PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

jay_bob · #4 08-25-2014, 06:03 PM

I have more experience with the 124 wagons than the 123s but I can offer the following tips on 123s in general. I have a 124 wagon currently, and used to own a 123 sedan.

There are several excellent posts on this site and others regarding how to do a pre purchase inspection on a 123. Another great thing to do is link the ads you are interested in here (eBay or Craigslist) and let us have a look. There is a lot of experience here that can spot problems in the photos. I wish I had done that when I bought my first 123 as green as could be on Mercedes.

- Check for rust. The problem with any 123 is that they used non-galvanized steel coated with tar (or paint) for corrosion protection. Works great until the coating is breached. The rust is not always visible from the outside. You end up with a rust and tar sandwich especially in the structurally vital floor pan areas. Remember this is a unibody so any structural rust is cause for concern. 124s went to galvanized steel, you don't see nearly as many rusty 124s as 123s.

- The OM617 engine is a great engine but not "bullet proof" as some claim. It does require maintenance. It is best to have good documentation from the seller on what was actually done to the engine. Compression test is the gold standard but there are several shade tree tests that can be done to evaluate the engine's health.

- On wagons, the self leveling system uses a hydraulic pump. On 123s this pump is attached to the head and runs off the cam gear. Bear in mind that the head for a wagon is not like the head on a sedan and is much more rare. So if you end up needing to replace the head, regular 617s are pretty plentiful still but 617 wagon heads are rare. (Note that 124 wagons changed to a special power steering pump with dual circuits so sedans and wagons have the exact same engine.)

Some late 123s have driver air bag. All 124s have at least a driver air bag and a passenger air bag can be retrofitted in place of the glove box.

-- Not trying to talk you out of the 123, just giving some differences between the two generations. --

And the best nugget is "there is no such thing as a cheap Mercedes".

Good luck with the search!