Are you scared that there wont be any w123's around soon ?

[kamil]

Hey,

I was thinking that soon there won't be any 123's left. Everyday a lot of them get rustier and rustier. People use these cars strickly as commuters so it really does not matter how many miles we put on these special cars. From time to time you see crashed ones for sale and sometimes on this forum you hear of a member crashing theirs..... What happens when it's time to buy another diesel and they will be HARD to find ? That will definitely suck....
I actually like my 240d better than any new car I have driven. Not for the comfort or anything but for its simplicity. Me, being a newbie I like working on these cars and I find it very easy.

Hope that there will be plenty left when it's time to replace my 240D in about 10 years.

[DieselAddict]

I have thought of that scenario as well. That's one reason why I have 2 W123's! If I only had one I'd be even more nervous. I like W123's more than any other cars as well. They just don't make cars like that anymore, with an elegant yet simple style, awesome durability, simplicity and that irresistable diesel clatter. There are still plenty of W123's on the market, but I'm starting to feel the good ones are getting quite difficult to find.

[300SDog]

For my part, I've not yet actually seen a 123 entirely rusted to smitherines.... not like the older style 115's and 116's where rocker panels, headlight brows, etc completely dissolve.

But there was a reason that 115 and 116 would rust to dust!! These cars suffered the indignity of using imported 2nd hand steel from Russia and Italy during the German steel workers' strike that ran from 1973-1979.

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Last edited by 300SDog; 08-21-2004 at 01:43 PM.

[Jorn]

New parts getting more expensive to: the A/C heater servo cost now $1450.

[CannonBall]

I always think about this. I think they'll be around forever. I like to take the best care of mine that I can, and plan on keeping it even after the engine dies and doing something awesome to it when I get the time and money (cummins?)
-Nate

[MBDFahrer]

I don't know how many W123s were brought over to the US but a life span like that should still last a while. I am a little afraid that they will go the way of the Dodo, but not for a while yet, I'm more afraid of the 87 300D going that way first . If i could i'll get a decent W123 and W124 and grasp onto them until they pry it out of my cold dead hands

[oldnavy]

Originally Posted by jmak124

If i could i'll get a decent W123 and W124 and grasp onto them until they pry it out of my cold dead hands

My 123 '81 300D is back on the sale block for those interested. $650

Link to pictures of 81 300D

I love the 123's as much as any of you. Between myself and my family, we've driven more than 800,000 happy miles in them. That said, time and technology moves forward.

I remember in the late sixties my Aunt married a rancher from North Dakota. He had nothing but Studebakers. A couple of Studebaker cars, a Studebaker pickup and even a really big Studebaker farm truck.

Studebaker made some really good cars for their time. Some of their cars were even ahead of their time. It was really funny to listen to him talk. He would get really emotional when he said things like, "If the day ever comes when I wear out my Studebakers and can't get parts any more, what am I going to do?" It was like there were no other cars left on the face of the Earth.

I totally understand your love for these great cars. I personally, truly believe that overall the 123 was the best automobile ever built FOR IT's TIME. That time, however, is past. I expect to always own a 123 car. I hope to put my 240D back on the road before too long, just so it's back on the road, but for my regular transportation, I've moved on. There are plenty of really great and fun cars out there.

Keep 'em going as long as you can do so with practicality. When the time comes, move to something a little newer that you like, and continue to enjoy life.

My $0.02,

[vahe]

The number of 123's on the roads and in our area are definitely decreasing, I am getting ready to do a one last paint job on my 77/240D and with some rust repairs, but this will be the last time.
Another Mercedes diesel is simply out of question for me, the newer ones are simply too expensive to own and operate. Although MB makes number of smaller and simpler diesels for their C class cars, I do not believe that the MB of North America will ever import those cars here. Unlike the 123's the newer MB's are only practical with an extended warranty, once the warranty is out, you better run for cover.
With the gas/diesel prices escalating perhaps we will see some Japanese diesels in more affordable cars.

Vahe
240D/77 350K

[Hatterasguy]

I'm getting the same feeling with the 300SDL's they didn't make to many and parts might get expensive. But I'm not to concerned people restore and drive 50 year old cars all the time so we have a ways to go. These cars were great for their time but as Larry said that time has passed. Now their in the gray zone between just being old cars, and classic's. I'm not to worred though I can always move on to a W210 diesel, their not to hard to work on. The W211 might be a little harder I'm not sure I have never popped the hood on one yet.

[oldnavy]

The machanicals are not the problem so much as the electronic's. But the E320CDI looks like it's a nightmare to work on.

[Hatterasguy]

But luckly most E300D's the base model. Electronics don't look to bad on the E300's.

[SD84B]

I just drove up I 95 yesterday, and I saw about ten w 123's. I think they will be around for a while. Funny thing I did not see any other type of vehicle from that era on the road

One more thing.

I bought my first MB diesel, when the 123 car first came out in 1977. At that time a diesel offered lots of advantages compared to a gas car. At that time, most all gas engines were carbureted.

I don't remember the cost of diesel at that time, but it was significantly cheaper than gasoline. Diesels were known to last much longer than gas cars and required much less regular maintenance.

Now, I don't think there's a new car anywhere with a carburetor. The flame thrower ignitions systems and other features of a modern FI car bring regular maintenance down to probably the same as a diesel. The FI also makes the gas engines last much, Much, MUCH longer than earlier carbureted engines. On top of that, diesel fuel is almost as much as gasoline and until recently, was more for awhile.

Since gas engines now last about as long as diesels, don't require any more regular maintenance than diesels, don't offer any better fuel economy than diesels, the advantages of driving a diesel have all but disappeared.

Don't get me wrong, if the right car comes along with the right diesel engine, I'll be right there smelling diesel again, but for now I don't find the enormous advantage of the diesel over a gas engine as I once did.

My $0.02,

[84300DT]

Originally Posted by SD84B

I just drove up I 95 yesterday, and I saw about ten w 123's. I think they will be around for a while. Funny thing I did not see any other type of vehicle from that era on the road

wow that is a lot! last year i drove 1300 miles from CT to FL mostly on I95 and
saw 2 other W123's the whole way. just the luck of the draw i guess but generally i see less and less of them around these days.
there is one right around the corner from me that has not moved from the guy's driveway in one year.