Is the W123 overated?

[lietuviai]

Originally posted by psfred
The wood on the dash is just as real as the wood in the W108 except for some "stickon" bits. It just has a mile of polyurethane finish on it so it LOOKS like plastic. True of all the later cars as well.

Better than the nicer original finish of the W108s that melts and crackes with age? well, you decide!

Peter

Real wood true, but the climate control face is laminated plywood that warps with age. I'm having a heck of a time locating a new one that isn't warped.

As far as all the other questions regarding my '85:
Most of the switches, trim and engine accessories were replaced, repaired, etc before the car was 10 years old. All the work was done by a reputable garage that others in this forum have given praise.
I don't think that my car was abused since the previous owners were elderly retired type folks.
Is the car now in great shape?
No, it needs to have the hood and tops of the fenders repainted. The clear-coat is flaking off in a bad way. There is almost no clear-coat left on the hood. I found a good sized rusted out section in the upper wheel well under the battery. The interior is in good shape since the drivers seat had been recovered but the springs are shot.
There is a mysterious engine noise that I haven't yet figured out. I may take it by the same garage that worked on the car for many years tomorrow.
I think this car needs about $2K more work to make it really nice, but I doubt that I will do that since the only reason I bought this car was just to save a little gas $$ over the next couple of years.
(See my signature about the other cars I own) I never really did too much research before buying the car. I just thought it would be interesting to own a Mercedes and see what these cars were all about. I bought it cheap knowing that I would have to put some money in to it from time to time. I was kind of bored with the other cars since I haven't had to really do any work on them. So I was also just looking for something to tinker around with. So far I'm breaking even but if the mysterious engine problem is something major, I will probably be in the red since I don't think then I will get what I originally paid for it.
As far as the car being overrated, I guess I wasn't thinking about it in terms of what it was worth today. For what you can buy one of these little cars for today, yes they can be a good value.
About 15 years ago I used to own a 1967 Cadillac that I had bought from the original owner. It had nearly 300K miles on it when I sold it and it was still mostly original. The engine had never been rebuilt. I had the transmission rebuilt when it had around 275K miles because it had a slight shudder going from 1st to 2nd. The clutch packs were almost finished. The rebuild only cost $450 w/installation. In its service history it only had needed a couple of starters, and one alternator. It had regular oil changes at 3K mile intervals. The only thing that didn't work when I sold it was the clock. I only sold it because someone wanted it so bad and was willing to pay me four times what I had originally paid for it 3 years before that. Sure it only go 12 MPG and was as big as the Titanic but it got lots of attention. It also had the space of a livingroom inside (HUGE backseat area ). I still regret selling it. I may not be comparing apple to apples here but the US built great cars in the 60's and earlier.

[lietuviai]

Originally posted by psfred

Suspension components replaced twice in 219,000 miles is abusive driving or cheap parts, I've got 186,000 on the 300D and the shocks are all still good.
Peter

The suspension parts were only replaced once. Elderly/retired previous owners only.
~DJ

[lietuviai]

Well I didn't really want to offend anyone with this post. What impresses me about this car, Mercedes in general and the forum members who have replied to my thread, is the truly devoted following the marque has. A car alone does not make it a great one, its the people who attest to its virtues that really makes the great car that it is. Bravo to you all!
~DJ

[rbmercedes]

lietuviai,

Check out the diesel forum at www.MBZ.org for technical advice on your mysterious noise.

I had two 123's until a couple of months ago. A 300TD-t ('82, wife's car) and a '84 300D-t. I purchased a '85 300SD so had to get rid of the 300D.

I am very pleased with the durability and reliability of the 123's. I do believe, however, that the automatic transmissions and automatic climate control leave much to be desired. Otherwise, I expect to have to replace other wear items.

Happy Motoring

RBM

By the way, I'm in Okanogan County, WA

Originally posted by psfred
Better than the nicer original finish of the W108s that melts and crackes with age? well, you decide!

Peter

Yeah, 37years of sunlight and abuse is bound to make the paint crack finally

soldiering on for modest purchase and upkeep costs for decade after decade. They're the LAST cars ever produced with the idea that they not be disposable goods with a finite service life.

The 123 diesels DO require some knowledge and intelligence to operate (cold weather starting, acceleration, are skills to be learned). To my mind they are like sailboats that require skill sets to maintain and operate, vs. fiberglass motorboats that are "turn the key 'n go."

My 240s have EXACTLY the features I think I need in a car...the buzzer that sounds if I forget to turn off the headlights, off-side rear view mirror, power brakes and steering, sunroof, heater, great visibility...etc. Have one each with auto trans and manual...and like both. If perfection is defined as the state where "...nothing need be added or taken away" than these are nearly perfect (and safe) machines...don't know of ANY real improvements in auto design since the 123s were built that I'm really hampering myself by doing without.

[lietuviai]

A tilt adjustment for the steering wheel and an air recirculation selection on the climate control would have been nice as well.
Oh yes, and a manual throttle adjustment knob on the turbo 300D's for those cold mornings to keep the car from sputtering out.

[300SDog]

Jim B, that's no joke about 240D's requiring uncommon driving skills. Bottoming the gears or missing a shift on uphill climb can leave you dead in the water..... and narrow power band calls for constant shifting - making the driver work hard all the time - rowing through the gears like paddling a canoe in rapids when traffic is thick.

Basically, if you dont know what you are doing with the 240D and cant optimize performance in each gear - you risk becoming rolling road hazard.

But I'm not joking when i say these are hot little cars right now..... There are several examples on e-bay with more than 20 bids on each..... Its like everybody wants 30mpg sedans for less than $2G that test their driving skills to the limit.

Owning and driving one daily will literally change your driving habbits forever - suddenly you take nothing for granted, anticipating traffic and road conditions like never before.

[kirk240]

I have an '83 240D and it has no problems that you wouldn't expect from a 23 year old car. Most American made cars from this time are falling apart. It's in better shape than most ten year old cars I have seen. Also the parts are not too expensive if you buy and repair yourself instead of using a mechanic or stealership.

[Ara T.]

The thing that I always wanted most on my W123 was a simple air vent that would bring in outside air so I wouldn't have to use the fan or ac at highway speeds...am I missing something here? There isn't one right?

[rs899]

The thing that I always wanted most on my W123 was a simple air vent that would bring in outside air

Yeah. you are missing the beauty and simplicity of a W123 240D

[lietuviai]

Originally Posted by Ara T.

The thing that I always wanted most on my W123 was a simple air vent that would bring in outside air so I wouldn't have to use the fan or ac at highway speeds...am I missing something here? There isn't one right?

My 230CE has one. I love it! It has a manual A/C system which IMO is way better than the automatic cimate control in my 300D. The auto climate control is actually a POS compared to the manual system.

[E320wagon'94]

I owned my '85 300D turbo since 91 and sold it (one of the biggest mistakes iv made) in 04 because i couldnt haul it (moved) and in the entire time i owned it i only spent about 2,000$ on anything (not including routine maintinence) -best car ive evr owned (Ive put close to 10k into the wagon in three years)

[mr sweattypits]

i just bought my first mercedes also my first diesel car. i was turned on to it by the ease of veggie oil conversion as well as bieng a large steel beast with excellent mpg. i looked at 3 w123s an 80,83 and 85. there was a distinctive style change in the later two, more power crap (and more broken power crap) and they were more plastic. they had 100k less miles than the 80 but much worse condition. granted all were below $1500. i was sold on the 80 because it was a simpler car and much more classy in style. for owning a car for 4 days and 100 miles i have already worked on the fuel system and popped open two door panels. these cars have thier ups and downs as with any car and show thier age as with any 20+ year old car. the window linkage needs to be lubed at least once a decade, the transmission is delicate (at least compared to a turbomatic 350) but over all a value for a consumer product. like is always said though "don't buy a car built on a monday or friday". i am already researching the stick shift conversion.

[Benzcrusher]

An elderly German once told me, "You can never pay too much for quality".