Funny thing about wagons.....

Back in 1993, I was looking for a wagon, we had just sold our Taurus wagon, and I wanted to replace it with a Mercedes. Since my wife was no longer working, I figured if we were going to "store" a car in the garage, it might as well be something cool.

I was looking at late w123 TDs, and happened to make a trip to Oklahoma City with my cousin. While there, we looked through the classifieds and found an 87 300TD that had been traded in at the local Infinity dealership.

On a lark, we went over to look at it, and the price was not too much more than what I was seeing for really nice W123 TDs.

Bought it, flew back out a month later and drove it home.

My wife developed a symbiotic relationship to the car. She loved it. We had it 12 years before I replaced it with an immaculate 95 E320 wagon my friend's wife was driving. Still, it took me a year after that to convince her to sell "her" diesel. It was funny, both wagons were the same color, and to the non enthusiast, it looked like Linda was still driving the same car.

Now, Linda does not want to trade up from her wagon. Even though most of the kids are out of the house, she still wants to keep a wagon for it's utility value. Couldn't even get her to swallow the bait wrt getting a newer diesel.

Given that our current one spends most of it's life in the garage and looks like new, I think I, errr...she, will hang onto it for quite a bit longer....

Jim

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14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles

That's a nice story. Yes, the wagons do have a strong appeal to some of us. I started out as a yuong man who loved VW Vans - because you could live in them. As I grew older and more pratical - I found myself drawn to the W123 wagons (owned one) - but now, now I'm totally enamored with the W124 wagon. Better refinement - more power. Of course, that brings 'other' problems. I think I'm on the way to mastering those issues, then the cars will be good servents to me (or maybe it's the other way around)?

Just checked the VIN's - these two cars are only 73 digits apart. That's cool.

You are the yard stick against which I measure myself (with regards to quantity and quality of Mercedes)!

Means they were built the same day, perhaps even the same shift!

A parts car we bought was only about 215 off from my '82....so it was also built the same day. Crazy stuff!

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Then you're in real trouble.

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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

It makes no difference to me. I believe that the "z" bracket is probably the same for either Euro or Class 3. Since I can't follow these various threads, please reply to my original thread or email me with the measurements.

Thanks.

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- Neil
'83 W123 (Ol' Yeller)
'82 HP 34C

Sooooo, friends and neighbors. It's been exactly one year since we brought 'Spouse' home from Rhode Island. Since then we've been busy replacing the IP and other parts on my other wagon, 'Klaus'. We started working on Spouse about 6 months ago, finally. Yesterday I got Spouse running again, turned out to be a poorly timed IP;

Before fixing the timing;

Spouse engine running before I started working on it 01 SEPT 2013 - YouTube

After fixing the timing (and replacing the IP, injectors, and cleaning the Dickens out of the engine)

Spouse first start - after being fixed, 01 SEPT 2014 - YouTube

Here are some links to other threads I started related to working on this car, and the troubles I met with (mostly caused by my own stupidity);

No it's time to work on "Spouse" - my other 87 300TDt

Good day installing new IP in "Spouse" - then I had to go and ruin it ! Broken tab.

87 300TD "Spouse" - tons of white smoke, smells like fuel....

I've started a list of the things I need to do, beofer we can get the car inspected and legally on the road again;

• It's missing some fuses and relays which will account for most of the electrical issues I’ve found.
• The horn doesn't work, neither do the turn signals (but the emergency flashers do).
• The rear wiper is inop and the driver’s side windows don't move.
• Sunroof is stuck and cock-eyed.
• There is some kind of a hydraulic leak in the SLS on the passenger side shock, maybe also on the driver side. Gotta get the wheels off and have a look-see.
• The rear hatch stays up, but the auto latch does not actuate (I have a Pick-A-Part replacement for this, but it is a BEAST of a job to install).
• The serpentine belt acts like it is loose, but I can't see why (it vibrates badly at idle, makes a buzzing sound - then it'll stop for a while, then start again like something is cycling on and off that is putting a big load on the belt - maybe the A/C compressor, but that is shut off).
• Oh yeah, there is probably at least one stuck caliper - I can hear and feel it when I drive it around the block (though the breaks feel strong and tight).
• I was just told by Quahog that there is a loose hub issue on the RR wheel – so that’ll need some addressing.
• I really need to address the vacuum lines too - there are many connections missing - I'm looking for the screw-in nipple that comes out of the side of the ALDA (I forgot to remove that part from the old IP when I sold it) - and the 5 way connector located right over the secondary fuel filter. I printed out a gigantic schematic of the vacuum system which will make the job easier. I am sure all of those missing sections aren't helping matters. Before I worked on this, the engine flat-out would not shut off, nothing worked. Had to open a hard line to stop the engine.


Y'all have probably been following pwogaman's maroon 87 300TD project;

1987 300TD W124 Wagon...DC Impound Auction...$450 Ends 07/18/2012

Well, he really inspired me. Between the two of us I think we're starting a rehab center for un-loved w124 diesel wagons. Problem is, neither of us are willing to allow our wagons to be adopted. We are wagon hoarders. Discovery Channel is going to do a special on us next Spring.

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1987 300TD named Klause
1987 300TD named Spouse
1987 300D named Seabiscuit
1980 300TD names Chloie (now sadly gone)

When is this going to air on the Discovery Channel?

I want to set my DVR to record it.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

- HA !

Well, maybe there are enough of us that they could produce a series, have a new one on every week. Hmmmmm, maybe we could all shuffle our cars around from house to house, making it APPEAR that we hoard cars, just to be on TV.

I can see it now, me on the back porch, in a lawn chair, being told very directly by my family that "the cars have to go - Dad, you have too many cars, it's unhealthy" and I start to yell and cry as the Jerr-Dann tips back and loads the last of my wagons away - to a place where they are auctioned off to other MB hoarders.


Maybe we're onto something?

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1987 300TD named Klause
1987 300TD named Spouse
1987 300D named Seabiscuit
1980 300TD names Chloie (now sadly gone)

I think we are. I'd watch it, if anything for the entertainment value.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Replaced 8 burnt or missing fuses tonight, wow what a difference. Now the turn signals, horn, interior lights, rear hatch retractor and three of the four windows all work again. Still need yo figure out the; rear wiper, sunroof (did work when I brought it home, but is now a little crooked and does not move) and the driver side front window. Also have to finish hooking up all of the vacuum lines and dressing the electrical wiring. Maybe be able to get the State Inspection next week.

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1987 300TD named Klause
1987 300TD named Spouse
1987 300D named Seabiscuit
1980 300TD names Chloie (now sadly gone)

Just replaced the drivers door window regulator, now it works, but the drivers side rear stopped working :-( Pulled off the drivers door mirror, gonna get a replacement tomorrow at the salvage yard, this one got whacked real hard and is all wanky.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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1987 300TD named Klause
1987 300TD named Spouse
1987 300D named Seabiscuit
1980 300TD names Chloie (now sadly gone)