Hello,
You have all been very helpful...and I think I've narrowed my searc to a 1983-1986 Mercedes 300D or 300SD....I know the SD is larger...But is it safer than the 300D....any pluses or minues in the two models?? and any particular years I should look for or not look for?.. and how about mileage...thank you MUCH....LindaJane

Later SDs might have come with ABS and an airbag. I don't think any US 300D had either.

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
81 300SD (on ebay)

To clarify, given your vehicle focus, you are only looking at '83-'85 models W123 300D and W126 300SD. The 300D was not offered in '86 and the S Class diesel in that year was the 300SDL. That said, I believe the '85 300SD came standard with a drivers side airbag and ABS. Otherwise, both the W123 and W126 chassis' are extremely well engineered and safe.

__________________
Chris

'04 ML500 - 53k, Inspiration Edition, Desert Silver
'11 Audi A4 Avant - Brilliant Black
'87 300SDL sold
'99 C280 Sport sold
'85 190E 2.3 sold

i believe that the W126 was the first Benz to be designed with offset-frontal collisions in mind, which is more common than head-on collisions. The W123 was not optimized for this.

the W126 is also larger, with bigger deformation zones, which translates into gentler decceleration for the occupants in a collision. The higher mass of a W126 will also give it an advantage in a collision with another vehicle.