I bought a 1985 300cd as a parts car. Except many of the parts are different than my 1982. After checking in to what was up, I was told the car is a late production with a different transmission and differential gearing. The engine and transmission control valves are similar to what was used on w124s. And it has the factory flat headlights and is very well optioned. And it's supposed to be the rarest cd turbo. Unfortunately it's rotted. Is the car worth restoring? Does being an 85 make it anymore desirable than an 82 or 84? Cheers for any input

What parts were you hoping to get off of it? The vast majority will still work.

In some people's eyes, it's more desirable. But I don't think it really drives a price difference of any significance. The changes are minor when it comes to feel from the driver's seat so I think most of us would "settle" for any of the other turbo cars were we to be shopping around.

It's more like, if a sweet deal shows up on an '85 we'll jump on it. Or if there is an '83 and an '85 both for sale, all things equal condition and price wise, we'd get the '85.

That said depending on the work you want to do you could swap the diff in to your car. And take the "flat headlights" which I have to assume are the Euro spec lights.

The thing with it being rotted is that right now, the market isn't there for resale on W123 restorations. The only ones that go for big bucks, it seems, are those that are all original and very very well kept with low miles. Even if you restore it to like new, once you disclose that you've done lots of metal work and repainting and such it's no longer of interest to the narrow W123 collectors market out there right now.

Someday, however! Maybe...if you want to hold on to it for the long haul.

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

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The main draw of an '85 is the 2.88 rear end. Other than that the differences from other years don't really increase its desirability. If it's a rust bucket and your '82 isn't, I'd go ahead and use it for parts.

Second thought: You mentioned "flat headlights". I'm not sure what that means, but Euro was brought up as a possibility. If they car is a euro model, that opens up an entirely different can of worms.

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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.

Possible to get photos of the car?

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I added three pics to my profile. I included the 85. It will only let me upload the three and I don't know how to embed them. I left out the pic of my black 82cd-it's my favourite drive but the roughest shape.

Okay managed to add more pics and include the black one

Thanks for the input so far. The headlights on the 85 are factory from Benz-late 85 production. It also has a kkk turbo which is different but the same. Oh and it doesn't have the catalyst under the turbo like the California models.

Nice coupes! I am jealous of your headlights, I shattered one of mine....amazing how much they are fetching now, and this poor ol boy just can't afford them

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