I had a chance to "race" a W124 diesel last night. We met at a light and we gazed over each others car. I signaled over to the driver of the W124 to roll down his window and I asked him, want to see who's MB is faster. He gave me the thumbs up and said let's go for it. The light changed to green and we hit it. My car lunged further in the start and as we got going faster my lead lgot longer and longer. His headlights we just glowing beams in my diesel smoke. I didn't wait for him to catch up but I was curious as to what year the W124 was. It looked really nice and I really couldn't hear his engine while at the light. I did notice the headlamps and the looked the newer type that slant.
This is the only diesel MB I've ever raced but I feel the mods (no more smog crap and improved intake manifold) I've made to it, a W123 turbo diesel can be made to go faster than a W124.