240 General: 1990 240 GL saloon vs 1990 240 DL estate

[dickboy1]

Having just proposed to the love of my life (who already has two kids) we have found out she is now pregnant... then, throw in my five year old, and suddenly my beloved 1990 240 GL saloon is just too small! (I really can't believe I've gone from one child to four in seven months!!)

I have found a 1990 240 DL estate which has the 7-seater conversion, and I'm thinking of buying it.

I am unsure whether to sell my saloon (as I can't afford to keep both on the road)... therefore, can anyone tell me how interchangeable parts are between these two models (particularly bodywork wise - apart from the obvious differences!!) as I may keep the saloon but donate a few bits and pieces to smarten up the estate - and decare the saloon SORN with a view to restoring it at a later date.

Any ideas?

Cheers.

[jimleitz]

Hi;

I'm sure you'll like the estate. And your kids will compete to see who gets to sit in the rear-facing jump seat in the back.

As for interchangeability of parts, both cars should be the same to the back of the rear doors. I looked up both the Bentley manual and my owner's manual and the only difference is in overall length (estate is .8 in. longer) overall height (1.2 in.) and curb weight (270 lbs heavier). Wheelbase and all other dimensions are the same. If you look at the rear doors on the estate you'll see they slant down in a shallow curve at the top and a wedge shaped piece of steel is attached to the roof to fit the gap. I believe these doors were made for the sedan and the roof of the estate was reshaped to fit.

BTW, congratulations on your expanding family.

Jim

[Paul240480]

Yeh, congrats on the family 'growth'

GL to DL, doe's that mean 5 gears to 4 gears? Injection to Carb? If yes maybe a little more fuel consumption & less relaxed motorway driving due to higher revs.......... or is it with O/D?
Just a thought, & I maybe wrong................ usually am LOL.
Good luck!

[dickboy1]

Hi Jim and Paul -

Thanks for all your help and info. It's LPG, I forgot to mention - check it out on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I'm not sure whether that means it's carb or inject, nor 4 or 5 gears... what do you reckon?

Do you think this car is worthy my while? I'm delighted with my trusty saloon of the same age (and in far better cosmetic conditioin) but really need something equally trustworthy, twice as economical.. and capable of carting around the hippo and all our offspring! (she know's I call her that, it's a term of endearment!! - she is pregnant, after all!)...

I'm in Newquay, so it's quite a trip to Nottingham, but I'm up for it if it's worth it? What do you reckon the tops I should pay should be?

[Paul240480]

Being a H reg, its gonna be injection, think it needs to be for LPG anyway?

I would have thought 5 speed at that age too, but always thought DL= 4 or 4+o/d?

Headlight reflectors are about had it, you can see the 'dullness' in the pic. Maybe MOT failure.
Replacements are expensive, could be around £200 from Brookhouse if you have to replace the whole things, just reflectors if you can find will be less.

Paintwork will come up with a bit of elbow grease

Rear lamp cluster = £35 from Braydons or GSF (New).

HTH

Good Luck, which ever way you go.

[radiomark]

gsf do headlights for 56 quid each.welcome to the 4 kid club.

[loki_the_glt]

Originally Posted by Paul240480

Being a H reg, its gonna be injection, think it needs to be for LPG anyway?

I would have thought 5 speed at that age too, but always thought DL= 4 or 4+o/d?

Probably a 5-speed box; LPG will work with carbs, and it's sometimes easier to fit as there's no electrickery trying to manage the engine. Early DL models had a 4-speed; the O/D was optional and showed up on GL, GLE and GLT models too instead of a 5-speeder - I reckon it just depended on what was lying around the factory.