wanna get a 300... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

wyomingriviera · #1 11-04-2008, 04:49 PM

I've been researching these things for a week or so, and they seem really cool. I like the looks of the older 240D, but there are alot more 300D's for sale 'round here.

Are there major differences in years? as in "one year only?" or are parts really interchangeable?

The majority I see for sale are 198x 300D's(w123, right?), around $2-3 thousand bucks, with a touch over 200k on the odometer.
I'd like a driver, but I don't mind tinkering on the weekends, either. Will these prices get me decent ride, or a rusty moneypit and a busted knuckle

?

....thanks!...Will

ronzbenz · #2 11-04-2008, 05:11 PM

Hey Will

Not really a reply but I have just been given a 79 300SD Turbo Diesel (free?) with about 90K original miles. Parked a year ago with a knock in the engine - I'm guessing a rod bearing but am not familiar with these cars at all. So, same question you have - is this going to be a money pit with little pride of ownership or is this a decent car with a few miles left in it with some care and a bit of work?

Maybe we can both get an answer. Good luck with your hunt.

Ron

UriahT · #3 11-04-2008, 05:17 PM

Try searching "new buyer" or "buying guide."
There's been a lot of threads on here with similar themes.

The search feature is great- not only has it saved me a lot of time, but money as well.

A quick comment might be:
You either like working on cars, or you will spend a lot of money, or you will be one of the lucky few who finds a car that doesn't need much at a reasonable price.
The newest w123 is 23 years old. Not a new car by any stretch.
But they're also some of the best engineered, and easy to work on, vehicles on the market.

winmutt · #4 11-04-2008, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyomingriviera

Are there major differences in years? as in "one year only?" or are parts really interchangeable?

Body wise all W123 are interchangeable.

78-~81 is 300 is non turbo, good for 55mph not much else (it will do 90 with quite a racket), also has the dreaded servo which should be avoided at all costs (euro deliveries are the exception).

82-84 is essentially the same car with a turbo engine and upgraded interior.

85 came with alot of EPA crap but also a 2.88 rear end (stock is 3.07) great for long distance hauling.

Its ironic I was looking at an ad for an infinity and they were claiming crumple zones like they were something new. W115 safety technology, come on ppl.

240s you will want something 81 or newer (pencil tip glow pugs), if you live in high altitudes you may want to stick to a turbo. 240d auto is *just* fast enough. Get a stick if you can find it.

OM61X is widely known as the best engine ever made, W123 is widely known as best chassis ever made.

lutzTD · #5 11-04-2008, 06:24 PM

keep in mind there is no w123 you will not have to work on. 1st its a 20+ year old car, things wear out with time and miles, not just miles. Also, there are a lot of maintainance items that need to be kept up to keep the car in road shape. I would never recommend a w123 to someone who cant do even medium complexity DIY projects, it would be very expensive to dealer or mechanic maintain.

wyomingriviera · #6 11-04-2008, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UriahT

Try searching "new buyer" or "buying guide."
There's been a lot of threads on here with similar themes.
The search feature is great- not only has it saved me a lot of time, but money as well.

thanks, good advice...I hadn't seen the "advanced search"

...found this quote:

"a word of encouragement. if you are not mechanical, you will learn to be and you couldn't learn on a better car. parts are fairly inexpensive and plentiful for the most part online. finally, you have a ridiculous team of experts to guide you here on the shop forum."

I've been operating an aircooled VW bus, so I'm getting used to driving slow and frequent tune-ups. I love original and stock vehicles.

anybody know of any non-craigslist for sale in VT?

coonerboy · #7 11-04-2008, 10:20 PM

Whats wrong with finding a car on Craigslist?

bd1308 · #8 11-04-2008, 10:23 PM

coming from the aircooled world (like me) you'll fit right into this world. Same kinda feel to the cars and engines. Like aircooled VW's, these things are more like machines than they are cars. In fact, I feel like i'm operating some kind of tank when im driving the 300, which is a very good feeling. The 300D is a old-world car....with a feel that no new car will ever give you.

lutzTD · #9 11-04-2008, 10:42 PM

yep, if you can work on a dub, you can work on a merc, good luck with your search. DO lurk a while and read the buyer guides....If you can hold out and get a peach, you'll be way ahead of the game.

Jeremy5848 · #10 11-04-2008, 11:08 PM

Agreed, you'll be much better off, psychologically as well as financially, paying more up front for a nice example that doesn't need a lot of work. Bargain cars are usually no bargain as for every problem the seller admits to, there is usually at least one additional "hidden" problem. There's no percentage in having a money pit for your first Mercedes; it will sour you on the whole idea. The '82-'85 turbodiesels are the best; if your state doesn't inspect diesels, get the latest model you can find and take the EGR stuff off. Regardless, try for the car with the best set of service records.

Jeremy

compu_85 · #11 11-05-2008, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lutzTD

yep, if you can work on a dub, you can work on a merc

Indeed. The "German car mindset" is there on both. But, you will find the parts on the 'benz are more expensive, harder to replace, and that there are more of them then fitted to a 'dub. Especially coming from an aircooled. But that's what makes a Mercedes more of a car then a VW. Compared to a VW a Benz will seem like a moneypit simply because the parts cost so much more. The Benz also has less economy of scale built in, because they didn't have to build it in: It didn't have to be built to a price, it was built to what the engineers thought would be the best.

A VW is a nice car. A Mercedes is a fine automobile that requires a higher class of service. If you try to "hippy fix" things it won't work.

-Jason

BoomInTheTrunk · #12 11-05-2008, 02:16 AM

You will want a 300 a 240 is very very slow unless it has a stick and than it is barely bearable.

rrgrassi · #13 11-05-2008, 10:42 AM

Working on the MB, for me, has been much easier that the ricers I own, and easier than the 80's & 90's American cars I used to own. I just have ricer and German now, except for the Fairmont A-4 MoW car I have from the Southern Pacific. I would love to put a OM616 or OM617 non turbo in it.

123Guy · #14 11-05-2008, 11:11 AM

The '84 300's have all the technology and imrovements that MB was going to put into the 123 line (before they screwed it up with EPA crap in '85). So if you want a turbo, the '84 is a good choice. Books and records are very important, they will tell you everything that's been done to the car and verify the mileage - some of these cars ran around for two or three years with the odometer not working. A good records file on a 25-year old 123 should be in inch or two thick (I have a files that I started on both cars 24 and 26 years ago and they are over three-inches thick)

LUVMBDiesels · #15 11-05-2008, 01:09 PM

Don't forget about the later cars. The 1986-87 300D (W124) came with the OM603 six cylinder engine. Having had both the OM617 and the OM603 turbo engines, the 603 is lightyears ahead of the older engine. It actually can make the W126 300SDL (much bigger than the 300D perform decently and return almost 30mpg doing it) add in ABS and airbags and you have a 'modern' car!

I have nothing against the five cylinder engines, but the six is a much nicer car to drive.