old mercedes diesel question

Farmer Rock · Aug 24, 2020

Good evening folks,I was wondering if the old mercedes diesel cars ever came stick shift.I have only seen
automatics,which I figured was because they were "luxury cars" in their day.I don't wan't one for luxury,but
for reliability,and since I never liked automatics (and never will),getting a manual is the only way I would
get one.I would appreciate any and all help,thanks

Rocks

Sean Feeney · Aug 24, 2020

Billy Shafer · Aug 24, 2020

The first automatic for them was 1960. All standard before that.

jddrawbar · Aug 24, 2020

I know the old 220 had the standard on the column. Worked with a guy that put a 355 chevy in an old 220 @ about 400 hp....350 auto. He also built the same engine and put it in a Toyota p/u back in the mid 80's.

old · Aug 24, 2020

If I remember right the one my uncle had back in the early 60 was a 3 on the tree. I think it was a Military bring back from when he was in the Navy

Farmer Rock · Aug 24, 2020

thanks guys,I am glad to know they are out there.

Rock

Mike(NEOhio) · Aug 24, 2020

When I was a kid, jr high, high school maybe, a guy down the street drove a Benz sedan that I'm pretty sure was stick. That was back when you didn't see many and everyone said "Why buy one, they look the same every year."

JK-NY · Aug 24, 2020

My folks had a 220d from the early 1970’s thru 1985 . It was a 4 speed standard. I wouldn’t call it a luxury car, no radio, no a/c, no power steering. Very well built car.

C.Amick · Aug 24, 2020

I believe the 240 D was offered with a stick shift.

Bob N.Y. · Aug 24, 2020

My neighbor had a 240-D with a 4 speed manual column shift.

504 · Aug 24, 2020

Yes I had a 190 D with a 4 speed.

4play · Aug 24, 2020

Most of the older diesels were auto , the manual shift cars were the smaller and lower level cars. If I remember correct there was never a turbo diesel with a manual trans, only the smaller non-turbo diesels had manual shift, that is for US market vehicles.

JMOR · Aug 24, 2020

(quoted from post at 19:30:29 08/24/20) Good evening folks,I was wondering if the old mercedes diesel cars ever came stick shift.I have only seen
automatics,which I figured was because they were "luxury cars" in their day.I don't wan't one for luxury,but
for reliability,and since I never liked automatics (and never will),getting a manual is the only way I would
get one.I would appreciate any and all help,thanks

Rocks

wner a 240D with manual in the '80s

Sprint 6 · Aug 25, 2020

Why would you want to buy a 30-40 year old car for "reliability"? I had a friend who ran a European car shop, I worked for him 10 years ago. Those Mercedes are anything but reliable in this day and age. Most of the diesels are hard starters because of low compression and worn out injectors/pumps. They need plugged in at all times. Stupidly, the power brakes, the power door locks, HVAC, and engine shut off are all powered by vacuum, on a diesel that doesn't male any vacuum. They have a vacuum pump to supply the vacuum, but most of them the diaphragm is ruptured, or the car has so many vacuum leaks from rotten lines that it will not shut off except by opening the hood and pushing the manual stop. They leave a puddle of oil wherever they are parked. A 300TD is the minimum that would be enjoyable to drive, the lower models are slugs. A 240D is by far the slowest car I have ever driven, we had a long grade leaving the shop, it took that car almost 2 miles of WOT to hit 45mph.

JD Dave · Aug 25, 2020

I can't comment on the standard trans question but the 300 5 cylinder models are very reliable. The lesser, plain Jane models were used as taxis almost everywhere and would invariably go a cool 200,000 or more.

jaoneill · Aug 25, 2020

Back in the 90's when I was working and racking up 80k a year on the road I had a number of MB diesels, early 80's and newer. I found that if maintained they were very reliable. Never had issues with starting in the cold; one time I left the 85 at the airport in Syracuse for two weeks in January, -25 the night I got back and it took two cycles of the glow plugs but she fired up and made the two hour drive home. My 84 & 85 190D's were 4 cylinder NA and a bit underpowered but delivered 45 mpg or better. The 87 190D was a 5 cylinder NA and drove like a gasser, plenty of spunk. The 82 300SD was the 5 cylinder turbo and was a ful sized cruiser, again hard to tell it wasn't a gasser other than the sound. All of thee had 125K or so on the clock when I bought them and, after a couple of years of use, all retired with over 300K. I wouldn't have a 4 banger if I lived in hill country, but for mostly flatland driving they are awesome on fuel.

Dan in North Houston · Aug 25, 2020

Dad had a '68 or '69 220D with a 4 speed on the floor. Reverse was just the opposite of the reverse in a VW beetle. If I recall, you had to pull up, and left side forward for reverse, where VW was push down and to the right for reverse. There were several times where we left it at the local service station for an oil change or inspection, and they would call, asking how you got the darned thing into reverse.

JMOR · Aug 25, 2020

(quoted from post at 09:43:31 08/25/20) Dad had a '68 or '69 220D with a 4 speed on the floor. Reverse was just the opposite of the reverse in a VW beetle. If I recall, you had to pull up, and left side forward for reverse, where VW was push down and to the right for reverse. There were several times where we left it at the local service station for an oil change or inspection, and they would call, asking how you got the darned thing into reverse.

hile no match for my Vette, the 240D managed enough acceleration to get me above school zone speed limit after dropping off kids at school. Tried, "officer this thing wont accelerate fast enough to get me to that speed in 200 yards!".....but he wrote me up anyway.

Wife loved her little 240D.

shinnery · Aug 26, 2020

My 300TD definitely needs to loose that Harrison Compressor for the A/C.

merlynr · Aug 26, 2020

(quoted from post at 03:15:55 08/26/20) My 300TD definitely needs to loose that Harrison Compressor for the A/C.

Went to a funeral and my cousin (girl ) drove in and parked by me and she was driving a smallish mb and on the side it said
compressor. I was always curious about it.

jaoneill · Aug 26, 2020

[/quote]
I may be wrong but I remember seeing those at the MB stealership in the late 90's, early 2000's. They looked to be somewhat of an entry level econobox sort of rig that would be handy scooting around tight city streets.

oldproudvet · Aug 26, 2020

Have a older 240D 4 spd, it'll outlive both of us. So basic, simple, strong and very very reliable. You can't go wrong. Larry

old mercedes diesel question

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Similar threads