Just wanted to say hello and thank everyone for all the great information on the forum. I been referencing this forum for a recent purchase 1983 300D. Been looking for a Diesel W123 off and on for probably 10 years, I recently have gotten pretty serious in my searches looking all over southeast. I ended up finding a "decently" clean one only 10 minutes from my house. 3 owners with the last 2 owners being relatives, its been in the south since 91 according to carfax. Anyway been tinkering on cars my entire adult life, most my experience is with domestic makes. However the wife is currently on her second ML-350 Bluetec that I personally maintain which began my diesel obsession.

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Nice looking ride...........lots of good luck and many happy miles.................

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96 E300d

Nice MB. Welcome

Beautiful W123. Welcome.

Obsessions are not treated on site. We encourage them instead.

It must have been subconscious in my case. That part of my mind must have wanted something that sounds like a tractor. As I like the old 240ds the most. Mercedes missed the market by not offering an optional plow kit for them.

In actual fact we live with a substantial elevation to the west.. The children apparently mentioned to the wife that dad was on his way home with the tractor when young. When it still was well out of sight. The family dogs being dogs probably thought so as well in advance of that.

I am getting pretty old now so the cars are becoming quieter with my hearing loss. Even the selective hearing the wife has accused me of when younger. Does not work in the 240ds. .

Some people used to mention the idle was really noisy. I would tell them yes noisy but smooth. I would pop the hood and show them the nickel balanced on the valve cover. That crazy glue is good stuff for the operational temperature of the valve cover. It and the nickel must really take a beating.

Actually by todays cars standards they are a pretty simple car. Yet many examples still do not get the simple maintenance they need. If done they can be extremely reliable.

In my opinion two things work against this being done. Many believe a diesel needs no maintenance. Or it is okay not to do it as it runs. Most proper maintenance on these is more time than actual cost. The manufacturers suggestions are pretty sound. A sizable percentage of the people posting issues on this site with them. They would not have occurred with it.

Anyways welcome to the site. It makes ownership of these vehicles a lot easier.