I'm shopping for a 300TD turbo here in Yurrup. I generally like to buy the last year of a model run, assuming that most of the earlier bugs are worked out. But I'm not too fond of the new front end as of late 94. It's not ugly, but I find the original front end classier.

Are there reasons why any certain year is better IYO? F'rexample, is there better rustproofing, suspension, brakes, or whatever after a given year?

BTW, my manual says that piston sleeves went away on all 124 diesels in 1989, and only +.07mm can be overbored to clean up the block. I'm not sure if this is a good development or not.

Any rustproofing advances are particularly important to me. The French salt their roads with wild abandon during winter. The Swiss have stopped, now using sand instead. I think Germany is also sanding more and salting less.

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Thx/Reno
An American in France
88 300TD 5spd Sportline (lowered factory susp) - totalled by a flying deer
89 Range Rover V8 - the 4wd beast
02 Toyota minivan
05 Peugeot Partner 4x4 Dangel
88 International Harvestor 633SA
--Gone but not forgotten:
1970 250/8 C (sold to buy 450 SLC)
1972 450 SLC (sold after battling wiring harness problems too long)
1971 300 SEL 6.3 (sold after destroying two *very* expensive rear LS diffs)
1986 560 SEL (now my little brother's pride and joy)

Most of us North Americans ain't gonna be much help, since the 124 series 300 td was only available for MY 1987 over here. It had the OM603.961 engine, which was also last available in that year. I don't know what variants were offered for the Euro market up to MY 1995, but just be careful that whatever you find doesn't have the dreaded 3.5 liter OM603.971, which was a notorious rod-bender and piston sleeve destroyer.

Can't help with the other questions, but over here most of the MY changes throughout the series were either aesthetic alterations/upgrades to the interior/exterior, or different engine combinations.

I'm terribly envious that you're able to choose from a potential pool of turbodiesel wagons that aren't all at least 17 years old at this point. We diesel wagon lovers have a bleak poverty of options in NA.

When purchasing a used car, the "best" year is the one that you find in the BEST CONDITION. Many mistakes are made in buying a used car such as looking for a particular color or a particular subseries.

Find one in the BEST condition you can find.

Good luck,

Envy is a good thang ... But then your Benzes are all well-equipped, while here you find a lot of them with no AC and no power windows. BTW, the OM603.961 engine only came in S-classes over here, AFAIK.

Anyway, the rustproofing angle is the one that really interests me. I know, for example, that Volvo started galvanizing body panels in 1986, so those models last longer. I have some pretty serious pockets of rust on my 300TD and would like its future sister to have less.

__________________
Thx/Reno
An American in France
88 300TD 5spd Sportline (lowered factory susp) - totalled by a flying deer
89 Range Rover V8 - the 4wd beast
02 Toyota minivan
05 Peugeot Partner 4x4 Dangel
88 International Harvestor 633SA
--Gone but not forgotten:
1970 250/8 C (sold to buy 450 SLC)
1972 450 SLC (sold after battling wiring harness problems too long)
1971 300 SEL 6.3 (sold after destroying two *very* expensive rear LS diffs)
1986 560 SEL (now my little brother's pride and joy)

The late 124's have a lot of little refinements that I personally like. I would try to get the newest 124 that meets your needs, and is in the proper shape, with good records, etc. Little things like HVAC intake filters, trunk seal pressed on instead of glued (grrrr!), improved 1-piece lower windshield trim, and other errata. I perfer the cosmetic updates also - leather interiors, more wood, nifty door handles, etc.

The ONLY problem I know of on late 124's (say, 1992-95?) is the engine wiring harnesses are made of "environmentally friendly" insulation that was found not to last long! So after 5-10 years, it may need replacement if the insulation starts to crack and peel off. I think that's an accpetable tradeoff for all the other good stuff.

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Dave
Boise, ID
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