I personally think the reason the why the w123 is going the way of the dodo bird is because there are no mechanics left that can work on them......and if you take it to a European mechanic they will charge an arm n a leg......and we all know that by now, the w123 requires a lot of work to get it back to it's bullet proof stats.....where as the newer models, age isn't effecting them as bad yet.....but the same thing will eventually happen.....the mechanics will dry up and no one will be left to fix them.....and the time the cdi gets to these age.....there will be so many expensive problems, nobody will want them.....then on the w123 topic again....we are seeing that aftermarket part quality is now horrible.....making new parts not last more then a year...

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Interesting, as some on here are aware, many of the points raised here (modern safety equipment, too much time spent under the car and not enough in it with wife & kids, more difficult to find parts...) we have decided to get a modern SUV. We also thought the logical choice was a 2008 ML CDI.

But after looking at several of them, we decided to change marques due to what appears to be spotty finishing and overengineering that I can't even begin to work on. We saw so many listed that had a long history of warranty repaired electrical issues and over half that we looked at had some major clearcoat problems, especially on the window trim. Since they are nearing the end of their warrantied life, that seemed like too much of a gamble to use, so we are in the market for a Japanese SUV whech have a longer track record of reliability and are still mfd in Japan in most cases. Also, we can get a Japanese SUV similarly equipped for about 1/2 of the price of the ML, the mpg is similar, and we can use reg. gas, which actually makes them more economical.

I agree that the w123 is rapidly becoming a novelty car, and their use as a DD is more and more rare. I love my w123, and plan to keep using it as a DD for years to come, but I benefit from a PO that almost completely restored it. Our other w123 (1980 240D) is still a great car, and has a better engine (more HP, seemingly better compression), but to restore it both cosmetically (new carpets/seats) and mechanically (suspension, windshield) is money that we won't ever recoup. So we will keep it and use it as a backup car in case either of the DDs go down, but it's days of regular daily driving are dwindling.

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Current Mercedes
1979 maple yellow 240D 4-speed

Gone and fondly remembered:
1980 orient red 240D 4-speed

Gone and NOT fondly remembered:
1982 Chna Blue 300TD

Other car in the stable:
2013 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI / 6-speed MT

On the D-C merger, my intent with that point was that seemed to bring about a change in philosophy from "highest quality no matter what it costs" to "design to satisfy a price point". The W124 and W126 is definitely in the former category. The W210, it's starting to creep towards the latter. The W211 (and for sure the W164) is totally in the latter category. I feel this was a result of the merger with Chrysler. Maybe I have it wrong, just my impression.

I got really lucky with our ML320. It was a local car, serviced exclusively at the local MB dealer, and the VMI sheet revealed only a few minor problems early in life. The PO drove it until the cat gave out, according to the dealer they traded it in on a 2013 Bluetec with a pee tank. Dealer replaced the cat and put it up for sale.

I had one window molding with peeling clear coat, the dealer replaced it as part of the sale. We also had a problem with the driver master window switch and they replaced that too for free. Funny aside on the D-C merger, I'm on the road today and I got a Dodge Grand Caravan for a rental car, and it has nearly that same switch assembly as in my W164.

I got to looking under the hood at that OM642, they used reverse-torx bolts to hold the plastic cover over the valley of the V-6. I think part of that has to do with the high pressure fuel lines and the high voltage piezo injector actuators and they don't want the liability of someone poking around there and getting hurt.

At least the basics are still DIY - brakes, fluid changes, suspension, flex disks, etc.

The only issue we have at present is the stupid gubmint mandated TPMS. The sensors use batteries and they died, so when we get new tires sometime in the next few months I will have to replace the TPMS sensors too.

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The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

My impression is that you get charged by tire shops for changing the TPMS whether you need them changed or not.

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Current Mercedes
1979 maple yellow 240D 4-speed

Gone and fondly remembered:
1980 orient red 240D 4-speed

Gone and NOT fondly remembered:
1982 Chna Blue 300TD

Other car in the stable:
2013 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI / 6-speed MT

My area is a little different. W123s are still plentiful, and almost all of them are diesels. W124s are around, but they all seem to be gassers. Same with the 201. There are rather a lot of 126 diesel and gas cars driving around, as well as a few 116s. 210s aren't exactly rare here, but they all seem to be gassers as well. You do see a few CDI and Bluetec vehicles from time to time. So if you look at the used diesel market (excluding trucks), you can have something from 1985 or earlier for not much money, or something from this century for a bundle, with very little in between.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

Although many of us started out when much younger, driving and avidly wrenching on our newly acquired used W123, or W126 diesels sometime in the past (as I did) 22+ years ago - a few of us want to move into the 2000s MB diesel-era, with less time given to wrenching on 'em.

After my '83 300SD acrued 305K miles, I moved on to another work-car that needed nothing for a period of years and 90K miles before it needed anything - a new '99 E300.

Recently, after 14-years with the '99 W210, I moved on to a used CDI sedan, with less than half the miles on it. So far, I'm very pleased.

The CDIs may be "a bundle," but that depends on what is considered a; "bundle," to any individual. To me, my CDI was a bargain for what I believe I got for my money spent.

I believe the CDIs/Blutec W211 sedans, are the 2000s version of the W126 300SD of the '80s, that many of us lusted after to own, or still own! I'm convinced of that.

Aside from driving in hilly ice & snow conditions - the W211 diesel sedans do everything well.

They are very large, very safe, very fuel-efficient, and very well constructed/engineered, economy cars. That when new, were very expensive.

Unlike the 300SDs of the '80s - they are blindingly quick in acceleration, very fast in top-end speed, all the while sipping fuel - delivering 33% OR better HWY fuel economy than the old W126 SDs.....

Examples with anywhere from 100K to 200K miles on them can be purchased from under $10K to $15K - and still give their new owners a couple hundred thousand more miles of driving pleasure....

Here in Houston I see a lot of 123s in various condition - from awful to pristine. There's usually a few for sale on Craiglist. 124s can be had in the 3-5K range and there seems to be a steady supply. 210s were rare during the 2011-2012 time frame when I was shopping and got mine, and I paid a little too much for mine, but lately have been popping up more frequently anywhere from 6-10K. 2 weeks ago someone had a '99 on consignment at a local dealer for $8500, dealer serviced 125K miles. I would consider that a good deal here. Here in Houston diesel MB and VW prices seem to be higher than other parts of the country - though they're usually rust free, and a lot of people do a lot of highway driving here so they seem to be in steady demand.

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Charlie

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'66 VW 1300 96K miles
'97 E300D 239K miles
'85 300D 203K miles (sold Sep 2012)

Now the C250 diesel will hit the market. Fuel economy is estimated to be 45MPG on paper, so it will surpass 50 in the real world. I bet it can go 0 to 6 in under 8 seconds, and will be quiet as a Lexus. How the heck do you compete with that?

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[GONE] - 1995 Mercedes E300 Diesel - 130k miles - Smoke Silver (702) over Mushroom leather (265) - Bladder blasting, coast-to-coast work machine.

I'm with you there. There is just something about the W123 that is timeless. I have toyed with the idea of buying a W124 and very nearly did buy a very nice example with a 5 speed which was light years ahead of the W123 in comfort and driving style but I still prefer the more primitive W123. I really don't think I will ever buy another chassis other than the possibility of a W126 coupe or if I do the european delivery thing with a new c-class one day.

I really do get the W123 thing. I've owned one and could see getting another. Puttering around in one of those is just a great feeling! I had an 83 240D manual and often preferred driving it to my near-perfect 91 300D.

But the allure of the W210 and W211 is starting to nip at me....

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14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

I'm new to the W123 but I specifically picked this platform as my last car after quite a bit of research. I've owned and worked on everything from hemi powered muscle cars from the 60's to 2 stroke saabs.

This car has decent parts availability (my bad for buying a CD and being stuck with some unique parts), fuel efficient for it's size, and generally easy to work on.

If I add anything to the fleet it'll be an older Benz diesel, not newer, the older I get the less I equate 'newer' with 'better'

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Eric, CPO, Submarines, retired.
Here's a sig line...
Mine: '68 Corvette LS1/4L65E, 83 240D, 2000 GMC 4x4, 08 FLSTC Anniv
Hers: '72 Corvette 454/4spd, '99 MB SLK, '93 Metro vert, 78 240D, '92 Silverado, '65 Fjord Rustang, '59 Fjord Fairlane, '17 Slingshot.

It can work the other direction too, shertex!

If you were like me, where your parents brought home new 220D(s) & 240Ds when you were a teen, every few years, you will find yourself pining or wanting to go back 'to the future,' if you will....

DD forum member; charmlu posted a LINK on the CL Alert Thread with the ad of a W123 '82(?) cream colored 240D 4-speed manual, in Santa Cruz, CA., (2-owner IIRC?) that had been garaged and needed nothing, the other day - ($7,950 - IIRC) that I've been losing sleep over buying - here in Texas........

I saw that one too. But my wife would not let me make it to our 25th anniversary (next week!) if I brought home another M-B.

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The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

You guys overseas get many more of the neat MB diesels that we (in the U.S.) will never, ever be able to buy!

The time machine condition (the frontal left-front & right-rear trunk deck exterior pics.) of that Santa Cruz, CA. 240D that charmlu LINKED to made me drool as if I were in a t***y bar!