Well, I have to echo those feelings. I love my '87 300D turbo. Thanks to the Shopforum, I had read so much about the 603 engines and mainly gsxr's great pictures on how he modified his '87s (4 or 5 of them?) so I went looking for an '87 locally and found one!
There aren't many diesels that perform like the '87 and the newer cars have their own problems and are a product of Daimler Chrysler's cost reduction scheme. The W124 and 126 are probably the best Mercedes built (OK I know the aluminum heads an all, but my #14 head is still running strong at 260K, knock on wood!)
1971 220 (gas) 4-spd manual 106441
1979 300TD w/ ’85 turbo engine 295530
1983 300D 243280
1985 300TD 217300
1987 300D 258230

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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body. '87 300D w/ Sportline suspension. No more '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750, it was my annual driver to Texas and I sure don't miss it poor A/C heater system!