Next buy... Diesel or Gas - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

vince77 · #1 08-30-2015, 01:15 PM

Greet's all, new to the forum and I would appreciate some advice...

Just back from overseas and I'm looking for a daily driver W114 or 15. I'm lucky enough to be a couple hours outside of Los Angeles, so there's plenty of them out there... but I just bought a house and that's where most of the money is going. I'm good with engines and brakes and such... just terrified of ever opening a transmission.

That said, is there a strong preference for diesel or gas powered examples?

Which is easier to keep happy with diy maintenance?

I have some hills to climb, but otherwise I'm never really in a huge hurry so the slow poke models would be fine... especially if I can find a manual.

Cheers,
Vince L.

JeffreyNMemphis · #2 08-30-2015, 03:43 PM

Hi Vince,

Welcome to back!

My opinion is that Diesel engines in the vintage cars are under-powered for daily driving in the modern age. My father owned a 240D that pulled into traffic or onto a highway at a crawl that would be dangerous today. I believe his model year was a 1976 that he drove in the 1980s. I owned a 1987 300SDL that has the 6 cylinder turbo diesel engine

I prefer the gasoline powered W114/115 over a diesel. The mechanical differences between diesel or gas would not concern me as much as driving performance. This is my opinion which would probably not help me find a penny someone dropped on the ground.

There are a lot of nice W114/115s for sale in SoCal. Recently a member was selling his super cheap because it needed a motor. The car was beautiful. You can see it if you search "motor swap" or something like that from about a month ago. His car was a 220 gas engine 4 cylinder that would be inexpensive to buy, get running and use for daily driver.

ScooterABC · #3 08-30-2015, 08:23 PM

I feel that a 115 with a 240 engine is a very slow car, but quite economical. On the other hand a 114 with a 6 cylinder car wants premium and is a gas pig. I haven't heard great things about the 4 cylinder gas engines. Could you be talked into a W123 turbo diesel?

BWhitmore · #4 08-30-2015, 08:28 PM

I agree with Scott, a turbo 123 car is the way to go. Easy maintenance, plenty of power, and with premium gas over $4.00 in So Cal, diesel at $2.50 is very attractive.

Skid Row Joe · #5 08-30-2015, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vince77

Greet's all, new to the forum and I would appreciate some advice...

Just back from overseas and I'm looking for a daily driver W114 or 15. I'm lucky enough to be a couple hours outside of Los Angeles, so there's plenty of them out there... but I just bought a house and that's where most of the money is going. I'm good with engines and brakes and such... just terrified of ever opening a transmission.

That said, is there a strong preference for diesel or gas powered examples?

Which is easier to keep happy with diy maintenance?

I have some hills to climb, but otherwise I'm never really in a huge hurry so the slow poke models would be fine... especially if I can find a manual.

Cheers,
Vince L.

DIESEL - It's a no brainer.

vince77 · #6 08-30-2015, 09:40 PM

Thanks all for the advice. I've been through a few W123's, the last one in New Jersey about a decade back (when I last logged into this forum).

I always liked the lines of the W114 (tried looking at a local W108 but it just wasn't the same). I think I spotted that 220 with the blown engine ($1,400 I think) but I'm not sure I'm up for swapping an engine in my garage and it'd be pricey towing it 2 hours away... Shame because it's a lovely car.

joshhol · #7 08-30-2015, 09:57 PM

If you can get a 115 300D with the extra cylinder, you'll get 12% more omph over a 240D if the engine isn't too tired. Just imagine the stir the 5 cylinder engine caused in the 1970's. If you are careful not to pull out in front of someone, it's fine.
That being said, in Tehachapi with the hills and such, maybe you should look for a 280 gasser.

Shortsguy1 · #8 08-30-2015, 10:22 PM

Here is a nice possibility:
Mercedes 1968 220D

vince77 · #9 08-31-2015, 12:11 AM

Now that is just the ticket... (really need to brush up my Craigslist skills). Honestly, the simpler, the better. Almost seems a shame to dd a black plate but that's a tempting find.

Fun fact, the gentleman I bought my house from runs a fancy b&b up in Mendecino... Maybe he'll go check out the car for me

Stretch · #10 08-31-2015, 04:20 AM

Considering the way the world is going =>

VERY ANTI-DIESEL

I'd be buying a petrol engined vehicle (even though I'd prefer a diesel)

vince77 · #11 08-31-2015, 11:13 PM

I've had bad luck with old gas engines (can't tune a carb to save my life)... but never worked a gas Mercedes. I'm game... we'll see what I come across.

Anyway, I just moved into an equestrian retirement community... yea, not sure how that happened... so a 2.3 minute 0-60 isn't a problem. Besides, I have a prius in case I need to get somewhere in a hurry.

jack.stew48 · #12 09-01-2015, 01:57 AM

after reading all that it seems the general vote is 5 cylinder diesel, which i definitely agree with. weve had 3 of em over the past few years and two of em weve still got. my brother has one, a 300td wagon, has had the head replaced and is still rock solid, the thing just wont die. and the other one is a devil on which nothing will ever work as its supposed to.. my point is its either going to be rock solid or cost a fortune, but once your fortune is gone it'll be rock solid!

anyway, go for a 5cyl diesel w123, convert it to vegi (in SoCal thatll take a total of 10 minutes) and youve got a solid daily driver which youre paying less than a dollar a gallon for gas! plus it smells great!

vince77 · #13 09-01-2015, 02:14 AM

Yea, I was running a W123 on fry oil from a local pizza-n-wings joint in New Jersey about a decade ago... before I knew what havoc it causes to a poorly maintained car. The car came to me with a hand-crank pump in the trunk that took three screw on filters...

Made a mistake one day and filled up behind a Red Lobster... smelled like fish sticks and clams for a month...

I think I'm over the WVO craze... but I did just spot this W115 300D. Got to wonder what he's hiding with the antique filter on the photos though...

jack.stew48 · #14 09-01-2015, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vince77

Yea, I was running a W123 on fry oil from a local pizza-n-wings joint in New Jersey about a decade ago... before I knew what havoc it causes to a poorly maintained car. The car came to me with a hand-crank pump in the trunk that took three screw on filters...

Made a mistake one day and filled up behind a Red Lobster... smelled like fish sticks and clams for a month...

I think I'm over the WVO craze... but I did just spot this W115 300D. Got to wonder what he's hiding with the antique filter on the photos though...

yeah as for the wvo youve really gotta know what you are doin and be committed. no matter how low gas prices get i still think vegi is gonna always be worth it

joshhol · #15 09-01-2015, 08:48 PM

Looks like a repaint. Suspiciously "shiny" for that vintage and doesn't look like an original color. Also, it's "300D Diesel", not "Diesel 300D". Couldn't even put the trim back on in the correct order.