I have two very nice daily drivers: a 91 and a 92 300D. What I would like to get is an older MB diesel so that I can better learn how to work on MB diesels. I have a pretty limited albeit growing skill set, but I would prefer not to "practice" on either of my daily drivers.

I'd be happy with a 240D, an older 300D, a 300SD, or a 300SDL. Nothing after 1990.

As you might guess, I'm not looking to spend much.

So, if you live in Southern New England and have an older diesel that you'd like to part with, please let me know.

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 159k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 179k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 145k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 77k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

IMO you should stay with om60x engines, like you already have. So an SDL or 87 300d.. could actually go om601 if you really wanted. But I would stay 602/603.

The older 300d/300sd's(om617) are just a total different beast that will not share common parts with what you have.

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08 R320 CDI current

Past
95 E420
87 300D Turbo 5spd
90 300TE
83 300SD
85 300TD
92 400E
85 190D

Buy mine. It doesn't get any simpler.... no turbo, plumbing or wastegates.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-cars-sale/310118-fs-1986-w124-300d-euro.html

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Mike

82 Spider
86 560SL (For Sale)
87 CX25 TRD Turbo 2
89 Milano Verde
89 Mondial t Coupe
92 300D
94 E420

This one is real nice. It would be like a more modern 240D. I've read the N/A om603 is dead smooth and very confident.

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08 R320 CDI current

Past
95 E420
87 300D Turbo 5spd
90 300TE
83 300SD
85 300TD
92 400E
85 190D

My last car before the current fleet was a 1986 euro 300D. They're good cars, and plenty fast - just like the older NA 300D's were also quite decent - the turbo doesn't add /that/ much without tuning. That said, I found the car slower than an OM617 turbo - I got a 0-60mph time of 18 seconds, which my thousand-pound-heavier 1980 300SD will beat, not to mention the 300CD. I wrecked it though sadly, thanks to bad alignment and letting the rear tires go bald without noticing.

You may note from my signature that I no longer have any car that new. The '86 was the fourth Mercedes I owned, and the newest. In my opinion, the W123/W115/W114 and W116/W108 chassis' are the best Mercedes ever made and have a lot more style than the newer models (W124/W126 and up). And while the OM60x is a little more powerful, the OM615/616/617 is more reliable and easier to work on. So if I were looking for an older Mercedes diesel to play with and learn on, I'd go for a W123 - they're currently still quite inexpensive and soon the easy pickings will be gone just like they are for the W114/115. If I were looking for something larger and classy, I'd try to find a good deal on a W116 300SD (they still exist, though not as commonplace as W123 deals).

That said, the W124 is a good chassis too. It's the last E-class chassis built by hand, and while lacking the chrome and details of the older models, does have a pretty modern look to it. Since Mercedes produced this chassis through 1995, nobody will guess you're driving a 1986. It's got some neat newer features like power seats. And well, the newer parts are, the less soon they will need replaced, as a general rule. The price seems quite decent as well. Mine cost me $1500 but took thousands of dollars of repairs in the first several months of ownership. :/

Shertex,

I may be too far out of the Northeast for you in Annapolis, but I'm buying s38junkie's car...and after that my Euro 1983 240D 4spd will be "one too many" in the family.

It's defiantly easy to learn and work on if you want to learn w123's and MB-basics.

Can provide details -- Lots has been done: all new fluids/filters, some suspension work, new half shafts, alternator, clutch master & slave cylinders.

But there are always projects -- Vacuum locks non functional, currently no radio. My 60+ year old MB mechanic says they can wait 10's of thousands of miles, but I'd eventually change the drive shaft carrier bearing & a ball joint.

PM or email me if you have interest -- real simple and fun 35mpg car!

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05 E320 CDI
99 SL500
02 530i

82 240D SOLD
83 240D Euro 4spd SOLD
86 300D Euro Auto SOLD

shertex, you should go check this out locally. Ad says its an 84 4 door sedan, but pic clearly shows a euro coupe.

Not diesel, but could be interesting as a nice 123

1984 mercedes

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This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

Called this guy out of interest, address in the ad is Grasso auto sales. Guy says its a gas, automatic coupe, and he can't get it started. His price sounded like a jumping off point to me. You need to buy this, and swap in a 617.

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This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

Couldn't find a diesel with the right combination of price and condition, but did find a 1990 300E with just over 100,000 miles that I'm picking up today. So we'll see how I make out. I'll keep it for a while then sell it....then hopefully find another diesel.

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 159k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 179k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 145k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 77k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

See my listing for an '87 300D. Complete with a spare motor and trans plus extra parts. I'm near AC NJ. Drive the car everyday to work.

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1987 300D 337000 and counting with a #14 head