Ride Along in My Mercedes 240D 4-Speed: See Why I Named it OVERDRIVE!

September 2019 Update: This Benz is now for sale. See the full list of all the work that has been done on it to prep it for a trip across the U.S.A. mercedessource... The best conversion you can make on a W123 240D with a manual transmission. I will take you out on the road and prove it! View more ride along videos with Kent: • Mercedes Ride-a-long w...

[@mikecorleone6797]

We put in a 617 turbo and a 2.88 rear end in a friend’s 240d and wow what a difference.. 4 speed 617 feels incredible. My 1970 f100 has a turbo 617 and a 5 speed in it and it’s my baby..

[@keithgreenaway2690]

In1984 I bought a 300D from the Benz dealer in Freiburg, Germany. It was a demonstrator car, and only had 2500 miles on it. I paid $8800 for it (27,000 DM) and the dealer had it shipped for me back to San Francisco. I had to do a few modifications to make it street legal for the US DOT, but for about $12,000 including the shipping, I had a virtually new 300D that at the time was selling for $30,000 new in the US. It was an amazing car, simple, economical and extremely durable. It had the 4 speed manual, and I put 250,000 miles on it in 12 years. The only major repairs I made were a new clutch at 180K, and syncros in the transmission. My son was hit by a little old lady who ran a stop sign, and her car folded up. The Benz took in on the right front wheel well. I wanted to have insurance fix it, but because of the high mileage they chose to total it. It still looked new with perfect paint, and they paid me $6500. I have owned 5 more Benzes since then, but the old 300D holds a special place in my heart. One of the 2 Benzes I still have is a 1990 300CE coupe. Those W124 cars were made to the same standard as the old W123's and it is a very elegant car. The new Mercedes are just not made to the same standard. They are made for the 3 year lease customer, not the long term owner.

[@lieutenantdan8170]

"$12,000 including the shipping, I had a virtually new 300D that at the time was selling for $30,000 new in the US" and that is why mercedes lobbied to get the government to pass a ban on importing cars unless 25 years or older

[@avivscrewvalla]

The Digby series is genuine entertainment. Well done Bergsmas! Hope to see more classic Mercedes diesel troubleshooting!

[@waltpartymiller6802]

Forget to mention this. Agreed! It is a fantastic- leave them hanging (LOL)- series.

[@kewlbean]

Very nice. My 240D loved to go 75-80 but boy did it make a racket!

[@elfbar1576]

I couldn’t imagine getting my 240 up to 75-80 😂 yet to take it on the highway yet

[@BobTheHatKing]

Your channel is a must watch for anyone who loves old Mercedes!

[@helmutquad1960]

THE BEST MERCEDES they ever build was the 280 E automatic! I had one with the 6 cylinders in a row. A little expensive but with all the extras of an s - class Mercedes. Very, very comfortable leather seats , climate control, electrical Roof , side mirrors, automatic door lock and so on. And the engine with the double overhead camshaft looked like an aircraft engine ! Is a great car for travelling on long motorways. Never had a better car ! Greetings and best wishes to all Mercedes - fans !

[@note_finger]

its not really the best if there needs to be an engine rebuild or valve job often.. the 616 is factually the best engine with minimum work on the engine, and the material of the engine (cast iron) makes it hard for it to die

[@amylokach175]

I have an ‘84 240d Made in Stuutgart , a Euro 5 speed. It has had lots of repairs but now has 320,000 on it. Daily driver. Just put a new clutch in. Before that car I had an automatic ‘82 that I rebuilt , but it got wrecked. Twice actually! Second time destroyed the wheel well in the front right and bowed out the whole front end. Couldn’t be saved. Love these cars they’re tanks that last and last!

[@HongNguyen-my5oq]

I want to go work for this guy

[@waltpartymiller6802]

Inspired me to go for a country road drive in my 300CE, which was very enjoyable. Thanks Kent!

[@williamdomstrand3782]

This is my dream car. I drove an 82 300D up to 356,000 miles. A dear friend bought it & drove it to 454,000. Then another friend bought it but soon gave it to his teen son and I lost track of it, though occasionally seeing it on the road. The 4spd would make it perfect! I have only driven one with a 4spd, when buying a car for my daughter. It was a 230 gas car but the 4spd felt so natural. Sadly, she did not share my love for old Mercedes and traded it in on a prius. I was disappointed lol. My last diesel was an ‘05 E320 cdi which I replaced with a ‘14 E350. But my love affair with old Mercedes began with the ‘82 300D & it always needed a manual transmission. Genius!

[@williamdomstrand3782]

This is so cool...😎 This will be my car, I believe, and will keep throughout the remainder of this lifetime and then to my grandson, Roman. It will be driven. Look forward to the cross country drive too... Fun! Fun! Fun! Overdrive is a sweetheart!

[@honestguy7764]

I had one volvo 940 turbodiesel with the m46 4 speed manual transmision with the overdrive. Being operated by a swith in the gear knob, it was like firing a missile every time you connected it!

[@lucashicks3668]

I swapped a 2.88 for a 2.88 in my '85 this week in the driveway all by my lonesome without a transmission jack. It certainly was easy out.. but not so much easy in! But it's doable.

[@bobjohnson205]

You took out a 2.88 and put a 2.88 back in?

[@bilalahmed2123]

Nice car. My dad had a white 1983 240d back in the 80’s !

[@debrasimms716]

I drove a 240 d & 1975 mercedes convertible w/ steering on right during my nanny days in Dallas TX. Great cars even Greater Family i was employed by, Lou & Susan Reese.

[@HERMANS1N]

That car will never die

[@williamdomstrand3782]

Oh how I appreciate Overdrive. Wonderful car!

[@friedookiehil]

In South Africa we always bought them in manual. Auto was a sloth of note, even 300D was Bad. Lucky you in USA got Turbo D Mercedes's ages ago.

[@danielmaxhoffmann1917]

Thank you for the nice videos. My heart is at BMW, but I have a LOT of respect to the old Mercedes cars. Bests!

[@maxwellspeedwell2585]

NO!!!!!!!!!!! I know a retired BMW mechanic. He said, “They really are the ultimate driving machine, they just aren’t the intimate owners machine.” I have to agree. Had two of those train wrecks. Never buy a BMW.

[@antonhuman8446]

Only heard to the end that it will also work in an automatic. Settled thanks!

[@maxwellspeedwell2585]

“…you really have to fight that thing to get it back in there.” NO KIDDING!!😂

[@davecurry8300]

Greetings from Sydney, Australia. Not many w123's left down here, but the occasional special does pop up from time to time. Love your work.

[@rb.867]

You gotta love the Mercedes’ jack also……and over looked and under worshipped device Mercedes made. It raises the car in less than 2 minutes!

[@yugo63]

Mr Ken, In Buying an Older MB video, you spoke of undercarriage inspection, taking a jack and jack stands, etc. Selfie Sticks offer an alternative method. You can video, pause and blow up an inspection area. I always take a Code Reader.

[@debrasimms716]

One day i saw the 1975 mercedes w/ steering on right ,was gone.Since they coul never get car up to code, Susan had brought it to dealer & said to me , "dont ask how much i sold it for" that was 1 mans lucky day!

[@mobydyson9580]

What? Mt. Baker? I did not realize you were local. How does that lower differential do on our Pacific Northwest hills?

[@rb.867]

Thanks for the info Kent. I just found under layers of grease and dirt……my ratio 3.07

[@TheMoorland1]

240 D is perfect as it is , I love thrashing mine and it loves being thrashed

[@jolenewolfe1793]

Kudos Kent superb conversion

[@kermitefrog64]

I went to the 205 70/r14 Michelin tires and it helped to make my 240D more comfortable going down the highway. Unfortunately Michelin does not make that tire any longer. I am considering going to a 205 75/r14 for my next tire purchase.

[@Christof708]

I love the hubcaps.

[@kevinhabener1279]

I now have an '83 240D w/ 4speed a manual, too. And I'm now interested in the same thing. And I live in Washington, too. I just found out that a factory stock 240 with stick-shift, only has a top speed of 84mph or so on paper. In the real world, I had it up to 76 on level ground and that was as fast as he'll go. It actually do 80 or little bit more, only if it's going downhill.

[@rymanh9094]

I bought a manual 240D in Northern Washington and jumped in drive it straight back to Northern Nevada. I got it to go 85 on some long downhills, uphill was another story! What a dog, but what a great car.

[@pisteroytuniador]

I love your videos, greetings from Argentina!

[@khaledal.shakhtali1568]

Beautiful classic car

[@HafChi]

Perfect Mercedes know how! Excellent Kent!!!

[@TheLanceFrazier]

Kent, I have a W123 FrankenBenz. It is a 1977 chassis with 1982(?) doors, 1980 interior, and a beautifully rebuilt 1979 240d engine ( engine rebuild was $6,750) coupled to a four-speed automatic. The only part that is important to me is the engine; it came out of my mother's car after she totaled it with about 12k miles on it-and very little added since. Overall, what I have is a parts car with a strong engine. I would love to find a great donor car for a swap. Help! from Eastern Kentucky :]

[@gosportjamie]

Ah, the manual 4-speed 240D W123. Probably the most famous taxi-spec Benz, hence the very short gearing. Great round town, not so great on highways...

[@payrback6913]

we still use it here in morocco as kind of taxi car

[@ykshorts6649]

@@payrback6913 actually, my dad owns one, i even drove it to the university, nice car

[@oelz9109]

I'm gonna try this soon.

[@TheMentalblockrock]

You can't let Digby die!

[@ericellquist7007]

My 240d has an opposite problem with the speedometer, at 70 mph it is actually going about 65. It seems to vary across the gear range (4 speed std). The faster it goes, the less variation...

[@furiouswolf777voodoo4]

Luv your vids Ken Thanks!

[@Davran2742]

I bought a 'new' '83 240d, and I'm new to w123s. Can the gears in the speedo drive be changed to make the speedo accurate? Are these in the trans? Thanks.

[@1575murray]

It's like having an overdrive fifth gear. If this car were made today it would have a 5 or 6 speed transmission.

[@carloscardova4221]

good video, you should record your test drive more often , i could hear the engine pretty loud from here.

[@fran97hs]

Kent looks really tall. Also great video as always

[@tripleGmoto]

I'm currently in the market for an Auto 240d. I would LOVE to buy from Mercedes Source if there is any available inventory. Located in Socal but willing to fly and drive.

[@EnriqueLopez-hb5jn]

This car you showed here was it the same rust free car, that had the alloys on, eventhough the car looks good with both alloys & steel wheels, depending the mood I am in if it is in the sports mood the alloys look good, now if it is very elegant, distinguished look, the steel wheels with hubcaps, it gives it that touch, also knowing you are Mercedes Benz guy, have you thought about a 1955 Gullwing or the 190 counterpart?.

[@Tenkaichibudokai22]

¿What happened to Digby?

[@thomashvnmusic]

Had the same question.

[@bengarrido638]

Yup , everyday I check and Nothing

[@danielmaxhoffmann1917]

@@bengarrido638 me too...

[@PIAZI123]

Loved them but never wanted them since never appreciated some of the owners' noses. I am going to look at a 240d 83 with body damage, all parts there and not bad supposedly, for my 20 year old son. Godspeed. Will post. My own elder brother is one of them owners', clarification noted. Easy!

[@kimoarmstrong3595]

Is there a similar swap for 114 240d?

[@johnpalmer5131]

Could you make the added center display show RPM as an option?

[@torisward3737]

I would like to purchase one of your cars and drive it back to the East cost.

[@athuairush235]

Hey, Ken, thanks for another great video!!! Wondering if you think the rear-end differential conversion could work on my 207D camper van? I'm getting used to it, but the shifting dynamic is exactly how you described it on this 240D (it has the same engine as 240D, & it's 4-speed, manual transmission), before you did the conversion...Wondering if something similar may be possible w/the van, to help get going better in 1st gear, & henceforth & so on w/other gears, like you showed in this video, giving it a smoother & higher cruising speed on highways, etc.? Thanks again!!!

[@Mercedessource]

I have no experience with the 207D. I am not even sure a different rear end is available. I suspect the vehicle is just too heavy for that type of conversion.

[@athuairush235]

Yeah, thanks!, I imagined as much, possibly...It should be fine, learning the vehicle & shifting better & better...probably don't want to go too fast in a camper, anyways!...It's an interesting premise, though, I'll keep in mind!...Thanks for getting back & all your help!!! Peace...

[@SterneBlog]

Don't do it again Kent (;-) !! My old Taxi Boss will kill us if we used our 240D in this way ! In the 80ties i was a cab driver on 240D and my boss was calculating everything we do.. miles, fuel consumption and money we earn. My 240 D has over 500.000 miles - all works well, but the springs in the front seat were down as an empty flourbag. Greeething from good old germany, homeland of every 240D. PS ship him back to europe, your 240D become a new life as cab !

[@PatrickMersinger]

Can you get the speedometer to match the gps speed? Or is it not doable due to the conversion?

[@VedranKasic]

Can this Mercedes 240D use heavy duty diesel engine oil like Mobil Delvac Mx 15w-40, Shell Rimula or Rotella?

[@brycenator]

yes

[@malcolmlane-ley2044]

I'm loving every minute Kent but Digby has become the episode I need to see as badly as "who shot JR?" C'mon...please.

[@rivatrebbo983]

@Mercedessource nice swap, but I've always wondered if with the 3.07 could make it up long and steep hills, or san francisco streets.

[@Mercedessource]

Of course you will have to shift down sooner, but you would be able to get up those steep hills by shifting down into second or even first gear.

[@sammieelaouad9511]

Hallo is IT possibel to put rear end 3.07 in a 5 Gear 240d?

[@vinnybruce2874]

I have a 1983 model

[@hondanation9375]

Great videos what happen to digby?

[@Requiescat_in_pace]

Nice vehicle.

[@danpicocfp6276]

was this car sold?

[@Mercedessource]

follow the link in the video description.

[@faressh772]

Loveyoure vid

[@alexinnewwest1860]

That 240D has power windows ?

[@Mercedessource]

Many U.S. models did have power windows and power sunroofs,

[@alexinnewwest1860]

Interesting, thank you. I’m not to far away up in Vancouver Ca and have worked on these cars. We have lots of 240s and 300s but I have never seen a 240 with PW Learn something new everyday

[@Momchique75]

What about hillls?

[@Mercedessource]

There is something that is called "downshifting." It is not the rear different ratio that is in play, but rather the ratio of engine speed to the differential.

[@SkodaHobbybob]

How much rpm at 60 mph in 4th gear?

[@DeanMk1]

With the stock 3.69 gears, 60 mph = 3106 rpm. Swapping in the 3.07 gears, 60 mph = 2584 rpm. A difference of 522 rpm.

[@1703clem]

What about an automatic 240d?

[@Mercedessource]

I address that at the end of the video.

[@ozanoutcast]

Old Mercs were built to last.

[@jacquesdaoud4263]

u convenienced me

[@debrasimms716]

Below comments relate to years 1983- 85🌎🌍🌏 🚴⬅current car

[@ابومعتزابومعتز-س8ق]

مرسيدس.متينه

[@Mercedessource]

بنز