Musings on the Current State of the Used Diesel Market - Page 5 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

biopete · #61 09-12-2013, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

I've always liked them.

A side by side is nice

I appreciate the engineering and design challenges they overcame. The 210 is the same basic engine, transmission , climate control, suspension (except rear is a bit more complicated) but vastly improved. Progress is cool.

shertex · #62 09-13-2013, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewjtx

1998 Mercedes E300 Turbo Diesel 41k miles!!

$12.5k - Enjoy.

I love this line: "The W210 E class diesel is considered by most to be the best diesel model Mercedes has ever made." hahahaha

JimFreeh · #63 09-13-2013, 07:37 AM

With regards to styling:

What's important is how YOU like it, not how someone else feels about the series.

With regards to series:

I've been driving diesel MBs for over 25 years. Started with W115 220Diesels, then owned a series of W123 diesels, 240D, 300D (turbo and non turbo), and two W124 diesels, 300TD and E300 diesel. Even had a W126 300SD that I really enjoyed (it was the best W123 I ever drove).

From a daily driver aspect, I wouldn't have traded any of my W123 cars for the W115 series, and I wouldn't trade either of my W124 diesels for the W123 series.

The W124 has it all over the earlier cars. Much nicer to drive, more power, better mileage, and hugely safer.

My favorite old diesel was the anthracite 83 300SD I had. Loved the way that car drove. But...... For safety, economy, power, and well, just plain fun, my current W124 E300 diesel has to be the best diesel car I've owned so far. I'm looking forward to getting a W211 CDI in the next year or two, and after having some seat time in a few, I think it will be another big jump forward, as the W124 was wrt the W123.

As far as complexity, and ease of service, I'm quite comfortable working on my W124 chassis cars. They are still reasonable cars to work with, the W211 will be quite a learning curve by comparision.

If I really want nostalgia, I've got the W114 coupe to play with, along with several other non MB antiques we keep around....

Jim

aieeegrunt · #64 09-13-2013, 08:21 AM

As much as I love the look of my W123 the W115 I had made it look rather plain, may my first wife burn for depriving me of it. I kind of like the look of the W124 and would love to get one some day.

While I'm dreaming, I'd like a pony

barry12345 · #65 09-13-2013, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charmalu

Did you mean 210 instead of the 201? the 201 is not a bad looking little car.

When I see the W210 it reminds me of the old comic strip "Little orphan Annie" the way the eyes were drawn. lifeless with no sole. the headlights on these are deal with no life, and most are all yellowed.

Charlie

Good description. Something always turned me off a little with that headlight design on that model. It was more of a feeling other than a type of description as you have posted. Or nothing came to mind in my case as a description. Orphan Annie is a good comparison to me.

I noticed it was not copied be few if any other manufacturers. Now that said if a pristine example passed my path at 1-3 K. Like a few other members it would have a new home.

I cannot say the headlights actually look sad but there is just something that does not appeal to me. Simular feeling about the volkswagon front grill from 2006-2009. Of course every ones taste varies. Currently looking for an older very low mileage volkswagon tdi for a non astronomical price.

The way life works out is typical. I drove these when fuel was far cheaper up here in Canada. Depending on how the cruise diesel works out it may get me back in to the big three if the car is not a real turkey and their resale value does not hold up as well as volkswagon diesels have. Hopefully other decent diesel cars will appear in north America as well soon. I feel that 60-70 miles per gallon is doable. I have to wonder what Toyota and Honda diesels deliver fuel milage wise currently.

pawoSD · #66 09-13-2013, 12:33 PM

The W123 is falling out of practicality for use as a daily driver (as least it is up here in the rust-zone) W124/W201 onward rust MUCH less. My W126 420 does not get driven in the winter....and my 300SD is used randomly throughout the year but usually once or less per week. I use it for hauling/towing primarily, and its quite rusty/in bad shape at this point. It has served me 120k miles/10+ years however, so I can't complain. We only ever had one W123 in the family, for about 5 years it was my brother's daily driver, paid $1500 for it, drove it about 45k but then it just got too dilapidated to be worth fixing, and he really really wanted A/C as showing up at client sites drenched in sweat...well, yeah. So we retired/parted/crushed it this spring and he bought a Mint 2002 E320 W210 from the dealer. Virtually no rust, engine is great, trans is great...he's driven it 6,000+ miles with no issues. It probably needs motor and tranny mounts at some point, but thats it so far. Headlight lenses are glass and not plastic so they look great! Pic:

Don't knock a W210 till you've driven one. His is a rocket ship.

Its a little faster than a 420sel. He gets about 22-23 city and as high as 32 highway.

He honestly could not drive a smaller car....we test drove a golf TDI and he barely fit with the seat all the way back (he is about 6' 5"), c-class would probably be too small also. We also test drove a 2007 E350 4matic (amazing machine) but he decided on the 02 as it was 5k cheaper and had 20k less miles on it.

biopete · #67 09-13-2013, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shertex

I love this line: "The W210 E class diesel is considered by most to be the best diesel model Mercedes has ever made." hahahaha

Don't laugh. Its true. I completely agree. Although I've never driven a W211 or Rwhatever or ML or Sclass with the bluetec. We will see how i feel when mine gets as old as the W123s I used to own. I might be singing a different tune then. But i doubt it. The main annoyance besides spring perch I've read about will be electrical security / ignition system issues. When you can't turn the key in the tumbler or start the car because the security system locks you out, thats a pita. My 97 has a real key that goes in so the tumblers can where out . But the 1998 up have the electronic sensor type key -- no tumbler . That's a nice improvement (maybe

). But with you folks on this forum, i feel like I can handle anything the car throws at me.

FWIW, the indie mechanic I bought my first W210 from a year ago said they where his favorite and the best mercedes they made. And he works on mercedes all day every day , new, old , etc.

pj67coll · #68 09-13-2013, 01:29 PM

My observations are that details the old Benz diesel market are location specific. In Phoenix which is ostensibly a large urban area things are different than elsewhere apparently. Probably because the place is essentially an oasis in a vast desert so it has sort of like it's own unique market dynamics.

Rust is a non issue fortunately but on the down side sun damage is chronic. I have looked at cars in the last few years that appeared decent until you got to see the interiors. Literally post nuclear war wasteland might be the best description. OF course that is not unique to Mercedes but often affects them more than others because most "others" are long since dumped to the junkyard.

As for the practicality/desirability of a 123 vs later models. I personally prefer the design of the 123 to all the successor cars but aesthetics are in the eye of the beholder and everyone has their own opinion on that.

As for practicality. I personally don't give a rats ass about modern safety features. I don't even like having airbags in a car. Theoretically they might have a benefit in a sever impact, and I don't deny that but I've never felt very comfortable with the concept of a 25 year old explosive device sitting a foot or two in front of my face.

As for other supposed safety features. ABS, ASR, LSD, ASS whateverthehell. Guess I'm a luddite but I just don't give a damm.
Drive intelligently and you'll likely have no problems. When you do wind up in an accident the only thing that will matter is the strength of your vehicle and it's ability to protect you in the impact. A W123 will do that well. Newer Benz's may well do it better but I 'm not convinced their cost and complexity is worth it.

All Mercedes seem to have stupidly overengineered unreliable AC systems. I see no advantage to having a newer one over an older one in that respect.

I like the W210 but because of the spring perch abombination I don't know I'll ever be able to bring myself to buy one.

I think everything they've built since the 210 is disgusting. I know I'll probably never own one no matter what.

- Peter.

shertex · #69 09-13-2013, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biopete

Don't laugh. Its true. I completely agree. Although I've never driven a W211 or Rwhatever or ML or Sclass with the bluetec. We will see how i feel when mine gets as old as the W123s I used to own. I might be singing a different tune then. But i doubt it. The main annoyance besides spring perch I've read about will be electrical security / ignition system issues. When you can't turn the key in the tumbler or start the car because the security system locks you out, thats a pita. My 97 has a real key that goes in so the tumblers can where out . But the 1998 up have the electronic sensor type key -- no tumbler . That's a nice improvement (maybe

). But with you folks on this forum, i feel like I can handle anything the car throws at me.

FWIW, the indie mechanic I bought my first W210 from a year ago said they where his favorite and the best mercedes they made. And he works on mercedes all day every day , new, old , etc.

Oh, don't get me wrong....I definitely want to get one...a 98 or a 99. First thing I would do is preventively replace the spring perches, then I'd be all set!