Thanx to you folks who helped with leads and checking out cars.

I recently bought an '83 300CD 140 k miles and have begun the adventure: buying more metric tools, hunting for and ordering parts, boring my spouse endlessly with mercedes trivia, Whaahoo!! What fun!
The 300CD has NO leg room in the back ,but is, I think, lighter and perhaps more spirited to drive. I sure do wish it had taller gears in the rear end though.

Thanx again,
Chuck
aka Alberta Luthier