I am looking at a 79 300sd, with 130K miles, great body, no rust (I have read all the posts on this model) AC works but blows
out the windshield vent only, same for heater, could be a valve? One window does not work, needs switch. Carpet worn, but seats and dash are ok. Cars runs good, starts everytime. The guy is asking $1600 OBO, Is this model worth restoring as a good driver?? I have seen them on Ebay for $2 to 6 K, what do you think?? Thanks

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2000 Ford 7.3 Powerstroke 4x4
2006 Mazda Tribute
1983 Black 300 D (donated to charity)
1993 Teal 300 D (160K) Sold
"I love the smell of burnt diesel fuel in the morning, it smells like ....VICTORY"

Semper Fidelis
USMC 1973-1976

Yes it sounds like the vacuum pod went bad for the center vents. Sounds like a pretty decent buy to me.

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Jeff M.
Mercedes W123 DIY pages are now located here.
1983 / 1984 300D Sold
2000 CLK430 Cabriolet ~58k Sold
2005 Avalanche 4x4 ~66k

Just becasue I had to deal with it I will point out that I believe this car has the ACC servo.
They are in the mid 200's rebuilt so this is not a huge investment if that is all that is wrong.
Default system failure on these cars is defrost mode only...

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'99 S420 - Mommies
'72 280SE 4.5 - looking to breathe life into it
'84 300SD Grey - Sold
'85 300SD Silver - Sold
'78 Ski Nautique

GA,

Its a steal. Except for the climate control system, Its the most reliable car ever built.


P E H

Look very closely for rust. Many have cancer directly above the
rear jack point, bottom of the doors and around the front fender.
These are the areas I have to fix on my daily driver.
A weak point with these cars. If it is solid I'd bite.

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1980 300SD Manganese Brown Metallic Clearcoat 248k
1979 300SD White 148 k
1984 300D Silver project car for daughter
1982 300D wrecked
1980 300SD 310K not running

Sometimes the climate control unit itself can be fixed, I resoldered mine successfully. I also heard many great things about their acceleration and handling, but myself I love all that extra chrome on there they look excellent.

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Jeff M.
Mercedes W123 DIY pages are now located here.
1983 / 1984 300D Sold
2000 CLK430 Cabriolet ~58k Sold
2005 Avalanche 4x4 ~66k

The body is very good on this car, so is the chrome, the carpet can be replaced, I would say $1500 for the car and $2 to 3K to make it very presentable, I just love the BIG grill on these cars..I can do a good fixer upper...I really dont know the color, it looks champaine with tobacco interior ??

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2000 Ford 7.3 Powerstroke 4x4
2006 Mazda Tribute
1983 Black 300 D (donated to charity)
1993 Teal 300 D (160K) Sold
"I love the smell of burnt diesel fuel in the morning, it smells like ....VICTORY"

Semper Fidelis
USMC 1973-1976

I've had my '79 300SD for 16 years and it hasn't let me down yet. It says a lot for a nearly 25 year-old car with 360K miles that it cranks every day and cruises happily at 70+mph -getting a steady 29mpg.
Of course, the ac doesn't work (too expensive to fix), 4 windows don't go down (but the sunroof works), and water leaks in via the cracks in the rubber gaskets.... but, hey, that's cosmetic. Oy yes, expect the tranny to be clunky as the vacuum system leaks.
The thing is, the engine is so tough, and the body so solid, that while everything else really seems to have 1/4 century on it, the old SD just purrs (OK not purr, exactly) and gives every indication of continuing to do so for more years to come. Never a drop of oil, responds nicely when the turbo kicks in (compared to my last vehicle, a '61 bug).
I too live in Georgia -where winter starts aren't a problem. But it IS nice to have either a working AC OR windows that go down (and possibly even up, too).
For $1600 it seems like a reasonable deal -just check the things important for safety, be rigorous about iol changes ---and drive it until it wears out.
After all, in '79 these were about $27K.Good luck.

I will chime in...I do not have much time in the seat in my W116, or any Merc Diesel fo that matter. I purchased my first Merc Diesel (79 300SD) about 1 month ago, 1200 miles ago.

The car had 126K documented miles with all services completed and records to proive it. I can safely say, I want from nothing when I drive this car. I made a shift from a 2002 mercedes, cold turkey. The SD has enough luxury features that I do not feel I am driving a 25 year old car (my Climate Control does work, that helps!)

The driving characteristics of this car, well, let's just say that my commute is 9 miles round trip. So, how did I rack up 1200 miles in just under a month? Cruising...I live just off of a Highway called 280 in the SF Bay Area. A very pretty highway with long sweepeing turns. From this scenic highway, I have a multitude of options to get me to the Coast. Many, Many driving routes offering some of the best scenery in the world are right out my door. I take my car out almost daily for some type of drive. I also take the long way to work...have to warm up the engine

Lasty, the power. I drove a number of cars before I bought. I was lucky enough to buy from a gentleman who had a few cars for sale. I will say that my car feels down right quick. Not off the line of course, but 25mph to 65mph is a pleasure. Gas pedal, on the flats, is depressed 1/4 of the way to keep the car at 80mph!!

Anyway, enough ramble....I love my car! There is something about the W116....good luck with your decision! Heck, there is something about all older (real) Merc Diesels, not just the W116. I admire all '70s and '80s Merc Diesels.

Anthony

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'83 240D (W123) 321K miles
250KM Mileage Award
500KM Mileage Award

'84 300TD (W123) 215k miles
250K mileage award pending

Make sure it doesn't leak or consume too much oil. THis can be difficult to document so... maybe get a compression test even though they are kind of expensive. I bought an 81 SD, in march, I love it, but it's oil consumption indicates a new engine will be needed soon. However,I love these cars unbelievably! I will buy another on if I don't repair mine.

I'm going to have to agree with the rest: the 116 cars were absolutely magnificent cars. I drove a 450SEL for a couple of years and loved every minute of it. Unfortunately, the one I chose was a rust bucket and never really ran very well. But, the 116 cars give you everything that you should expect from a classic era Mercedes: style, chrome, good handling, good ride, alot of class. You woudln't believe how many people will look at the car while your'e driving.

They also give you every bad thing MB did: rust, weak climate controls, some so-so plastic parts. Even when sorted out, the climate control system won't work like a modern car.

I'd say go for it if it drives, runs, and handles well.

You would not believe the turning radius on these babies. Just whip the wheel around and watch the big benz turn on a dime.

Sholin

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What else, '73 MB 280 SEL (Lt Blue)
Daily driver: '84 190D 2.2 5 spd.

GA123-Diesel - where is it at? I may need to check it out for you.

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Jim

I would probably consider buying a W116 if I were looking for another turbo diesel from all the positive things I've read about them. I like the W126's as well mainly since they look like they've got more room but I'm not sure how they hold up in comparison to the W116. I'm thinking that the W126's have a lot more things in them that can go wrong as compared to the W116.

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

Driving around today I saw this absolute beautiful 1981 300sd turbo, black with a red stripe, one owner, 300K miles, asking price $4000,- It's located at the bottom of Topanga Canyon in the Valley, LA.

I don't want to post a phone number of someone I don't know so if you are interested post your email address and I will sent you his number, I didn't talk to the owner but the car looked absolute stunning!

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1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

The W126 ARE the W116. They just look a little different. Everything underneath is identical.

I consider the W126 the second generation W116.

Ah, the real reliable S-Class cars. Made longer than the R107. 1972 -1991(1994 in South Africa).

The W126's have power seats and a single power mirrror. What else? I can't remember off the top of my head. I mean, that's all I see in my old W126 compared to a W116. Did the W116 have cruise control? I forgot I had one in my W126. I could care less. Heated mirrors in the W116? I knew the W123 had them.

Really, there isn't much technology in the W126 compared to the W116. Especially between a 1980 and 1981 300SD. '86 was the year they started getting "tech crazy" with ABS, SRS, ETR, ELR, EDS, blah, blah, blah. But even the '86 models didn't have much to go wrong with them.

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1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)