Hey guys, I’m new to Mercedes, came from many years modifying BMWs. I got a w124 and love it, but I have noticed(atleast in my region) that the w123 is valued double that of the w124.
I was in the market for a w114 before I landed on my w124 and even those seem to be cheaper the the 123. So I feel like vintage doesn’t effect it to much.
I feel like if you took a touring version of both, in the same condition, let say both diesel, the w123 will have a much heavy price

Can someone give their opinion on why they think this chassis is worth more


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1989 Mercedes 260e
1972 GMC shorty van
1982 Harley Davidson Ironhead

Well, it is an unusually well engineered and built car, simple to work on and still an excellent drive. They sold a lot of them so used parts are available and new parts still in good supply to keep it running well. The biggest shortfall is rust....on that they are better than any other car of the era and better than the earlier cars...probably the 124 is a little better on rust but not much. They are stylish and appeal to folks who have a sense of utility.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Tom said it very well.

I used to say that the only category in which a 124 wins over a 123 is in the drivers seat. It is a wonderful handling car that is right at home cruising however fast you choose to drive it. When, however, it’s time to get out the wrenches the 123 wins hands down.

My $0.02,

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

Agreed, the 124 chassis is better in ride and handling....at least in handling. The 124 feels glued to the road by comparison.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

123 is better looking. Rides almost as well. Is simpler to work on. Better engineered. Also is simply older and was the car that cemented Mercedes position as the best and most desireable car the world in many peoples minds. Not just in the US but the whole world over so has more of the "classic" status going for it.

- Peter.

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2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

There's a lot more diesel w123s than w124s in the USA. If you compare diesel W124s to diesel W123s, the diesel W124s are more valuable. Most gasser w124s are completely worthless. Even E500s are ending up in the PnP.

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CENSORED due to not family friendly words

The 123 diesels established their position well. Mercedes other diesels not so much perhaps.

They to me at least. Are now semi antiques as well. Plus look it. The 124s look like most other cars in comparison is also a factor perhaps.

No other brand ever produced a car similar in overall appearance to the 123s. On reflection that is kind of strange in itself.

My W123 is about to go through a total restoration, both mechanical and cosmetic. I'm not made out of money but this is a car that gives a high return on investment for every dollar spent. Also, it is very easy to drive and park. I use it as a grocery getter most of the time.

I've had a lot of desirable cars throughout my life time, but the W123 is the closest thing to a bullet proof car I've ever operated. I just wish the seats were a bit more comfortable. After a long trip (eight hours or more) I'm ready to climb out and stretch the legs a bit.

The Volvo 240 is the only car I mistake for a 123 from a distance.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

That brings up a good point, the Volvo 240 is also damn bulletproof. Being solid axle, super simple engines and management. And besides the horrors of replacing the blower motor, they are super easy to work on. While their diesel is just a VW engine and not as common as the red block, they don’t seem to be near the value of the w123. Maybe I need to own one to drive and maintaining to get a better understanding. By no means am I opposed to getting one, just trying to get some insight to understand the value discrepancies.

Side note, if you haven’t already seen one, google a Volvo 164, and tell me they didn’t steal design ideas from Mercedes haha


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1989 Mercedes 260e
1972 GMC shorty van
1982 Harley Davidson Ironhead

I have had them all .I find the W123 to be the best Mercedes ever built .I have a W124 now you just cant put these in the same class as the W123

I have never owned a w-123. I have owned four w124’s. One diesel, three gassers.

The common problem among all w124’s was electrical/electronic. The wiring insulation tends to crack. Fiddling with a wiring harness was like disarming a bomb. My understanding is the w123’s were more reliant on mechanical solutions.

Yes. That is the beauty of them.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Because by any metric apart from fuel economy, the W123 is by far the better car .

If your W123 isn't able to run away from a W124 in the canyons it's because you need to service the suspension or better dial in the tires & pressures .

Similarly, W123 seats when in factory shape, trouble my broken back and fused neck very little .

I have two bad W123 driver's seats. one is a blue cloth European one with no broken springs, both beat up my back and I plan to rebuild them with added pool noodles gusseting unbroken springs .

W124's are smaller and so may appeal to you, just don't ever expect to flip one for a profit .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

I don't know about that. My '79 300CD was a fine looking car, but with all of 81 HP, couldn't outrun a garden slug. The 123 required oil changes every 2500 miles, and valve adjustments every 12K. And gave just 27 mpg, closer to 20 in town. So I'm not sure it was "better by any metric." What it had going for it was solid construction, as if it was carved from a block of steel. If something broke and you fixed it, it stayed fixed. And that door slam sounded great.

The 124 styling wasn't initially well received in the US. Mercedes had a certain look that was pretty much consistent for about 15 years. The 124 was edgy and new, and wasn't altogether pleasing to well heeled buyers with conservative tastes. It looked like a scaled up 201, which isn't the way you usually position luxe cars. Plus it was significantly more expensive than the 123, so you were paying a lot more for a bloated compact. But it was the better car than 123 in many ways, and ended up selling well.