I posted to another thread that i just came back from a 2k trip driving my tacoma and on the way up i was thinking man i wish i could shoehorn the heating and cooling system the tacoma has into the Mercedes. On the trip back i was thinking what i need to do is just find the vehicle(s) i want and do some diesel swaps.

So today i started pulling the old Magnum PI style phone system out of the car, mounted under the back seat wires run everywhere, mic near the sun visor, antenna in the back window, and parts of a vehicle alarm system. This thing is so EASY TO WORK ON!!! the seat pops out couple screws and the seat back is out, the floor mats slide out and everything is there, a few screws and some plastic rivets and your under the dash, easy stuff.

Yesterday I bumped into a 20 year old from college at the gas pump and she said WOW you found yourself a Mercedes diesel, she was in several of my classes and she was driving an old diesel Mercedes her dad had bought new I had asked a year ago if she liked it and other than no power she said she loved it. A lady my age or a little older overheard us talking and then started quizzing me about telling me about how she use to have one on Maui....

So i'm left a little torn, i was thinking the whole way home i would start looking for something that needed a new heart and yank the still beating heart from this car and stick it in something else. These cars can still be had for pretty cheap and i guess i will try to find another to pull a motor from, am i underestimating the appeal or potential future appeal of these cars?

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"NEW" 1984 300D TD needs some love

Solid chassis, good foundation, easy to work on in most cases, no computers, minimal wiring, fuel flexibility (while I mainly run B20 during the winter and B99 during the summer, I like that in a pinch I can run to the grocery store for some fresh corn oil or something to get me where I need to be).

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1979 300D 040 Black on Black - 1985 300D Maaco job (sadly sprayed over 199 Black Pearl Metallic) on Palamino

http://i.imgur.com/LslW733.jpg

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Visit the W123 page on iFixit for over 70 helpful DIY guides!

I use my MB diesel as a daily driver and basic transportation.

Got to many speeding tickets in the other car.....

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Somewhere between I didn't know there was an option and I don't know any better

Sixto
87 300D

hey i may still get some speeding tickets in this thing.... just not on the hwy, maybe a school zone

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"NEW" 1984 300D TD needs some love

The friendly clickety clack does it for me

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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!

I've been attracted to the simplicity and efficiency of the diesel engine for ages. After the navy put me through school for diesel mechanics, my love for the diesel was stronger. I decided I wanted a diesel vehicle, but am hooked on RWD. I also didn't want or need a 3/4 ton or larger truck. In the price range where I was looking, that left Mercedes as the main option.

That was over 8 years ago when I bought the 300D. Now that the EPA has had its antics with regard to diesel emissions, along with the fact that spark ignited engines have become more efficient, the advantages of a diesel are less. Enough to the degree that my next car may well be spark ignited. I'm thinking I may be looking at BMW, Porsche, or a Scion FR-S on the used market when I'm done with my 300, but not for a while. My car was hit in the left rear corner about eight months ago, and the insurance company decided to total it. I examined the options available for replacement in the same price range as fixing the old diesel, and found not much available that I liked in the five grand and under price range. Diesel options with a manual transmission consisted of 240D's (certainly great-I used to have one, but I like my 120 horsepower turbo motor). Gasser options came to a 914 Porsche that was pushing 40 years old, and a VW Beetle of similar vintage. I decided to fix the 300D at a cost of a bit over $4000. Things may look different the next time something expensive goes on the old W123.

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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.

I own a 617.951 because one day war might break out,and its not affected by EMPs.Also if the markets crash,it will just about run any oils.

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran

all of the above, plus safety.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Besides just liking them, its mainly because this forum allows me to trouble shoot the problems and make repairs myself.

With all due respect, I've grown to hate dealing with the so called professionals in the construction and repair trades - I said with all due respect. While there are many outstanding folks working in those fields I continually encounter the other ones. Its become easier to do the work myself vs the hassle of dealing with the repair folks and making sure the work is performed properly.

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You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime you just might find you get what you need.

My dad got me hooked on MB diesels. He grew up in Kenya and at least there, he noticed that all the wealthy families owned Mercedes cars. I think buying a MB many years later in the US was his way of achieving financial success. The ironic thing is his first MB was my current 220d which he bought for $2k. So not exactly expensive, but it meant more than that for him. So for me, driving these cars is a way to carry on a family tradition. And I like the clickety clack!

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1968 220D, w115, /8, OM615, Automatic transmission.
My 1987 300TD wagon was sold and my 2003 W210 E320 wagon was totaled (sheds tear).

'86 Porsche 944 Turbo got me an inch thick of speeding tickets, suspended license, $6000.00 a year in insurance. So I sold it and got at the time a 87 300E and 84 300D.

Myself as well.

Get two tho.

The SD is laid up with a leaking caliper. A few days later the new one showed up. I'll get to it when the weather warms up.

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83 SD

84 CD

x2

My current DD is smoother, quieter, faster, and does better on fuel. Simpler too (gasp) but I really really really miss the clacking idle and brummm on acceleration.

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$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment