Forgive the long post... I ramble.

For years I've really wanted a classic MB. My brother bought a used 560SEL in the early 90s and I was smitten. Have been every since. He's an attorney, I'm a data monkey, so that kind of car was far beyond my reach. I currently drive a 1999 F150 that gets 14mpg, and that's with the A/C broken.

So I was driving my 15m commute in Atlanta rush hours traffic the other day, sweating like a fury in the 100 degree weather, and wistfully thought about my brother's Mercedes. I looked around online when I got home and find that I might be able to afford a late 80's MB and still keep my truck (the wife loves having a truck in the family, so it's gotta stay). But is owning this age car worth the trouble? Sure, I'd scratch that decade old itch to have one, but at what cost? We make a yearly jaunt to Disney in Orlando. Would that be pushing one of these cars too much?

If I want to beat that 14mpg, I probably have to go diesel, right? Do they cost more to maintain? What am I looking at here?

Thanks in advance, everyone.

Its all about the prior owners' maintenance. You have a short commute, you might not need/want a diesel. I go 70 a day. I;m digging doing it on two gallons of fuel! And like you, my truck stays to battle the snow - mightily. But I hate commuting in it at 15 mpg!

the diesels are very reliable, cost is somewhat based on what you do to it yourself.. some of use spend bare minimum(not me), in the middle(me), or.. money pit (gee.. hatterasguy!)

just remember.. a Cheap Mercedes is an Expensive Mercedes..

records are key to buying one and knowing that it has been treated well as well as the overall look and shape of the body and engine.

If you are willing to get your hands dirty, make an investment of time and money, shop around for a car that has not been abused. You will, probably like most of us, fall in love with your older MB. I would take mine anywhere, anytime. On a long trip just take a few basic tools and some extra fuel filters and sit back and enjoy that Mercedes Ride.

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Dave
1983 300D Daily Driver

First WELCOME
Just as WINGAS has stated - it's all about the condition. Something you will see written here many times, There is nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes. Gas, diesel, apples, oranges - depends on what you are most comfortable around as you are going to be doing the maintenance. Taking a 20 year old car to the dealership is usually not an option. Look around the forum, read the threads, you will find the negatives and positives with all the models. If you are already set for the W126 model CLICK HERE and then click W126 buying guide for some helpful hints. Most important if you take the plunge come back and post a pic!

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BENZ THERE DONE THAThttp://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...c/progress.gif
15 VW Passat TDI
00 E420
98 E300 DT
97 E420 Donor Car - NEED PARTS? PM ME!
97 S500
97 E300D
86 Holden Jackaroo Turbo D
86 300SDL
(o\|/o)

yea.. you might be interested in a 300SD or a 300SDL.. depends on what you want.. the SD has the 617 5 cylinder where as the SDL has the 6 cylinder om603 and a longer wheelbase (hence the SD-L)

I have four Mercs
1981 300D
1985 300D (Federal)
1985 300D (California)
1999 E300

My W123's are my vehicles that I can count on. The 1999 E300 is a very nice car, but by 64K miles it had many maintenance issues that the dealer technician has said should not happen until 200K miles. Last year when I had the delivery valves seal replace I spoke of my disappointment with the car especially when compared to my W123's. His response was, "well, the 617 is a bullet proof engine."

From what I have read I believe that most others have had fewer problems than me with the W210 diesel or the problems have at least occurred with much greater mileage. I bought our E300 based upon my experience with my first 300D. I was expecting the E300 to be better, but today my wife is the primary driver of the E300 and I do not care to drive it at all.

Any car that is 20 years old could need work. Parts are very, very available for Mercs of this age. When I bought my 1981 300D it needed some work, but most of it was sweat and not too much cash. At 205K miles it is a slow (non-turbo), but very dependable car that does everything that I need it to do. I only spent $1150 on and I have spent no more than $320 in parts. I have put 15K miles on it. That is less than car payments and barring any wrecks this car should be around a while.

Yes, they are worth it.

I have the w123 also. I would not hesitate to drive it cross country. I need to fix the cruise control, though.

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RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

91 W124 300D Turbo replaced, Pressure W/G actuator installed. 210K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

Is a 20 yr 0ld MB worth it..........(gonna start a war here) NO!

That only takes you back as far as 1987. You will need to get back to at least 1985 and go diesel for it to be "worth it".......JMHO

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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

true!

One good thing about these older MBs is the incredible availability of parts. You can find just about anything at either this site or other Internet sites. Anything they don't have is carried by the dealer and if not in stock, will be at the warehouse. Mercedes has a Classic Center that caters to the older cars and they make sure that all the parts are available.

Another good thing about these cars is this forum. You can learn an incredible amount of information by spending time here. If there is any procedure you are thinking of doing, it will be outlined here. You should learn to use Google to search instead if the built in search function.

Another thing is the way these cars were built. They seem to embody a fix it mentality not seen on newer cars. Just about everything in these cars can be taken apart and fixed. This is so different from the "replace a module" philosophy in todays cars.

Lastly, join the Mercedes club (MBCA) this is another treasure trove of information and help.

I would look for a car from the period 1981 to 1985, but there are proponents of the later (1986-1991) cars as well.



Good Luck!

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"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy"

Current
Monika '74 450 SL
BrownHilda '79 280SL
FoxyCleopatra '99 Chevy Suburban
Scarlett 2014 Jeep Cherokee
Krystal 2004 Volvo S60
Gone
'74 Jeep CJ5
'97 Jeep ZJ Laredo
Rudolf ‘86 300SDL
Bruno '81 300SD
Fritzi '84 BMW
'92 Subaru
'96 Impala SS
'71 Buick GS conv
'67 GTO conv
'63 Corvair conv
'57 Nomad

How much time/money are you willing to spend on your new hobby?

As I see it, you can drive a late model econo-box for about $0.15-0.20 per mile; you can run an old benz into the ground for about $0.15-0.20 per mile; you can drive a new benz for about $0.50-0.60 per mile; or you can preserve an old benz for about $0.30 per mile.

I happen to like the old ones better than the new ones, and I don't want to trash them, so I spend about $0.30 per mile (including fuel, maintenance, repairs, and an allowance for big stuff, like engine/tranny rebuilds). That's based on being able to run the car indefinitely.

I agree with condition, condition and condition. I have been in love with German cars from a very young age (my father was an engineer with GM) and I was raised with muscle cars and Corvettes. To my father's dissapointment when I graduated college I bought an older 911 Carrera so I know about upkeep with older German cars. Then in late May of this year I pulled my girlfriends Mercedes out of the barn where it had been sitting for a few years b/c it wasn't reliable enough for her to depend on as a daily driver. So far I am about $1500 into it and it is almost ready for anything. I still have to refresh the suspension and address the CV joints but it runs and drives very well.

Luckily for me this car (82 300D) was dealer serviced most of its life and is in incredible condition as far as the interior and exterior are concerned. Mainly, it needed all new calipers, hoses, filters, and really it needed to be driven. If you are mechanically inclined older Mercedes are actually very enjoyable to work on b/c they are designed to be serviced. Compared to the Carrera they have a ton of room under the hood and so far I haven't needed any special tools to complete any jobs. Another bonus, parts are very inexpensive compared to the 911, especially at Fastlane. Good luck and don't be scared to jump in, just be patient and find a car that is worth the effort, the rewards have been worth it for me everytime I go and fill up the tank.

To make sure the A/C is working should be one of your top priorities. There are many posts on this topic of non working A/C's and being in ATL you don't want to be another casuality.

I debated what you are facing, but my commute is 35 miles one way (55mph avg) I got 29.5 MPG on my last tank (using power source additive)

I have been extremely satisified with my diesel, but like the other posters say, prior maintenance is the key. I have worked on mine, and paid very little for parts so far....

although my A/c stopped working...!!!

Post more, to get more specific information throughout your search, there are some real experts here.

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85 300CD Turbo "Das Polluter" 230K sold for $3,000

98 BMW 323is

I dont know where Tucker is but a great mercedes shop is Old World Automotive in Lawrenceville If i was buying a car in greater Atlanta I'd have them check it out for me

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commercial fisherman diesel in my blood in my boats trucks and Dear old Dad has had me drivin them since i got my first license in 1968
1986 300 SDL 427654
1999 Chevy Crew Cab Dually 225423
1986 300 SDL 287000 Dad's
1987 190 Turbo 158000 Mom's (my inheritance)