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All US versions of the 300TD came with automatic transmission, power windows, and ACC - automatic climate control. By '82 they were also turbocharged. IMHO, after 3 decades, all these 'mandatory options' are potential money-pits. Keep in mind that these options were also availible on European models. I've seen Euro W123s, here in the US, with power windows and ACC, as well as automatic transmissions. For me, the point of having a Euro version of a W123 300D/CD/TD, is to be able to enjoy the cars as they were equipped for many European buyers - without most of the luxury options & complications that were mandatory on the US models. Plus I just prefer to keep my vintage vehicles as simple as possible.
So I have an '84 Euro non-turbo 300TD with factory 5-speed, manual heat & AC, and manual windows, But it does have a third-row seat and the factory towing package.
Unfortunately after import, these cars have often been modified or 'federalized' more or less. When I bought mine, it came with a US speedometer, US front bumper and a badly mangled Euro rear bumper, which I wound up replacing with a US version as I was unable to find a decent Euro rear bumper at the time. Similarly, since both Euro Hella headlights were broken, I also replaced those with some spare US sealed-beam & fog units that I already had collected for a 240D. So my Euro TD now looks exactly like the US version
Despite these changes, and the lack of a turbo, the car is still a decent performer, thanks to the manual-tranny. A friend once told me "These cars feel 500 pounds lighter with a stick-shift!"
Since then, I've been lucky to find a correct Euro speedometer, a complete set of decent Euro W123 wagon bumpers with all the trim, brackets, lights & hardware (including the bumper-mounted red rear fog lamp) plus a Euro 4-band Becker Europa cassette-radio to replace the PO's crappy Asian radio, at the Virginia Beach Pick-N-Pull. I also bought a good set of Bosch Euro W123 headlights with the vacuum height adjusters from a friend.
Though I'd really love to put this car completely back to it's original European appearance, unfortunately too many other projects have come up in the past few years. Besides, since I use this car in the real world, and not as a trailered show-car, with all the idiots on the road, my US bumpers certainly give me much more peace of mind than the minimal European ones would.
So for now I drive a Euro TD in disguise.
Happy Motoring, Mark
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DrDKW
Last edited by Mark DiSilvestro; 10-04-2015 at 03:31 PM.
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