Should I sell my W108 to buy a W126 Diesel?

[JeffreyNMemphis]

Hello Peaches,

Should I sell my W108 to buy a W126 Diesel? Currently, I have the W108 Sedan, a W114 Coupe, and a W111 Fintail Sedan. I have never owned a diesel but I am intrigued by the big car ride and double mileage it promises.

The car I am considering needs minor interior electrical work and a paint job. It runs well and is mechanically sound.

My W108 on the other hand is a car that needs nothing. It is beautiful and iconic. The drawback to driving it regularly is the cost of fuel and the low mileage. If I sell it, there is no way I will find another like it. If I did find another like it, I could not afford it.

I can't buy the W126 without selling something. I plan to be buried in the Emerald Bullet (W111). Goldie Locks (W114 Coupe) just arrived and I am enjoying the restoration. The W108 has been fun, I have done a lot of work to make the car near perfect, but it is the third wheel now. I can only manage-a-trois, not a fourth plus my other two cars.

In reality, I need another car like a fish needs a bicycle. The diesel is another project that happens to get great mileage. I can buy it under-value and enjoy it while the restoration work is done. In the end the car will increase in value greater than the cost of restoration and I will have transportion while I am working on it.

What do you say?

[daw_two]

In jest, I will offer to buy the w126 diesel and let you watch me toil over all its mysteries while you enjoy riding in your w108. Check your email.

[WANT '71 280SEL]

I've owned both. The (early) 126 diesel is not a particularly great looking car. I realize you have one picked out, but a 116 is way better by comparison, IMO. I've had a 116 and a 126 turbo diesel and would take the 116 any day. Keep in mind, though, that my 126 was the later body style with euro lights and the smooth and powerful 6 cylinder diesel.

Now, the 108, is like you said, hard to replace. Maybe it's just around me, but everybody has a 126 diesel and they all run really well. Then again, very few of the cars are in particularly good condition (trashed interior and needing paint/body work).

[xaliscomex]

Own both a w108(1970 280 sel) and a w116(1979 300sd). Enjoy both cars except they are not family friendly cars. Will not let go of my w108 but the w116 has been driving me nuts. I can't park the diesel on the driveway because of oil leaks. Car continues to have servo/ACC problems that just seem to not go away. I tackle vacuum problems a few times a year and I always seem to be working on at least one window regulator a year. I can deal with that but I refuse to drive my family around a car that does not have AC, air bags and ABS. I've also been thinking about the w126 350 sdl because of the air bags, abs etc. I will be honest, W126 will never look as good as my w116 and my w116 will never look as good as my w108. I'm willing to let go of the w116 for a very nice w126 but that w126 must have functioning AC/Heater, air bags, anti lock breaks, good paint job with absolutely no rust, no interior water leaks, good stereo, no tears on any of the seats, good carpet, no dash cracks, no previous accidents, good chrome, no door dings or any type of body damage, and service records indicating to me that the engine was previously replaced by Mercedes Benz. these engines were known to go bad but the replacements are some of the best diesel engines ever built, well maybe second to the w116 300sd. Now if you can find a w116 300sd in an almost body perfect condition with a working ACC climate control, no rust, no interior water or vacuum leaks or tranny/ engine leaks, then....Buy the w116 and enjoy it with your family.

[wolf_walker]

It is hard to have one's automotive cake and eat it to.
I went from the w123/126 era cars as my indoctrination into Mercedes to this W114 and
the fascinating world of vintage Mercedes in general, and I can say this. If you want to drive and not go broke and be reasonably safe, there is no beating the later W126 diesel.
There are issues with some of the 6 cylinder diesels, read up on them and purchase accordingly and you will not be disappointed, unless you stand outside of it look at the thing all the time. I happen to like boxey monochromatic 80's cars, and think it is likely the most handsome passenger sedan made in that era, but next to a W116 even with it's silly looking park bench bumpers, or for sure next to a W108 or others of our assorted Vintage crew, it's not going to measure up aesthetically. BUT, it is worlds better in practically every other daily-use category. It is just flat out newer and privy to such newer trimmings. I drove my W114 for a solid year daily with sub-15mpg, and I think it is about as modern as you can get handling and braking wise in a Vintage Mercedes along with maybe a W116. And at that, one is deprived of a lot of safety and road-ability present in anything made in the last several decades. The W116 is a nice ride but it's missing some of the safety items the W126 has, and it has it's own special set of issues that have made it fairly hard to find a nice one, at least around here. Rust, ACC servo, more rust, ratty interiors, rust, faded paint, etc. They few nice one's I've seen were priced accordingly. I think it's pretty damn hard to beat a Classic, if not Vintage, W126 diesel Mercedes for daily use with it's 25mpg and competent handling and ready (cheap) parts availability myself. They are a fine car. I would caution agenst thinking it will appreciate noticeably in the immediate future. It might, and the more rare diesels always bring a premium. But I still see pretty decent daily driving 300SDL's sell for $2500 pretty regular, with $5K being a really nice well kept one and $1500 being a driving beater. Somewhat more for the 350SD/L but they are a crap shoot with that motor unless there is some serious documentation, and even then the problem still exists in the replacement engines as far as I remember. I much prefer the short chassis with the 5 cylinder myself, though the one SDL I've owned was a good car all in all.

Weather any of that is worth letting go of your W108 that, as you said, if you could find it's equal you likely couldn't afford to buy it, is a judgment call you have to make. I think it's a good problem to have to figure out.

[alabbasi]

No

[MTUpower]

No seconded.

[daw_two]

X3 --- your w108 is probably a ONCE in a lifetime event. Look at my signature, I've owned three 300SDL. I would sell something different --- maybe that whaletail.

[wolf_walker]

god yes, get rid of that overpriced VW first..

[Skid Row Joe]

YES.....go for it!

There's no reason whatsoever to not buy another car or two...

[Tomguy]

If you need to sell your 108 to get the 126, no. If you can BUY it, and NOT get rid of the 108, sure. The market's low right now due to the recession - I have a feeling in 2-4 years, a 108 worth $3k now is $5k and a 108 worth $10k now is going to be $15-20k...

[Skid Row Joe]

Originally Posted by Tomguy

If you need to sell your 108 to get the 126, no. If you can BUY it, and NOT get rid of the 108, sure. The market's low right now due to the recession - I have a feeling in 2-4 years, a 108 worth $3k now is $5k and a 108 worth $10k now is going to be $15-20k...

Tom,
That said, when do you think the W126es will bottom-out and garner higher dollars? Or are the W126 diesels non-collectables in your estimation?

[pj67coll]

Definately not.

- Peter.

[JeffreyNMemphis]

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

Tom,
That said, when do you think the W126es will bottom-out and garner higher dollars? Or are the W126 diesels non-collectables in your estimation?

My desire to own the W126 is not for it's collectable value. Further more, I don't consider myself a collector (owner of cars I can't drive or sell). Automobiles that I own are used for transportation and pleasure. The W108 is a pleasure to drive and I enjoy the attention it gets. Now I have the W111 Fintail that is reliable as a baseball bat and is even more unique and interesting. I really only need one Classic and one daily driver. I could buy the W126 without selling the W108, but I am out of parking space and it is a shame to leave a W108 parked outside on the street.

I do enjoying maintaining, preserving and restoring Mercedes. The W126 will probably keep me busy for a few months sorting out the electrical stuff in the interior. It is my wish that eventually this diesel become my daily driver and provide airconditioned comfort and reliability.

[WANT '71 280SEL]

You must not have driven a lot of 126's with air conditioning. Let me tell you, it's not great.