Does anyone know if the 300TD wagon(w123) was made in a gasoline model?
Also any opinion on how good the w123 wagons are compared to the w124?

That would be a 300TE, and yes it was. There are plenty of opinions out there on 123 vs. 124. Try a search for "124 and wagon".

__________________
Rick Miley
2014 Tesla Model S
2018 Tesla Model 3
2017 Nissan LEAF
Former MB: 99 E300, 86 190E 2.3, 87 300E, 80 240D, 82 204D Euro
Chain Elongation References

None of the W123 gaoline engine wagons wagons were sold through MB in the US but there was quite a variety in the rest of the world including:

200T
230T
230T/E
250T
280T/E

Actually I'm not so sure about the 280T.

There's a 280TE available in Oakland, CA listed at craigslist.org. It was available for a while but check soon as the listing might have expired.

W123 vs W124 is a matter of taste and budget. The W123 is a shade bigger I think. Lots more punch in a W124 gas or Diesel.

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD ... any takers at $1100?

I have a 300e 4matic but test drove a 84 300td yesterday, i was amazed at the build quality and the attention to details in that car. The only letdown is the slugginess of diesel engine.

Many times the diesels are more sluggish than they should be when that old... one little thing out of adjustment...

TxBill's 300 engine felt like a gas engine... so I know it is possible..

scargo70, I own two 300TD in the W123 chassis.
A man stopped and spoke with me once - he said he had sold his 300TD and bought a 300TE. He said he wished he had his diesel back, not only was the TE less comfortable, almost 12 inches less in width and length, but the gas consumption was killing his wallet.
He was envious of my '85 TD, it runs very well, almost as good as a gas car. The '85 was a unique year in several respects for the 300TD. Find any mechanic that knows the W123 and he will list the differences and tell you why they were "better" that year (except maybe for the transmission.)
That '84 turbodiesel may just need some carbon cleaned out of the intake manifold at the boost sensing line or some simple maintenance like a valve adjust (very important!). There are mods that can add some pep to a turbodiesel engine in good condition, but they still don't "jump" off the line like a gas car. Drivers of these cars just learn to live with the engine's characteristics and to offset that comes fairly good fuel economy (compared to the gas cars in the same size) as a reward.
The 280TE was mentioned previously. That particular grey market car has a DOHC 6-cyl engine that runs like a scalded cat, but the repair costs will be out of this world when they get a bunch of miles on them, be forwarned!
Dieseldiehard
'71 220 (gas) project car
'79 300TD w/ '85 turbo engine @ 286K
'83 300D @ 262K
'85 300TD @ 252K
All daily drivers

dieseldiehard;
(notice you are also in the bay area)
i thought the w124 TE wagons were bigger than the w123?
how much do you think a well kept w123 300td wagon should cost?
i saw a '84 300td with 100k for 12k. It is in great shape; no rust, interior clean as heck. Is this a bit pricey?

I would say my wagon is comparible to a gas in terms of acceleration (at least it is now ).

We met a gentleman with a lot of these older cars, and in his opinion the 123's were the least problematic.

__________________
Natalie

if the w124 is smaller than the w123, by how much?
and what enhanced safety features?

Here is mine on ebay. It is a really good driving/running car and someone will be getting a good one.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6330&item=2414961360

__________________
Jim

My vote goes to the simplicity of the 123, but I'm weird

I've seen a couple of 280T's around (can't remember if they were -E's or not, though; the moment I didn't see the "D", I lost interest )...I didn't know that they were Euro cars, though. There's one parked on one of the side streets less than a mile from here...

Off topic, but sixto, I noticed that you're interested in selling the SD...why?

A 124 wagon is smaller than a 123 wagon but neither a foot shorter nor a foot narrower. He's taking seller's remorse a little too far

To some people, the enhanced safety features of a 124 are not optional.

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD ... any takers at $1100?

I do not know exactly how much shorter, or narrower the cargo area is, I am just repeating what he said. I suppose its like 9 or 10 inches less?
I'll agree the 124 has more safety items, but I'll pass on ABS brakes. And I dislike the electrically operated seats if that is all they have. Too many things to break.
Then there is the aluminum head - I like the cast iron diesels better. Reminds me of the previous owner of the '79 300TD I own. The man replaced it with a white 300TE and headed for Florida. I heard he noticed the engine overheating along the way and somewhere in FLA the head gasket let loose. I know now that is fairly common with that engine. I never heard what he did with the car. I have since installed a turbo diesel in my '79 TD and have made two trips cross-country with no problems except blowing hydraulic oil out one of the rear shocks in 15 degree weather on the first trip. And the neutral sensing switch got flaky in West Texas causing me to keep the engine running all the way to almost Arkansas (ask me how I added oil to the engine with it running!)
Dieseldiehard.

Too many cars.

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD ... any takers at $1100?

just an added comment about 280TE gray market wagons. we had one for sale at the shop i worked at for a while, and it was a great car. same great looks as w123 diesels, and boy did it move.

however, it sucked gas like no other. i think milage was about 15-20mpg, but that could also be because whenever it was driven it was floored....

if a 280TE has a healthy engine i dont think the repair costs would be much more than a 300TD. adjust the valves, change the oil, and a tuneup once in a while. after all, it is the same durable chassis as the diesels.

__________________
Sean Roland

2004 Saab 9-5 AERO 138k (for sale)
2000 VW Jetta GLS TDI 215k (sold)
1999 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 - 132k (sold)
1999 Saab 9-3se -- 84k (sold)
1986 MB 190e 2.3 16v -- 221K (sold)
1985 MB 190e 2.3 16v euro -- 145k (junked)
1992 Saab 9000t 5sp. -- 142k (sold)
1994 Subaru Legacy -- 264K (sold)
1998 Audi A4 1.8TQ -- 102k (sold)
1983 MB 240D stick -- 160k (sold)
1988 Saab 900SPG -- 156K (sold)
1983 MB 300D -- 270K project or parts (sold)
1986 MB 280SE Euro stick -- 150K (sold)