Just passed the 1 year anniversary mark recently and the wife approved the purchase of a wagon since we want kids in our near future, and since also have two decent sized dogs (german shepherd mix and australian shepherd mix).

In terms of reliability, I see a lot of talk on the 81-85 (85 if its a federal model), and 87 300TD's. For a non wrencher, the mounds of information out there can be somewhat daunting. I've read that W123's are better, I've read that W124's are better, not sure which route to go with.

The initial requirement for the car is that it is ultra reliable and has relatively low maintenance costs for the long term. And when I say long term, I will probably drive it to the ground. I'm not going to flip it in a couple years time or anything. I like to keep my cars. If it drives faster, smoother, has more amenities, I will totally welcome that. But those are bonuses. So long as I can drive up and down the grapevine on my trips to and from San Jose/San Diego at a decent speed, with the A/C on, with the family and dogs on board, that'll be good enough for me.

Initially I was just focusing on diesels since they known to last. Dave pointed out that the 94-94 E320 gassers should be thrown into the mix as well. So another one for me to consider.

For the most part, there seems to be two different camps. W123 and W124. Regardless of what side you are on, I'm hoping that those that have owned both for quite a bit of time can chime in on their experiences and preference between the two.

Thanks in advance.
-John

Depends on the car....

I would take this

Over this

if you don't wrench, I would get a new toyota RAV or something like that....

....unless the wagon would be your third car...

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1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


[/SIGPIC]

Thats a good lookin' w123!!
Really like the cross bars on the roof rack. Anyone know where to get those?

To OP, I have owned my (wife's) wagon for little over a year and have done a ton of work on it. Mine sat for 2 years with veggie oil and jet fuel in it before I bought it. Needless to say, I've gone through the fuel system, not to mention all the other things it needed. Brakes, tires, carrier bearing, and on and on. If you get a 123, you are definitely going to get some wrench time in, but I enjoy it. They are cool cars for sure. Even my piece turns heads.

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'85 300TD- current toy
'04.5 Cummins- Daily Driver
'70 Chevelle- under construction
'63 Split Window- under construction

Hi Lee, good point... but a new rav4 would be 25k. And yes, it would be my third car with two other civics.

Ultra reliable....Yup. Low maintenance costs for the long run....probably not.

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1985 300TDT
2013 E350 Bluetec

Some refere to the W123 as old, out dated and clunky, and the W124 as modern styling, smooth, better ride and all the newer up grades, and quieter etc...

the OM617 has the cast iron head, and can take more abuse some what over the OM60x with the aluminium heads.

These are old cars that will need some tinkering to stay on top of the maintenance, and probably will be repairing past PO`s defered maintenance and abuses.

The newest W123 is 27 yrs old and the 87 W124 diesel wagon is 25 yrs old.

If you do not want to do your own wrenching, it will be costly to pay the hourly shop price. learn to be a DIY`er and your wife won`t have trouble knowing where you are.


Here is a W124 buyiers guide

1992 300D Turbo Diesel Recommendation




Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

With todays shop costs it might not be long until you had a substantial amount shelled out. Twenty five plus year old cars of any brand are going to cost has to be a general rule. If this was not so we would see a lot more older cars on the road than we do.

If a guy does not do most of his own work it can become a real money pit a lot faster than one would expect. If the car is not well kept up you are exposing your family and pets to potential danger in many obvious and not so obvious ways. Many do not take this into consideration.

1990-1992 300TE with the M103 engine. Stay away from 4matics. Get the third row seats. Get some tools for basic maintenance. Make friends who can help, like us.

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http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/l...aman/Fleet.jpg

Peach Parts W124.128 User Group.

80 280SL
85 300SD
87 300TD
92 300D 2.5 Turbo
92 300TE 4Matic

a wagovan... or a buick roadmaster

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1981 NA 300D 310k miles

These are expensive cars if you're not going to look after them and perform your own maintenance, and they do need to be looked after, but are reliable if maintained. They are also extraordinarally addictive.

If you are not going to work on the Wagon yourself I'd recommend trying to find a 2005 TDI Passat. Great driving car. My wife's has 150K, has been a trouble-free pleasure, and gets 37 to 38 mpg in mostly mountainous terrain. I know it's not a MB, but still a great wagon.

MM

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05 Passat TDI Wagon, 155k miles
05 Tacoma, 135k miles
96 F-250 7.3, 225k miles
85 MB 300TD, 275k miles
52 Dodge M37, 4BTA powered
52 Dodge PW, 23k miles
40 Ford Tudor Sedan (parts everywhere)

I vote Buick! Especially if it has the 3800 in it...that was an incredible motor. Low 30's MPG, plenty of power, and a smoooooth chassis.


I don't want to talk you out of a MB, just realize that most of the rubber parts (engine, trans, diff, subframe, etc.) are going to need replacing soon. Depending on where the car is from, rusty fuel/ brake lines, etc. If you have a reliable DD and want to learn wrenching on a 3rd car, then go for it. parts will be a bit higher-but you get what you pay for.

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$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment

To clarify, I do want to do maintenance on it. Will probably try to pick up a factory service manual. With that said, I do know my limitations as well and do not want to embark on picking up a vehicle where:

a) even with me doing the maintenance, the parts are expensive

b) most of what will need to be fixed would be too complicated for your average DIY'er doing it the first time out of a book

If you buy a wagon from one of us that has done all the expensive needed upgrades/repairs you will be ahead of the game.
if you buy one from a dealer, be sure you have a firm grasp on your ankles...
if you buy from a "owner" get to know the seller and the car deeply and know all the details the vehicle you are looking at will need. find out what has and has not been done, and factor that into the purchase price

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

"theres no such thing as cheap Mercedes"
While these machines can be really reliable, long term maintenance will NEVER be inexpensive, even if you do all of it yourself... But if your not a mechanical person, and take your vehicles to be serviced you will be spending WAY more than your current expectations...

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1987 300D(Erma)- #14 head, 193k
2003 TDI Beetle sold
1985 300sd sold
1987 300D(Ursala)- #14 head, 157k when sold
1987 300D(Wilbur)- #14head, 356,000+miles, sold after 7 days of owning it.
1992mercedes 300d- totaled and in a junk yard somewhere..
1983 mercedes 300sd- scrapped
1980 mercedes 300sd first mercedes diesel-sold