Thanks for the encouragement. I'm just wondering, do they come any better than the W123?

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What Would Rudolph Do?
1975 300D, 1975 240D, 1985 300SD, 1997 300D, 2005 E320 , 2006 Toyota Prius

Honestly, in my opinion...no! In regards to durability, reliability, and longevity...a stick shift 240D has to be the "best" automobile ever produced on this planet, bar none. You just can't be in a hurry to get anywhere.

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-Steven

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1959 190b, totalled
1968 220D, sold
1969 230/8, sold
1980 240D manual, gave away at 300k (stupid me)
1985 190D 2.2 manual, gave away to a youngster
1989 300CE, sold when I retired - major regrets

Now the seller called back and wants to take me up on my offer for 1250.00 . His wife wants him to get rid of it even though he will be losing money. Actually he drives an 84 2.2 190D and he bought this from his mechanic a little bit ago so he is not to blame for the shape it is in. The interior is not too bad. The dash is not cracked really, might have one of those covers on it that looks natural and oem though. He put manual seats that are in real great shape he got from pull a part. The electrical seats would not work he said.

It really does drive great, shift great, headlights, taillights blinkers and wipers work. Seats are good. How hard is the sunroof to fix? I'm going to search.

I'm going to give it a closer look this weekend. Maybe do a compression test. If it is not too rusty underneath, I may get it.

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What Would Rudolph Do?
1975 300D, 1975 240D, 1985 300SD, 1997 300D, 2005 E320 , 2006 Toyota Prius

The nickels and dimes will add up to many, many dollars. If you found a 190D in PERFECT condition, absolutely everything working, but with 200,000+ miles, the nickels and dimes would STILL add up to many dollars. It's an old car. Things will break. Constantly. It's OK if you are prepared for that. Seems to me that the car you are considering however will make you start way behind the proverbial eight ball.

That coolant consumption, by the way, should be a GIGANTIC RED FLAG. Your odds of enjoying a cylinder head replacement have just improved tenfold or better.

IMO, you should stay away from that car.

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1987 W201 190D

Thanks. Yes. I almost forgot about that. Thank you. I want to make sure that it is actually leaking coolant. I've never had a car with head gasket problems and am not all that familiar with signs. There is no oil in the coolant to be seen but it could have just been changed. But I can smell coolant under the hood slightly, that hot coolant smell. I will make sure it is leaking. I'll probably just stay away.

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What Would Rudolph Do?
1975 300D, 1975 240D, 1985 300SD, 1997 300D, 2005 E320 , 2006 Toyota Prius

Even if it is "just" leaking, there is now more reason to suspect that the car has been overheated. Even if it was never badly overheated, driving around with low coolant is itself bad for the cylinder head and gasket.

Keep looking... you'll find a better example.

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1987 W201 190D

"There is nothing as expensive as a cheap Mercedes" Cheers Dan

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It's always something simple
91 300D 603.960 (from japan) 194K
92 Toyota Diesel Landcruiser HDJ81-t 116K
02 Golf TDI new head courtesy of PO
87 300D
97 BMW 525 TDS Wagon 5spd
bunch of Onan and other diesel generators