a 123 with a 5 speed now theres a nice animal..

w123 coupes are better. Pillarless windows, 2 inch lower stance than the sedan, lower roof, great chrome around the windows, they just look better. Rarer, and possibly worth more too. Mine is non-turbo and I don't experience any of the "oh god its way too slow" that people tell about, it keeps up just fine with traffic. Merging onto highways, you just have to floor it when you get on, with many of St. Louis' highways designed for 35mph, and are now at 60.

Anyway, get the coupe for the turbo, looks and value, you can convert it to a 4 speed later, it isn't a very difficult swap.

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1980 240d
1999 SL500

... is the manual a 4 or a 5 speed?
if it's a 5 speed, get the car at any cost. well don't spend 20K on it, but they are very very very very very rare and very very very very sought after.
a non turbo is NOT slow.
it has problems in high altitudes due to the thin air, and it has problems with steep grades at high speeds at altitude... other than that they are sweet. also, the euro may have the VERY sought after MYNA pump... mucho value there!@
and please if you do decide not to get the manual, Please list where it is here on the forum so a member can go get the car!
personally, unless it's a 5 speed, I would go for the coupe!

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

The M pump is only of value if you have it tweaked by Myna in Finland and install it on a modified turbo engine, otherwise it is just another injection pump.

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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

The M-Pump supposedly makes the engine run better than the MW-pump. Might be something to do with the cam profile or its governor control.

Stricter emissions may be a reason why the US got the MW and the world got the M.

Interesting. I did not know that.

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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

How deep are your pockets?
The coupes will run into more money if you
try saving a few bucks with junk yard parts.
It is all supply and demand and the supply of
coupe parts cars leaves a lot to be desired.

That said.......Buy the coupe.

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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