How many have you had?

#1. Engine will not shut off
#2. Central locking not working.
#3. Engine won't start.
#4. Oil leaks.
#5. Floor wet.
#6. Hood hinges stiff or broken.
#7. Transmission shifting strange.
#8. Broken Air cleaner mount and/or bracket.
#9. Collapsed engine mounts.
#10. Worn out steering/suspension parts.
#11. Ignition key won't turn.

1. Not yet
2. Yes-fixed now. Pass side front door pod
3. Yes-fixed now. Bad GP's, Blown fuse, weak battery
4. Yes-still leaks from bottom of IP
5. Yes-passenger side front w/heavy rain.
6. Not yet
7. Yes
8. Not yet
9. Yes and no. No after mount replacement
10. Yes-fixed now w/UCA replacement
11. Not yet

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RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

99 W210 E300 Turbo Diesel, chipped, DPF/Converter Delete. Still needs EGR Delete, 232K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

Gone and still missed...1982 w123 300D, 1991 w124 300D

Thanks. You've made me feel a lot better.

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

#1. Nope
#2. Yea :-/
#3. Starts great :-)
#4. Little
#5. YES! Ugh, working on it
#6. Nope
#7. Yes, fixed
#8. Yes, still working on it
#9. Nope
#10. PO took care of it
#11. Nope

1. Yes, vacuum tube detached, re-attached and solved problem. On other occasion the vacuum pump had to be rebuilt because the diaphragm had a hole in it.
2. Yes, didn't even attempt to repair all leaks, plugged at source.
3. No, but I have the pencil type glow plug upgrade, new starter, battery and alternator.
4. Yes, oil filter pump housing gasket. I just tightened four of five and leak lessened. See number 9 for reason the fifth bolt is damaged enough to prevent removal of filter housing. I bought the gaskets to replace them but fifth bolt was damaged when drivetrain shifted forward when motor mounts and tranny mount disintegrated in a 8mph rear-ender with a Jaguar. Head was bent just enough to keep allen wrench from getting enough traction to remove it.
5. Not that I'm aware.
6. No, but I did have to lube the hood release mechanism and cable with PB Blaster.
7. Yes, so I disabled contraption on valve cover and shift manually now.
8. Yes, if you mean the plastic mounted bolt that attaches to intake manifold. One is off.
9. Not any more. All three rubber mounts disintegrated in collision. I had to reattach driveline to tranny and couldn't drive it home from a 8mph wreck. Absolutely no body damage whatsoever. Cracked top of radiator, bent throttle linkage, bent bolt head on oil filter housing, detached several vacuum lines.
10. Yes. Replaced all rubber bushings, tie-rods and ends, steering damper, adjusted steering box(needs it again after six weeks). Too loose for my taste still.
11. Yes, occasionally. Usually if wheel is slightly turned right or left when parked I will get this issue. I just push the wheel toward the straight ahead position and it will usually turn with no further problems.

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1993 W124 300D
-297K on the clock as I type this.

#1. Engine will not shut off - Not on my '84 300CD, but on my '79 300CD
#2. Central locking not working. Yes
#3. Engine won't start. Never
#4. Oil leaks. Several
#5. Floor wet. Not floor, but trunk
#6. Hood hinges stiff or broken. Never
#7. Transmission shifting strange. Never
#8. Broken Air cleaner mount and/or bracket. Several times
#9. Collapsed engine mounts. Yes, just replaced them last month - second time in 24 years
#10. Worn out steering/suspension parts. never
#11. Ignition key won't turn. Yes - bad steering wheel lock - replaced it in March of this year

__________________
Houston, Texas
1984 300CD 235K miles, Elvira, one owner
1987 300TD 180K miles
1974 TR6 78K miles Sarah Jane, one owner
OBK #27

Check on all but #11.

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1989 300E 144K

#1, 2, and 7 can likely be attributed to one shared root problem.

Now as for my 123, I can attest to #4, 7, and 9 being current problems hopefully to be taken care of soon.

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

1. Not yet.
2. Fixed.
3. In dead of winter with alternator going bad and not charging. Fixed and won't be really tested until next WI winter!
4. Drip here and there.
5. Not since I replaced the foam A/C condensor hose in the dash.
6. No.
7. Not since I replaced the plastic levers in the vacuum housing located on the valve cover.
8. Yes.
9. New mounts, old were not collapsed though.
10. No.
11. Replaced ignition tumbler and steering lock assembly soon after purchase. My tumbler did lock up on me and car had to be flatbedded home.

How about non functioning cruise control, A/C, and stuck antennas?
Oh I just noticed Hunter's list was for the 300D and my replies were for my 240D!

John

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Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
2002 F250 powerstroke with Plantdrive WVO conversion
1983 300SD 190K miles ,sold
2006 E320 CDI

I've had them all but I have had at least a dozen 123s probably closer to 20.

But I would argue that the automatic hvac controls should be on the top eleven and probably the cruise control too.

Not to mention odometer slip, and multitask lever switch failure!

I will say I cannot remember being stranded on the side of the road with any of my 123s except when I ran my 300td out of fuel.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

All except 9, 10 and 11.

Only been stranded once and strictly because I was in a foreign country. Fan belt started slipping badly on my 307d motorhome shortly after we got off the ferry from UK to France. Adjustment bolt was bent and I couldn't increase the tension. Not speaking French and with no local knowledge, we got towed where the alternator was removed, bolt straightened and belt tightened.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

#1. Engine will not shut off YES, fixed
#2. Central locking not working. YES, not fixed
#3. Engine won't start. NO, thank God!
#4. Oil leaks. YES, its an old diesel
#5. Floor wet. YES rear floor, think I've got it fixed!
#6. Hood hinges stiff or broken. YES, broken
#7. Transmission shifting strange. YES, fixed
#8. Broken Air cleaner mount and/or bracket. NO, not yet!
#9. Collapsed engine mounts. NO, not yet!
#10. Worn out steering/suspension parts. NO
#11. Ignition key won't turn. NO, thank God!

#1 - Yes, fixed
#2 - Yes, fixed
#3 - Yes, fixed, leaking fuel pump
#4 - Yes, fixed
#5 - Yes, fixed, clogged AC drain
#6 - No
#7 - Yes, fixed, replaced transmission
#8 - Yes, fixed
#9 - No
#10 - Yes, fixed, rebuild steering box
#11 - Almost, fixed before failure

More "common failures" that I have experienced:

- Climate control
- AC compressor
- Cruise control
- CV joints
- Window regulators
- Radiator nipple
- Fan clutch
- Alternator
- Vacuum pump
- Starter
- GP relay
- Blower
- Flasher relay

I've had and fixed all except #6 on the original list and all on the second list except GP relay and Flasher relay. I'd also add front end suspension parts. I'd hate to total my receipts (I'm sure I've paid for the car more than once).

__________________
Charles
1983 300D, bought new, 215k+ miles, donated to Purple Hearts veterans charity but I have parts for sale: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-benz-cars-sale/296386-fs-1-owner-83-mb-300d-turbo-rebuild-parts.html

I've since redone both the front and rear suspension, including new rear springs and a rear trailing arm.