Both cars have about 160K miles, no rust and good paint. They both look and run well. No maint. records for either one.The price of the E300 is only 900 more the the 300D. I know about the spring perch and electrical problems with the 210s, I can fix both of them. What one should I buy ?

Whichever one you like better.

The 210 is more modern, more weight and more comfort, more features and more complexity. I don't like the toyota look of the rear.

The 124 is more robust, a little simpler but IMO better handling. A bit more dated look, but then the 210 is a pretty old look too after 13years.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

My usual song, "the one with the better records" obviously does not apply. Having both a 124 and a 210, I personally prefer the 124. The 210 is far more modern but correspondingly more complex, potentially fewer things you can fix yourself. Since the cars appear to be in similar condition, I'd recommend getting a pre-purchase inspection by a reputable mechanic. Maybe something expensive will show up to help you decide. Otherwise, I would recommend researching the two models, their features and good/bad points, and using that to help make up your mind.

Jeremy

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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

W124 is the last of the real Mercedes and is far better build car.

I'd be interested in the respective differences in driving feel between the I-6 603 NA and the I-5 602 turbo. My 2.5T churns out 121 hp, and 165 ft.-lbs. torque. I think the '96 E300 NA puts out the same, without the complicated turbocharger.

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'91 300D 2.5 Turbo 330K
'00 VW TDI Golf, 190K
'67 BMW R50/2
'73 Norton Commando Interstate

The OM606.910 has 134hp. Your car has more torque though, 165 @ 2,400 vs 155 @ 2,600 for the OM606.

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1987 300TD 309, xxx 2.8.2014 10,000 mile OCI


Be careful of the toes you step on today, as they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow. anonymous

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter won’t mind.” Dr. Seuss

Dana B,

The Turbo is the Simple part...
[AND as long as it gets clean oil,almost BulletProof!]
All the Electro/Vacuum Sensor/Actuators in the " Rats Nest" and the Vacuum
Operated Wastegate are what allow the EDS (Electronic Diesel System) to
complicate your Motoring Experience.

1.Once you've effected the "Pressure Operated Wastegate SWAP"...
Wastegate actuator swap for OM602.962?

2.'Jerked out all the Electro/Vacuum actuators.
(See Picture below) [the Early '90-'91 OM602 has one additional actuator]

3.AND installed the EGR Blocking Plate Kit

4.'Disabled and Removed the (now Formerly) Vacuum operated "Flapper"
inside the connector between the Turbo and the Intake [All it does is
Close off the intake to fresh air whenever the EGR is operational...Therby
choking the engine on Nasty Exhaust].

You'll LOVE your Turbocharger!

Remember,the Nicest Thing You Can Do for Your Boost Generator (Turbo)
is feed it a steady diet of Clean Synthetic Oil !

Pictures courtesy GSXR.

Attached Thumbnails

   

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'84 300SD sold
124.128

Compress,

I'm sure you're right. I've been following the wastegate swap threads, and am impressed by the DIY ingenuity. Unfortunately, I'm a mechanical systems dolt. Finally got my turbo to run right by unplugging the overboost circuit. Now if it works ... I don't fix it ;p

dana

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'91 300D 2.5 Turbo 330K
'00 VW TDI Golf, 190K
'67 BMW R50/2
'73 Norton Commando Interstate

Neither......I would strongly suggest you buy a '98 or '99 E300TD. In terms of performance, the '98 & '99 are light years ahead of the naturally aspirated '96 - '97 E300Ds. They are available for sale for just modest dollars more.

Would you please explain what is "complicated" about a "turbocharger?"

I wasn't aware of them as being "complicated" in any way.....?

I'd go with a W124 as well. Joe has a point too. If you want to drive a Taurus clone, it better at least have a turbo.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

They're both smaller than what I usually go for, in cargo capacity, exterior size (I love boats) and also, I suspect, leg room.

So I'd go with whichever one I could fit in better; at 6'4" I'd have to be very careful which less-than-full-size I bought for a long-term driver.

That said, for people without my priorities, I'd still lean towards the 124 just because it has less electronic complication. I've actually thought about trying to save up/trade for a 98-99 turbo 606 but would never get rid of the 126 for *anything* that lacked a turbo.

Between the non-turbo 210 and the turbo 124 (2.5, not 3.0, makes a difference I'd imagine) I'd have to say it's a delicate mental balance between electronic simplification versus horsepower under your foot. They both sound a little slower than some of their bigger friends, so I'd have to floor them both and see which one took off better. That'd be part of it too.

I guess I rambled more than I helped. I don't know that one car has any real and significant improvements over the other that make the choice definitive. There's a lot of little tiny factors like the ones I'm rambling about that will affect your final decision based on your own preferences.

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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

Maybe if you drive both of them, one will speak to you and you will just know which to buy.

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1987 W201 190D

Easy. Without its turbo, the 2.5T is as sluggish as a 240D (and hazardous to drive in a metro environment, IMO). With the turbo, it's a power and mileage champ. Unfortunately, the 2.5T's turbocharger system, when not working, can be finicky to diagnose and fix -- witness the number of owners on this board who have made the swap to the older wastegate. Add a cylinder and remove the turbo for the same amount of power as on the E300: problem solved.

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'91 300D 2.5 Turbo 330K
'00 VW TDI Golf, 190K
'67 BMW R50/2
'73 Norton Commando Interstate

I'm partial to the W124.

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92 300D 2.5L OM602 OBK #59