i have owned a couple of beemers and test drove a 524 when they were new. it seemed reasonably quick, i would compare it to a 300dt.

one thing though, someone said it has a timing belt?

this would surprise me, but i dont know for sure.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I have always held that the Europeans know how to carry off timeless styling better than anyone else. Look at 20 year old Japanese and American stuff and it really looks dated and odd. Look at all the Mopar products from the 60's through 80's. It is like management went to the design department and said " design the ugliest car you can come up with". Then look at the W107, W124, Porsche 911, BMW 3.0CS. They have timeless styling. While the Americans make little changes every year to make the old ones look dated, about the only difference in the W107 over 14? years was the wheels and the third brake light. Another great example is the W126.They still fit in very well. Understated styling is a good thing.

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Doug

1987 300TD x 3
2005 E320CDI

Well European styling always seems to be timeless..hell I love the look of the older American cars!

Barracuda..Charger, Mustang GT500...they look awesome.

Or the GTO

By far though, the era I think has the coolest car styling hands down was the 50's.

Hudson Hornet, Kaiser Manhattan, all the cool big chrome cars!

Hornet, anyone? Currently on ebay for 5K

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http://www.betten.mercedescenter.com...n_banner_1.jpg
1976 300D
190,000 Miles
Colorado Beige

1975 300D
Parts Car
78,000 Miles
Rustbucket
Also Colorado Beige

1984 190D 2.2 (Dad's)
156,000 miles
Champagne Metallic Clearcoat

Old VW's look pretty dated to me. The original 7's didn't age well at all. I don't think I have ever seen a nice one.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I'll be glad when the re-runs are over.

All the baby 6s have belts.
The big sixes have chains.

Classic BMW = E12 (first fivers)

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82 300D....went to MB heaven
90 350 SDL....excercising con rods

Roommate has one. Nice car, he has the larger brakes from the E series, a euro body kit w H4's and the motorsports updates including the nice seats. Paint is in fantastic condition, it was resprayed with the new body kit parts in the original blue metallic color. Having worked in a body shop, I'd say it's a pretty darned good job, someone shelled out some money.

Car handles like it's on rails. This is the best part of driving it. Lots of funky extra electronic gadgets and sensor feedback for the driver... Personally I'd prefer a manual, but it was only offered with an automatic. Shifting is firm and quick, I just prefer having control myself for a sports car.

Engine is not dissimilar to the VW/Audi diesels- which is to say I wouldn't compare it to the MB diesels which IMHO are in a class of their own (much more heavily built). Timing belt isn't a bad thing, except if you let it go, then you are buying a new head as it's interference design. Finding major replacement parts is hard to do as few cars were shipped here. Maintenance items are easy, many of them are shared with other BMW's (oil filters, fuel filters).

He wouldn't mind selling it, if someone is interested- he traded down from a tahoe to the 524td and needs more space. Or, if someone has a 123 wagon and wants to work out some sort of a horse trade that could be interesting too.