^^ the last two posts.

If you basically liked the feel of that scruffy wagon, you will like a w123 that's sorted, or only has minor issues, a whole lot. I would push the budget to $3500 for a nice car that warrants it, though the advice to keep a grand or so aside for a rainy day is well put.

The w124 is a much more modern car in many respects, quite a different experience, and especially so when speaking of the diesel engines. The diesel w124s are way quicker, smoother and quieter than the older cars. They are a bit more complex but still a DIY proposition.

As I said in another post, the w123 was introduced in 1976, which means it was designed in the early 70s -- a world leader at the time, mind, but still 1970s tech.

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

I'd say find a cherry example of a W123. They're out there.

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Codifex
1981 240D ChinaBlue (Got her running with a donor engine.)
1983 300DTurbo w/sunroof.
1984 300TD manual sunroof. (Electrical Gremlins)

I would go for something like this, and if I needed another car, I would go for it.

1984 mercedes benz 190d diesel

For now my 78 300d is working out good. Paid 1K for a clean GA car body, put in 3K, it's pretty well sorted and dependable for long w/e road trips. 2K of that was for an auto trans. I will go std. for my next car.

Here's an e-mail I got yesterday from a friend. Contact me offlist at len@sokoloff "dot" com if you would like to get in touch with him.

I will be helping a relative with an Estate sale in Missouri soon by listing a 1982 and a 1985 Mercedes-Benz Diesel Station Wagons. Not sure at this point if they are Turbo Diesel models. I saw the 1985 at a distance and it looked good. Light green metallic original paint.

They will be on ebay as soon as they get all the information and photos to me. If you are interested in them, let me know and I will tell you when they are listed.

They are located in Van Buren, Missouri. It is about one hour west of Popular Bluff, Missouri.

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Len
'59 220S Cabriolet-SOLD and living happily in Malta
'83 240D 351,500 miles original owner-SOLD
'88 560SL 41,000 miles - totaled and parted out
https://sites.google.com/site/mercedesstuff/home
'99 E300 turbo 227,500 miles
'03 SLK320 40,000 miles - gave to my daughter
'14 Smart electric coupe 28,500 miles
'14 Smart electric cabriolet 28,500 miles
'15 Smart electric coupe 28,000 miles

Thanks for all the good input- see my other post. I think i am narrowing the search down to a 300 or 350SDL

dave

If i were you i would save four thousand more and buy one in really decent shape... sometimes cars that seem average can be problematic.. but then again cars that look like there turds can drive for 100k miles with no issues at all... its really a chance but 4k seems a little low for a trouble free car but anything is possible.

About the 240D, just how slow is it? I know that's a tough question to answer. The simplicity really appeals to me and we don't have California freeways around here, and it's relatively flat, but i hear so many comments about the lack of speed. I'm trying to get san idea what it's like to live with.

I guess it comes down to what you want the car for. Will it be a pleasent, classic second (or third) vehicle, or your daily-driver.

I consider my solid, well-running manual-shift '82 240D to be perfectly acceptable in flat country. But keep in mind that, despite their legendary durability, the newest W123s are getting close to 3 decades-old, so I wouldn't have one as my sole transportation. Currently, my daily-driver happens to be a '96 Toyota Camry. Still, my 240D isn't so primitive that I don't enjoy driving her.

The W124 and later diesels are so much more refined and would make a suitable daily-driver, but for their increasing complexity and computerization, (and the afore-mentioned head-cracking issue).
For their simplicity, I just prefer the manual-shift W123s (I also own a 5-speed '84 Euro 300TD)

If you live in an area where air-conditioning is essential, none of these cars have what I consider really reliable AC systems. Hence my choice of a Toyota for my main transport. (Plus, in winter it saves my classic Benzes from the ravages of road-salt!)

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

Well, speaking from experience having owned a couple of these, I would say that if it is in good shape, then you can expect 0-60 in around 20 seconds. My first 240D was 24 seconds. My current 240D is around 18 seconds.

I have NO trouble getting around town, and keeping up with traffic. OK, you will need to plan for a larger gap when merging in traffic, or when crossing the road, but I've had NO trouble at all.

On the freeway? Over the weekend I took a 500 mile trip, and the speed limit was anything from 55 to 70. No trouble at all keeping up. On the mountain passes, it is true that I could not pass people until the road flattened out, but I had NO trouble keeping at the speed limit or a little more when passing. I was thoroughly impressed. We went over mountain passes several thousand feet in elevation. The only thing I noticed was the NA 240D did puff a bit more at higher elevations, but the A/C worked great, and overall the 240D was quiet, cool, stable, and comfortable.

I WILL say that the auxiliary fan kicked in several times on the uphill climbs as we had the A/C on and were keeping at freeway speed.

So, I would say this. It does just fine. I would say that to the passenger, you don't notice that it is sluggish at all. For the driver, you do note that on mountain passes going uphill, you've got your foot all the way into it. In other words, there is no additional power for going any faster. However, no one shook their fist at us for being too slow, and I never felt the car as being too sluggish for daily duty. In fact, I consider it fun and nimble.

Another thing is that my 240D doesn't blow a lot of smoke. In fact, I need to look very closely at startup to see if there is any visible smoke (there is very little if any that I see). Even on the uphill grades, there was minimal visible smoke from the car. I don't know other's experiences, but this is mine. I do know that my first 240D blew a LOT of smoke, and seemed very 'tired' compared to my current one. I would estimate the mileage on my previous car at 350-400K. This car has only around 130K.

I might also add that I own an FD RX7, so I do know what 0-60 in 4.9 is like. That's fun, too! But I believe that the 240D (with manual transmission) is a fun, reasonably nimble, reasonably sure-footed, perfectly-adequate car for 99.5% of everything you need to do. The only exception is if you need to tow something.

Sincerely,

PE

P.S. I really like driving my 240D. I suggest you find one in good shape, make sure you do a PPI, and take it for a spin. I'd wager you'd find it totally fine.

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83 240D - 4 speed manual - Manilla Beige
189K miles, Tachometer mod, cool wooden shift knob from PeachParts, CocoMats, Original factory paint, manual windows, manual sunroof. Starting to add AudioWrap to this car too!

I don't have the exact numbers, but for purposes of illustration: the wagon you test drove is rated at around 115-118 horsepower. The 240d is around 70 horsepower.

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

Thats about right.

I have owned both a 300D Turbo and my current 240D and the 300D is much better suited to "modern" traffic than the 240D is but that being said the 240D has much more character than any 300D. A well sorted 240D can be a perfect daily driver but it will cause some panic merging onto the interstate.

It's perfectly fine unless you're an incompetent driver. The only real problem might be trying to pass traffic going up a mountain pass. Basically you won't.

- Peter.

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2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

My first 240D was a rusty & tired '82 automatic that had been well-thrashed by the PO's teenagers. It was pretty slow, but tolerable for local errands.
My latest is a solid-body '82 4-speed, with a factory replacement engine. It's quite peppy and enjoyable, even on the highway. It's the most refined and least 'diesel-like' of all the 240Ds that I've owned or driven. I keep it at my parent's home in Virgina Beach, where hills aren't an issue. I sometimes wish it had a 5-speed though.

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DrDKW

The 240D AT and MT guises have different personalities. The MT allows more immediacy if you find that to be a necessary element when driving. The 84-89 190Ds except for the '87 turbo had a 5-speed option. Also a different driving experience form the AT counterparts.

Sixto
87 300D^2

You *can* get some more pep out of an auto 240D by keeping it wound up a little and manually shifting the automatic selector. Oh, and turning off the AC helps a bit too.

My 240D was a happy little car at 60-65MPH. It would hum a rather high pitched but contented song while cruising in the slow lane. Pure enjoyment!

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Codifex
1981 240D ChinaBlue (Got her running with a donor engine.)
1983 300DTurbo w/sunroof.
1984 300TD manual sunroof. (Electrical Gremlins)