Ok, maybe I did wax a bit philosophical last night…

My '87 300SDL handles very well for a vehicle its size. A w124 handles well also, depending on which model you have. A 500E..NO DOUBT !! The w123s are pretty good. It all depends on the tire/wheel combo you have and shocks.
But I'd rather keep a w123 than a w201. Its a good car. But i feel a hell of a lot better in a w123. After i kill the wife's car, or she'll do it, I should have my w123T/wagon done.

Again, the best diesels are the w126 and w123..Make no mistake..

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99 C230K Sport
87 300SDL
81 300SD

The W124 is a more advanced design than the W126, no doubt! Better aerodynamics, improved suspension and handling too. Drive them back to back and you'll see that the W124 is a great driver's car. A HUGE improvement over the W123, that's for sure.

Somebody's full of... the $30,000 300D is much inferior and LESS advanced than the $50,000 300SDL, sorry.

I don't know where you think you can come off comparing the low model to the TOP OF THE LINE but keep trying...

You and your friend HGV with the wonderful post "Why an 87 E is quiter than an S" really should get your facts straight before posting. Here is VERBATIM from the 87 S-Class brochure:

"...noise - even at idling speeds - has been dramatically decreased. Indeed, most curbside bystanders may never suspect your 300 SDL Turbo to be diesel at all.

"Credit the inherent mechanical balance of that in-line, six-cylinder layout; the design of a diesel engine intended (as in seven main bearings and 12 crankshaft counterweights) to run as smoothly as technology allows; and the acoustic encapsulation system that surrounds it top, sides, rear, and bottom within the engine compartment. And literally smothers running noise. This arguably qualifies as the QUIETEST diesel automobile yet for sale."

Sorry guys, not the stripped down vinyl-interiored, paperweights you guys drive -- the 300SDL is the ultimate diesel automobile of the time. FAR superior to the common man's 300D. Keep trying, though. Oh yeah, don't put that front seat back too far or you might HIT the back seat -- where exactly are passengers supposed to ride back there anyways?


Larry Ferguson
86 300SDL 165K mi

Sorry guys, not the stripped down vinyl-interiored, paperweights you guys drive -- the 300SDL is the ultimate diesel automobile of the time. FAR superior to the common man's 300D. Keep trying, though. Oh yeah, don't put that front seat back too far or you might HIT the back seat -- where exactly are passengers supposed to ride back there anyways?

Are you for real Larry?, My Grandfather taught me a very valauble lesson about comparing. It applied to boating, but applies much the same to premium cars.

Someone elses boat is their boat, it is their pride and joy and they love it every bit as much as you love yours. So never pass negative comment on someone elses boat.

It's called respect Larry, now excuse me while I climb back in my vinyl-interiored paperweight.

Well, everyone's opinion in respect to their MBs is, of course, RELATIVE to whatever you have. Even if it may be a paperweight.

Now, stating that the w124 is more refined than the w126? I wouldn't be that bold in stating that. One of the most respected and coveted MBs IS the w126. Especially the SDL/SEL cars with the extended wheelbases.

Now, there is no way on God's green Earth that I would give up my 300SDL for a w124..Unless its a 500E. But that is a whole different animal and subject.

I suspect some us haven't driven an SDL. Make it worth your while to find someone who owns one and take a ride. You won't be dissapointed !!!

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99 C230K Sport
87 300SDL
81 300SD

Vinyl paperweights eh? Hmm, if I remember correctly, the 300SDL has its amazing aluminum alloy engine? Real fun under conditions when it may overheat. How about all those neat gadgets to go wrong? I really need power seats because I cannot reach down an push a lever...BTW if I remember correctly it was a "vinyl paperweight" that went up to 900K miles before it needed an engine rebuild. Dont throw rocks at glass houses. Our cars are cheaper and don't have all the bells and whistles of the 300SDL...but those are less things to fail overtime. Your car may be more luxurious, but the "vinyl paperweights" are more reliable and cheaper to own. So pfffffffffffffff :p

BTW...this is coming from a W123 owner...with a nice full cast iron engine and a roar that sets off car alarms at idle! Little children and pedestrians can tell when my car is coming and can get out of the way....Mercedes built that in you know...German engineering at its finest

I stand corrected by Dieselicious on the issue of engine encapsulation. The 300SDL does have the engine ecapsualtiont hat is so lovingly refered to in the brochure. WHat the brochure does not mention is that the encapsualtion is on the bottom and under the transmission. While it is definanlty quiter than the 5 and 4 cylinder cast iron engines, it is still louder in the passanger compartment than a 124. This is not opinion but fact. THe 124 has a double fire wall that significantly diminishes the noise in the passenger acompartment.

My dad has a 126 300SDL and I drive a 124 300TD and when we swap cars it is a noticable difference to both of us that the 124 is quieter. They sound the same to that unsuspecting bystander but leave no doubt in your mind that when the cars leaves them in a cloud of black soot, they will become quickly aware that it is a smelly diesel.

Both cars a wonderful examples of diesel engineering as well as to the robust cast iron blocks, turbo or non-turbo alike.

I do wonder why Larry Fergusan changed the tone of this thread to one of "my car is better than yours". THat is not the intent of offering opnions and providing information. To quote the MBZ brochure as fact is like trusting the car salesmen to tell you the truth.

Each MBZ diesel I have driven, back to my 1963 190Dc has given me an appreciation of the design concepts and engineering that goes into a Benz.

If you drive a 110, 115, 116, 123, etc, ennjoy them and take good care of them and they will give you years of pleasure and nights of heartache.

Henry

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63 190d (sold)
69 220D (sold)
69 280SL (sold)
76 BMW 2002 (sold)
86 190E-16v (Demised at Laguna Seca Turn 9)
87 300SDL (sold)
87 300SDL 135k
87 300TD 280k (sold)
95 E320W 211k
95 E320w 111k
05 C320 4matic
06 E320 CDI 90k (Totaled by a texting 19 year old girl in a nissan)
2013 GLK 250 Bluetek 4MATIC

I put 240k on a 1987 300D. The car would cruise at 110 no problem and averaged about 22mpg with little attempt to minimize fuel consumption. It handled very nicely; never thought about lowering it and I stuck with stock HD Bilsteins and standard sized tires.

Having said that it was one of the most expensive cars to maintain I've ever owned with the exception of a 1991 Porsche C2 (type 964). I spent just under a grand just replacing the various electric seat motors (there are a lot of them). The damnable rear headrest relay kept failing. Both rear shock towers busted and the shocks came through to the trunk (no, I did not rally the car....). The transmission went at 220k. I retired the car for parts at 241k when the coolant turned black due to a failed head gasket. Turns out the head was cracked and it was NOT economic to repair the engine as there were some other items requiring attention (calipers, rotors, rear headrests). I would never buy one of these six cylinder SOHC engines again!

We replaced this car with lovely 1982 300CD. The 300CD handled very nicely, turned on a dime, and would cruise at 100 no problem. Once you get it up to 20mph it has plenty of acceleration. Let's face it, short of a V8 engine nobody has much business doing high speed passing on a two lane twisty road! The 300cd got broadsided and the insurance company totalled it.

My current car is a 1990 300TE with the SOHC straight six. This car is a gutless wonder unless you start it out in low gear everytime and spin it to at least 5000 rpm. It averages 18mpg on premium unleaded. I am turning it back into my mechanic for what I paid for it and acquiring a 1984 300TD.

For my money the 123 turbo diesels have adequte power and are much simpler for maintenance purposes (manual seats, manual sunroof on the wagon) than the 124 cars. The five cylinder diesel is a known quantity and will last much longer than any of the 124 motors.

For what it's worth.

Carl

Yes, the SDL does ride a bit smoother than the 300D, but the 300D both outdrives it and outruns it. Much more fun to drive -- slightly more responsive, better acceleration, and smaller. Nothing wrong with the SDL mind you, and on a long trip, it would definitely ride better in back, but I though this was a discussion about DRIVING, not riding!

The rear suspension on the W124 is more "advanced" than the one on the W126, but whether that gives better handling or ride is beyond me. I like mine, by brother's wife likes hers, we are fine.

As far as driving goes, the only thing wrong with the W115's, in my humble opinion, is lack of power. They drive very smartly for a 1968 design, so does the W108, for that matter. Beats a new American big car any way except, possibly, straight line acceleration. Still seems to do OK there, too, at least for me, I don't want to go any faster!

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Way to go, Larry!

The 124 was intoroduced in the US in 1986 with the 260E/300E, and in 1987 was the first US 124 diesel, the 300D.

The second-generation 126 started in 1986 with the 420SEL/560SEL and ofcourse, the 300SDL.

I have driven 87 300D's, and sorry, but there is no way it is a better car than a 300SDL. I have a biased opinon though. I invite anyone to drive my car and put it up to an 87 300D, I'm sure you will see the difference.

Wow.. now we have 126 .vs. 124. I think I'd be hard pressed to choose between a four door 126 and a four door 124. However I have my heart set on the 126 Coupe...

That matter aside... Having driven both the 124 and 123... the 123 is definitely inferior when it comes to driving experience... however it does have a powerful character and I like that in a car.. just like the 126,124, 201, 116, 115, etc.

if I could choose I'd take the SDL since I don't drive very often.. but if I do I think I'd take the W124 300D T because it should be easier to park...

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2008 BMW 335i Coupe

It depends what you want. For performance (accelleration, braking, and handling) the 124 is superior to the 126 simply because it is smaller, more nimble, and has a higher power to weight ratio. For highway cruising the 126 may be preferable (that seems to be highly debated)... I have never driven in one for any length of time so I won't comment.

I picked up Carl's old 300D and it still lives. (heh-heh!) There's a photo of it below. It's amazing what some newer wheels will do. I need to get some better pix of it, I was waiting for my 500E lights to show up first. Carl sold it to me with 229k on the clock, it currently has 241k and is my daily driver. The Neuspeed springs are stiffer than I'd like but the handling is excellent, with the Sportline control arm bushings & sway bars installed as well. Next up is the stereo install... :p :p :p

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Dave
Boise, ID
Check out my website photos, documents, and movies!

Hey,
I've still got all the stereo stuff from the car. If you did not remove the wires you can just plug it back in. I am motivated; the system is an Alpine am/fm/cassette (dolby B) with cd changer, 6 disc alpine changer (the good one), ADS speakers (f/r), and your choice of an amplifier (ADS six channel of McIntosh 4 channel).

email me at c123666@earthlink.net if interested.

Regards,
Carl

though some may argue it's not a true benz.

C30 CDI AMG

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2000 VW Golf TDI 5M 216K mi
2000 VW Jetta TDI-A 250K mi