OK, it's cold in Michigan today, not the day for this to happen. 1991 240, with "a lot" of miles. Daughter was driving down the road and "heard a thump in the engine", immediately all the warning lights came on and the heater started blowing cold air within a minute, then in another minute the acceleration went out, she tried to pull into a parking lot and the steering was really difficult. When she tried to start it back up it sounds like the starter initially turns but dies immediately and the engine never rolls over. I'm afraid to ask but any ideas?

 

Have you looked under the hood? Are the belts still there? Is the battery dead? If ALL the lights were on, I should hope the driver would pull over and stop in less than a minute. Then, another minute and I imagine you mean by "no acceleration" that the car stalled. That would explain hard steering, just coasting into a parking lot. If you are very lucky this may be caused by a broken belt, and your daughter kept driving on just a battery for much longer than a minute, until the battery died.

 

i've had the same problem as well. except it didn't happen to me while i was driving ('91 740 turbo). turned out to be my alternator belt. as others have said. have a quick look at the belts. im sure your car can be revived.

 

It'll be the alternator belt most likely. I shredded mine on the freeway. All the lights on the dash lit up.I then drove15-20 miles back home on the battery.