My thought is, although a W123 can handle backroads very well, you'll find yourself taking the long way to the highway to enjoy the ride and let the diesel "stretch it's legs"

Good luck,

JCD

Re: tires for the dirt. Any recommendations for a LT 4 ply 6 ply rated tire that would work on a 123. I’m running Yokohama LT195/75 14’s on my Westy Bus and I think they’d work well on the Merc. It’s a 240D – comments
Thanks
Chan

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89 300E
79 240D
72 Westy
63 Bug sunroof
85 Jeep CJ7
86 Chevy 6.2l diesel PU

"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."
Marcus Aurelius

Excellent ride comparable with the 124, simpler to maintain, and IMHO more robust. It is simpler and less expensive to maintain. In contrast my dad's 124 had issues with the electronics and somehow needed more parts replaced over a comparable period of time (both had more than 380,000km on the clock).

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1983 w126 280SE - daily drive
1983 w123 200 - sold

We live on a rough narrow gravel road in the Costal Mts. of OR I use my 115 240D as a hunting car and firewood trailer puller on roads that most other cars would not dare travel.The car is very tight after 7 years of this type driving,I replaced the shocks and of course brake pads but nothing to the supension. My other two MB's are 126's and I do not take them on the Forest service roads . I would think that a 123 would take a pounding better than any car other than a 115 that I can think of. The first I ever heard of the duribility of the 240 was when they made belivers with there lack of down time in the big African Rally way back when..............

William Rogers.........

passenger-car body. VERY robust, 'tho I am a 240 fan.

Tire, shock choice would be my main considerations for traversing an assortment of road surfaces.

My 300D is the best driving "truck" I have ever owned. Wish it had a full size bed.

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Jim

Be careful of rust on the W123. Once it starts in, it takes over the whole car.

A W124 has very good resistance to rust with exceptions being the trunk edges.

I would drive a W123 myself. I agree, the car is built more like a truck, and was designed to be as tough. The W124 is more sporty, lower, more aerodynamic designed for the autobahn.

I would only recommend an '87 W124 300D turbo if you could maintain it extremely well, garage it in the winter, and drive it on paved roads.

Bottom line is, the W123 is a much more rugged car. It is designed to be, after all.

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1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)