A couple of suggestions...try to find one from an owner who has maintenance records....MOST IMPORTANT on the 123 diesels are regular oil changes (especially on turbo models) and valve clearance adjustments.

Dont buy a car with 120,000 miles on it with a recent valve job!! The only reason it needed a valve job at such low mileage is that the owner never took care of it...never adjusted the valve clearances.

If you cant find a car with documented oil changes and valve clearance adjustments, you must take it to a mechanic and have the compression checked...you want compression at or above 300 psi in all cylinders...burnt valves will show up as low compression in one or more cylinders.

There were so many of these cars imported to the US, and so many owners simply lose interest in them, there are a lot of real good ones out there for low cost.

I bought an 85 300D Turbo and I am very happy with the performance (auto trans, speed, acceleration, etc.) and I have done lots of work on it. BUT, I about a year after I bought this, I found my dream car... the absolute coolest 240D..early 80's euro model... standard shift, euro headlights, original pumkin paint (the coolest!!!), no rust, with matching painted wheel covers, all manual controls (windows, heat, etc.) with brown houndstooth fabric seats and door panels (the absolute coolest) in mint condition, garaged, records, original owner, 105K miles for $5,500....I tried to convince (begged) my wife that this was the car for her....she didnt want a diesel and I couldnt get rid of my car with all the repairs I had done....I still have dreams about that car!!

Good Luck