Falling off the W124 300TD wagon - but 1987 was a good year.... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

jbrianfoto · #1 09-02-2013, 07:53 AM

Had to turn in my 12mm surrender socket for some 1987 Champagne......

Hi everyone - I'm Jeromie - It's 6:30 AM Monday and it's been 18 hours since my last Mercedes w124 purchase. I do feel powerless before a good deal when one is presented - I find that I cannot, well, just say no. My whole family knows that I have a real weakness for station wagons - after this last binge, this'll be my third time on the wagon. I did go thru a spell of almost 3 years without buying any, but those demons turned out to be too much to me to resist.

I knew things were starting to fall apart for me when I'd, occasionally, browse the internet forums and sale sites, looking at 300TD's. Once and a while I'd see someone on the highway enjoying their wagon and I would feel jealousy and guilt. Lots of guilt. Why did I ever sell my first wagon? She was a good car, no turbo, only 5 cylinders, but she was always faithful, beautiful, and blond.

I tried to fill this hole in my life by participating in group therapy sessions (www.peachparts.com) where I felt safe talking about my addiction with others who had the same opinions about these cars. Some encouraged me to meet up for ‘social outings’, to get outside and work, feel good about myself again, be productive – but I quickly found that the “Pick A Parts” parties were only a cover story we told our wives. We weren’t there for therapy – it was savage wagon gluttony! There my inner wagon lusts were fully awakened – I felt my hot passion for glo-plugs light again, soon I was coming home with diesel oil on my hands and there was nothing anyone could do about it!

I began bringing home parts to cars I didn’t own. First it was small, unique interior wagon trim pieces, then third row seats and headrests. Then, I began collecting heads. I was obsessed with them, I would read about them, how they broke, what people…glup….did with them when they broke (like baking them in ovens!). I got my first - head - a few months. It felt sooooo good - I kept it there in my basement, next to all the other body parts. When I learned that my head wasn’t perfect, I was filled with rage (it had 3 cracks between the #3, #4 and #5 exhaust valve and injector nozzle) – so I got another, then another. Finally my wife pleaded with me to stop and get my head checked.

About 4 months ago I found a great deal on my first 1987 W124 300TD. I brought it home and gave him the name Klaus. You’ve probably seen me writing and sharing photos about him on this forum. I will be getting the #22 head back from the machine shop sometime next week, just in time for me to go on a 3 week trip for work. Anyway – my wife really was charmed by Klaus. She liked the size, comfort, lines, it was easy to park and most importantly, the power. She didn’t like my first wagon (a 1980 300TD with no turbo - her name was Chloie - I guess my wife donesn't like other women), so feeling how much faster the OM603 is, well, it finally sold here. She surprised me one day and said she wanted a wagon too. At first I thought she was faking it, but after more questions I realized she was - curious - and sincere.

Last Thursday I saw a posting in the for-sale section for another 87 300TD (which was a nice color, not white with blue interior, my least favorite combo), for a very good deal and it was only 500 miles away – and HEY Honey – it’s a Lobor Day holiday weekend! Perfect time for a long road trip up and down I-95. You were just saying how much you and the boys enjoyed out last 500 mile drive to Columbus, OH two weeks ago to pick up that #22 head (insert fake smile here). NOTE - My oldest son, Matthew, opted out for this one, he stayed home and slept the entire time we were gone - it's hard work being 16.

We drove up to Rhode Island, got the car, and brought it home. Tolls on I95 came to just over $180 (the George Washington Bridge in New York alone was $60 for my pickup and an empty U-Haul car trailer!!!!). Now I have two gorgeous W124 300TDT’s in my stable.

The view from the driver’s seat of my faithful pickup “Mr. Thirsty” - our 1997 Ford F350 Diesel Dually. I really love the feel of pulling a project car home on a trailer. I learned my lesson when I brought home my first wagon, this one came on a car-hauler (all the wheels off the ground, no car-dolly this time) – I didn’t want to hurt the transmission.

Nice, straight, only a few very small dents here and there, but this car presents very nicely when you walk up on it. I love the silver/champagne color + the interior is cool (I think it is palomino brown, it’s darker than my other wagon).

The front seats are from a W126 and need to be replaced. They are comfortable, but they ain’t right for the car. They also don’t match the color of the rest of the interior.

Look JJ! Third row leather seats (factory installed this time, Daddy doesn’t have to tear the whole interior out to install a scavenged set. Ohh-Ohh – LOOK – the rear hatch hydraulics hold the hatch up in any position, so I don’t have to replace those either. Glory days !

Another treat I found – car has both of its luggage rails. Bummer about the sunroof – its taped shut. Motor is jammed. I’ll open the cover today and crank on the manual close knob to get it closed all the way. I’ll then address the rebuild / cleaning later.

Finally – here’s a photo of my youngest son, JJ and my wife posing next to her new car. I made a mental list of all the things that need to be done before she can start driving this;

1. Replace / Fix the IP – engine runs terribly - combinations of very rough idle, black smoke, white fuel smoke (car has a #17 head, no oil in the coolant reservoir that I can see, and the coolant hoses are soft).
2. Repair/Replace both rear hydraulic pistons – I haven’t looked too closely at these yet, but the passenger side unit is pouring out fluid – so I don’t know what to do about these yet. The driver side seems fine. Probably going to have to service the SLS valve too. The whole rear end is sagging right now.
3. Reconnect all the miscellaneous vacuum lines and wires that are missing or disconnected currently.
4. Fix both driver side front and rear electric windows
5. Fix the A/C (Mama does not like a hot car)
6. Fully service the cooling system (this car has the aluminum fan, appears to have a tight viscous fan clutch, and the radiator shroud is in place).

I have a longer list of nice things to do also, but these are the HOT items that’ll get her on the road. She is a very sweet and understanding wife. Soon as I get Klaus running again, I’ll start on her car. I promise

vstech · #2 09-02-2013, 10:38 AM

those seats appear identical to the leather seats in my 87 wagon. 126 front seats do not have the side bolsters. I think they are 124 seats, just not correct color...

careful collecting wagons... I've got three, and ALMOST BOUGHT A GRAY ONE NEAR RALEIGH, BUT SOMEONE BOUGHT IT FIRST...

My 16 year old daughter REALLY wants a wagon to drive to school, and I told her over my dead body...

as I'm sure you already know... the list of "to do" on the 87 wagons grows rapidly... we're here to assist you with whatever you find it needs, and point out to you things you may not already know about the car.

enjoy!

sixto · #3 09-02-2013, 12:28 PM

Look at Quahog's picture of the back side of the front seats, they are 126 seats!

Sixto
87 300D

vstech · #4 09-02-2013, 12:39 PM

hmmm

sixto · #5 09-02-2013, 12:42 PM

hmmm is right. You can't fit 124 V8 front seats in a 124 6 cylinder body but you can fit 126 seats?

Sixto
87 300D

pwogaman · #6 09-02-2013, 12:49 PM

You are truly diseased; not that there is anything wrong with that.

cooljjay · #7 09-02-2013, 03:04 PM

Eeekkkkkk 60$ bridge toll....I got upset when they raised the toll in Cali to 5$.......

Quahog · #8 09-02-2013, 05:40 PM

if you have any questions about your new car, I'm happy to answer best I can

jbrianfoto · #9 09-02-2013, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quahog

if you have any questions about your new car, I'm happy to answer best I can

I sure will if the need arises. We had to push her off the trailer, didn't have time to get her running again. Just finished working outside all day today on a bigger, better, safer chicken coop (the old one was thrown together and has lasted too long). I tried just now to get her started, but I think there is plenty of air in the lines - won't worry for now.

Did you get yer truck?

Ol' Yeller · #10 09-02-2013, 08:09 PM

Congratulations on your purchase. Does it have a trailer hitch? If so, could you peak underneath and make a measurement or two?

W123 300TD trailer hitch question

Thanks!

- Neil

jbrianfoto · #11 09-02-2013, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ol' Yeller

Congratulations on your purchase. Does it have a trailer hitch? If so, could you peak underneath and make a measurement or two?

W123 300TD trailer hitch question

Thanks!

- Neil

Hi - this car does not have a hitch, but my other wagon does, however right noe it is tilted up on ramps waiting for me to install a new head. That places the rear too close to the ground to crawl under and make measurements. I will be away for three weeks, but when I get back, and after I get the car back together ( and off the ramps), I will take good measurements and photos. Will a W124 hitch be ok for your W123?

Hope this will help

vstech · #12 09-02-2013, 08:25 PM

the 95 wagon I just sold to the new tech help moderator Thayer has a class 3 hitch on it, I'm sure he can make some measurements for you. if you prefer the euro hitch, my 87 wagon has one on it.

Quahog · #13 09-02-2013, 08:46 PM

there are a few w123 wagons I like which would be more practical. If you couldn't tell, I'm all about style. I feel they suit me/life better. It helps that my sensible wife likes them too.

Its been somewhat maddening, however, knowing I could now make the truck deal happen. Thank you. I'm holding on, trying to scrape some more cash together and go for for the brass ring: rust-free 1985 euro 300td w/elec rears. woo!

Mölyapina · #14 09-02-2013, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

My 16 year old daughter REALLY wants a wagon to drive to school, and I told her over my dead body...

Proverbs 22:6: "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."

Help increase the wagon-driving population of the future, John!

Ol' Yeller · #15 09-03-2013, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

the 95 wagon I just sold to the new tech help moderator Thayer has a class 3 hitch on it, I'm sure he can make some measurements for you. if you prefer the euro hitch, my 87 wagon has one on it.

I think that the difference between the Euro hitch and the Curtis 300 TD hitch is the lack of a receiver tube on the Euro. As stated in the link, what I need are the dimensions of the "Z" braces that connect each bumper hanger bolt piece with a frame rail.

W123 300TD trailer hitch question