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#1
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best sedan after a 123 617
I know its always questionable to start out a thread with the word 'best' but its short and to the point. There's lots of opinion about what's best, or in what category, etc. so I'll describe my categories a bit. Do give me a break, I'd recently totaled by 123 616 and feel like I lost a really good find.
I would like to slowly look for another sedan but after 1985 I get confused at what I should look at. When I was shopping for my first, all signs led to the 82-85 300d or in my case 240D. There was consensus to what was good and reliable and easy and inexpensive, etc. So now, I'm looking to see if there is a similar consensus to another model. But there's so much more models and engine types and chassis, etc. I like the 82-85 very much but lately, I've been thinking of something slightly newer. I still like the exterior look of a 82-85 300D very much but want something more comfy on the interior and slightly better performance. So I did a bunch of searches on the next 'generation' of 300d or 190 or 1987 300D and all sorts of things come up. For the '87 300D some swear by it, others talk endlessly about the aluminum heads, the cracks, the warpage, etc. The check list for a '87 300D seems long in order to get a good one. So if there a smaller sedan after 1985 that stands out ? About the price range for a decent one ?
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1982 240D 4spd 232k (deceased) |
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1987 190D 2.5T
1987 300D 1998-99 E300 05-07 E320 CDI. Those are the only ones I would buy. |
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SDL?
Edit: Why does the forum always remove caps automatically?
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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 |
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Thats more of a ship than a sedan.
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Quote:
1987 190D 2.5T
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1982 240D 4spd 232k (deceased) |
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How about a 240D with a stick shift? Same 123 body with a 4-cyl engine and no turbo.
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"Buster" in the '95 Our all-Diesel family 1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car 2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022) Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762 "Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz." -- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970 |
#7
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i LOVE my 90 300d 2.5t
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-Z8X_r_l_M 79 300d "baby blue nose" (sold) 87 e300d (om603) "billy" (sold) 94 e300d (om606) "mcrae" (sold) 84 300td (om617) "mom" 82 300cd (om617) "whitey" 84 300sd (om617) "benzo valdez" 87 300sdl (om603) "chip" 90 e300d (om 602) "bev" 69 280c (om603 swap) "rommel" 74 internationl scout II (om617) "scout" 64 impala (4bt) "homie" 57 chevy apache (7.3 psd) "goldie" |
#8
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Quote:
You left out the 90-93 300D which is mostly a good car. Weaker than the '87 300D performance-wise but has a stronger head and cleaner emissions. 95-97 naturally-aspirated E300D's are good too, increasing in complexity with the model years. The 95 model is the last year of the W124 series and may be one of the best, especially when it comes to reliability, though it doesn't have the more modern styling and side airbags of the W210 chassis. The main weakness of the W210 chassis are the spring perches, but once that's taken care of, I think they're great cars.
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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual) Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL |
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Quote:
Has it been reliable for you ? Costly to maintain ? Good to know. That's exactly the info I was looking for. I'll do some searches on that model.
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1982 240D 4spd 232k (deceased) |
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Every Mercedes produced since is a better car.
The W211 E320CDI and E320 Bluetec are both the ultimate these days, the V6 even better than the OM648. I'd advise skipping over the W124s and going at least to the W210, as the 5-speed transmission is really a revolution in Mercedes terms.
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Kent Christensen Albuquerque '07 GL320CDI, '10 CL550. '01 Porsche Boxster Two BMW motorcycles |
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Quote:
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1982 240D 4spd 232k (deceased) Last edited by centroid1; 01-12-2009 at 04:48 PM. |
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The 90-93 300D does have a stronger head, but a head gasket failure can still occur though it's not common from what I've read. If you find an example to look at, examine the coolant for contamination and check to see if the system is pressurized when cold (it shouldn't be). I do that with every car that I'm considering to buy.
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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual) Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL |
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Pressurized when cold?
Quote:
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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 |
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None
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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran |
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Quote:
I don't know if the same would happen if the coolant was leaking into the cylinders, though.
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Dan 2005 E320 CDI - 246k 1987 300SDL TD05-16g, Herlevi pump, Elbe manifold, 2.47 LSD - 213k Past: 1987 300D - 264k |
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