I found an ugly but largely rust-free 300D Saturday...chalky maroon paint, palomino Tex interior, bundt wheels, seller says it has an injector ticking noise, but no internal noises. I'm going back to fire it up one evening this week. My question is this...is there any reason I should shy away from a 1985, vs. an older W123 car? It really has cosmetic issues, but if it drives OK I think I'm going to take the plunge.

__________________
2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics

Alot of that would depend on the price. An '85 model does have some year specific items to it, but I tell you, that transmission is so much better than prior years. It is just like a real car tranny. I still haven't figured out the tach thing, but I don't think you should worry about it just because it is an '85.

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

don't be turned off by 'chalky paint'. as others have commented, mercedes put many layers of paint on, so it may be restorable with the proper cleaners/waxes.
main thing is rust, does it drive well, and of course .. price.

good luck.

__________________
1984 300D Turbo - 231k....totalled 11/30/07 RIP

Tach thing? What does that mean? I am looking into an '85 also @ the moment. Please elaborate some for the less learn-ed

__________________
1984 TDT Blue on Blue "Harriet"
314,143 9/29/05- Our first date
351,000 12/29/08- Oh, the places we have gone!

1991 SDL Black on Palomino "Winchester the III"
188,655 8/11/07
218,700 12/29/08

Work vehicles:
MCI-
D4500 125k
D4505 200k
102A-3 1.8Million! and my fav

The tach circuit is different on an '85. Not that much better or worse, just different. The "tack thing" was just a reference to "my tach thing", which is inop.....

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

I would think that an 85' may be the best choice, since it was the last model year for the W123. More bugs worked out of it.

Good luck!

__________________
1981 300D 147k
1998 VW Jetta Tdi 320k
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 141k
1979 300D 234k (sold)
1984 300D "Astor" 262k(sold)
Mercedes How-To and Repair Pictorials
I love the smell of diesel smoke in my hair

huh?

The tach on the '85 is controlled by the EGR computer. That is the main reason the tach's dont work.

__________________
1981 300D 147k
1998 VW Jetta Tdi 320k
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 141k
1979 300D 234k (sold)
1984 300D "Astor" 262k(sold)
Mercedes How-To and Repair Pictorials
I love the smell of diesel smoke in my hair

i had chalky surface on brownie and applied a couple coats of miracle 2000 in the orange bottle and it looks much better.

__________________
currently
[1981 300 td tdidi 165500 dark brown/palamino-Brownie-mine-3k miles of ownership
1983 240d 162+++ Anthricite grey w/ henna red interior and hella lights-wifes car-Red

the above two cars are for sale
and can be seen on the cars for sale thread here. pix also available.


240d-144+ Manilla Yellow w/ palmino interior-greasecar kit-Blondie-the college kids car

23" gt 21 speed still on original tires-still got the nubs
21" khs tandem

Good grief, I could give a rip what it looks like...I'll have one of the porters at work run a buffer over it and at least gloss it up a little. I'm more concerned about functional/mechanical issues jumping up and biting me.

__________________
2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics

i paid 2500$ for my D with 260k on the clock a new transmission new tires and brakes.. and some other things.. the clear coat is going on the top and just needs some minor body work.. a nice ding in the back below the lights and a ding on the door.. the aluminum needs reworking so do the bundts.. but its mechanically sound. except for a small oil drip

the seller is talking about $700...it really needs a good clean up and 4 tires though. Worn tires are a bad sign on one hand, because you wonder what other things have been neglected, but at least I get to put the brand and size I want on the car.

__________________
2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics

Take the plunge - for $700. Go for it.

Looks like a done deal, spoke to the seller today and we'll close the deal Wednesday PM. Turns out the seller also has a 240D engine in his shed that I want...he only wants $500 for that, and assured me that it is a good engine.

__________________
2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics