I guess you could say that we are partial to CDI's - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ROLLGUY · #1 11-10-2020, 10:21 PM

My two nieces drove their cars to my friends house (I used his lift to do a brake job on the Champaign CDI), and I got a photo of the three CDI's in one place. The silver one is: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/394667-my-new-me-$1-500-05-e320-cdi.html
The Champaign one was my first CDI, and the Blue one was my second. My friend Jeremy is enjoying the Silver one, and my two nieces, the other two.
If I had my wagon and my brother's E320 Bluetec there, we would have the making of a great 211 party!!!

tjts1 · #2 11-11-2020, 01:40 AM

Nice color choices. Enjoy the rides.

t walgamuth · #3 11-11-2020, 08:13 AM

Indeed, handsome cars!

BWhitmore · #4 11-11-2020, 09:50 AM

Handsome cars.

83w126 · #5 11-11-2020, 02:26 PM

How do people find them so cheap? In my area a beater is $7k and will still sell fast.

tjts1 · #6 11-11-2020, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 83w126

How do people find them so cheap? In my area a beater is $7k and will still sell fast.

Live in California.

ROLLGUY · #7 11-11-2020, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 83w126

How do people find them so cheap? In my area a beater is $7k and will still sell fast.

They are not so cheap anymore. The Youtube channel Legitstreetcars helped make them popular with his purchase and subsequent repair and upgrade of one. Not long after, the amount of available units dried up fast, as many people bought them up. This site helped as well, as I and others started buying them too. Lately the market has had mostly high end cars, and gather high prices. Recently on Bring a Trailer, a fairly low mileage CDI went for $14K. It seems the only way to get a low buck CDI nowadays, is one with high mileage, and/or engine issues.

BenzTurbo · #8 11-11-2020, 07:08 PM

I absolutely love my CDI. I also work on 4 others in the DFW area. Picked up mine for $1500 with 333,000 miles a few months ago. Now at 354,000. Had some messed up wiring and other stuff from a previous "black death" repair. Or repair fail so when I purchased it, only 5 injectors were firing. Wonderful cars to rack up miles on.

shertex · #9 11-11-2020, 07:16 PM

Love to hear the high mileage stories....one guy over on Benzworld is getting close to 500k miles.

Love both of mine...got great deals on both....perfect condition at purchase and now.

That BAT auction was CRAZY!

BenzTurbo · #10 11-11-2020, 07:37 PM

I think the engines wear very well. I have had a couple failures related to the high miles but considering I was used to putting miles on w124s, w126s, and w123s I feel like the w21 CDI does not "nickel and dime" you as much if you are really driving them a lot and try to keep it a nicely maintained car. Also unfortunate that it is becoming difficult to find certain parts or even good quality parts for the older models.

ROLLGUY · #11 11-11-2020, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenzTurbo

I think the engines wear very well. I have had a couple failures related to the high miles but considering I was used to putting miles on w124s, w126s, and w123s I feel like the w21 CDI does not "nickel and dime" you as much if you are really driving them a lot and try to keep it a nicely maintained car. Also unfortunate that it is becoming difficult to find certain parts or even good quality parts for the older models.

Yes, it seems that the 124 and earlier cars are more for "tinkerers". The 211 chassis is so much more reliable, not to mention comfortable to drive. If you are a DIY guy, finding a CDI needing work for cheap is the way to go. It is a lot easier on the pocketbook than slapping down $14K+ on a creampuff.

ROLLGUY · #12 11-11-2020, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shertex

................

That BAT auction was CRAZY!

Yes it was!. If I would have bought that $1,500 CDI for myself (bought it for a friend), I might have listed it on BaT and made a major profit. By the way, that was only the second CDI listed on BaT. I hope to see more of them listed in the future.

tjts1 · #13 11-11-2020, 11:08 PM

The more expensive CDIs get relative to gassers, the less sense they make.

ROLLGUY · #14 11-11-2020, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjts1

The more expensive CDIs get relative to gassers, the less sense they make.

Agreed. There are a few '03-'05 gassers around here for less than 2 grand, and in pretty decent condition. You can buy a LOT of gasoline for the extra $ a comparable CDI costs. However, any amount of $ savings on the gasser over the CDI does not make the CDI driving experience and economy any less desirable. I would gladly pay the extra $ for the CDI just for the driving experience and economy. However (again), the only exception is the lack of availability of a CDI wagon. The only reason I have a gasser 211, is because it is a wagon. You just can't beat the versatility of a wagon over a sedan. I am happy to pull up to the gasoline pump for this car, and the Diesel pump for all the others because of said versatility. Also, the M112/113 engine is probably the best gasoline engine Mercedes-Benz ever made. Granted, they are not as "bullet proof" as the OM648, but very close.....Rich

engatwork · #15 11-12-2020, 05:15 PM

The service advisor at MB told me same thing about 112/113. I've lusted after a 05/06 CDI for 3 years now and keep driving the 98 E300 with 237k miles while the 02 E320 wit 75k miles sits in the garage. Something about a diesel that I prefer.