Probably is a new harness, look for a fabrication date on the tag: FB or F-something is the fabrication date, it's been covered recently in the tech forum.

Sorry about the exaggeration Paul, I guess it's closer to 100hp. It is a robust 100hp though with a much flatter power curve than the M103 as well as the additional hp.

I know he asked opinion, and that's pretty much what you get when you compare a late gas-124 with an early diesel 126. It's kind of apples-to-oranges with one being more modern and practical, the other more classic and friendly. The earlier Mercedes are an emotional attachment, which I have found to exist in the 124 series also, but it's like your first good sex I guess, always remembered with a smile.

As far as ASR, (knocking on wood) I've never had a problem, didn't with 1st-gen 4matic either though. Since I have several of the same car, with and without ASR, it is an inconvenience to drive without it once you're used to the car having some intellegence, I'll take a (well maintained) ASR car any day.

I think you're on the right track with the transmission. If it short-shifts I'd be looking at the Bowden cable and whether it is actually connected on both ends. You can move it manually to see if it seems to be working correctly.

Last, if the SD is in good condition and not giving you any trouble, seems like a good idea to keep it. If it is needy and you can sell it, that's a different situation. It will almost always cost more money to change cars than to keep one that you know well and has been maintained.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff