Here are my thoughts about Biodiesel and a $50k car:

Buy a Rusty old early 80's 300d for $500, fix all the accessories you prefer. Drive it on WVO, Bio or whatever. I doubt it'll give you many issues. When it dies, buy another one.

You'll still be ahead financially if you do that 20 - 30 times vs. buying a CDI.

But of course it'll be an old rusty car that you won't feel good about. But what's 'feel good about' worth in a dollar value? Not that much to me. But I bought this (my daily drive) for $500 and it's been a nice car. The best deal I've had yet on a MB. Most of mine have been under $1000 and all ran great.

Not that spending $50k on a car is a bad investment, but as Jeremy said, if you're going to take risks, it's a better investment to do it on something that's not got such a high upfront cost. But of course, you may have more money than you know what to do with. I still think there are better places to put the money though. I think I'd change my auto buying ideas only slightly no matter how much my annual income grew. Cars are not an investment. But you do have to admit they are fun. Still... go out and buy an old one and you won't have to worry about Service Engine lights coming on because their are none!

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__________________
-E300d '99 350k
-Suburban '93 220k
-TDI Jetta '03 350k
Sold
-F250 '96 7.3
-Dodge Ram 12V
-E320 '95 200k
-E320 Wagon 1994 155k
-300d Turbo '87 187k miles
-E320 1994 200k
-300d Turbo '84 245k (sold to Dan62)
-300d Turbo '84 180k
-300sd '80 300k
-7.3 Powerstroke Diesel 15P Van 500k+ miles
-190d '89 Non Turbo 2.5 5cyl 240k (my first MB)
Tom's Imports of Columbia MO Ruined the IP in changing leaky delivery valve O-Rings - Refused to stand behind his work. Mid-MO MB drivers-AVOID Tom's.

If you bought that W124 for $500 bucks, all I can say is "wow"! I missed one here a few weeks ago for $2K and felt like one slipped away.
Wow!

__________________
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

Yep! I bought it as a donated Salvation Army vehicle. They wanted $900 for it. I checked it out mid-winter and I could barely crank it over. It hadn't been started in around 2 years. But long story short, I took a gamble on it running or not. I told them I'd be taking a risk and they said $500 was good enough. Since then I've restored all kinds of suspension stuff, A/C parts, ruined brittle rubber parts (just messed up the IP o ring seal-fun job for the next couple saturdays fixing!)

But all in all it's been a good car. Man have I put some hours into it. I think I have $2500 in the car including parts and I'm hoping to get another 100k out of it for that price. Right now it's at 170k. If the chain doesn't let loose or the Head crack, I'll be happy! I've checked it over pretty well. Hopefully God's on my side and it'll last me a while! I don't have the cash to buy a CDI! Lol. But if it ever blows it's head, back to 123's!! But boy I'll miss the power this has. I don't miss Gasoline at all. It's still no race-car (0-60 in around 11 seconds) but I'm more than happy with it's pep.

__________________
-E300d '99 350k
-Suburban '93 220k
-TDI Jetta '03 350k
Sold
-F250 '96 7.3
-Dodge Ram 12V
-E320 '95 200k
-E320 Wagon 1994 155k
-300d Turbo '87 187k miles
-E320 1994 200k
-300d Turbo '84 245k (sold to Dan62)
-300d Turbo '84 180k
-300sd '80 300k
-7.3 Powerstroke Diesel 15P Van 500k+ miles
-190d '89 Non Turbo 2.5 5cyl 240k (my first MB)
Tom's Imports of Columbia MO Ruined the IP in changing leaky delivery valve O-Rings - Refused to stand behind his work. Mid-MO MB drivers-AVOID Tom's.