I'm on the prowl looking for several cars. I've had several W123s, W124s, W202s,116s, ect... but am after a 123 right now.

My experience with the 240Ds with automatic, they are SLOW, and get mid to upper mid 20s in economy, the sticks get close to 30 and maybe a little above (but not close to 40 like every one on Ebay does).

300D non turbos seem to do about the same as a 240D automatic, with the turbos getting slightly less, but even with spirited town driving I don't think I've ever gotten less then 22-23 mpg.

My 300D/4 speed stick I think got the best mileage out of any W123 I've owned (1980) that was consistantly in the high 20s.

On this board alone, I've seen peoples mileage with an almost 20mpg range (claimed 18 something to 40 something). Big range for basicly the same cars.

I know the 124s and 202s do better, not to mention the newer stuff, but it's more then I want to spend right now, plus I want to go back to simplicity. My BMW is a VERY complex hard to work on car, so that's enough for me.

__________________
In the house of the hanged, nobody talks about the rope.

1973 Ford Maverick
1977 Ford F150 shortbed stepside ripping 429
1978 Ford F150 shortbed stepside 4x4
1979 Ford F100 'Free Wheeling' shortbed stepside
4 more 73-79 Ford parts trucks
1988 BMW 735iL
1994 BMW 540i
1992 Mercedes 190E 2.3

http://www.backwoodsmanmag.com