The shifter is needing bushings, when I first got my '85 190D I couldn't get it
into reverse reliably because of them. A couple times I had to push the car out
of parking spaces...
The clutch issue is EXACTLY like my '78 240D. The later clutch rod is the only
one available and is the wrong length. I didn't know that and threw the old one
away accidentally. I'm going to try to modify a newer one to work as I haven't
had any luck getting a correct one and the short travel aggravates me.
-Curt
Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 08:22:39 -0700
From: Alex Chamberlain <apchamberl...@gmail.com>
To: Mercedes Discussion List <mercedes@okiebenz.com>
Subject: [MBZ] Stick 240D adventures
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Went to see a '78 240D 4-speed (W123) advertised on CL. Pretty good
cosmetic shape but some weird things compared to other 123s I've
driven. Steering was extremely loose, is this the infamous
left-hand-threaded steering box bolt that needs to be tightened? The
seats were an odd vinyl-cloth mix, sides Tex as usual, but the fabric
in the center was not the usual Euro scratchy tweed but a smooth
satiny material with a sort of herringbone pattern.
The clutch and master cylinder were new, according to the seller, and
the clutch seemed to have about half an inch of engagement range,
right at the top of the pedal travel. The shifter had none of that
notchy feel that I associate with German cars, but was really loose
and sloppy---the proverbial broomstick in a barrel of rocks. Combined
with the feeling of barely adequate torque and no power, it was more
than a little like driving a VW microbus.
Seller had some weird ideas he'd picked up "from the 240D nuts
online." For example, the car was riding on 205/70R14s on the stock
wheels ("for better ground clearance---it's two inches higher this
way!"), and he said that although he was afraid to try it "everyone
says you should burn the clutch when starting out" on a 240D... by
which he meant that on every takeoff you should floor the accelerator,
then at redline gradually let out the clutch to accelerate, slipping
it all the way like a motorcycle.
Climate control was wonky, too, despite being the famously reliable
manual 240D system! The blower fan barely worked, A/C didn't (later
found out the belt was gone), there was a strong smell of coolant at
all times, and the temperature sliders didn't do anything---there was
full heat all the time. Seller thought that was normal. "You control
the heat with these!" (indicating the twist open/shut feature of the
side dash vents). (Never mind that there was hot air coming out the
foot vents regardless.)
All in all rather disappointing.
Alex
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