Should I upgrade?

[Kyle Blackmore]

I looked at an 85 300 turbodiesel yesterday.Boy it was nice,no rust,one owner,well maintained(oil changes every 3000 miles),for a difference of 1500-2000 Cdn dollars.I would buy this one first and then sell the 80.Is it worth it?

[P.E.Haiges]

Why not buy the 85 and keep the 80 and use the 80 for your beater and winter car and keep the 85 rust free? Thats what I would do.

P E H

[Kyle Blackmore]

But the 85 would then be my daily driver.BTW both cars have 360,000 km.If I keep buying MB's I'll never have the $$ to fix up my mustang HMMMM I wonder if a small block would fit,HA just kidding.

[P.E.Haiges]

You are going to kick yourself it the '85 breaks down and the '80 is gone. You never know what is wrong with a used car until you have it dor a short time.\\P E H

[Kyle Blackmore]

Yes I know just what you mean,I left the stang on the road for about a month after I bought the 80,you just never know...I think this one might be OK because the owner's wife drives it daily.I was there yesterday when he started it cold,he glowed it for 5 seconds and it started right up,no smoke or roughness.The owner told me he had spent $5000 in the last two years,engine,suspension,brakes and tires,and he has the receipts.Probably by the time I decide it'll be gone

Pick up that 85'. When you can find one with a documentable history of good maintenance and if it appears that the guy cares for the car - BUY IT! My 79 SD came with a crapped out interior, no maintenace history and total mileage unknown, and she is a fantastic car. What a gem that 85 must be.

[engatwork]

I'm with mc. When I purchased my 300D for US$1500 the brakes did not work (new master cylinder rotors/calipers/pads all around), the a/c did not work ($1000) and the cc did not work ($250) and the interior shows wear. In addition, there was no documentation but since fixing the above and driving it around now for awhile it is quite evident that someone long ago took really good care of this car. It uses absolutely no oil between changes and runs great.

[Ducati]

Kyle, what are the prices - how much for the 85 300D, and what will you need to part with the 1980? (In Canadian dollars, as I am from Surrey). Who out in "The Valley" does the work (that you don't do yourself) on your diesel? Valley Eurotech, (Abbotsford) perhaps? How are they? (whomever you use)
I used to live in Mission, and would like to move back to a bigger property up north of town one day, as Panorama Ridge (in South Surrey) is getting too built up and full of "Monster Homes" (with all of the attendant problems they bring) and my acreage will soon become the middle of town one day. Gotta Git while the Gittin is Good, methinx...and Mission is Motorhead Central, the racetrack is close, property affordable, and one of the prettiest places in the world.

[Kyle Blackmore]

Hi Ducati,the 85 is asking $5500 Cdn,might take 5000,two weeks ago I saw it in the paper for 6500.It sounds good but seems high compared to the prices I've seen on this forum and ebay.When I was looking for my first one,rusty and very tired 123's were asking 2-3000 and one mint example was asking 10,000,at a dealer.I paid 3300 for mine with 305,000 km and probably spent 1000 since then in parts.I do all my own wrenching so far but when it comes to the injection system I'm pretty much lost.I've learned a ton of stuff on this forum,and really appreciate everyone's input.BTW I think I'll ask $4000 for mine

[Kyle Blackmore]

I've never dealt with Valley Eurotech,Ducati but they have been recommended by other shops I've talked to.I think I sent you an e-mail about a shop in Poco,Otto sounds good too,let me know if you received it,I'm just barely computer literate

I'd go for the creampuff, KEEP the '80, back-burner the 'stang...why?

First, they're not making any more W123s, and ones such as you describe are getting hard to find, but are still very affordable. I'd get this one and pamper it, continue with your '80 as a daily driver.

The nice thing about Mustangs is that there is a huge aftermarket for parts, body panels, and trim. These resources are not likely to go away...IMHO, you CAN defer your Mustang restoration, but the reservoir of clean W123s won't be around forever.

Just my .02.

[Ducati]

Hi Kyle - Jim's advice is good. Get the best W123 you can. I have seen a minty silver 82'coupe in Ft. Langley that I almost bought instead of the one I have now (which I got thru a guy in Mission, by the way) where the final price on the coupe was $4200.00 Cdn. I should have bought it. Only 156000 miles on a turbodiesel. Mine was $5k, but it is mint, formerly from Santa Barbara California, beautiful colour combo, but more miles than the silver coupe. These people asking $6000 & up never get their price for 123's, & have to re-advertise at a more reasonable level. I live near both White Rock EuroSports & Eidelweiss Motors, & see 123 turbodiesels for sale all the time. Very rarely does anyone actually get more than $5000 for them. There is a new Mercedes dealership on Fraser Hwy., & they had an extremely nice silver 1984 for $7995.00 (typical dealer...Where did they think they were...North Vancouver???) but it actually did not sell & was wholesaled off at an auction. Salish Motors in North Van have numerous W123's & their prices are..uh...it depends on the season & how badly Junior needs money. Cash talks!
To sum up, you can get a decent W123 with everything (or almost everything) working for between $2500/$3000 for a very good non-turbo to a high of $5500.00 for the most immaculate of turbodiesels; $4 to $5 K being the norm for a turbo. I also know of at least a dozen real good parts cars to cannibalize, in Richmond & in Burnaby.

White Rock EuroSports has a 1984 (maybe its an 85; I'm not sure...) 300SD turbodiesel with 116000 miles for $12000.00 & it has been on their lot for almost 2 years. I have been eyeing it up, and talking to the salesman about perhaps getting it for $5k & my car. So far all he does is smile...I'll wear him down.

Buy another 123 Turbodiesel. Like Jim says, they are not going to be around forever, and we will spend our old age remembering them like we now fondly recall the days when you could get a 69' Camaro RallySport for $1800.00 or a triPower GTO for $2200.00.
Parts for your Mustang are plentiful & will be around untill the world ends - W123's won't.
I am not the most technically capable guy in the world (with computers) but I will figure out how to shrink pictures that I have scanned into my hard drive so I can post and e-mail them. I want to post pix of my dark blue 83' 300D sedan with the gorgeous tan interior, and will e-mail you pix of "The Mighty Black Hemi" and, if your interested in them, my silver 74' Alfa GTV coupe that I just finished over-restoring. I am actively searching for some kind of decent, inexpensive, open roadster sportscar at the moment, but have lots of time to find the right one.

This forum is great. There are two other MB/diesel forums that I am aware of, but this one is the best. Like you, I am fairly new to diesels & these guys have taught me a lot. They are a real lot of gentlemen, too- never...ok...very rarely (like only once in a year) have I seen any idiot flamers posting ignorant insulting BullS---, and that incident was dealt with by our moderator once it became obvious the guy had transgressed his right to free speech. Any technical question I have ever had has been answered quickly and the quality of advice received has been better than what I could get at WhiteRock or Eidelweiss. I would love to be able to put faces to names, instead of imagining what these guys are like, & would like to encourage a diesellers meet in the pacific northwest or here, perhaps. Plus...unlike most Americans, (no insult intended) these guys seem to know a lot about Canada and seem to be well travelled, better educated and more dignified than people on other forums.
Good to be talkin' to a neigbor...Regards; Greg in Surrey

[240 Ed]

All these guys talking about Canada. Where in the hell is Canada anyway?

Ducati!

Yes I agree! Get the best 123 you can, because it is so much cheaper than pulling one up from poor. And easier.
You and I have similar diseases, and are continually watching for these cars. Ah, to have a warehouse...

My 300 CD is not turboed, but sweet. Lots of care and a great new paint job. It was donated to a charity because of "...no reverse" Will get around to doing a band adjustment soon, but in the meantime will park where I can get out by going straight.

I would like to post pictures but don't know the size limit for this forum, any thoughts ? Anyone?

WAIT! I found Canada in National Geographic. Seems people live in ice igloos and chew the fat...
Do you have electricity and toilet paper? Wait until you see TV for the first time, WoW

Hey Kyle,

There are lots of mechanical good MB diesels around with rusted sheet metal, why don't you do your self a favor and transplant a diesel engine in that "stang". Might even be worth more when you get done with it as a novelty car. My Dad is considering doing that to his 1946 Chevrolet pick-up that he drives winters only and has had since 1971. Someone did a 283 V8 conversion prior to him. Now he'll have the best of both worlds, a classic truck with a classic dependable motor.

WHERE'S CANADA??? It's the place the bombs have to fly over before they hit Russia. Unfortunately, the converse is also true!!:p