Old Benz reliable enough for me? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

cstamm · #1 03-08-2006, 10:17 PM

Here is my dilemma. I do IT field work for a living, drive anywhere from 500 to 1000 plus miles a week. I need a reliable car that won't leave me sit. I have long been interested in doing BD, and these look like good candidates. If I can find an early to mid 80's Benz that checks out good ad has good service records, do you think it will fit the bill? I get paid mileage so cost of fuel and cost to operate is huge to me. I could get a little Japanese 4 cyl car, but I just don't see the appeal. So, in your opinions, how will an old Benz fair with this day to day torture? Anyone have any sugestions on what to drive otherwise? Sorry for the length, thanks ahead of time.

TheDon · #2 03-08-2006, 10:21 PM

depends on how well the car was serviced prio to you purchasing it... when you go look at one do every test imaginable and get service records..

by test i mean blow by checking the turbo if a turbodiesel the differential play the driveshaft slop the driveshaft joints(they arent u-joints) if the fuel tank has a vacuum after a drive look for rust the brakes.. .. so many tests ..especially if your going to want to drive it alot and valve adjustments timing adjustments and stuff...

but hey you can probably have the 750k milage award in no time

t walgamuth · #3 03-08-2006, 10:25 PM

the eighties is pretty good. the most reliable simple and cheap to operate by far is the 123 240d inho. stick. the non turbo 300s are next and the 300d turbo motors are next. the 300sds up to the 87 model follow. all these are the most robust and easiest to work on.

many folks swear by the 124 bodies and 602 an 603 motors and they are nice but much more picky and expensive to maintain.

i have owned near 20 of the 123 bodies, two 124s and three 126s.

for simplicity i would chose the 123 240 stick. for luxury and simplicity i would choose the 126 617 motor car.

some love the 115s and 116s but around here they just rust too much.

tom w

DslBnz · #4 03-08-2006, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cstamm

Here is my dilemma. I do IT field work for a living, drive anywhere from 500 to 1000 plus miles a week. I need a reliable car that won't leave me sit. I have long been interested in doing BD, and these look like good candidates. If I can find an early to mid 80's Benz that checks out good ad has good service records, do you think it will fit the bill? I get paid mileage so cost of fuel and cost to operate is huge to me. I could get a little Japanese 4 cyl car, but I just don't see the appeal. So, in your opinions, how will an old Benz fair with this day to day torture? Anyone have any sugestions on what to drive otherwise? Sorry for the length, thanks ahead of time.

If you were to get something into something like that, I would consider the '87 300D turbo. For economy purposes and overall rugged nature, it should fit the bill, nicely.

A critical inspection is necessary, so I suggest a PPI if you can't perform one yourself. Usually people that are selling cars are selling them for a reason, other than just getting "tired" of them or "upgrading".

My brother-in-law routinely gets ~34 mpg in his. In the summer time mainly. With the mixed winter blends, he is ~30 mpg. But, this is with a car that had records maintained by the service book every 5K miles stamped by the original dealer since new. Records are a car's secret diary. They tell a good story of how well the car was taken care of.

cstamm · #5 03-08-2006, 10:54 PM

thanks for the quick replies. I would definitely inspect the car as well as possible. My brother is a mechanic and we have both rebuilt cars for years, albeit no MB's. If I lived closer, I would go and check this one out

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1983-Mercedes-Benz-300-TD-TURBO-Diesel-SPECTACULAR_W0QQitemZ4618442166QQcategoryZ6330QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I am just trying to decide whether I should venture into a MB for my intended usage. Running a car 5 days a week for 6 plus hours a day is asking a lot. Plus, a lot of these miles are running around 75 on the freeways. I just can't get into a little sh** box Japanese car, but maybe I should. I truly see the appeal mechanically and aesthetically to the old MB's, but will it be the right vehicle is the question. AKA, if you were in my situation, what car out of all offered would you choose?

JimmyL · #6 03-08-2006, 11:14 PM

I like my wagon, and wouldn't hesitate to drive it anywhere. Having said that, I would not drive it as much as you are talking about and trust it. You have too much riding on things not to be using a newer vehicle.
Now, you could get a Benz and use it part of the time, but a Japanese car is going to be the most reliable, get good gas mileage and have a warranty. Regular is cheaper also.
Now, look out, you are fixing to get a carpet-bombing of folks stating how they wouldn't hesitate to use their Benz, but read a few pages of these threads and see if you want to roll the dice....

cstamm · #7 03-08-2006, 11:19 PM

thanks for the honest opinion JimmyL... yes this being an MB board I'm sure there will be a preference

... just trying to make a very educated decision here. If I decide against the MB for daily, I might still look into one just to run BD in, and only drive it part time.

t walgamuth · #8 03-08-2006, 11:20 PM

cant drive an old benz a lot. but start with a good one. get a benz specialist to look at it. general experience is not very useful when trying to evaluate a benz.

tom w

mbzkid · #9 03-08-2006, 11:22 PM

If you'll be doing 75 on the highway all day, stay away from the 240Ds. Way too loud. I love the 240D, but if driving at 75 for 6 hours a day, a 300 Turbo would be a better choice.

What's your budget? Would you have the money to buy a $4,000 car and replace all the wear parts? Water pump, belts, all fluids, flex disks, thermostat, brakes, vacuum pump, axle shafts, suspension joints, etc. etc? If you could replace everything that needs attention, with no expense spared, it should be almost as reliable as a new car.

Either a 300D Turbo, 300SD, or 1987 300D sounds good, but the most reliable out of the three would be the 300D and SD. Does anyone have thoughts on the 190 diesels?

It would also depend on the vehicle requirements. Do you need the huge S class chassis to carry passengers and cargo? Are you tall?

I'd like to say that I haven't had the pleasure of driving a W123 with good shocks ( I will within a week though) , so someone correct me if I'm wrong:

Would a W123 be ideal for 6 hours a day at 75 MPH? I love the car, but most have some steering play, get blown around by cross winds, and are not the most stable taking hard highway curves at 80 mph. It sounds bad, but it really isn't. Its just the little things that would tire a driver on the long trips. If money is any consideration, all the car's faults could be easily overlooked.

jpchleapas · #10 03-08-2006, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cstamm

Here is my dilemma. I do IT field work for a living, drive anywhere from 500 to 1000 plus miles a week. I need a reliable car that won't leave me sit. I have long been interested in doing BD, and these look like good candidates. If I can find an early to mid 80's Benz that checks out good ad has good service records, do you think it will fit the bill? I get paid mileage so cost of fuel and cost to operate is huge to me. I could get a little Japanese 4 cyl car, but I just don't see the appeal. So, in your opinions, how will an old Benz fair with this day to day torture? Anyone have any sugestions on what to drive otherwise? Sorry for the length, thanks ahead of time.

Why not buy a newer more reliable MB diesel car from the 1990's or later? I have two friends who work in IT. Neither one drives an old car to save money since they both earn very good money. Well. one bought a nifty mint 1960's GTO all original with matching numbers, and the 389 - 6 pack carb set up for around $27.5K. The other drove an older Lincoln. I do not get the drive for pennies deal unless you just want to bank the car expense (mileage) money? There is a 1993 300d turbo diesel in the for sale section here for a great price if it is still available. You do not want a car so very old that it breaks down too often either if you have set appointment times to service your clients, right? You could just lease a newer car and write it off for tax purposes, right? Good luck! John

93 300D 2.5 turbo diesel for sale

Ron (Canada) · #11 03-09-2006, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cstamm

thanks for the quick replies. I would definitely inspect the car as well as possible. My brother is a mechanic and we have both rebuilt cars for years, albeit no MB's. If I lived closer, I would go and check this one out

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1983-Mercedes-Benz-300-TD-TURBO-Diesel-SPECTACULAR_W0QQitemZ4618442166QQcategoryZ6330QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I am just trying to decide whether I should venture into a MB for my intended usage. Running a car 5 days a week for 6 plus hours a day is asking a lot. Plus, a lot of these miles are running around 75 on the freeways. I just can't get into a little sh** box Japanese car, but maybe I should. I truly see the appeal mechanically and aesthetically to the old MB's, but will it be the right vehicle is the question. AKA, if you were in my situation, what car out of all offered would you choose?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi CSTamm,

When I look at that car, something tells me that it should sit lower than it does.. (maybe two inches)
I am reminded of some Cadillacs from the 70's, when a 3rd owner was told to put new springs in
and they installed what was available rather than what was correct.
(The result looked like a Jeep).
You just have a feeling that something is wrong when a soccer ball can be rolled completely under the car without getting stuck.

Ron (Doubtful in Kanada)

RobTheMod · #12 03-09-2006, 03:09 AM

Well, I drive a 1981 300SD (one of the models suggested above for this usage) and I do around 5-600 miles weekly. Got the car at 225K miles, am sitting on 242K now. Have prolly not spent more than a few hundred dollars for the last year of driving, repairs wise.

I am extremely biased, but I would think that, if you can afford to have wear items dealt with, that one of these cars would actually be a great choice. My car runs B99 biodiesel when I can get it (about 25% of the time) with no probs, cruises on 70-75 with reserve power, and does 25-27 mpg. I am inclined to think of the 126 chassis (1981-85) 300SD as a great choice for any kind of use aside from racing... just a fantastic comfortable ride, has "presence", and sips fuel compared to most cars its size. Almost anything else feels plasticky after driving a W126.

The 616/617 engine was designed for taxi use, there's no harm in using it like that if you maintain her by the book!

MS Fowler · #13 03-09-2006, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cstamm

Here is my dilemma. I do IT field work for a living, drive anywhere from 500 to 1000 plus miles a week. I need a reliable car that won't leave me sit. I have long been interested in doing BD, and these look like good candidates. If I can find an early to mid 80's Benz that checks out good ad has good service records, do you think it will fit the bill? I get paid mileage so cost of fuel and cost to operate is huge to me. I could get a little Japanese 4 cyl car, but I just don't see the appeal. So, in your opinions, how will an old Benz fair with this day to day torture? Anyone have any sugestions on what to drive otherwise? Sorry for the length, thanks ahead of time.

Very interesting idea.
Oh, and Welcome to the best place to learn about MD Diesels on the web.
The answer to your question is, " It all depends"
It depends on (obviously) the condition of the actual car you buy.
It depends on your available time to maintain said car. If you can't afford the time you may lose work.
It depends on your ability to tirn wrenches. If you have topay someone to do the regular and deferred maintenance, these cars can eat you alive.
It depends on how comfortable you are with the car.

If you had two cars ,and one was a mid eighties diesel Benz, and the other one was a econobox, it might work. You would have the Benz to fall in love with, and the other car for getting to work on those occasions when the Benz is off the road. The problem is that the Benz will spoil you. You will probably begin to hate the econo box, simply becasue it isn't a Mercedes.

Read the archives, and you will observe the truth of this little saying, " There is nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes."

iNeon · #14 03-09-2006, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

Very interesting idea.
Oh, and Welcome to the best place to learn about MD Diesels on the web.
The answer to your question is, " It all depends"
It depends on (obviously) the condition of the actual car you buy.
It depends on your available time to maintain said car. If you can't afford the time you may lose work.
It depends on your ability to tirn wrenches. If you have topay someone to do the regular and deferred maintenance, these cars can eat you alive.
It depends on how comfortable you are with the car.

If you had two cars ,and one was a mid eighties diesel Benz, and the other one was a econobox, it might work. You would have the Benz to fall in love with, and the other car for getting to work on those occasions when the Benz is off the road. The problem is that the Benz will spoil you. You will probably begin to hate the econo box, simply becasue it isn't a Mercedes.

Read the archives, and you will observe the truth of this little saying, " There is nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes."

i was in the same boat as the original poster. i commuted about 600 miles a week and was tired of my little plastic economy car getting blown around. so i parked the neon in favor of a 1979 240d.

it worked for a year, but the car really isnt suited to rushed commuter type driving. the final nail in shlomos coffin(as a daily driver) was getting back to the city and an urban campus. these cars arent made for the rushed, hairpin turns into tiny modern parking spot sort of modern driving we have to do sometimes, theyre MUCH better suited to county roads.

i think youll do better to buy something small <2.0L and cheap <15k and just run the hell out of it for 5-7 years, throw it away and start over again. this is my opinion, now, i adore my shlomo car.... it was a sad day to start shifting and worrying about accidents again, but the other drivers sort of demanded i drive something quicker and more nimble.

i say save your "splurge" money for 6 months, buy a decent example and test it as a second car first, you can always sell the car if it doesnt work out.

Mike J · #15 03-09-2006, 08:03 AM

I have the 1987 300SDL, bought specifically for Real Estate work.
It is a great car. Offers more of a perception of Quality than other stuff I could have bought in the price range.
That said, I probably would NOT count on it as my only means of transportation. And most of my driving will be within 20 miles of home.
I also have the pickup truck that cleans up pretty nice for backup.

If you are comfortable with your stated mechanical experience and willing to be proactive and maintain the car, avoiding crisis management of maintenance and repairs, you can probably have a car that won't leave you along the road.
But you surely will spend more "quality time" with it than you will with a newer Camry. High miles on the odometer yields more knucklebustin' opportunity, regardless of make of car.