The diesel guys don't want to hear this, but you can buy a 300E for ~60% of the cost of the diesel (in a 124 car), and its smoother, faster and parts are cheaper (and easier to find used.) You lose 8mpg. Maintenance is probably a toss up. The diesels are MUCH more expensive in the 124 body. Check out autotrader.com. You will pay a few thousand dollars (at least!) to gain 10mpg at the pump.

I'm a diesel lover too (my 300D is my second in 9 years), but after 1985, the gas v. diesel debate gets complicated.

Like sixto said, decide what chassis you want, then pick a drivetrain. It probably snows where you are, so rustability becomes an issue too.

I suggest you spend a week or so (there is that much information on this site in the archives) and get a feel for the strenghts and weaknesses of each model.

Might want to check out what 'wolf walker' has to say about MB diesels. I think he came over from VW diesels.

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'90 300SE 298k
-300K and it gets put into retirement.
'80 300D 255k Purchased new by family in 1980.

Had a:
1973 220 (gas)
1980 300SD
1992 400E

I've been on autotrader a lot lately and I did notice the price difference between comparable W124 300E and 300D.

I keep going back and forth between the W123 and the W124 style. I can't decide ...

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1965 VW Deluxe Microbus

300SD is a W116 (78-80) or a W126 (81-85)

Get a Diesel Vanagon to keep the 65 bus company

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

No, that would be cheating on the '65. When I get a Mercedes that's branching out

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1965 VW Deluxe Microbus

i guess its just a natural progression to go from air cooled flat 4s to the benz diesel, if you leaf through the idiot guide, there are many old mercs in there(love that guys work!) both writing and art are great(yeah, i know, its two different guys..)

also-- for you diesel people, pick up this book-- john muir's idiot guide for vws its a hell of a read. taught me how an internal combustion engine works=)

ive got a little red 65 1200 sedan. good little car, about a bazillion miles, came with *plaid* seat covers! its being restored and cant be driven but i guess thats good, ive always wanted a pristine beetle. one with a white interior (waiting to be put in.. ivory vinyl with camel tweedinserts / tan carpets) itll be wonderful when its done and...dare i say it? ...faster than the mercedes

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http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...Untitled-1.jpg

I'd like to find a clean low mileage Diesel Vanagon, I've seen one and sorta like it OTOH the stall is pretty full now besides my wife might put me out of the house if I bring home another vehicle!
Another soulution for m.skeen is to buy one of each!

1971 220 (gas) 4-spd manual 106441*
1979 300TD w/ ’85 turbo engine 298446
1983 300D 244626
1985 300TD 226868
1987 300D #1 262300
1987 300D #2 project car WIP
* not sure if its once over on the odometer or twice around!

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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

Anyone try running the newer MB diesels on WVO?

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

When I started talking about getting a Merecedes my wife rolled her eyes. She does put up with all of my car talk and even helps me out when I'm working on our cars so I can't complain. At least she didn't tell me I had to sell the bus to get diesel!

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1965 VW Deluxe Microbus

Not sure about 'later' but once in a while I run the SDL on almost straight new VO with no ill effect. I don't do it often enough to comment on long-term effects.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

I meant the ones we were discussing in this thread, your SDL would be one of them.

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

I think this is sorta contradictory...more parts generally = more stuff to need maintenence (therefore) equal maintence between the two = one fails first

The 617 stands up pretty well...you don't often find examples of people abandoning their 617 when it "clunks out", the "head cracks, or it "won't start"

Just like the older 220D's, 240D's, etc. the simpler engine takes less to get more as far as longevitiy.

You can drive a 617 with loads of blowby and numerous problems until the day it dies whereas the 6 cylinders are a tad more finnikey about all their trinkets working in sync.

But the 6 is fast...what can I say

You know, it really doesn't matter which motor you buy. they are all old cars and the possibility of getting burned is always there.

Just buy the nicest, best condition MB you can find with a color you like. NO matter what you buy, you're going to want another model within a year or two, GARUNTEED.

E class, S Class, diesel or gas, they're all a pain in the ass.

Time to go fix broken window regulator #8 in 10 years! Then tighten a belt, track down a vacuum leak and the list goes on. Always.

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'90 300SE 298k
-300K and it gets put into retirement.
'80 300D 255k Purchased new by family in 1980.

Had a:
1973 220 (gas)
1980 300SD
1992 400E

fahrgewehr2 I am glad I didn't buy a 560SEL at todays fuel prices. A 560 would probably get low teens 15mpg if I'm lucky. My SDL is good for 10mpg more. Maintaince is probably a wash.

Now if you compare say a W210 E320 to an E300D well then that gets tricky.

It doesn't really matter what anyone else says buy whatever you like. Their really is no bad MB or bad engine.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Only bad evaporators, heads and con rods?

Seriously, get what fits you. The rest you'll learn to live with. Or did I say that already?

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

A 560SEL is not for everyone. Its a GREAT car, powerful and fast. I am not complaining about fuel prices... if one can't afford something so simple as fuel, then driving is not for them. While I was abroad, fuel prices were nearly double of what I am paying here. We're getting a deal since our taxes are not as high.

ps - 15 mpg is what you would expect for stop and go, high traffic city driving. On the open roads, it gets close to 20 mpg.