So there’s a near mint 1991 automatic 300E (not certain what engine) that’s a lovely shade of blue (348) with 120K on the odometer, and near mint mushroom interior that is leather and not MBTex (I’m surprised it’s so minimally worn for the real leather). I bet I could get it for about $2K or less. No rust, and the flipper is the 2nd owner and it looks garage kept and driven only about 30K miles since 1998. No history other than typical elderly person who loved it, took care of it, but I don’t have any records....

I just bought a 1981 4 speed manual 240D with a near mint interior, exterior Englischrot 504, and I LOVE driving it. I’ve done (and paid to have done) about a grand worth of work on it and it’s doing great but I’m about to incur more cost when I have the rust remediation done this winter. All in all, I’m about $3,500 into the car and that’s just going to keep edging up as I continue to tinker with it. Oh, and the AC has nearly never worked and it gets HOT in the cincy summers - I’d have to assume I have a better shot at the 300E AC working, right? I only mention because AC would be super nice to have in my daily.




I can only have ONE toy at the moment and my wife really doesn’t care what I get. Am I insane for thinking this more cookie cutter gasser is awesome? My wife said “you like Benny because he’s orange, attracts a lot of attention as a more classic car, has a manual trans, and just the sound he makes as a diesel - this other car looks great but it has none of those things.” What should I do?!?!




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I’d get that kid out from behind the wheel. He looks hammered. LOL!

IMO, I’d buy the gasser if it doesn’t have any rust in it. I see that “Benny” has rust around the left rear wheel area and I am no fan of rust. That’s just MY opinion. Both look to be nice cars though...except for the rust. If the 300E runs as well as it looks then it would be a nice car to own. I can’t believe I just typed that. It’s time for me to take my meds.

It’s interesting that “2nd owner and the car look garage kept...” I’m pretty sure it would be wrong to keep an elderly person in the garage, but keeping the car there is just fine.

Could somebody help with VIN decoding, please? Looking to see if the gasser has RWD and also what type of engine it has. Ran it through the Only decoder I know of but didn’t get the info I want, thanks!

VIN is WDBEA30D0MB373281


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Gotta say having both a gasser and a diesel in the stable I've come to some conclusions. The 199 560SEL is heavy and rides great. That said, it is a more complex car than the diesel...more stuff to go break and go wrong.

IMHO, the beauty of a mercedes diesel is its SIMPLICITY. Easy to work on, less stuff to break....all in all a great deal for the owner!

It has a 3.0 L in-line 6. It’s definitely RWD.

Arrgggg, that just makes it harder as those are the options I’d want!! Thank you!


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You can tell a 4matic from a RWD version by the shifter. They didn't sell very many 4matic's in the US, the overwhelming majority you will run across are RWD.

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68 280SL - 70 280SL - 70 300SEL 3.5 - 72 350SL - 72 280SEL 4.5 - 72 220 - 72 220D - 73 450SL - 84 230GE - 87 200TD - 90 190E 2.0 - 03 G500

Nissan GTR - Nissan Skyline GTS25T - Toyota GTFour - Rover Mini - Toyota Land Cruiser HJ60 - Cadillac Eldorado - BMW E30 - BMW 135i

That 240D is such a beautiful looking a car, but that rust is such a killer. I suspect that a bit of prying around that underbody is going to reveal a lot more. But if the underbody would pass inspection I would get that drivers side repaired and go with the 240D. Get it repaired, and since it is a 4 speed manual transmission, it is quite easy to install the 5 cylinder turbo engine to make it perform like a real car.

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Junqueyardjim
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. C.S. Lewis



1983 Mercedes W123 240D 4 Speed 285,000 on the road with a 617 turbo, beautiful butter yellow, license plate # 83 240D INDIANA

2003 Jaguar Type X, AWD. beautiful, good mileage,
Mom's car, but I won't let her drive it!

Are these your only choices? Rust repair including paint matching and getting the AC working on the 240D will be costly unless you can do that work yourself. More than the $2000 you expect the 300E to cost. Can you pay the money up front for a car that has what you need with fewer compromises?

Here’s a W124 like the 300E but with a Diesel engine - https://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/d/93-mercedes-benz-turbo-diesel/6435426328.html

Here’s a 240D MT in a less attention grabbing color but might need less work - https://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/d/1979-mercedes-240d/6430551629.html

Here’s a sharp looking 300SD - https://cincinnati.craigslist.org/ctd/d/1985-mercedes-benz-300-series/6428169263.html

Sixto
98 E320s sedan and wagon

The M103 gas engine sucks, full stop. The transmissions start in second and the engine produces no meaningful power until 3000rpm, so they always lug off the line, they drink fuel too, premium fuel. The Bosch k-jet injection they use is also a NIGHTMARE to trouble shoot, with common practice being to just replace parts starting with the most common until it works which is very expensive.

If I was ever to venture into a w124 gasser again for a third time it would be a 1993+ model as they used the later m104 engine which has a far better engine management system in it as well as more power, torque, and fuel economy. Of corse they too have their issues, mosty with the biodegradable wiring harness.

Also, all w124 gasses have transmissions that will blow their reverse gear, it's just a matter of time...

So to answer your first question, I woukd skip this one......

__________________
2004 F150 4.6L -My Daily
2007 Volvo XC70 -Wife's Daily
1998 Ford F150 -Rear ended
1989 J-spec 420SEL -passed onto its new keeper
1982 BMW 733i -fixed and traded for the 420SEL
2003 Volvo V70 5 Speed -scrapped
1997 E290 Turbo Diesel Wagon -traded for above
1992 BMW 525i -traded in
1990 Silver 300TE -hated the M103
1985 Grey 380SE Diesel Conversion, 2.47 rear end, ABS -Sold, really should have kept this one
1979 Silver 300D "The Silver Slug" -Sold

Having had both of those cars and driving a 91 300TE currently, I'd base my decision on 1. Least rust and 2. If you drive it often, get the 300E it is just a more powerful, comfortable, better handling and probably safer car.
The 300E will have it's problems but so will the 240D. Just my opinion...good luck in picking what is best for you.

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"Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength" - Eric Hoffer

Both. Explain to wife it all costs less than a modern car like a civic.

I had the same choice a few years back. My uncle offered up his 88 300e. Same color. I grew up dreaming of owning that car. But I had my 240d 4spd. It wasn’t that cool orange though. Man that is nice.

300e’s are easy to come by. Maybe not quite as clean as that one but they are out there. That 240d makes me want to whip out my Tig welder and do some grinding. It’s my pick if it came down to one.

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79 300TD “Old Smokey” AKA “The Mistake” (SOLD)
82 240D stick shift 335k miles (SOLD)
82 300SD 300k miles
85 300D Turbodiesel 170k miles

Thanks Sixto!! I actually called about that 300D! They had no service records, no info, said it just showed up on their lot this week. Looks like very consistent driving until about 100K, then sparingly, then doubled the mileage from 125K to 250K in 9 years - so that’s the owner I’d want to know. That 240D is pretty sharp and same with the SD. I think I’m going to go see the 300D tomorrow afternoon and I’ll report back!

I think that subconsciously I expected the diesel crowd to steer me away from gassers, but I’m also drawn to the W123 simplicity, and mine has manual windows and trans, no sunroof, and manual HVAC. Getting something newer (with actual computers and not just relays) without rust would mean navigating more challenging territory, but the rewards would be comfort, safety, and speed - and with this very enjoyable and helpful community, I think I’d be game to try it, but we’ll see!


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Heard loud and clear - thank you!!!


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One other side note. The 240D will always get you home as long as there is fuel in the tank. Once the engine is started and running, literally everything else on the car can fail electrically and you will still get home... Thats worth something....

__________________
2004 F150 4.6L -My Daily
2007 Volvo XC70 -Wife's Daily
1998 Ford F150 -Rear ended
1989 J-spec 420SEL -passed onto its new keeper
1982 BMW 733i -fixed and traded for the 420SEL
2003 Volvo V70 5 Speed -scrapped
1997 E290 Turbo Diesel Wagon -traded for above
1992 BMW 525i -traded in
1990 Silver 300TE -hated the M103
1985 Grey 380SE Diesel Conversion, 2.47 rear end, ABS -Sold, really should have kept this one
1979 Silver 300D "The Silver Slug" -Sold