I remember when I first got my car I saw(or at least think I did) a lot of nice W126's and W123's. Now all I see are beat to death rusted out cars. This entire year I have seen one nice W123, and a handfull of nice W126's. I know most of the local W126 owners, and they are all enthusiats.

However every 300SD I have seen around town is totaly trashed and ready to be crushed. I don't remember the last time I saw a nice 300SD. I got stuck behind one the other day that was smoking like crazy, my eyes were burning. Poor thing, it probably hasn't had any real maintaince in a decade. Sounded horrible to, when we got to a passing zone I blew past him, I couldn't stand the smell anymore. I don't think the owners realize how good a properly tuned W126 diesel really is. They probably just bought it dirt cheap and think its a slow, old car.

Five years from now they are actualy going to be pretty rare up here. The salt does a number of them.

Finding a good W123 or W126 to buy seems like a very difficult task, involving a nation wide search. 95% IMHO are junk or daily drivers at best.

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

Its funny that you mention this today Hatty.

I spent today on a 600 mile round trip in my 84 euro 300TD turbo (selling and buying kayaks) and I was thinking along the same lines.

Not so much about how hard it is to find nice examples, I'm a driver not a collector, but about how "we" are at the crest of the wave with regards to w123 diesels in the US.

Right now, its pretty easy (and surprisingly popular) to pick up an inexpensive drivable w123, but in 10 years, they will be rare as hens teeth. Kind of like what happened with air cooled VWs. Basically, for someone like myself (looking for cheap reliable transportation) we are in a "golden age" of w123s.

This line of thinking inevitably led me to wonder what will become of the mercedesshop.com diesel discussion forum. Despite its faults, I treasure this forum as both a resource and a community.

On a completely different note, I got to use both the folding warning triangle and original jack today in a real life situation (punctured a tire on I-95 in Delaware). I'll post a picture in a different thread after I get some sleep.

Your observation is exactly why I decided to get an additional DD and keep my 126 off the rush-hour roads. Once you find a nice one, you really want to be picky about how and how many miles get put on.

I'm thinking 5 years from now it will be all but impossible to find a really nice 126.

Tim

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2009 VW TDI Jetta Sportwagon 172k miles (rear-ended harder than Elton John on 8/4/13. Total loss)

1991 Volvo 240 142k miles (T-boned by a stop sign runner. Total loss)

I've seen many really nice gasser 126's around my area for sale for less than $1000, even some for around $500-$600. Sad thing was they needed new engines.

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DJ


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

If I sell mine I'd be happy to get 1500$... seeing as the paint is shot

Once the W126's are too hard to find I will probably migrate to a W140......that will be a VERY sad day though. And I will search long and hard for a W126 before I ever do it.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Deals are around if you're ready to jump.

I know of two mint '91 300SEs with 89-110k on them only, one is white. One is black. Priced at around $6500 only, not bad considering the mileage, condition, etc. I paid less for my 300SEL, but it didn't start (it sure does now!), had some dings, and lots of the typical M103 issues (hard starting, oil leaks everywhere, etc), but the interior and paint were excellent.

W123s are harder to find, rightfully so. They were a cheaper vehicle to begin with, have not been produced since 1985, etc. They're not going to go for $100k ever nor will they win a show, they're made to drive and that's what people do with them.

I see piles in the yards here that would probably start up and drive off. Mostly have dead paint + interior problems and the typical oil leaks.

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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

Good interiors and strong runners are easly to find up here, its the rust thats getting them.

If you can put a screwdriver through most of the undersides the car isn't worth fixing. Just drive until something expensive breaks and part or junk.

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