seeking guidance on diesel wagon questions - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

kashbaugh · #1 08-02-2003, 06:32 PM

Hello all!

I am a part-time courier driver putting about 400 expressway miles a day on my car. I've been planning to get a "new" car to use mainly for this work. I think that a good vehicle for this would be a stationwagon for load room vs. fuel efficiency, especially compared to a van! I think one of the older Mercedes diesel models is the best all around fit for my situation.

First question for those of you with real experience. Am I crazy to think about buying a 20 year old car to use this way?

Second question for all of you experts out there. I had figured that, based on my research, I was looking for a mid-to-late '80s 300TD. While looking through the paper I also see some early '90s 300TE wagons. I read here and there that "newer" Mercs "don't last as long". Based on any experience out there, am I "better off" with the earlier TD or the later TE? And oh yeah. Is the TE even a diesel?

Thanks for any help from the "real world"!

Ken

Wasuchi · #2 08-02-2003, 06:54 PM

I don't believe the TE is Diesel. You aren't crazy to think a car that old could do the job..... it will probably need some repairs along the way (things wear out) but overall they are very reliable. You probably want to look for a 82-85 model. You should get some responses from TD owners that can tell you more about them.

psfred · #3 08-02-2003, 07:21 PM

The 300TE is only going to get about 20-23 mpg on the highway, not exactly a good choice for economy.

Better choices would be the 81 to 87 300TD, either the W123 or W124 turbodiesel models. Either one will give you milage in the middle 20s or up, and are pretty maintenance free PROVIDED they are in excellent shape to start with. If trashed out, not worth the money for income earning transport.

Peter

R Leo · #4 08-02-2003, 07:22 PM

A TE is a gasser, TDs are diesels...in fact, a D anything is a diesel.

• Make sure the car you get is turbocharged. Normally aspirated 5cyl engines mated to automatic transmissions are pigs. Don't go there.

• No matter how hard you try, a 20 yo Benz is not going to be 100% reliable. Best to have backup vehicle if your Benz dies

• A 123 chassis TD isn't one of the more lively cars I've driven...SWMBOs 300D is much more responsive. Is it the difference in gear ratios? Who knows? I adore my wagon but I honestly can't say I'd be willing to drive her all day in traffic, making starts and stops (and I LOVE to drive too).

• Make sure the seats are in good shape or budget to rebuild them....bad Benz seats are back killers...I can't imagine doing 400mi/day in a MBZ w/bad seats

• Look out for bad rear suspension components on the wagons. Many expensivve to replace parts back there!!!

• Ultra cheap to operate!! I regularly get 20 in town and 22 on the highway and, these babies will run just fine on waste fry oil. Talk about cutting overhead!!

my .02!

leathermang · #5 08-02-2003, 09:18 PM

Randy, don't stop tweaking your car... mine got 27 at 75 mph...and I am sure yours is in better shape than mine was....that was about the mean of those that spoke up on one thread...

R Leo · #6 08-02-2003, 09:37 PM

I've always felt that Marlene wasn't doing her best on fuel mileage but, she never smokes (well, a little sometimes) so it's not going out the pipe that way.

Since I bought her in February, I've averaged 21.5 mpg overall....nothing to brag about but, not all that bad either. SWMBOs car does about the same and most of her driving is in town. We've yet to make a road trip in Lilly but I'm fixing that in a couple of weeks with a trip to Dad's. It will finally give me a chance to see what that car does on the highway.

That 4º offset woodruff is bound to improve things on Marlene. I just went for another spin and that wasn't any placebo effect; she definitely runs better off idle and at low speeds plus, it feels good to know that the valve timing is right on spec.

I'll correct any fuel delivery timing issues next. Then, I'll pull the injectors, clean them and maybe even have them pop tested and adjusted (probably do them when the manual transectomy is underway).

I''m going for that elusive 27mpg.

jassz · #7 08-03-2003, 10:10 AM

Well, no bragging or anything, but the best mileage we have gotten with Belinda is about 30mpg (9.3L/100km, if someone wants to check my math).

That was a highway trip wiht a relatively empty car. Around the city we were getting a pretty consistant 28mph (9.8L/100km), until recently. I attributing the drop to the use of the AC, but the last couple of tanks we got aobut 26mpg (10.2L/100km).

I love wagons

. I say go for it kashbaugh, but take your time in finding one. There are not that many to choose from, and they are not all created equal.

Natalie

kashbaugh · #8 08-03-2003, 10:24 AM

First, thanks to all of your for your info and advice so far! I've already learned a lot! Feel kinda stupid about the TE thing. Sorry. I should have known that.

I presently have two TDs that I've located through friends and there are two in the weekend local paper. I've got to do some inspecting and see how they measure up. I'm sure I'll be back with other questions!!!

I have made a list of stuff from all over this site of things to check for.

Thanks again for all your help.
kma

kerry · #9 08-03-2003, 11:12 AM

I was under the impression that Belinda would be drinking imperial gallons or does the math already include that calculation?

jassz · #10 08-03-2003, 01:11 PM

Quote:

I was under the impression that Belinda would be drinking imperial gallons or does the math already include that calculation?

Heck if I know! I was just told the conversion factor was 284. Maybe it's metric gallons. :p You really popped my bubble with that question though....

#11 08-03-2003, 03:13 PM

A MB mechanic told a friend who told me- the 240 four-banger is cheaper to maintain than the 300 turbo. If you don't need the extra power the 240 might be a good choice.

I get 30 mpg driving at any speed I want. ('80 240D). For city delivery you won't be using 4th gear a whole lot. Excellent car for high daily mileage- really smooths out after first 100 miles. Easy to maintain 70 mph on the freeway.

Maintenance and parts not expensive. You already need a backup vehicle so why not standardize with a 240 or 300 DT? Lot of advantages to two identical vehicles.

There's a good reason that about half of these cars were sold as taxis.......

leathermang · #12 08-03-2003, 03:31 PM

"the city we were getting a pretty consistant 28mph " I suggest you check your linkage.... you should be able to do 35 mph in the city...

A turbo 5 has the potential of getting better mileage than a ( non turbo) 240... Diesels and turbos love each other...

rickjordan · #13 08-04-2003, 03:34 AM

What year TDs are in your paper? I have both a 123 and a 124 TD. The W124 hands down will beat a W123 TD. However, at least here in the U.S., they are rare. They only brought about 110 of them here in 1987 only. I was very fortunate to come across one for sale with only 154K. The six cylinder turbo diesel in that car, hauls. I get a consistent 28 mpg in mix driving. The W123 TD Turbo diesel was sold here from 1981 to 1985.

sixto · #14 08-04-2003, 04:17 AM

Out of curiosity, were Passat wagon Diesels available in the US? I know there are current Jetta wagon TDIs.

There's a Volvo wagon Diesel for sale close to me. TXBill seems to like his Volvo Diesel. This one for sale is black so I'm more curious than interested.

Sixto
95 S420
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

kashbaugh · #15 08-04-2003, 10:08 AM

The ones for sale locally are: a 1980 with no price listed, a 1985 w/185k miles at $2,500 and a 1987 w/150k miles for $3,000. The '87 says "AC needs work".

I've also found 2 other 1985s through the "friends network". One has 180k with all records but no ac and he wants "about $2,000" for it. The other has "about 140k" and he wants $2,000. Both of these have functioning self-leveling systems.

I seem to have discovered a wealth of them here.

kma