer ( prechamber) Diesel with a little compression chamber above the explosion chamber . The Audi diesel is a wirbelkammer a whirling chamber diesel where the mixture is compressed in the explosion chamber this is harder for the pistons but it uses the torque more directly…
I got to drive a 240D from this era when I was a kid. It sounded like ball bearings in a cement mixer at idle, but then smoothed out amazingly. Having driven only big American cars up to that point, I was amazed at the road feel and steering. The timing of the clutch and letting off the gas required a bit of a different technique to do smoothly because of all the torque and compression. I didn't realize how slow it was to 60. I only drove it on a 35-45 mph backroad. It felt built like a rock though.
Handled like one too....
From an era when Benz actually built high quality vehicles, sadly that ethos disappeared in the mid 90's never to return.
in the 90´s they sent engeniers to junkyards to retrieve old cars to see where were they spending to much money because they almost close doors and when this came out on the journal´s it was thought to end the brand but backfired to those who wanted to see mercedes closed because it started to increase sales at the time till today, but 60´s mercedes it´s not rare to see one passing by you
@@RUfromthe40s it's sad to see what the modern marketing /sales teams of both Mercedes and BMW have done to their marques.
Not true lol for example the W204 was built from 2007 to 2015 and is known for being able to reach high milage without big issues like the classic Mercedes'. Or the W210 and W211, you just have to take care of your care of your Benz and it'll never disappoint you
@@TheCamoPowerKing yes the c-class you refer several friends of mine bought the car or the van and never till today they had a problem ,this because tey had all types of station wagon like the ones from VW group, audi´s,SEAT´s ,skoda that i bought a octavia sedan high-end diesel with the 2.0L tdi engine ,they call it sport and only paid 2.000€ to a very rich person and it seems new but still have the E-class from 96 a 200D and a van AMG from 2004 he was runing from investors and sold me with almost 500km´s and bought a week earlier for around 80.000€ ,i´m a mercedes guy ,since my first car i had mercedes ,it was a280S it as not much km´s because when younger i imported cars from the U.S. so i still have the mercedes it was driven by my next generation and still there only 750.000km´s in all these years ,regards
@@TheCamoPowerKing The W204 is definitely one of the best modern Mercedes. Surprisingly quick too! The W211 as well, there's are reason why these were taxi cabs and police cars in Germany. The 210 however may have a reliable powertrain but they have huge rust issues and cables that are prone to rot.
1:18 them vice city doors.
Had one years ago, have missed it ever since. Excellent road manners, stellar efficiency, easy to maintain and high quality interior. Indestructible mechanicals.
I had this vehicle's predecessor the W110 fintail. It was like driving a very classy tractor. A little demoralizing to be passed by Winnebagos on the highway but you always arrive in style.
i had one ,i remenber in the 90´s pressing the acelarator and it seemed it didn´t start to roll but it did with a 220D engine also had the S model from the same year 65 this because in my town there was a taxi still working in the 90´s and i bought it for 1.000€ in today´s money and because it was a taxi it was like new ,they were the only cars to have anual inspection made by the brand the others only in the second alf of the 90´s had to go to inspection, i remenber driving a mercedes like the one in the video and it was a 74 when arriving at the city where i live a police made me stop ,this in 96 and told me "next year, inspection"
My dad had the 220D: great ride and amazing build-quality ; loved that car.
This video brings back memories. My dad bought a '74 240D direct from the factory in Stuttgart (we were living in Belgium at the time). The interior is almost identical to the '76 in the video. We drove it all over Europe. I learned to drive on it but was always worried about the slow acceleration, especially when pulling into traffic. The joke was that the car "...couldn't get out of it's own way at a stop light..." Wonderful car though, my dad loved it and did most of his own maintenance. Thanks for the memories!
My grandpa used to have a w124 NA diesel automatic. I always thought he was a very calm driver.
Exactly the same here, my grandad had one for around 10 years, 240D NA lever on steering manual and at that time i thought my grandad was a very chill, very moderate driver. Until i tested one myself and now i think he was flat out everywhere. Great car, never ever skip a bit, never a cough in 10 years. He had a Volvo 340GL after that and yes, he was flying in that other one.
Aaah. The hill detector as it's famously known. Great car
lol - in Germany, the nickname for this great car was Wanderdüne or "wandering dune"
My grandparents had one-that engine sound is so familiar. An odd combination of primitive and smooth. Loved the smooth whooshing sound of it accelerating, and then the croaking frogs that appear at idle. And the style is my favorite-sturdy and well built, without being flashy or tacky
My dad had one of these, it's the car I learned to drive on. Wow what memories! Always loved the solid feel of the car, and I can vouch for the twenty-something 0 to 60 time! Thanks for sharing!
I am renovating one as my first car and I can't wait to drive it once it's done!!
This was and still a queen of road in Morocco . Thank you for highlighting this beautiful masterpiece .
Just as slow as my old automatic 300D of the same year, even though mine had an extra cylinder, Lol. God, I miss that car. Your POV is very familiar looking when in the drivers' seat.. Interior is very similar. It's interesting to see the pull handle for the glow plugs, starter and fuel cut off... In my 300D the glow plugs had an indicator light and were fully automatic, like you mentioned. Key worked in the traditional manner. The 300D did have a manual fuel cut off, but you had to open the hood to reach it. Thanks for the video and trip down memory lane! If only I could roll back time to 22 years ago and not sell that car....
with the 3.0L it fly´s ,but in the U.S. it seems even V8´s from mercedes are changed here they are superfast in the U.S. don´t even do a burn out ,original are great in the U.S. they destroy the cars, not german engeniering or deutch. but i would like to have a Pontiac le mans only drove it once in mid 70´s and also a grand prix cabriolet
The 240d does 0-60 in 24,7 seconds and the 300d does 0-60 in 17,8 seconds, so it's sure way faster than a 240d
@@3DPeter but one drives 500km´s and feel relaxed and had both with both body´s also a 200D from 81 all electric that i imported from holand ,the 300D use it to drive it off road and with mud it started to wrotten faster but bought in early 80´s too, a turbo diesel bought in germany when they came out with turbo, still have it and the original switches for the electric windows only in the front seats , also have the 190E with the 2.0L engine automatic it´s in mint condition ,i never liked automatic transmition . Because i have 12 mercedes being the older a 230 S from 63 i can say that i have a litle merc. colection ,even those older are super confortable and both front seat and back seat look like beds ,i sleeped there several times while camping ,regards
@@RUfromthe40s The 200d and 240d were used alot as taxi's here, because they don't use much fuel, and they are quick enough to drive around in
the cities, and they did easely a million kilometers before they were at the end of their hard working lives. The W123 and w126 models were the best
cars that were ever made imo. And also old mercedes vans and old trucks are still the best ever made, because they are still in use in poor countries
all over the world, and that is also because of that most parts are still made and available, and any poor bastard with a screwdriver, tape and a piece
of chewing gum can fix any old mercedes because they are sooooo simply made. Modern mercedes suck, but that counts for all cars with all those
damn computer crap under the hood.
@@3DPeter the only reliable mercedes nowadays are mercedes busses, their diesel engines are pretty durable
But yeah their passenger cars are nit that great in terms of reliability
I love how it sounds when driven. Sounds almost like a Hillman Avenger, if anyone is familiar with those.
Smooth.
My Dad had a Hillman Avenger estate in 1976. The tailgate fell off a few weeks after delivery as the hinges had rusted through while it was parked up for months in the import yard (one of the mechanics in the dealer spilled the beans) . I still remember my Dad arguing with the dealer. Not nice to witness. LOL
@@norwegianzound I bet.
@@norwegianzound I've heard those things had tons of issues. Which is great while you're trying to import then into the US as a Plymouth cricket while everyone's struggling
This car is so sweet. Timeless look, design, quality, and sound. I want one now.
Man this spec is my dreeaam. Darker green paint with the ‘tan’ leather. It’s crazy how this car has around 64hp from the 2.4 diesel and now in 2022 Mercedes are squeezing 265hp from a 2.0 diesel. However, this car has lots more character. Also, this channel is awesome, every car I see on here isn’t your everyday car and that’s why it is so good! Your also so honest about the cars and your driving style is awesome too👌👌👌Great video
Yes but most of those 265hp comes from the turbo wich this one lacks.
In 1968 we had a 220 D with breathtaking 55 hp! Listening the video the sound brings back so much memories... even the humming of the gearbox...
Crazy the build quality these cars had. Some of the my modern cars were very well taken care of, but daily used, and random things would start to literally disintegrate.
literally the body would fall into the ground but only after 50 something years of being driven every day and in the street no garage but then you buy a old body and the engine and other parts will go on till nobody knows ,i had one with 3.000.000 million km´s when i sold it and it was tuned 120km/h to 140km/h this in roads or out of roads in any type of ground, real endurance cars and the peugeot 504 it´s not that reliable i had 5 between sedan and van, the sedan with 4Xcarburator and in-line2.0L engine would fly ,the van with a diesel engine would go anywhere but slowly
That interior is gorgeous!
My quirky neighbors growing up in a not-rich neighborhood had the same car in black. It drove my dad nuts that they had it for years and years and it didn't rust. He went through 4 or 5 cars in that span.
I grew up around an oldtimer W115 230e. Definitely the fondest memories I have of any car
Its just hilarious going on a tour with Ted in some of the mostly ridiculously fast cars to the diametrical opposite , this good ol Benz which is really ALL about class. I can just see it - cruising around town big collars and all with a smile on your face while puffing on your Pall Mall 100.
This is so true, a good family friend of ours owns like 3
Back then it was among the most sold cars in Germany, the "Strichachter" was everywhere, mostly as the smaller 200 or 200D. Unfortunately they rusted faster than they drove.
Mid 70's kid...grew up from the day I was born in one of these (chrome horn ring and manual column shifter!! It was just a bit older than this. Probably w114)
Car stayed in the family until mid 2000's.
I so wish I got it now....more and more I want one back.
These things are slow, but also eternal. There were some taxi versions these 200Ds and 240Ds that were driven over a million kilometers.
My dad had one of these when I was young. I learned to drive in it, how to use a manual tranny, loved that car. We took a lot of very long road trips in it as well. He installed a long range fuel tank in it and we could go more than halfway across the US on a single fill up.
As a kid, I sometimes got a ride in a 240D. It might have been an older model and I think he said it had 60 horses. The hood was maybe a bit longer. It was the neighbor's son who had it and his brother had a Golf diesel, 1.6 liter and the 240 was just more luxury, but the Golf looked pretty cool. That was back in the late 70ies and the 240D was not fast then either, but it had style and was pretty cool, compared to our Morris Oxford, the Volvos etc, that were common back then. :D
I have had three diesels from the 1970's. These cars are best on a long drive where the engine is hot, running smooth, and just sounds great. Long drives were comfortable, and the ergonomically designed seats kept you from getting fatigued on an all day adventure. It was fun filling the diesel tank at truck stop. However, they were really awful around the town though. I really miss them all. If I could get a new one, I would.
This my favorite era with Mercedes Benz. I really like the design of the W114/5, although I'm not used to see it with the big bumpers. I think it looks nicer than the w123 that followed (I saw 2 coupes this afternoon, 123 and 124 chassis). I'm gonna check a C124 tomorrow but don't know the engine yet, might be an in-line 6 I hope!
i had all the coupés since the late 60´s ,the last i sold was the C124 3.0L 24 valves(in-line) but kept the 600sec from 95 or CL600 a V12 with lot´s of power ,in the 90´s when you conect the lights it seems a christmas tree or a spaceship but in 1990 the citröen XM it was even more spaceship look a like it started to lif off ,just didn´t fly
Wao with this sound and built quality I would stay in this car forever. The sound of these older legendary diesel's is like a music to me. They legendary cars were built to last and built with honesty. I'm a proud owner of 6 W123's in diesel engines. I had lot's of W115's. Love them. Thanks for the video. Really enjoyed it.
That vintage diesel sound is so beautiful. ❤️❤️
Beautiful auto. I've never owned a Mecedes but have owned two VW diesels. The 1990 Jetta with the n/a 1.6 diesel had about the same drive ability as this 240. Great secondary roads cruiser but had to be patient pulling out into traffic. There's a 240 owned locally by an older gentleman. It's a pleasure to meet him on the road.
once the temp of the engine is high enough diesels are fun to drive. hah love the diesels😍😍
This brings back many fond memories. The streets of Brussels used to be crammed with these as taxis, and then the follow-up model. In Morroco at least 5 out of 10 cars are still this model and they all look like new. You could easily sit with 4 people in the back. Lovely car!😄
kudos for finding really interesting cars to drive on hear. Loved this.
My father owned a 1974 200D. All 3 brothers learned how to drive in it. We sold it after 24 yrs., regret it now. So great to be able to see all its perks again from the inside. Great cars... this is why no other car is like an MB. From Honduras.
I miss my W124 300D. It was from right before Mercedes went all-in on tech. Although its transmission was automatic, it was very crisp, quick-shifting, mechanically controlled, and highly adjustable. Parts and upkeep were expensive. The cylinder head issue on the OM603 was its end.
I've driven the naturally aspirated 5-cylinder W123 that had a 0-60 of about 20 seconds. Like you say, not a problem around town, but a bit scary merging onto a crowded highway.
it drives till 100miles/h easy with efort 120miles/h my turbo drove it from germany to the south of Portugal and in some highways it made more the pointer passed the 120 miles/h limit this in early 80´s was the first 300 with turbo in my country
My first car was my granddad's old 76 300D. It sat for a few years and rotted before I drove it sadly. It's amazing to hear how fast it would've been if better maintained. Mine took closer to 30 seconds to hit 60mph, & topped out at 95mph on flat ground (105 with a good hill). It had about 275,000 miles on it when I got it. Had an engine failure around 300,000 miles. Would've been fixable, but they weren't worth much at the time, so we just got rid of it. Now I wish we had tried to keep it. I don't miss smelling like diesel on refuel days, but otherwise I do miss that car. Also, that startup sequence wasn't familiar to me. Is the separate ignition switch 240D specific, or was it an optional thing?
I owned a w114 230.6 manual. Brilliant car. Used it to commute during summer season from Friesland to Amsterdam (little over 110 km). Highway was no problem at all. I think it had appr. 130 HP
You may not have noticed the diesel stench, but the people behind you did. Also, you may think of this as an around town car, but one of the few options was the "travel" tank which gave you ~800 miles between fill-ups.
True enough about the stench. But 20% biodiesel (B20) -- getting more common as of 2023 -- takes the edge off it. And when I occasionally run B100 in my 300D, people go out of their way to ask me why my car smells like french fries, and btw can they have some.
Has to be the smoothest sounding diesel I’ve ever heard. Looks like it needs a 5-speed though. What a charming car! I would love to drive one.
Love the sound of that engine, and in green it just looks proper. Off topic, but if you ever get the chance I’d recommend driving an 05/06 E320 cdi. They’re rare, but in many ways it’s the end of an era for Mercedes diesels. Loads of power, the awesome I6 diesel sound, and they’re bulletproof compared to the diesels that came out after.
Apart from Black Death
@@Mr330d Eh, it’s easily avoidable and fixable if caught in time.
@@pascutia yes just a good point to check if buying one
Super tasteful green on tan color scheme, hilarious 0-60 time, but a chariot that will cruise you into the heavens. And watching this video, it dawned on me that Toyota took its cues from Mercedes- my 2002 Camry is reminding me of this vehicle more and more by the day.
Thanks for posting.
These cars should run 70-75 on the highway no problem, assuming they've been kept up with maintenance. It will take a while to get there, and usually they're relatively low geared so they're quite loud, but official top speed was around 95 mph (in practice 85 was more realistic) and they could do those speeds all day, if you could put up with the noise.
my beloved father (rest in peace now) tought me how to drive in this magnificent early 70s manual transmission car 25 years ago in a way most modern drivers cannot understand the beauty out of it. it s like a tank! by far not just the most reliable mercedes, but the most reliable car of all times along with its predecesor the w123
That steering wheel looks massive!
Gotta have something grand to house that horn!
mercedes used 400mm steering wheels until 1995
Old diesel Mercedes are always charming. You're not going anywhere fast, but you know you'll always get there.
Even though they're considered "slow" today, you have to consider there weren't that many cars back in that day that could sit effortlessly at highway speeds for long periods of time.
Most of all these cars look so cool nobody cares if you arrive late.
When Mercedes made quality cars instead of rolling iPads. Love these old cars.
and since when did Mercedes have roll up windows?!
I had a 81 240D given to me by a family friend that was in mint condition, really, he took such good care of it. 4 speed manual. 0 to 60 ....Tuesday
The nearly perfect car. In many ways you can think of it as an upscale VW Beetle. It’s simple, well built and will last forever even if it takes forever to get to speed.
This car and the successor W123 are truly “analog” cars, i.e. they are 100% mechanical in operation of the motor. For a diesel, you only need the battery to turnover the starter. Once started, you can remove the battery and run until the tank is empty.
@@bobbbobb4663 Agreed, I’m actually trying to find a decent one. With the electric car boom and legislation moving towards eliminating the internal combustion engine, it’s time to buy one of these. Diesel will always be around for farm equipment, jet fuel and the like. I’ll never sit in an electrical self driving car. Ever. I know plenty of farmers who buy diesel in bulk for their combines, tractors and other farm implements. You can’t replace diesel fuel for those applications, there’s simply nothing else to replace it with.
@@robertd4468 I’m lucky to own a 1979 240D. Never been molested with cooking oil or any other non diesel fuel source. Give it another 10 years and these cars will be very desirable. No, they will never be Ferrari level of collectible but with proper maintenance, these ole diesels are tanks.
My grandfather had a Mercedes like this in the early nineties. Of course, the European version (in Poland), with a narrower bumper. I will never forget the sound of that engine. It was... hypnotizing 🙂
First! Love your videos mate I am a HUGE car guy
This is timeless classic... Beautiful and exceptionally engineered!
These have become really sought after, heck even finding a decent w123 is getting hard.
yup. I've always loved the look of w124 and luckily they are still fairly available. Although not in in winter time in finland :D everyone buys them for drifting. I managed to cop one naturally aspirated 250d. Yes, it is very slow to accelerate but god damn do I love to drive it. It is over 30 years old yet it'll do another 30.
@@witekki didn't know there are many left in Finland! Here in the Balkans there are plenty, most are the 200D and 230E but other models are not that rare. Sadly a lot of them have rust problems because most owners don't take care of them. Not a lot are used as drift cars here :D
@@sv_cheats1970 yeah they are still quite rare but not really. There are way more w124 in slavic countries and the balkans (and obviously germany etc) than in finland. Many people do want to use them as winter cars because of rwd and they are cool. Im so glad i got one with very good interior. It has not been ruined, and it has not turned orange with rust yet.l
@@witekki there are many Mercedes in Slavic countries because importing a Mercedes from Germany/Austria/Switzerland was seen as that you were in good financial position. It wasn't cheap to do during Yugoslavia because import fee costed as much as the cars market value. During the terrible war of the 90s (and a short period after the war) the import fee was very small and import rules were not strict so many people bought them and imported them since second hand Mercedes were fairly cheap in Germany especially Taxi versions which could be bought with 1-2 average pay checks.
@@witekki There was even an official Mercedes dealership in ex YU, it was located in Slovenia and it mostly sold trucks.
I had a ‘78 240D and it was a beautiful car in anthracite gray with painted hub caps. It was also the slowest car ever, but it was a good lesson in patient driving that I have long since forgotten.
Tedward, I love your reviews but I have to correct you on one point: Old Mercedes diesels are absolutely, 100% NOT maintenance free. In fact that is a complete myth. Like any old car you will have to put much, much more maintenance into an old Mercedes diesel than a normal "pretty new" car. Personally I feel that myth is precisely why so many of these cars have been driven into the ground. They are purchased (especially when they used to be cheap) by people who thought they just could drive it forever with little to no maintenance. These are beautifully engineered cars that were built to last *with proper maintenance*. I own two old Benz diesels myself and they run great but certainly are not maintenance-free.
When I was in primary school in the mid 70s, after school I rode home in neighbor's S class (probably a 280S) as we were in the same class. In those days it was a column shift manual transmission with the dashboard very much like this car, plus the pull release handbrake. I was young but eventually worked out the S class had the pointy headlights and E class had the square headlights just like this one.
I don't know how fast this 240D was to drive, but certainly can feel how solid it rode in this video. In the 70s most cars were trash. My parents could only afford a 2 doors Ford Escort at the time. (2 doors were cheaper)
Eventually when I bought my first Mercedes I had a C200 (W202) and enjoyed it, feeling how solid it was closing the door. I also bought a W210 E320 V6 and had the extra power from the V6. My mechanic bought the E320 off me and he still has it. I got my first diesel, a W204 C220 CDI. It was very fuel efficient on long distance drive with lots of torque. My niece now driving that car after I bought W205 C350e plug-in hybrid. Very interesting combination of power/economy with the trade off of a smaller trunk. I now do basic oil change on this C350e as it is very easy to do so.
A childhood obsessions bears fruits. I am not sure when I would buy the next one, but at the moment my C350e is serving its purpose just fine.
This reminds me of my teenage years. Here in Germany this car was very common in the late 70s and early 80s, a typical dady's car, mainly the 200, 230, 250 and 280 models with the Otto inline 4 and inline 6 engines. The diesel models were common in the country side. There people often had a big diesel tank for their agricultural machines. So they could refuel the machines and the family car
I used to have a Diesel Rabbit in the 80's. You reminds me of it with this 240D. It was a real fun car indeed. Thank you.
Love it when YT recommends a video I watched and thumbs-upped already. This car would make a great family taxi.
i used to drive a alfa 105 1600, i had swapped the old engine with the 2l nord, and that thing was just wonderful to drive around town. having everyone just stare at you in the little coupe with massive smiles on their faces always put me in a good mood. i still drive it occasionally but its no longer mine, I let my father borrow it once when his car broke down, and 2 weeks later he bought it from me.
This is rocketship.I personally have a version 200d w123.They never sell it to the US.Shortly,it’s like a driving old tractor with luxury seats,and one of the best ride quality ever.But,i love it with all my heart.It’s more fun to drive than some new c63…
My parents have been driving diesels since 2003. They both had mk6 tdi golfs that were bought back. They still have 2 328d and a e250 bluetec. My dad also sold his mk4 manual jetta wagon when I was rly young.
In 1983 I visited my uncle in Northern CA and he let me borrow his worn out 240D for a few days of skiing at Tahoe. Even though the suspension was totally worn out it was the best handling car. I’d ever driven. Ever since I’ve loved German cars. And bikes.
My parent owned the 200 gasoline equivalent in Germany, when they moved there from the US in 1974. They chose that model because the waiting list was only one year. The 240D was the popular choice for DB employees to utilise their sizable discount, nevermind demand from commercial taxis. They put 360,000 km on it with the original clutch before selling it in 1983. Before that I drove it in the UK for one year and found it had a slight rod knock, plus the doors were quite rusty. I think the rear suspension is actually a semi-trailing arm rather than double wishbones. Also, that Becker Europa radio is a thing of beauty, a timeless classic. I had a chance to visit the tiny Becker factory about 1994 because the US company I worked for had sold them some production equipment.
I drove my 1976 240D, olive green, for 6 years, 100,000 miles, automatic, sunroof, dictation radio...and loved it.
I grew up with these.... and still love them! My dad used to let me count and pull the choke when I was little...
My late father had several...when I was born in 69... he had a 68 280se in white.... then in 72 they got a 70 240D in green and my mom drove a 71 280SL in Burgundy then he proceeded to have three more tan 240D's and then finally in 86 he bought an 85 300D turbo diesel before he passed.. they also had three nifty vettes... they collected and showed... an all red 56, a red and white 57, and a light blue 67 split window for fun weekends... and a lovely 67 RR silver cloud in gold over black with oxblood interior for fancy dinner nights...
they dont make awesome cars like that anymore...
oh! our next door neighbors son had a 70's 600LWB pullman.... it was gorgeous!
Awwwhhh 😖 that car is so beautiful it HURTS 😤 right here 👉🫀
Yes, you are right, it's a beautiful car, but not in the US version. Those lamps and bumpers are way uglier than the Euro version.
I used to drive my friend’s ‘84 300td and i still haven’t driven a car that was so slow yet such a pleasurable and fun ride.
Just a beautiful machine. No gimmicks or flashiness. Just does what it does in comfort and decent styling while maintaining its integrity.
I saved one 2 years ago. I wasnt looking for one, just passed my path and couldnt let it sit for trasher money. Fixed it (fuel pump, maintenace and some welding) and now drive it so often. Its a first owner 200 with a 109hp I4 2 liter automatic. Im not in the mood to buy a second. But its a keeper for sure. Nice comfy cruiser.
My mother in law had a 240D. We drove the hell out of that car and it was a great highway car IMHO. lt would run at 75 all day. l used to drive it from Rockport Tx to Dallas and back regularly in a day. Almost 800 miles and the car was comfy and never broke down. She had 2 appointments per month for over a year in Dallas for cancer treatments and the car drove itself on the highway. lt was maxed out at 75-80mph but had no problem cruising 70+ all day.
Thank you so much Tedward, I was waiting for this car or the next gen W123 Mercedes 240D for ages to be reviewed by the book like you do, these are my all time favorites models.
I am shocked at how beautiful the interior is - much better than many 2010s Mercedes C-Classes.
Years ago I had a 1971 220D with a manual transmission. It was a beast, a TANK!
Painfully slow to get going, although, once up to cruise speed on the expressway she would cruise 80 mph all day long.
During acceleration it put out a cloud of smoke. When merging into traffic and accelerating, it looked like the local mosquito control coming through! And that was the defense------because-----if a hostile tail-gaiter got behind me I would just lay the pedal on the floor and choke them out! It was great! It was very hard to start in very cold weather and could kill a battery faster than any car I ever saw, but, handled great in snow and ice. And, yes, it was quirky. The only trouble I ever had from it was changing the "comb" inside the gearshift that directed the stalk to the right gear. I can't say I miss it in the slightest, but, at the time she sure was a safe and economical to operate car.
These actually cruise quite nice on the freeway. I have driven a 75 model from Washington state to Deadhorse Alaska and back in 12 days. I also drove it from Washington state to Texas where I went to college for a year. And many many thousands of miles in between. I continue purchasing different 155 models, hoping to replicate that first car. And now I'm saving to do it again. My favorite car.
That rear armrest opening from the bottom has the be one of the most counter intuitive things I’ve seen on old school German vehicles
Age 5. My father and his friends picked us up to watch the local high school Thanksgiving homecoming football game in a 78 300d coupe.
It was so cold that day, my dad and I spent more time in the car. I had a fun time playing with the radio.
Then, given the temperature and my radio play, the car didn't start...
Living in the uk where a lot of cars are manual, it’s very common to have a pull up lockout, Ford uses it along with many other companies, and lots of gm cars use a button for a lockout. Also lots of 5 speeds just don’t have a lock out so, if you’re used to a 6 speed, it’s very easy to enter “race mode”
Love the retro drive! Reminds me of my parents ‘73 450SE they had in the 80’s. Those old Benzes are tanks! And they run forever- my folks sold theirs with over 300k miles and it was still going strong…
you took me back to my child hood Mr Tedward we owned 3 of this when i was a kid
it was the car i learned driving. Lots of memories with our 240d i owned many cars since last 20 years but i still remember how lovely this car was bro
I'm not a fan of modern Mercedes-Benz models but I love this 240! There was a time when useless gadgets were unknown. I'm probably getting older cause I miss those times and those simple cars
i am from 1979. I drove quite a few natural aspirated diesels when young. Especially the french had many small na diesels. That meant learning to cope with 1.5 litres and 50 hp
My 2000 Ford SVT Contour's reverse lockout worked by pulling up, similar to this car.
A1974 built W115 200D - The best car I ever drive! A white one with blue Interior. A dream...
Rgds from GER
My grandfather also had that model, and the W123, and there are a lot of similarities, the bench in the back was so infinitely comfortable, they are very strange lights, which are at the top of the roof in the are so orange and oldschool
Then this armrest at the back , which I always played with, then this hazard button at the front that was somehow positioned in the middle behind the gear stick and then this ribbed pattern on the steering wheel and there was leather everywhere and the glove compartment could see very clearly where the key Spot was
And the ashtrays everywhere, and then these silver handles, just great.
And that the windows had to be screwed down manually, which was fun for me as a child, in retrospect, but somehow totally absurd.
And all these little things that have stayed with me, just great to see that again today. because I drove around with my grandpa so much in the 80s and 90s and he always stayed with Mercedes
His last car was a W124, of course also a diesel, and this typical Mercedes-Benz diesel noise almost sounds like home to me, But nowadays it sounds natural now that you would start a tractor.
WOW! I have one just like that. Except its a white, with black interior. It has all same setup! Incredible. Thanks for sharing
Its a W115.117
I used to own a W123 240d and on the freeway they are fine once you get them up to speed… and the passenger who were glad to be picked up in the old quirky car will still be happy albeit asleep as the Diesel murmur has a tendency to lull passengers into slumber over long drives… but the cars quirks tend to keep the driver awake and alert.
Great video of one of the best cars ever made!
I live in Albania. Our roads were the worst just a few years ago. This is the ultimate car here. They just keep going, no matter what you throw at them!
She's a beauty! We used to have one, Signal Red with 220D under the hood. My dad left it in the garage for, like, 7yrs, a buyer came, they've changed the fuel, cranked her up several times and she went away like was parked a week before. It was a '73, so flat back lamps, chromed rear view mirror, narrow grille and some other changes. It was back in late 90's and I know the car was running 5 years ago for sure (but some butcher has added led lights and painted it silver with black roof, yikes!).
what a beautiful car... designs back in the day were special