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Old 04-21-2002, 02:56 AM
lrg lrg is offline
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W123 vs W124

I happened to spend the early morning working on my '87 300Dt and then go for a fairly long drive. As I worked on the car I was struck by how much more plastic and "quicky" connectors and attachments the 124 has vs. my '85 123. The later car was clearly designed to be put together faster and cheaper but still retain it's MBZ feel. The catch is as it hits it's 15th birthday lots of those plastic parts break and need to be replaced. Also, the gizmos (which I dearly love) that move the seats, sunroof, etc. continue to need maintenance and add to the work/frustration involved in doing even simple work on the car. It is clear that the 124 is just not as solid fundamentally as my 123 wagon. However, when I'm out driving it, I just love the extra power, comfort and quiet that my 123 seems to lack. However, the older car has a certain solid, well put together feel to it that is unlike any other car I have owned. So which is better...I guess for sheer driving pleasure give me the 124, but if I have to choose one car to always run and get me there no matter what I'd have to choose the 123 turbo. I love them both, each in their own way.

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Old 04-21-2002, 03:59 AM
turbodiesel
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Even though I love the 126 and drive one every day, I think if I had to choose my favorite mercedes body, it would have to be the 123. ESPECIALLY a Euro 123 diesel. There is just something about this car that stole my heart (in a very manly, diesel type of way ).
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Old 04-21-2002, 07:27 AM
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Not that there's anything wrong with that...

Dan
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Old 04-21-2002, 06:06 PM
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Not me - I'm a 124 guy all the way. I've had several of each plus a 201. The 124 (and 201) are MUCH quieter, and perform MUCH better at everything: acceleration, braking, handling. The 123 is definitely more solid - and cheaper, too - but the lack of refinement grates on you after a while.

And while the 124 is more complicated, the 123 has it's own idiosyncrasies that make it a massive headache for some jobs, for example: anything with the A/C refrigerant lines, that stupid little 2-inch hose above the water pump, the rear main seal that always leaks and requires ENGINE AND CRANKSHAFT removal to replace, the awful oil cooler line leaks and Rubix-cube R&R procedure, the valve adjustments, turbo oil drain leaks that (usually) require oil pan removal to complete, the vacuum door locks that always leak or fail, etc, etc. I think Mercedes learned a lot from the 123 and fixed most of their "mistakes" with the 124, while creating far fewer in the process. Just my $0.02...




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