follow link in post #3

__________________
85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m72Q3IIsSOk&list=FLIuIU_XSlMAcSZTA7FDZWiw

I've cut a LOT of them apart...

I'm always amazed at the amount of effort to tear these down... complete rustbuckets are still MASSIVELY more structurally solid than anything built since the 90's...

it's a unibody constructed vehicle, so it's got no frame, just a lot of metal layers...

same as most any modern car...

it's got crumple zones to redirect the impact of an accident...

same as any modern car...

the layers are spot welded together...

same as any modern car...

the metal is EXTREMELY THICK...

nothing like ANY modern car...

the joined layers of thick metal are BRAZED TOGETHER... for complete bond on all pans, "frames" structures, etc...

NOTHING like ANY MODERN CAR...

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

And none of that will stop your head from impacting the steering wheel or door frame. I've dealt with a lot of TBIs. It ain't pretty.

__________________
CENSORED due to not family friendly words

I suppose I could wear my motorcycle helmet while driving...

__________________
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

The Baja Arizona Oil Burners Send a message if you'd like to join the fun
Left to Right - UberWasser, Iridium, Stuttgart-->Seattle,, mannys9130

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

what's a TBI?

head on collision would suck, no question... as would a driver's side t-bone...

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Traumatic Brain Injury I presume!

__________________
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

The Baja Arizona Oil Burners Send a message if you'd like to join the fun
Left to Right - UberWasser, Iridium, Stuttgart-->Seattle,, mannys9130

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

Isn't that the truth.....

After this thread, it feels like we need to run out right away and by the latest and newest car model with ever gizmo on the planet in it..including crotch air bags....

Because by the angels in heaven, tomorrow we will all be dead for riding around in our unsafe out of date tin cans...

Its amazing how people think, about this moment, this day and nothing about the past....we have survived for how many centuries with out side curtain air bags...

__________________

Unfortunately its easy to forget how many people didn't survive the 1970s, 80 and 90s without side curtain airbags.


Efficacy of Side Air Bags in Reducing Driver Deaths in Driver-Side Collisions

__________________
CENSORED due to not family friendly words

I understand that airbags have saved many lives, and that these cars would be safer if they had them. You're stating a lot of facts about cars without airbags vs. cars with airbags, do you have anything specifically pertaining to the W123? The general consensus seems to be that the W123 cars were quite a bit safer than most of the other cars on the road at that time

I was in a yard looking for the bumpers that trip the door latch. There was a 126 that had been hit hard from behind. The trunk had popped open and was undamaged. The back window popped out and was intact with the seal attached (shoulda snagged it). The back sheet metal was pushed almost to where the bottom of the glass normally sits. The radiator was pushed into the fan. The fan was smashed.

All 4 doors opened and closed with the solid comforting "thunk" that I've come to know and love. There were no creaks, sticking or popping. The passenger compartment was perfectly intact.

My 12yr old son gets an SD when he starts driving. Big, slow and safe. I want him to come out alive on the other side of his stupid stage.

__________________
85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

There is nothing like a benz for safety!

__________________
[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.

A crash in late 2012 made me a believer ,a nice example of an 83 300cd I was driving was interuppted by a texting young lady entering my lane from the side ,I swerved on the freeway and lost control from the frt tire blowing ,the impact into the cement barrier was at around 55mph which was enough to push the car up into the air then set down next to the barrier .The car was totaled ,the crumple zone on the drivers side pushed the wheel hump back into the brake master cylinder,the torqed suspention on that side also made a C shape out of the frt spring .The motor actually was savable and was able to start it afte repairs to the pan and the oil cooler I had rigged up . The only pain I felt was from the lap belt and of course the loss of the car ,Ill never find who this texting gidget gal was but Im sure she has blogged about the idiot who almost hit her on the freeway that day.

UGH. Awful. I'm glad you were ok.

I hate seeing people texting as they drive. People just don't get it, they think they're invincible and awesome drivers. I don't think that VW ad or the Werner Herzog movie will make any difference any time soon. Just enforcement and fines.

Someone made the point above that these cars attract people who are more likely to drive them carefully and defensively. I think that's true. We love our cars, so we drive to protect them and ourselves from idiots. Sometimes idiots are unavoidable though... like the texting lane changer.

Out of curiosity, does anyone know if it'd be easy to install an airbag or two in the cars? I saw a rusted out TD on craigslist a while back that had an airbag in the wheel (an 85, I think). I'd be curious about seat belt pretensioners too. Would these things be hard to install to improve the cars safety features?

__________________
1983 300TD 240k Thistle Green Auto (Euro) [sold]
1984 300D 240k Petrol Green Auto
覧覧覧覧覧覧覧覧覧
"You know, times are changing. Ladies can do stuff now and you're going to have to learn how to deal with it."
"What? Were you saying something? Look, I don't speak Spanish."

I believe the seat belts have the tensioner devices.

__________________
[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.