I get the impression that all of the diesel W123s be it a wagon, sedan or coupe had the larger diameter rear section and the "centre" bearing at the same distance from the differential.

I think that only the front prop shaft sections were changed to suit the transmissions and engine positions.

If you look back at 200T's BW thread you can see a picture of a gasser prop shaft that not only has a different diameter but also the centre bearing in a different position too. Yet more proof that the bear chested manliness of a diesel requires bigger beefier bits!

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Anyone have this picture to place in this thread?

And to add to the "sleeper" digression above, we also must consider the definition of "Sleeper cell" quite common in the news today, as well as the other applicable automotive definition of a vehicle with space for someone to get a good rest, or to sleep. Clearly these two suggestions are not what was mentioned above, but I thought it important if a word is being defined based on cultural use.

I agree that with respect to automotive culture, a "Sleeper" is a vehicle that someone would not assume offers up any performance attributes simply based upon it's appearance or known typical uses, but rather surprisingly, performs beyond these stigma or preconceptions. Any W123 that offers performance on par with a nondescript basic car today, might fall into this category as "sleeper", since it's performance value is fairly low by today's standards. That being said, it's appeal is legendary !

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85 300D 3 pedal. Current project.
83 300TD (need rear wiper assembly dead or alive)
84 300SD Daily driver
85 300TD almost 400k miles and driven daily.
98 E300D *sold
86 300SDL *sold and made flawless 10 hour journey to new home.