My W123 is a 1983 300TD, silver/blue exterior, blue MB-Tex interior. Of course this car is a bit more nimble than my SD.

Holson,

You started this thread before turbodiesel was kind enough to loan me a digital camera.

Now that your thread has bubbled to the top and still there are no 123 pictures, I'll put some here of "Ol' Silver". She's out to pasture right now, but I hope to have her back on the road this spring.

She is an '84 Euro 240D with manual transmission and 533K miles. I got her in '85 as a grey market car with 17Kmiles. I turned her over to my son at 450kmiles when he turned 16. He wanted to see a half million before he went away to college. He did that with some high school parking lot rash along the way.

Thanks for the picture invitation.

Here she is out to pasteur.

Here is about the best picture of the odometer I could make. I need to disable the flash and try again, I couldn't get focused well.

And here's her collection of high mileage awards.

damn.. searched for 300CD and found one of my first few threads or maybe my first. It's kind of funny that I ended up buying a 300CD that I mentioned it a while ago.

Here are a few newer pics of the car. I have since installed a zebrano shift knob (got it for a good price and am still amazed at its beauty) and the Euro headlights. The wheels will need to be refinished or replaced though. There is also a pretty big spot of surface rot on the front spoiler and a million rock/sand chips below the headlights.

http://people.bu.edu/holson/300cd-1.jpg

http://people.bu.edu/holson/300cd-3.jpg

http://people.bu.edu/holson/300cd-5.jpg

Well let's see more W123's.. :D I know they're boring old slow cars.. but I love 'em.

BTW, I'm now lookin' for a left side Euro blinker (the darker orange one)

Im getting greedy!
 

Ive just got hold of another 123 this one a 200 saloon made in 1982 I was looking for a Diesel but this was sooo cheap and good condition I couldnt resist!--- 300 pounds, and no rust!
First job is the Timing Chain as these smaller motors have a reputation --or so Im told! :D

I acquired a one owner 1978 280ce (US spec). The car was always garaged, never driven in the rain (has now), and was as close to new as a 24 y/o car can be without doing the concours preparation thing. The only problems with the car; small chip in windshield, tiny ding on front fender (have to look in the light carefully to see it), and minor paint damage on rear pass fender (put your gas cap in).

It is ivory on brown leather; the seats are as new (and driver seat rebuilt last month) since they were covered with sheepskins most of their life until recently (I hate sheepskins). The engine runs great, barely leaksl (very minor seepage; not enough to hit the driveway), and no smoke; it starts up every time. I have 133k on the car; everything works.

Complaints are: poor fuel mileage due to smog engine (three catalysts, air pump, EGR...God knows what else) and limited power. I think my girlfriend's 1982 300CD would actually pull better up a steep hill than the smogged out 280ce motor.

But, the car looks as new, is comfortable, rides well, and is reliable. There are no computers to break, no electric seat motors, no ASR, no airbags; I love that.

Now, does anyone have a nice 1981 > 85 300TD for sale? This is what I need; the dog is upset that no longer take her for rides since I got the coupe......

The coupe if for sale as I have no desire to two cars.

Maybe a nice euro spec 280te out there?

Regards,

Carl

Where are you located?

Are these US 280E/CE's really that 'retarded' compared to their Euro equivalents? I never thought they were....

I saw a Euro 280E yesterday. The body wasn't perfect. However I couldn't believe just how smooth and quiet a W123 could be!!!
At that point I sort of wanted a gas W123.. :p

However, the mileage on the diesel is pretty good.. so.. I don't know.
Maybe if I eventually see a really nice 280CE I might sell my car.

My brother and I will agree that the 123 will be the best ever MB produced in the 20th Century.

His 123 200 has been trouble free for the past 3 years and the usual maintanence with wear and tear is quite small compared to keeping the 124 and the 126.

Problems on the 123 are rare and EASY to trouble shoot.

Asked whether he'd upgrade to the 210 or 211 ... he said its too much electronics and thus not as reliable as the 123.

In simple fashion, 123 beats most classes for daily drive.

I have a 1984 Euro 280 CE, same colour green as the picture in Soljah's post. It doent have a sunroof though. It has the "Pullman Interior" and the 240 style HVAC system. The car was resently imported from Germany with 160, kms on the clock and came with the service books stamped up to 120, kms

Of course it has the adjustable headlights. Only the front windows are power, while the rear are cranks. Before I bought I read all the posts on problems, I figured the 240 style HVAC and crank rear windows eliminated two headaches. The rear window was leaking and wetting the trunk, but thanks to you guys I aready knew where to look. It cost me $100 cdn to have it resealed.

The power is pretty impressive, and at city speeds the engine is silient, I am suprised at high speeds though it does get quite noisy and sounds like it needs a 5th gear.

I'll post some pictures when I get time

Wayne in Victoria BC

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumList?u=4027295

contains pics of my car.. still needs lots of little things done to improve it, but every day in every way she's getting better and better.

There's a 1983 300D turbo that's been parked udner a tree for several months. I just stopepd to look at it. Body is good, no rust. The paint is fading to different shades of yellowish. The interior (MB-Tex) looks like it has been in teh sun too long with lots of cracks in the seats and elsewhere. The carpeting is badly stained and somewhat worn. 141K miles. Glass is good all-round.

I knocked on door at the house (undergoing extensive remodeling). Owner says the starter went out 9 months ago and it ran then. He intended to fix it himself but got bogged down in other things and abandoned the project--he bought the car about 1.5 yrs ago. A peek under the hood is consistent his story--at least it looks like he was removing stuff to get at the starter.

Asked how much he wants for it he immediately responded with, "Make an offer". I said I'd think about it (meaning I'd ask you guys...). I'm thinking of taking a chance and offering him $500.

What do you think?

Bump TTT.

Don't do it unless you're good at DIY mechanics and you enjoy it. Even then don't do it. Your $500 beater will turn into $5000 before you know it - the raspy paint and interior, lack of receipts, etc. mean you've got a lot of systems that'll need upgrading/replacing. A perfect 123, one where everything that needs replacing's been replaced in the last 20,000 miles and the body and interior are good to excellent, won't cost more than $4-5k - last year I found one just like that for somebody for $3500, and it came with $15k of recent receipts (not a DIY, dealer work, but still...). Trust me that you'll have more into that car in a heartbeat than it would cost to buy a nice one unless you don't mind having a POS in your driveway that's constantly on the verge of a breakdown, and I don't think you want that. I'd say ask me how I know, but you already know. :sun_smile

The kind of car you want is Suginami's recently sold 124 or my 126, where somebody anal took the hit on a total rebuild and sells it for market value, i.e. a lot less than it would take to replicate the work. I've learned my lesson; instead of being that (admittedly happy) previous owner, in the future I'll be his beneficiary.

sounds like a great parts car but with the interior needing lotsa work.. that's prolly the kicker unless you want to spend some time/effort/money replacing it to make a daily driver.
the parts alone are worth way more than 500.