1985 Turbo Diesel wagon - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

runitonoil · #1 11-15-2005, 01:13 PM

New to this board and Mercedes diesels. I own a '92 VW Ecodiesel and have a line on a 1985 Mercedes TD wagon with 65K miles. Garage kept. Well maintained. I don't know all the details yet, but is this a good year for Mercedes diesels? Any weak points? What kind of mileage can I expect? Performance? I know diesels aren't quick compared to gassers. My Jetta is no speedster, but it routinely gets 46 mpg and has gotten as high as 51 mpg. Thank you. Great board.

phidauex · #2 11-15-2005, 01:24 PM

1985 was the last year for the W123 body, and it was as good a year as all the previous ones. It has the OM917.952 5 cylinder turbo-diesel engine, that isn't the fastest, isn't the most efficient, but is easy to work on, and very reliable.

If the one you mention truely has only 65k on it, and no obvious major problems, buy it right away! We watched a cherry 300TD w/ 70k sell on ebay for over 17,000$ not too long ago.

My 82 and your 85 will be almost identical (there were a few tiny changes w/ 85), and they are good cars. Mine has 260k on it, and runs great, I love it. The mileage seems to vary a lot on these cars, probably relating to the injection pump. I get a consistent 23, which seems to be a little on the low side. Most people fall into the mid 20s. I normally drive a 100MPG scooter, but when I need something moved, or I want to carry people, or travel in a little more style, out comes the wagon, and it never fails to disappoint.

Let us know what you choose!

peace,
sam

rg2098 · #3 11-15-2005, 02:24 PM

85 had a different rear axle ratio to get the RPMs down on the highway.

boneheaddoctor · #4 11-15-2005, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rg2098

85 had a different rear axle ratio to get the RPMs down on the highway.

Also a year specific trans and a different tach amp than all previous W123 years...and some year specific Turbo issues I am not terribly familiar with.

kerry · #5 11-15-2005, 03:39 PM

Terrible year. Stay away from it. Let me know where it is and I;ll remove the temptation.

engatwork · #6 11-15-2005, 07:54 PM

Yea - I'm with Kerry here - where is it? Is there a phone number

? It will be way too slow for you compared to the VW.

Eugene 87 300TD · #7 11-15-2005, 10:05 PM

Can I get on board this wagon?

Why don't we all chip in and buy it....

I hope you get it and enjoy the great windfall you just came into....

Hatterasguy · #8 11-15-2005, 10:15 PM

If that wagon really is a cherry 65k mile car, BUY IT NOW!!!!

I bet you could detail that thing and flip it on ebay for $15k.

bill murrow · #9 11-15-2005, 10:47 PM

Why can't I fall into a car like that.

I've got a nice '85 myself. Great car. I get 28 MPG consistently.

With that kind of mileage I would say about the only weak point could be the A/C.

Power is great for a diesel. Some are quicker than others and some get less MPG than others but with that kind of mileage I'd say go for it.

How much? Don't think you mentioned that.

Cheers,

Bill

djugurba · #10 11-15-2005, 11:35 PM

Mine's got 365k miles....
with that few original miles, I'd be concerned about dry rotted rubber parts that will fail in rapid order upon returning to daily driving.
mine, on the other hand, has had most everything replaced at least once during the past 20 years, so no worries.
a car with a verifiable maintenance history is preferable to a no record low mile vehicle in my book.
k

lrg · #11 11-16-2005, 12:59 AM

I have an '85 wagon that I bought 14 years ago with 50K miles. It's been reliable as an anvil and is still going strong with 175K miles today. You didn't mention where the car is located/from. In '85 there was a Federal and also a "California" version that was actually sold in 3 or 4 states. The California cars have more emission control stuff, take a bit more maintenance and get slightly less fuel mileage. Mine is a CA car so even with all that stuff I can still highly recommend it. You'll know if you are looking at a CA car if the air cleaner is in front of the engine on the passenger side as opposed to on top of the turbo at the side of the engine on the federal cars. All the '85s had a bit more sophisticated electric tach and transmission kickdown system than the earlier cars, a system that also appeared on the later 124 versions. If the mileage of the car you are seeing is legit then give some serious thought to buying it. If however, you're buying it strictly in hopes of getting 40+ mpg, stick with the VW. The 123 wagon is heavy and the mileage is typically in the mid 20s and sometimes lower, depending upon how you drive.

runitonoil · #12 11-18-2005, 12:15 PM

Apparently there is a sedan too. Thanks for all the great advice. Pics soon.

boneheaddoctor · #13 11-18-2005, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lrg

I have an '85 wagon that I bought 14 years ago with 50K miles. It's been reliable as an anvil and is still going strong with 175K miles today. You didn't mention where the car is located/from. In '85 there was a Federal and also a "California" version that was actually sold in 3 or 4 states. The California cars have more emission control stuff, take a bit more maintenance and get slightly less fuel mileage. Mine is a CA car so even with all that stuff I can still highly recommend it. You'll know if you are looking at a CA car if the air cleaner is in front of the engine on the passenger side as opposed to on top of the turbo at the side of the engine on the federal cars. All the '85s had a bit more sophisticated electric tach and transmission kickdown system than the earlier cars, a system that also appeared on the later 124 versions. If the mileage of the car you are seeing is legit then give some serious thought to buying it. If however, you're buying it strictly in hopes of getting 40+ mpg, stick with the VW. The 123 wagon is heavy and the mileage is typically in the mid 20s and sometimes lower, depending upon how you drive.

Not to mention the CA spec diamond encursted air filter elements....(judging by the cost)

t walgamuth · #14 11-18-2005, 01:24 PM

way to verify mileage with any certainty is complete service records with mileages that tie together.

otherwise dont pay extra for low mileage!!!!!!

they all drive nice even when on last legs!!!!

tom w

runitonoil · #15 11-18-2005, 10:04 PM

The 1985 300TD wagon has 56,000 miles. One owner. Service records from day one. Garage kept and pampered. The car is from Ohio, in a city with a salt mine so there is a little rust on one rear fender lip. The deck lid has some minor surface rust below the window. Other than that, the body is perfect. The frame looks solid. No rot. Undercoating intact. The white paint shines like new. Chrome is perfect. Tan leather interior is nice. No rips.

I drove it, and a 1980 300 Turbo Diesel sedan with 72,000 miles. The sedan is spoken for.

The wagon started right up (about 30 deg here today). A little smoke when cold, but not bad. Tranny shifts firm; no slip. Took it on the highway up to 70 mph. No shakes. No funny noises, knocks, or rattles. This is the first Mercedes of this vintage that I've driven and, to me, the steering seemed to have a little more play than I thought it should have. I drove the sedan and it felt a bit tighter, though it could be that the wagon is way heavier. The climate control seemed to work, though, given the outside air temp, I wasn't able to verify operation of the air conditioning. All the windows go up and down, as well as the power antenna, and the cruise works. The oil pressure gauge goes from about 1/2 scale at idle to full scale when driving, perhaps even pegged. The tach doesn't work; the clock and radio do. Tires fairly new.

The car is owned by an 80 year old woman. The wagon was her late husband's and she drove the sedan. She's not able to drive any longer which is why she's selling the cars. Ebay lunacy aside, what is a car like this worth? Kelly Blue Book for a "Nice" example with 54,000 miles says $1,725. A couple of 1985s on Ebay right now look like they might make about $4-6K. I figure the rust repairs will cost $1,500 to $2,000. What's a fair price? Thank you.