There are some great video's online that proof how these old engines are almost indestructible.

Here's one of two guys getting a wrecked and abandoned W123 to start:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqVpUUeBzOw

And how about this 407D (Om616 I think?...) that they manage to fire up after 12 years of sitting in a field.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2QBLauaC-Q

__________________
"The MB W123 is so bulletproof, you can drive them forever. Which is a good thing as it takes that long to get anywhere."
Betsie: 1984 W123 300D (hobby, 280k miles)
Myrla: 2001 Mazda Protege 2.0 ES 5spd (daily driver, 130k miles)
The Turd: 2007 Toyota Camry (wife's car, 118k miles)