You Betcha!
Well, at least I FEEL better knowing the butter is from Wisconsin;)

Gilly

Bump!

I own a 307d motorhome in the UK. My vote is that the 207d, and 307d models of the same vintage as the 123's are the equal of the 240d's or perhaps a little better. They have the same 616 motor with mostly manual transmissions but without the AC and oil cooler. The access to the motor is not quite as good as the 240d but the lack of AC and oil cooler makes them a little simpler and perhaps a little more reliable as a result. Top that with the fact that at least some of them can be inhabited and you have a winner. The serious Mercedes enthusiast can actually live in his or her vehicle!

Strickly in RELIABILITY terms:

No dout: The W123 240D (without power windows, power locks,
A/C and fitted with the regular 4-speed manual)

Market specifications and climate regions might change the final view on this subject, but no doubt that the 240D is virtually indestructible.

I have to disagree about the comment about "any well maintained M-B is realiable". Some models, even if you mortage your house to keep them in top shape, just plainly cannot be trusted (1992-1994 W140s come to mind).

For all 240D lovers, here is a pick from the original 1977 German brochure:



A. Rosich
S320, 1998
E320T, 1995

The negative I see in an oil cooler is the possibility that a cooler line can fail resulting in loss of oil pressure. I am under the impression that the flow of oil to the cooler is thermostatically controlled so that it should not make much of a difference summer/winter.

I will have to say the E-Series (124). E420 to be specific.

TANK

I had two 123's, one auto and one manual. Both of course had external oil coolers. Even in very cold weather, once warmed up and driven, their oil coolers would get warm. I don't see the external oil cooler as a negative at all.

Some time ago I had a discussion with a Porsche factory mechanic regarding oil and engine oil capacities. He cited the 240D as an example of an engine of long-life for many reasons including the external oil cooler and the extra oil its system added. Porsche has used large oil capacities for years, just like Mercedes. His opinion: one of the keys to long engine life.

My 2 cents.

Haasman

A. Rosich: have you got any more pics from the 240D brochure? I find that stuff really interesting.

I say w124 300D. I've seen them with 500k miles on, like new inside, and original engine and transmission (local taxi firm bought them new).

rjnonnie has it right
 

Any Mercedes that iswell taken care of will outlast any other. Although there some exceptions to this. 1990 350SD Turbodiesel- The Most UNReliable Mercedes. I would vouch for the 240D to be the most reliable, although I would argue that if one were to drive a 16V the way they drove their 240D (like mary poppins) rather than punching it around every corner the 16V may be one of the most reliable cars Mercedes ever built. Also making the 16V the most reliable gas car with proper care of course.

211,249 and as fast as the first 2.

Tank: here there are some more pictures from the 1997 W123 Diesels brochure.

Note the front headlight cleaning wiperarm and washer system. It really looked modern at the time. The system was an extra cost option.

A. Rosich
S320, 1998
E320T, 1995

The instrument panel:

A W123 Diesel at the petrol pump. Mercedes states on the brochure that due to its extreme economical engines, this was the least common site to catch this car.

Whos says?
 

Who says we all drive our 240D's like Mary Poppins? You have to floor them to get any power out of them! When driving, my only goal is to get into 4th gear (If possible) as quickly and without strain on the transmission. You really cannot hurt the diesel engine by giving it a wokout and shifting at 4000 rpm instead 3000 rpm. Its called an Italian tuneup, and I perform one every day when I drive to school!

Ha
 

Kyle- My sister drives an 81' 240D that is only a few miles short of 300,000 so I would stand behind that car in any case of reliability. But on a racetrack a 16V would outast a 240, timewise (obviously not laps), If you ran them both at 5000 rpm simply because that is what the 16V was built and designed to handle. The reliability of the 16V is just amazing for being such high performance car.

Re: Ha
 

True! The only weak spot I found with my 16V was the brakes. When equipped with Max Performance tires (not around in 1987) the brakes were not up to the task of racetrack use. I would burn through rotors and pads like a hot knife through butter.

I had a 944S owner that was mighty embarassed after not being able to keep pace with a Mercedes four door...:D