Haven't been on here in a long while, only because my 82 300d is running great! I just went and looked at a 87 300td and cant decide if I should buy it or not. I'm not at all familiar with Mercedes this new and was hoping you guys could give me some things to look out for as well as common problems with this year (or point me to some posts).. The aluminum engine as well as all of the electronics worry me a little. Thanks a lot

...this is such a broad question that you really need to peruse the archives.

Tons of information, lots to absorb.

W124 chassis are great cars, and the 300TD wagon is a rare beastie. But there are certain weak points.

Jim

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14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles

Do your research. I have owned my '87 300D Turbo for a few months now. Great car I love it. Awesome to drive and very comfortable. Some of the things I have found searching the forums are: Look for the #14 Head as they may crack, The timing chain cover cracking issue, and the fact that the turbo 124 was only made in '87 in the US. Parts are not hard to find. I have already had to replace the lower arm on the belt tensioner and the pulley and it is still a little off... I did convert it to WVO with no problems and the car runs better on it. Lots of power too... Love this car. Best of luck. You can find a lot of info on this forum.

-Pat

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'87 300D Turbo Greasecar
'83 Kawasaki 550 KZ

Ours has been running from purchase in '97 @ 60,000 miles to now at 200,000 miles.
Repairs have been
Cyl head gasket
Radiator
AC Condensor
Cruise Control Amplifier
Injector nozzles recently (preventive)
One set of brake discs
Crankshaft seal (fwd)
Fan Clutch
Water pump (preventive)
AC Aspirator fan
Aux. JW Circ Pump
Camshaft chain guides and tensioner (preventive)
2 starters
Vacuum Pump failed and destroyed itself
Other normal stuff belts batteries tires
List seems quite long, now that I look at it.


Good handling, zippy, economical dependable car. Pleasure to drive.
Oil consumption 1 litre/ 4000 miles

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Retired Marine Engineer
2005 E320 CDI
1987 300 Turbo Diesel @ 300,000 kM going
1974 240 D 300,K Miles when given away gone
1970 200 D gone
1969 190 D gone

Read this first http://www.w124performance.com/docs/mb/articles/124.1x3_buying_tips.txt

Then if you have anymore questions, post them here. FYI 300TD is a wagon, 300D is a sedan.

__________________
1987 300TD 309, xxx 2.8.2014 10,000 mile OCI


Be careful of the toes you step on today, as they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow. anonymous

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter won’t mind.” Dr. Seuss

Block's iron, head's aluminum as are most of the covers and appurtenances.

I've had mine since 1996, and 103K got 208K on it now--Done most of the repairs my self the aforementioned poster has done over 12 years except the AC evap--did the compressor instead, but if you're a real mechanic, nothing here is difficult except the damnable gas dampers on the estates with load leveling suspension. Those are a royal pain. Beyond that, if you're not in a salty (body and suspension rust) area and the exhaust mod to loose the trap is done (MB recall) don't fear the electronics, it's all easily trouble shot--very "electromechanical" verses "electronic" car. Fuel injection is mechanical--Relay's and such for most other things, nothing complicated like the late 90's stuff. Very modularly in design, and compared to my 107.041 car, much easier to get to things without dismantling half the car.

You'll love the torque improvement and the power response at 60MPH is way cool. If you go through the rear links ($125 as side) and renew the shocks and struts, like new handling can be easily had.

The books on this car were paper and are available in print from a dozen different sellers on ebay. Unlike a majority of the posters here that have never cracked the cover of a MB shop manual, reading them will carry you through 90% of what you encounter with the 124.133.

Fan-tab-uh-lussly fun to drive.

The W124 300TD is a great car.

We had one for 13 years, enventually trading up to a 95 E320 wagon.

Need to do due dillegence on the head, an records are important. Otherwise, the standard W124 wagon issues.

My wife loved ours, and really misses it...... (but it was time to get a newer car..)

Jim

__________________
14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles