Tough choice really. If you want a highway car, get a w126. They get about 1-2mpg better than a w123 and weight less (100lb less, or so Ive heard) even though their larger. The w123 is a better city car and IMO is engineered better. The interior and exterior lines on a w123 are also better.


I will admit that the w126 handles better than a w123

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1981 300SD 512k OM603

Diesels offer better efficiency than gassers in part because they usually have an intake that is not throttled- they naturally burn lean and are fuel instead of air limited, thus no backwork sucking air past the throttle- a killer at idle, a wash at WOT.

The OM616 at least has a butterfly after the air cleaner intake, either to prevent diesel runaway, or aid the vacuum pump if the vacuum system is leaky (depends who you ask). The butterfly opens as you step on the accelerator pedal (probably the 1st half of my pedal doesn't increase fuel at all, I bet it just opens the butterfly).

Wiring it open will permanently lessen this back load, but expose you to risks.

If the engine is prone to runaway, the butterfly loads the engine at closed throttle and may prevent runaway, or at least let you stop it w/ the e-stop button on the IP. If the runaway engine fuels itself too efectively past with blowby or by sucking oil past the valve guides, stopping it w/ a manual tranny & brakes, a cap over the air inlet or a C02 bottle are your best bets. You dont have long to decide.

Only a few 616s have the butterfly valve.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

Well, I have an opportunity for a low-priced 87 300D Turbo. I wasn't going to seriously consider it because it's a little bit more of a project than I wanted with a move to Baltimore pending and a new baby. The a/c doesn't work, I'm told it's because the clutch on the compressor needs replaced. In addition, the front and rear driver's side windows need new motors or regulators or tracks. Finally, the speedo and tach don't work. It has 180k miles. On the bright side, it's maroon -- an acceptable color to me -- has a sunroof, and I think I might be able to get it for as little as about 1200 bucks. It also looks pretty darn good, paint looks like it will clean up nice. No visible rust, but I'll need to see it in the air.

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I never go far without a little Big Star

1994 E500 199/Gray 82k
84 300D (Salty) Orient Red/Palomino 141k
88 300CE (Ersatzhammer) 904/Java 163k -- Turbo Technics twin turbo kit, AMG Gen I body kit, Sportline steering box and steering wheel, Sportline/Eibach /Bilstein Sport/500E suspension, Quaife LSD in 210 mm diff case, Silver Arrow brakes.
88 300CE Brabus 3.6 199 on Black 44k

That would explain why the I see some with the rube goldberg up over & down maze of relay rods that I have & some without. With one runaway behind me, I'll keep it the butterfly until after the rebuild.

That sounds nice.

Compressor's are not cheap, but if the rest of the car is nice it sounds like thats figured into the purchase price.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200