Any opinions-

I am looking to add a diesel-

Both cars are in top shape... around 65k miles

Both asking around $13k

Which one is the "better buy" cost wise?
And which one will be cheaper overall-- assuming I run as DD for next 160k miles over several years... and will ONLY do basic repairs- so Local indy will be making some coin

Personally - love the look of the 84.... BUT- the 05 is way faster/ and 20 years newer...

also- I think the Longer WB - 84 sd- drives nicer-imo

If you look at my signature you can guess my vote.

Even though the miles are low on the CDI, that price strikes me as high. I purchased a perfect condition CDI with 140,000 miles a year and a half ago for $4000.

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 159k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 179k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 145k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 77k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

My two cents: the CDI is over-priced but a reasonably priced one would serve as a better DD than a W126... unless you want a project as your daily. Even the best examples of the W126 are 30 years old at this point and many bits and bobs would need to replaced due to age... these will make themselves apparent as you put more miles on the car, no big deal if you can do most things yourself but it will quickly add up if not. The newer car will be much less involved... and that seems to be what you're going for. Not to mention the safety aspect.

Is this a troll post? Didn't we go through this whole thing with you at the end of last year? Didn't you already buy a E320CDI? $13K sounds high for both cars unless they have a stack of very detailed maintenance records, in showroom condition, with proof that the suspensions have been rebuilt in the last 5 years or so. Rubber parts age out and need refreshed, low miles doesn't mean squat about the suspension condition.

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Current stable:
1995 E320 157K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 125K (SLoL)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

Gone and wanting to forget:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™) [Definitely NOT a Benz]

Sure looks that way. Strange.
84 300sd- great condition- worth $12K??
My new 2005 e320 cdi... intermittent loss of power acceleration?

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Christopher
'06 Mercedes E350 station wagon (silver/black)
'85 Mercedes 300D (black pearl/palomino)
'85 Mercedes 300SD (smoke silver/burgundy)
'79 Cadillac Sedan DeVille

'05 Toyota Camry (because always running is nice)

'85 Mercedes 300D sold back to orig. owner 8-1-06
'84 Volvo 264GL Diesel, owned 2000-2013

That's an insane price for either one. Don't buy a w126 if you aren't going to repair it yourself, most shops don't like to work on them and they aren't a good enough car to pay $200+ an hour labor for everything.

I did buy a e320cdi

I love the torque! Love the Power/acceleration. Feels like it can go 300k easy

I do think that engine will be great moving forward...

BUT- some here suggested that the e320 was more comfortable w/ modern improvements and engineering/etc... My Opinion-- Is that 300sd is way sweeter to drive down the highway... (Then again- I was 20 years younger- so that may be the REAL difference- bad back/hip/arthritis/etc. since)... Never drove 300sdl-- hear that is even more pleasant to drive?

Not trolling- Yes- I know rubber will wear out... NOT opposed to local cheaper indys doing it... fear is some of the wiring/ major Motor/trans failure on the 300sd... due to AGE -- killing me.

So why didn't you ask the question that way? Easy enough to answer, find a forum member here in your area with a restored W126 (any of them, they'll all ride about the same) and go for a ride. I think you'll find that your W211 is better on the highway in just about every regard (and this coming from a die-hard W126 fan). You already have the CDI, why looking to blow more money?

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Current stable:
1995 E320 157K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 125K (SLoL)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

Gone and wanting to forget:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™) [Definitely NOT a Benz]

A well sorted out 300SDLis a lot of fun… Not cheap to maintain… But a lot of fun to drive down the road.

__________________
14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 159k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 179k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 145k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 77k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

Unless the suspension, steering, and alignment on a W123/W126 are PERFECT, it will wander around on the freeway. Modern vehicles with modern steering and suspension are much less likely and the suspensions are easier to maintain. W211 is vastly ahead of the W126 in essentially all regards.

W126 is a great car, but likely past its prime as a viable daily driver in most cases, unless you like doing a lot of maintenance often. I finally sold off my last W126 about 1.5 years ago after having it for 7 years. It was a good car (420SEL) but I couldn't subject it to Michigan winters without rust destroying it so I ended up going for a more capable/efficient vehicle that can handle the winter. Also wanted to go back to a diesel.

I miss my 300SD but those are even older and there's always something annoying wrong with the rest of the car.....rust, water leaks, suspension, steering, vacuum system, AC, climate control, worn interior........etc. Plus there's the whole winter/rust/snow capability issue again.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Yes, the youngest of those would be 35 years old and with the exception of rust (the definitive deal breaker and yes w126 not the ideal rust belt DD) redoing all the items you list would be $2000 in parts tops after which you'd be good for another 35 years or as long as your engine/trans hold up.

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'83 SD, 2x '85 SD
You are entitled to your own opinions, you are not entitled to your own facts.

You cannot fully re-do everything on a 300SD for $2000, not even remotely close. Then there's the part where half the important parts are not even available anymore, and those that are, often are china junk and not original quality. Try rebuilding a 722.3 trans, finding a flawless working rear window glass, or rebuilding the climate control unit + accompanying system. $$$$$ And thats the tip of the iceberg. I owned one for 12+ years and 120k+ miles and while a very reliable car overall, it still cost many thousands to keep going during that time frame along with hundreds of hours of work....which all ended when the rust finally destroyed it here in MI.

I have been doing some work recently on my dad's 500SL, a 2001, and have had a VERY hard time finding OEM of several parts, including the basics like engine mounts!! They either don't exist or cost a fortune.....its planned obsolescence.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Just the suspension alone costs over $2k to do everything they usually need...

It doesn't make sense to compare 2 cars 21 years apart. The 2005 CDI is years ahead, literally, in every aspects. However, the CDI is way too complicated for my liking. The car I really prefer is the W124 1987 300D, very contemporary looking and easy to maintain. But I like all my cars, period.

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Not MBZ nor A/C trained professional but a die-hard DIY and green engineer. Use the info at your own peril. Picked up 2 Infractions because of disagreements. NOW reversed.

W124 Keyless remote, PM for details. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/334620-fs-w124-chasis-keyless-remote-%2450-shipped.html

1 X 2006 CDI
1 x 87 300SDL
1 x 87 300D
1 x 87 300TDT wagon
1 x 83 300D
1 x 84 190D ( 5 sp ) - All R134 converted + keyless entry.

X2, I have not driven a W126 in winter but if anything like a W123 or W124 they suck in 6" or greater snow. I do live in a rural area so the county roads are never plowed before 6am. My guess, but never owned a W211 would be the 2005.