Reliability and Parts Availability for a 200D? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

wolf_walker · #16 11-23-2010, 07:13 PM

I've always wanted to drive a 200D. Close as I've been is a w123 240D, and frankly with an auto trans it don't cut it as for safe amount of power on today's roads to me. Manual trans, just barely. My VW Rabbit diesels feel faster and they are still really, really slow. Like 16 second 0-60 or thereabouts slow. The 220D I think was around the mid 20's. Not that you can't drive something slow daily, but I have a lot of years doing it and still have to watch traffic patterns and movement and am constantly being tailgated while getting up to speed(unless I floor it and relieve excess fuel out the back

). And this is in North Caroline, I can't imagine daily use around DC or such. I've been through there in Rabbits, flat on the floor, wide open, and being passed like I was standing still, at night. I was really afraid someone was not going to be paying attention and rear-end me.

A w123 300D isn't nearly as "Vintage" but the 5cyl TD is a lovely motor for daily use.
JLeather, is putting a car together out of the question? Like a later TD motor in an earlier car maybe? Not totally plug and play but not too bad a swap.

meltedpanda · #17 11-23-2010, 08:00 PM

how about this one with 14K on the clock
http://www.mercedesheritage.com/2010/discovered-fabulous-fintail-with-14k-miles/

daw_two · #18 11-23-2010, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meltedpanda

how about this one with 14K on the clock
http://www.mercedesheritage.com/2010/discovered-fabulous-fintail-with-14k-miles/

Isn't this the same car that was on eBay and the auction just ended without meeting the reserve?

meltedpanda · #19 11-23-2010, 08:50 PM

perhaps , but still all in all a nice ride, I love even better the old commercial

Squiggle Dog · #20 11-23-2010, 09:24 PM

I love that low mileage 200D! The more I drive mine, the less I want to sell it. It is so comfortable to drive and loves the freeway. I'm starting to feel like I don't want to sell mine.

On a somewhat related topic, the local wrecking yard has a complete 190D fintail that they'd sell for $750. It probably hasn't been driven in decades and appears to have been outside that whole time, but it didn't seem too far gone to make a driver.

JLeather · #21 11-25-2010, 09:47 AM

Putting a car together isn't out of the question, but I have several other projects already and I really need to find something I can just drive. As far as projects go, BTW, it turns out there is an early 60's 190D with the 4spd column shift at the same guys house as those pictures were taken. All the standard rust, etc. There's also a 250S under a car cover and 10 years of ivy we're going to unearth and check for rust sometime. So I can find project cars there.

I borrowed a 240D from the same guy to have gone over by my Uncle and see what it'd need to be returned to service. I don't find it too slow (though it is certainly not fast). I drove a diesel Escort station wagon to DC on the beltway for 2 years and that only had 52hp on a good day and less when the injectors were getting dirty from my homemade fuel (biodiesel, used oils, kerosene, etc). I actually miss that car a little. 55mpg, trailer hitch I used to go as far as Rochester and western NC to get motorcycles.

So, anyway, still more or less hunting. A W123 isn't out of the question, and it may even be that '82 240D which is an auto but comes with a standard-shift parts car if need be.

I still owe you guys more pictures of the mercedes boneyard. Maybe this weekend.