i have not had a 116 but i have had the 115.

i count the 123 the simplist to work on and the most reliable.

the 115 is prob next and the 126 is a close third.

really all are pretty equal in quality but the 126s tend to have more electric things like seats and such that are a problem when they get old. chassis and engine wise they are all pretty equal. in fact mechanically there is not a lot to differentiate them. they share a huge amount of mechanical bits.

engines trannies and rear ends. brakes too.

drive a bunch of them, decide what model you like best and buy the nicest example you can afford.

the cheapest to drive and work on is no doubt the 240d stick. i would pick the 83 model as the best. i have owned ten or twelve of them.

tom w

tom w
tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.