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

JLeather · #1 11-13-2010, 09:40 PM

Greetings forum folks. My name is John and I'm in the market for a vintage Mercedes. The story is a few years ago I got a job in DC, which was 40 miles of DC traffic each way, so I got rid of my enjoyable '66 Chevy truck and '85 Diesel Escort and instead got a Kia for slogging through the traffic. It was fine for 2.5 years and 80,000 miles, but I'm bored. I've always had entertaining cars and I feel trapped in this stupid Kia.

My job has moved, and while it is now 45 miles each way to work it is a friendly 55mph with only a short stretch of stop-n-go due to stoplights. The Kia is now unnecessary and it has to go. I'm shopping for a car that is more "me", but at the same time it has to be atleast slightly practical. Something reliable enough for 100 miles/day and atleast 20mpg. I used to have a 1966 250S and I'd love to find one in good enough shape for my drive, but here on the east coast they are very very hard to come by in anything resembling a daily-driver condition. While looking I ran across a pretty nice '67 200D.

My question is, can a '67 200D (or a '66 250S if I get lucky) handle 100 miles a day? I was a former ASE-certified mechanic (buses) 10 years ago so I can certainly keep up with standard maintenance, but I don't want to spend all my weekends repairing my daily driver. I'm sure there will be a bit of an initial period of getting any car this old back into the swing of things, but assuming I do a good job preparing it and replacing wear items I assume either of these cars, or a similar vintage mercedes, can handle modern commuting again?

Second question, what is the availability of standard 200D parts? My old diesel escort was certainly rarer and I managed to find plenty of parts for that, so I'm hopeful that most of the standard wear-items on a 60's 200D can be gotten with ease?

I'm looking forward to getting a car that gives me something to focus on during my drive other than the babble of talk-radio. Something that takes a little effort to keep humming along. For some reason I like that in a car

Stretch · #2 11-14-2010, 04:40 AM

Hi John,

Welcome to the forum - with your mechanical experience I guess you know everything comes down to condition....

I've always wanted to own a 1950s American pick up truck - but in my opinion every car has to earn its keep - so I would make it happen. I guess it would be sensible though to have a back up car just in case you really need to keep your employment!

Good luck with your search - everything can be fixed (at a price) - for spares availability you might get a good idea by ringing Fastlane

Take a look at this thread:-

1968 200D W110 Biodiesel Fintail

Probably more work than you want - but...

meltedpanda · #3 11-14-2010, 08:15 AM

my answer is yes given the right car to start with, you are a mechanic , you know the drill. Properly maintained these run forever, parts can be found. Dont expect to win any races, it may take you the 45 miles to get up to 55MPH

mak · #4 11-14-2010, 08:30 AM

my choice ,A 108 series 280S preferably 71 -72 vintage will be a good option to consider .With a workshop manual to service these are very dependable and comfortable cars to acquire.
109 wonderful, but challenging to maintain.

mak
220s 62 230 66 280S 70 300sel 3.5 71 300se 89

JiveTurkey · #5 11-14-2010, 08:56 AM

Don't be afraid to try a w114 either, they're very well built, and they built so damned many the parts are still really cheap. The downside? There's a lot of rusty ones out there, and those are the ones that survived.

With ASE cert you should have no problems working on any merc as long as you buy the shop manual(s.)

autowood · #6 11-14-2010, 11:15 AM

Saw this 200D for sale in Montana. Thought it might be a good contender in your search.
http://www.trevonbaker.com/clients/mercedes/

The owners name is Michael and his contact number is 1-406-871-4454

JLeather · #7 11-15-2010, 11:22 AM

Thanks guys. A small bit more backstory for me. When I was 16 or 17 (which was only the 90's) I picked up a '67 250S at an impound auction at the local DMV for $60. I didn't know what I was doing, or what I had got, but I liked the looks and it was too cheap. We towed it home with a bumper bar behind my friend's (also only 19 at the time) 1954 Ford truck. I got it running and even though the carbs were out of sync and it burned oil the trans shifted great and it moved/stopped and all that. I couldn't get a title for it because of the impound auction restrictions (had to be fixed and inspected at the State Police barracks which I wasn't going to do) so I used it as a farm car for a couple years. Eventually the rust in the front fenders and rockers got to the point where it was really in trouble so I junked it. Wish I still had it, it was worth it in parts if nothing else to hang onto the drivetrain, but I was told it had to stop sitting in the driveway so it left. Sadly, and I hope I'm not ostracized for my younger transgressions, I ran the hulk of the car in a demolition derby where it was creamed by a '78 Cadillac and caught fire. That L6 made an amazing sound at 5000 rpms through the straight-pipes sticking out of the hood though!

I'd love another 250S because I have been a long-time fan of stacked round headlights. My Dad used to drive a '63 Pontiac Sedan when I was little and it stuck with me. I am also a big fan of diesels, which makes me torn about what exactly to get.

My wife, who is surprisingly understanding about me wanting to get rid of a perfectly good Kia that gets 33mpg and has all the standard ammenities, has a few restrictions. She wants shoulder belts (which I can always refit), and something reliable enough that I'm not fixing it every weekend. A/C is a big plus for my stretch of stop-n-go, but not an absolute necessity in MD. I'd actually most prefer a manual trans, column shift if possible, but as long as the MB auto boxes are sturdy and rebuild parts can still be had I'll take an auto. I believe you can still get all the parts for a W108 auto trans rebuild, right?

So that's where I stand. I'm hunting for a nice example of a 190D, 200D, 250S, or possibly 280S. There are a few potentials within a couple hundred miles of me right now, including one apparently very nice '66 250S with AC that I'm checking out in a week or so.

Also, for fun, a friend of mine has basically a vintage MB graveyard at his house. Some 20+ cars from the 50's to the 80's. I'll snag some better pictures the next time I'm there, but here are a few from a previous trip. He was also a big VW fan. He has a shed full of MB engines, diesel and non, but unfortunately all of his pre-70 cars are too rusty for me to be interested in as a DD.

And he has one MB that's very neat. It was built in the early 50's, but it's all ~'37 style parts leftover from the war. Mostly rust-free, but definitely a long term project some day.

Looking forward to hanging around and re-learning the joys of a vintage MB.

daw_two · #8 11-15-2010, 11:55 AM

I have my trailer with me today; it's going to the "trailer store" for a new hitch coupler install. Then I'm buying at least two new trailer tires....might just go all out and buy a complete set. That's 5 tires including the spare. Then my trailer needs to be rewired and the electric brakes hooked up and serviced.

And then I'll be ready to make a run up there and grab a project from your friend!!!! Maybe I can deliver a daily driver to you if you find one down in this neck of the woods.

JLeather · #9 11-15-2010, 11:59 AM

Well, I warn you they're all pretty rusty. I need to get pics of those Pontons, atleast for a little drooling and/or anguish.

Squiggle Dog · #10 11-15-2010, 05:04 PM

My 200D fintail has been my daily driver for about a year now and it is very, very reliable. I did a 2,000 mile trip during the summer and am planning on doing the same trip again in a month.

I had it up for sale on eBay a few times but the winning bidders never come through and I hate to give it away. It was my only car until I got the 300SD. I commute to work in it daily and it has no problem getting up and maintaining freeway speeds.

In fact, I often find the cars in front of me to be too slow! It will hold a fairly steep grade at 75 MPH. When I drove it up into the passes and couldn't get a run on the hills then it would only do 40 or 50 MPH on the really steep grades.

It's actually a lot faster than my roommate's 1992 Mercury Capri and it even seems to be a bit quicker than his 1965 220S with automatic transmission.

Parts availability is great, though not quite as good as, say, a W123. The Classic Center almost always has parts in stock that are at my house in a couple of days. Genuine Mercedes parts usually cost less than parts for domestic vehicles at the McParts stores.

The 200Ds have plenty of power for normal driving. They are plenty fast for merging into freeway traffic and keeping up. They just lack that extra "throw you back in your seat and burn rubber" power. Not bad for only 55 horsepower. It's a diesel Mercedes that actually gets the 40 MPG that you always hear about (as long as you keep your speed under 70 MPH).

There's a lot of talk about the 200Ds being underpowered, but I actually think they have enough. I have never felt that my car was too slow. I definitely recommend the 200D. I am probably not going to sell mine since I can't seem to get over $1,000 for it and have thousands of dollars into it.

My car was last registered in 1996 and was totally neglected when I purchased it a year ago, but in only 6 months time I made it into a car that I feel comfortable driving anywhere.

Here is a link to some videos of my 200D on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/my_videos?feature=mhum

t walgamuth · #11 11-15-2010, 05:27 PM

To the OP. If you want good reliable transportation without the massive rust issues I suggest considering a 123 diesel. They are very nice cars which are more rust resistant than most cars of their era for sure, easy to work on and much easier to find a good example than the earlier cars.

JLeather · #12 11-15-2010, 07:03 PM

Squiggle, I watched your car auction end and seriously considered it, but sadly it is just too far and needs a bit too much for me to turn it into a DD. With the salt and such they use around here in the winter it'll be hard enough keeping on top of a car that has solid metal underneath. I can't start with one that already has holes. I do like the thought of 35-40 mpg though

t walgamuth · #13 11-15-2010, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLeather

Thanks guys. A small bit more backstory for me. When I was 16 or 17 (which was only the 90's) I picked up a '67 250S at an impound auction at the local DMV for $60. I didn't know what I was doing, or what I had got, but I liked the looks and it was too cheap. We towed it home with a bumper bar behind my friend's (also only 19 at the time) 1954 Ford truck. I got it running and even though the carbs were out of sync and it burned oil the trans shifted great and it moved/stopped and all that. I couldn't get a title for it because of the impound auction restrictions (had to be fixed and inspected at the State Police barracks which I wasn't going to do) so I used it as a farm car for a couple years. Eventually the rust in the front fenders and rockers got to the point where it was really in trouble so I junked it. Wish I still had it, it was worth it in parts if nothing else to hang onto the drivetrain, but I was told it had to stop sitting in the driveway so it left. Sadly, and I hope I'm not ostracized for my younger transgressions, I ran the hulk of the car in a demolition derby where it was creamed by a '78 Cadillac and caught fire. That L6 made an amazing sound at 5000 rpms through the straight-pipes sticking out of the hood though!

I'd love another 250S because I have been a long-time fan of stacked round headlights. My Dad used to drive a '63 Pontiac Sedan when I was little and it stuck with me. I am also a big fan of diesels, which makes me torn about what exactly to get.

My wife, who is surprisingly understanding about me wanting to get rid of a perfectly good Kia that gets 33mpg and has all the standard ammenities, has a few restrictions. She wants shoulder belts (which I can always refit), and something reliable enough that I'm not fixing it every weekend. A/C is a big plus for my stretch of stop-n-go, but not an absolute necessity in MD. I'd actually most prefer a manual trans, column shift if possible, but as long as the MB auto boxes are sturdy and rebuild parts can still be had I'll take an auto. I believe you can still get all the parts for a W108 auto trans rebuild, right?

So that's where I stand. I'm hunting for a nice example of a 190D, 200D, 250S, or possibly 280S. There are a few potentials within a couple hundred miles of me right now, including one apparently very nice '66 250S with AC that I'm checking out in a week or so.

Also, for fun, a friend of mine has basically a vintage MB graveyard at his house. Some 20+ cars from the 50's to the 80's. I'll snag some better pictures the next time I'm there, but here are a few from a previous trip. He was also a big VW fan. He has a shed full of MB engines, diesel and non, but unfortunately all of his pre-70 cars are too rusty for me to be interested in as a DD.

And he has one MB that's very neat. It was built in the early 50's, but it's all ~'37 style parts leftover from the war. Mostly rust-free, but definitely a long term project some day.

Looking forward to hanging around and re-learning the joys of a vintage MB.

Hey didn't I just see this place on Pickers the other day?????

Seriously I want that bmw bike with the solo saddle!

Tom

Mark DiSilvestro · #14 11-15-2010, 10:37 PM

I second the suggestion of a W123 diesel. If you want something that takes bit more 'effort' to drive, a 240D with manual tranny and manual windows may be just the ticket. Whatever old Benz you decide on, try to find one with a solid body and minimal rust.
However, I would be reluctant to use an old Benz, even a solid, rust-tree example, as my SOLE transport. If for no other reason than winter snow & salt will eat it up - as you experienced after only 2 years with your 250S. If you get a nice old Benz, keep the KIA for those crappy, snowy, salty days.

Happy Motoring, Mark

JLeather · #15 11-16-2010, 07:46 AM

Well, the plan for truly snowy/salty days is a beater 4wd pickup, which is also in the works. I can't afford, nor do I have room, for the Kia and an older Mercedes. Dry winter days, and ordinary old rainy winter days, it'll be the mercedes (in my plan anyway) and after a fresh snow when the salt is everywhere it'll be the truck.