lanciamatt Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 Back in the mid 80s when I was a kid my dad had a Mercedes 240d w115. He imported it in 83, I loved it, it was just one of those cars where the memory sticks. The final straw came when he was reversing off drive there was a load bang and something sheared off the suspension due to rust. It was only used for short journeys then (different times). Eventually got sold in 86 to a guy from Huddersfield who wanted it as he already had one. Fast forward and I've been trying to get some info on it but only had a partial reg I knew it was a Q plate and ended in WWJ but didn't know the mid bit. Well today I was bord at work and went on DVLA car tax checker. So I started putting reg numbers in and I found it. It is Q82 WWJ. so I phoned DVLA wondering what if any info they might have on it. Turns out it's still registered to my Dad lol. It's a long shot but does and one in Huddersfield area know where a old W115 merc might be parked up. It was beige reg Q82 WWJ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pillock Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 You were lucky to get them to tell you that! Maybe ask on some of the spotted car Facebook groups as well as here, see if it rings a bell. The good news is a Q plate Merc will be memorable. The bad news is, if it was scrapped before the SORN rules came into play then it might be fifth generation washing machine by now. My VW Beetle is "registered" to me but only because there was no requirement to SORN it back then so I just waved it off on the back of the scrap truck. I've moved house a dozen times since then too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timewaster Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 Rusty, Q plate and sold probably for spares 32 years ago? Er, yeah.... Good luck with the search. Dick Longbridge and Lacquer Peel 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanciamatt Posted October 25, 2018 Author Share Posted October 25, 2018 I know I've more chance of finding elvis working behind the bar at our local WMC. But worth a try Tam, alcyonecorporation, Dick Longbridge and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanciamatt Posted October 25, 2018 Author Share Posted October 25, 2018 I know I've more chance of finding elvis working behind the bar at our local WMC. But worth a try Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lesapandre Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 I bought a LHD column change 240D in Bradford in 1991 or 2 off a guy at the side of the road outside the car auction. It was white MoT...column change. But I don't have any record of the reg. It was scrapped in 93. Smallish world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bren Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 Best of luck with your search. Unfortunately I would imagine if it did exist Jimmy Hoffa's name would be on the V5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeRover Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 I would say it either went for spares or export short after it was sold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan_ZTT Posted October 25, 2018 Share Posted October 25, 2018 I know I've more chance of finding elvis working behind the bar at our local WMC. But worth a tryhttps://youtu.be/QccPUSTMriM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanciamatt Posted October 26, 2018 Author Share Posted October 26, 2018 You never know, it might have got put in some nice dry garage somewhere LightBulbFun 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanciamatt Posted October 26, 2018 Author Share Posted October 26, 2018 I was talking to my dad about it and aparantly it was a bit of a trend in early 80s to import them as they were much cheaper over there. He went with my uncle and some mates and they fetched 5 back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sierraman Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 I can tell you with 99% certainty it’s a Miele washing machine now living in Barnstaple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocket88 Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 I can tell you with 99% certainty it’s a Miele washing machine now living in Barnstaple. If it is, it's probably showing more life than the inhabitants........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeRover Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 We used to buy merc spares from a guy in Barnsley who bought them in Germsny then just drove them back to break, diesel anything was dear back then.The 200D and 240D were slow by the standards of the day even then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanciamatt Posted October 26, 2018 Author Share Posted October 26, 2018 That's where we live Barnsley, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1duck Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 For a second I thought it might have been the one my dad bought, but his was green. He did work in Huddersfield though, so I had a moment of surely not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artdjones Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 We used to buy merc spares from a guy in Barnsley who bought them in Germsny then just drove them back to break, diesel anything was dear back then.The 200D and 240D were slow by the standards of the day even then.They didn't do greatmileage,either.Autocar only got 30mpg out of a 240D and 27mpg from a 300D whereas the CX 2500D did around 35 in their hands ,and was faster. Lacquer Peel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeRover Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 They didn't do greatmileage,either.Autocar only got 30mpg out of a 240D and 27mpg from a 300D whereas the CX 2500D did around 35 in their hands ,and was faster.I think ours did slightly better than that, certainly the 190 or 200D fintail we had topped 40mpg and was capable of more with my mum driving steadily, the next one was a 220 or 240D and from hazy memories did mid 30s after being converted to a manual from auto as it never got out of first gear.....it was a bugger to start on a cold morning even after a rebuild, we resorted to leaving a kerosene heater under it at night after nearly setting it on fire letting it suck in flames from a burning rag to start it on freezing morning. It steadfastly refused to start if you went near it with ether too. The old fintail used to start no matter what, it was registered on a G or H from memory having been brought back from abroad by someone from the British consulate I think possibly from Gibraltar. Anyway the guy in Barnsley was in a shed behind some terraces - I think he used to advertise in Exchange and Mart at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junkman Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 The best preserved W115 in Huddersfield, 23 years ago: michael t, Lacquer Peel and forddeliveryboy 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanciamatt Posted October 26, 2018 Author Share Posted October 26, 2018 I can't remember if the guy who bought it if his was beige also or a light shitty greeney grey colour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisbon_road Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 An aside, but just goes to show, if you keep ringing the DVLA and getting different people, eventually someone will actually tell you something! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artdjones Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 I think ours did slightly better than that, certainly the 190 or 200D fintail we had topped 40mpg and was capable of more with my mum driving steadily, the next one was a 220 or 240D and from hazy memories did mid 30s after being converted to a manual from auto as it never got out of first gear.....it was a bugger to start on a cold morning even after a rebuild, we resorted to leaving a kerosene heater under it at night after nearly setting it on fire letting it suck in flames from a burning rag to start it on freezing morning. It steadfastly refused to start if you went near it with ether too. The old fintail used to start no matter what, it was registered on a G or H from memory having been brought back from abroad by someone from the British consulate I think possibly from Gibraltar. Anyway the guy in Barnsley was in a shed behind some terraces - I think he used to advertise in Exchange and Mart at the time.Yes,Autocar used to say that normal use might produce around 10% better than their figures, which included their performance testing.I have their test of the CX2500D which has a comparison with the other large diesel cars on the market at the time(1979) I might get time to scan it later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanciamatt Posted October 26, 2018 Author Share Posted October 26, 2018 Before when I phoned I never had a full reg. I asked if they could search by name but said not just reg. So when I phoned yesterday I said I'm after info on a car, she asked reg, then asked name and address, because I gave correct details as they had she confirmed, yes it's still registered to him. I bet loads of people have vehicles still registered to them that they don't know about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artdjones Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 Here's the comparison I mentioned earlier.The Citroen did 31.5mpg,not 35,but the 240D only 29.The Citroen had much better performance,although it was still pretty slow by modern standards.Aerodynamics does count.The prices differed a lot,though.The CX was £5400,and the 240D was nearly £9000,almost 2 thirds more,and the 300D was over twice the Citroen's price at £11100. Edit:- Autocar got the Citroen's price wrong.Their own list elsewhere in the magazine shows it's price as £6732, still substantially less than the Mercedes.A Safari estate was £7039,and the 240TD estate was £10430. forddeliveryboy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgeRover Posted October 26, 2018 Share Posted October 26, 2018 God only knows what they did to get the 504 consumption that low (yes we had those as well), the 504 pick up used to better that heavily loaded up and dragging a full trailer, the family estate managed into the 40s running about, it topped a genuine 50 on a (steady) run down to London with a light trailer on the back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanciamatt Posted November 10, 2018 Author Share Posted November 10, 2018 Ours was also a pig to start when cold Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanciamatt Posted November 10, 2018 Author Share Posted November 10, 2018 I can remember the last time it was used, mot and tax had run out but we had just got 2 rabbits and they needed collecting so mi dad decided to use merc, it broke down in Mobil petrol station on ardsley hill. A rhubarb and custard coloured chevette jump started us Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lacquer Peel Posted November 10, 2018 Share Posted November 10, 2018 The fuel consumption figures on these old road tests usually include performance testing and mixed driving. Interesting that the non turbo diesel CX is quicker than the 604 Turbo D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Reverend Bluejeans Posted November 11, 2018 Share Posted November 11, 2018 Best old oiler was the E28 524td, 115 bhp and 40 mpg. Some Mercs were made in India: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=K5_eDWm4YaY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanciamatt Posted November 11, 2018 Author Share Posted November 11, 2018 I've had a insight into how the merc come about, my dad ha a Morris 1800 land crab that burnt oil big time, my uncle by this time had bought the cafe on Kings Park in Bournemouth so he moved down there to run that. He at time had a 1100 austin, he met mi dad half way near Silverstone at the nara boat pub. Mi dad drove back upto Barnsley pruthering smoke out in his 1800, then the merc W115 story starts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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