my daily driver is a 79 240 and i like it alot, its so easy to maintain now that i fixed it up. the only gripes are; the highway speeds and passing ability, (basically power related) and its a stripper.
i was looking for some imput from you forum guys/girls as to the best choice in a 300 turbo/123 chassis.

whats important to me is:
reliability of : engine trans.,HVAC system, vacuum leaks, water leaks, window regulators, brakes, electrical, sunroof, you get the point. what years seem to be better all round drivers. I also know that the condition and maint. says more than the mileage on the car.

I know of a 83 300d turbo 260K ,recent OEM Benz trans., new exh., orig paint, all power acc., tex int., sunroof, he said everything works and no blow-by. I havent seen it yet but I think he's asking $2000
what do you all think?
Thanks in advance

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http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u116/OC03/240d.jpg
Current Car:
1985 300DT 55K miles

According to recent posts, an OEM transmission is $4k so if that's true, the $2k is good.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

They are all good, for W123 turbo choices in sedan form, you have 1982-1985, The engine is the same, on the 84,85 the tach works differntly, I like the 84/85 for the 2.88 Rear gears.

they are all good.

The car your describing if it has no rust sounds like a good deal, no blow by... never seen that....

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1984 Euro 300SDC, (4spd standard)
1986 Toyota Landcruiser Diesel HJ60 5spd X2

Gone but not forgotten (some sold, some stripped)
1983 300 SD, 1985 300 SD, 1983 240D, 1986 300 SDL, 1985 300 SDL, 1983 300 D, 1984 300 D, 1985 300SD, 1987 300 SDL, 1983 300 SD, 1985 300 TD Euro, 1983 380SEC, 1990 300 D, 1987 300D, 1982 300D, 1982 300D, 1994 E420, 1987 300 TD, 1987 300 D, 1984 300 D

an 85 since most of the issues were sorted out by then.

Ditto. 85 is cream of the crop.

i priced 3 different places for an OEM tranny. Glausner (in westminster) was $4020, StarTech was $4000 and, MB of littleton was $4000.

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-Trevor

OBK #12
1980 300SD 333,XXX miles - Totaled
1986 Mazda RX-7 212,XXX miles - impounded and auctioned off
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited 33,000- SEGR, Provent, Fumoto

Focusing on the year is a BIG mistake. The three criteria that you should pay most attention to when buying a 123 are: condition, Condition and CONDITION!

That said there is one year related thing that I would stay away from and that is an early car with the servo based automatic climate control. You would be better served with an early car with manual climate control, or if you must have climate control get an 81 and later with climate control.

Personally my FAVORITE 123 is one with MANUAL EVERYTHING. The best service I had was from 123's with manual windows, manual climate control, manual sunroof, etc. The gadgetry is what will keep you buisy. This is the automotive application of the old Engineering KISS principle. KISS means "Keep It Simple, Stupid."

My $0.02,

I have to agree with Larry, nothing is more important that condition. that being said and all things being equal, I would prefer an 84, or 85. There is more than enough tinkering involved with owning these to satify, you don't need one that is a mechanics special or a bodymans nightmare. That will tend to discourage you and put a bad taste in your mouth for MB. Spend the money, get something in nice shape first,and get your feet wet slowly before looking at "needs work".

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81 Mercedes 300SD 289k.......SOLD
82 Mercedes 300CD 252k......slow ride

82 mercedes 300 SD...mi Unknown
83 Mercedes 300D ????ksniff..gone too
84 Mercedes 300D 148k........SOLD
85 Mercedes 300TD 386k and holding some one elses project

The one exception to the early climate control servo problem, would be if the PO had upgraded it to the newer aftermarket solid state substitute system. If that was done, I don't see a huge difference between the later automatic climate controls and the earlier.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I have 2 '83s . both are a joy to own ,never had any problems that I could not take care of. One important thing to look at is the front and rear windshield seal.I have not found one yet that doesn't leak in the corners . Pull out the floor mats and carpet all the way down to the floor insulation to be sure. If you find water look underneith the car to see if the floor is rotted. The under coating always seems to hold everything together until the floor develops a hole AKA A DRAIN

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'83 240D 264k on 100% biodiesel/ 31mpg
83 300D 217K the $800 gem
'82 300D 267K the new WVO project car finished and driving for free
International tractor B275 on B100
Ford 555 backhoe on B100
Sargent 25 ton Rough Terrain crane on B50

I had several choices of W123's at my disposal basically. I chose to concentrate on the '81 240D because of the manual a/c and windows. I have since put an OM617.952 in it for some extra power. To me the reliabilty outwieghs the creature comforts. I hear alot of good about the '85s, but they seem to have alot more little vacuum modules and changeover valves than the older models.

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No matter how many times you explain it to me, I'm still right.....Surf-n-Turf

Well, yes, if someone went to the trouble to PROPERLY replace the servo, then it is no longer a potential major league headache.

I think Larry nailed it. The '85 also has the beginnings of a computer brain it in.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

also the '85 has a more complex vacuum system. so the 84 might be better, and avoid the '85 cali model with the trap ox.

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Grey '91 350SDL 214k Dad's car
Beige '81 240D 4 Speed 254k SOLD
Blue '82 300D 225k SOLD
White '95 E300D 46k SOLD
Blue '87 190D 2.5 Turbo 315k SOLD
Brown '80 240D 4 Speed 716k SOLD
Beige '80 300D N/A 119k SOLD
Blue '85 300D Model 186k T-Boned

Simplicity - a 240D with the simple A/C control knob (not the rotary dial; I've heard this is more difficult to work on) and manual EVERYTHING.

If you want something a little better/complex/more creature comforts, I've read in many places that the 1985 300D Turbo is the model to get.

Personally, having driven all W123s except for the 300TD, I would say that the 240D 4-speed was my favorite. The 1985 300D Turbo I drove was great too, but the 240D with a stick shift just has this good nature to it that's hard to describe. It's almost like it's everything you need, and nothing you don't.

I didn't like the 300D NA, because it had a 3-speed automatic and it seemed to have pretty high freeway RPMs which were bothersome. The later models have a 4-speed automatic.

Drive which one you want. Pick one based on condition overall. Be happy.