1976 Mercedes-Benz W115 240D review from North America
"One of the best all-round cars I have driven"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Water pump replaced in 1987.
A steering link rusted away in 1989. Cost $10 to repair.
Glow plugs replaced twice in the last 10 years.
General comments?
It drives like a tank and don't think about getting one if you need a getaway car. It is slow but steady, and I would think nothing of getting into this 27 year-old car right now and driving a thousand miles.
It's main problem is that in cold weather it requires several Hail Mary's to get it started, but once it is running nothing will stop it.
Mercedes corrected the cold-starting problem in later models, and modern Mercedes diesels start in seconds.
You can pick up a decent 240D for $1000 to $2000. Don't be afraid if the miles seem high - these engines will do 2 or 3 times the miles other cars can do. Just make sure you have a battery recharger on board because in cold weather your battery will need to be 100 percent.
Recommended reviews
| A great car, but expensive to repair |
|
| Wonderful car, would like to fix the smoke screen problem |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1976 |
| First year of ownership | 1985 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | diesel Automatic |
| Performance marks | 6 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 9 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 9 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 70000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 140000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 29th December, 2003 |