A 25 year old 123 with manual MBtex seats and interior may show no signs of wear. A 25 year old 126 has badly cracked (at best) leather seats and power adjustment that probably doesn't work. Easier to park a 123!

If I were buying new, I'd buy down to get the MBtex and avoid the leather. That's what I did 25 years ago and I'm still driving that 1983 123. Had I paid more and bought a 126, it would have been traded or sold a long time ago.

when you keep a 126 in shape though, it's a much nicer car than a 123.
you don't feel like a greek taxi driver in a 126.
it all depends on how you treat it/ how it was treated.

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'87 300D
'74 450 SE
'83 300SD
'98 BMW 323 coupe
'02 civic SI
'99 CBR 900RR

I drive both routinely.
The SD has a superior ride, yet inferior interior. As some have eluded to. It gets better mileage than my current CD, different rear end gear. But as my DD (70 mile round trip commute), I'll take the slower car, just over 29 mpg.

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83 SD

84 CD

Maybe it has nothing to do with the way these two cars age, could it be that there has always been more demand for the 123 just like when they were new? Sooner or later the supply is going to dwindle and the real nice clean ones are going to be hard to find. Who wants a low powered diesel smelling luxury car anyways?

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Currently driving a very clean 1985 300SD from the West Coast.

A valid point. Since the 1980s, when there were several manufacturers selling diesel cars in this country, most of those diesels have dissappeared. Thanks in part to the infamous Olds diesel, and the lack of US parts support from the other companies that briefly sold diesels here, they simply became unpopular.
Other than Mercedes and VW, currently only large trucks are offered here with a diesel option. The manufacturers that sell diesel cars elswhere have been dragging their heels so far as the US market is concerned.
Big improvements in gas engine efficiency and the big difference in the current price of diesel fuel isn't helping either.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

With apologies to the W126 folks, if I wanted a larger car I would be looking for a W116. I just don't like the "bulky" look of the W126 (too 1980s), the W123 is more of a 70s style (actually, I prefer the W115 look but I can't live with the lack of a turbo engine).

I actually just prefer the look of the 123. When I put some ads in various places online wanting to buy a 300TD I got a few responses, but it seemed like people were coming out of the woodwork looking to sell 300SDs.

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1985 Euro 300TD Turbo

I just like the overall appearance of the 123 over the 126.
An SD took a turn towards the cookie cutter cars of today
with the introduction of the 126, think about it once, doesn't
it ?
The "D"s ,on the other hand, retained the classy look, that
grill up front that just screams MB, for a few more yrs.

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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

Actually, if wanted to drive a big boat, I'd like a W126. especially in the short non-L version. I just prefer the W123. It's more nimble, manuverable, and easier to park, and lacks some of the mandatory gadgetry that can make maintaining a typical old S-class luxury car more challenging.

Happy Motoring, Mak

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DrDKW

A 116 is a handsome car, they are more expensive, when you can find one that hasn't been worn out. Has the horrible HVAC system.

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83 SD

84 CD

I'm not about to go buy a W116 myself, I don't want/need a s-class. I was only saying that the W116 is the newest S-class that would interest me.

I find the 126 a bit better looking than the 123 but the 123 is so much simpler to maintain and diy. Thats why the 240d rules!

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.

Folks refer to this statement rather routinely.

If the consideration is the W123 versus the early W126 ('81-'85), I don't see the difference in maintenance simplicity. The W126 has electric seats and an electric speedometer............anything else that would characterize it as "difficult to maintain" relative to a W123?

Not off the top of my head....well....the front end on the 123 holds up longer too.

The 240d ac system is much much simpler.

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.

Why would that be the case?

The suspensions are identical and the additional weight on the two wheels isn't more than 150 lb.

Seems unlikely.