Although this isn't an MB, if I didn't already have my 300CD and too many other vehicles, I'd be REALLY tempted to buy this
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/1475703170.html

From what I understand these have the 4-cylinder VW turbodiesel installed in them - and those engines rival the MBs for reliability. My only reservation would be as to whether the 4-popper has enough grunt to move a car this size with any kind of decent acceleration.

EDIT: I just looked up the specs. At <2400 lbs curb weight and 107 HP/ 151 ft-lbs torque it has a better HP to weight ratio and ought to actually move a little quicker than our MBs since they tip the scales at just over 3500 lbs and have only 125 HP / 180 ft-lbs.

Now I really wish I had room for it in my driveway!

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1984 300 Coupe TurboDiesel
Silver blue paint over navy blue interior
2nd owner & 2nd engine in an otherwise
99% original unmolested car
~210k miles on the clock

1986 Ford F250 4x4 Supercab
Charcoal & blue two tone paint over burgundy interior
Banks turbo, DRW, ZF-5 & SMF conversion
152k on the clock - actual mileage unknown

I'm pretty sure that the engine is a poorly engineered, 5 cylinder piece of junk.

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'81 300SD

Actually it is the 6 cylinder 2.4 liter turbodiesel VW motor that they put in some of the 1st generation LT commercial vans (meant to fill the same market niche as the Dodge/Mercedes Sprinter). I guess they are a lot more common in Europe, and have a pretty good reputation there.

I mistakenly ID-ed it as a 4 cylinder based on the pictures in the CraigsList ad - because I mistook the intake manifold for the valve cover and it looked too short to be a 6 cylinder (even such a small displacement 6).

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1984 300 Coupe TurboDiesel
Silver blue paint over navy blue interior
2nd owner & 2nd engine in an otherwise
99% original unmolested car
~210k miles on the clock

1986 Ford F250 4x4 Supercab
Charcoal & blue two tone paint over burgundy interior
Banks turbo, DRW, ZF-5 & SMF conversion
152k on the clock - actual mileage unknown

My mom's friend had one of those, I think it was an 85. Same exterior color too.

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

OK, OK, tell us more. Was it a decent car? Ever get to drive it? Know anything more about it you can share?

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1984 300 Coupe TurboDiesel
Silver blue paint over navy blue interior
2nd owner & 2nd engine in an otherwise
99% original unmolested car
~210k miles on the clock

1986 Ford F250 4x4 Supercab
Charcoal & blue two tone paint over burgundy interior
Banks turbo, DRW, ZF-5 & SMF conversion
152k on the clock - actual mileage unknown

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/ctd/1467844277.html

...and if you aren't sure about the 760 body style, how 'bout the 240...

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1984 300D, 228k, Light Ivory, Java MB-Tex

Mine is a 240 body style, and is a non-turbo (as were all 240 models). It is a 2.4 litre, in-line 6 cyl. They have aluminium heads and a timing belt which needs to be changed every 75 to 90k. They have one fuel filter/water strainer that needs to be changed every 15k; valves need adjusting like MBs. I have one with over 400k on the engine. At about 320k the headgasket started to leak and I had a valve job, etc. If maintained, they are dependable cars; however, most of them were not maintained. If you don't do your own work, it is getting increasingly difficult to find a mechanic. There is NO support from Volvo on these cars. With the standard, it is more powerful than a MB 240, but it is not a very fast car. The build quality is far superior to most other cars of that era, but does not equal MB, especially the interior. I love mine. I commute from Austin to San Antonio 3 to 4 times a week; I use the Volvo for one trip and the MB for the rest. With the A/C off and the overdrive (5th gear) engaged, it will get ~38 mpg. A lot of people think they're junk, but they are actually pretty cool cars if, again, they have been maintained. They smoke more than a MB, and sound like a truck or tractor, they don't have the "well-tuned sewing machine" MB sound. I have no experience with the turbo version of the engine, but my mechanic told me once that in his opinion, a turbo on that particular engine wasn't such a great idea.

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Christopher
'06 Mercedes E350 station wagon (silver/black)
'85 Mercedes 300D (black pearl/palomino)
'85 Mercedes 300SD (smoke silver/burgundy)
'79 Cadillac Sedan DeVille

'05 Toyota Camry (because always running is nice)

'85 Mercedes 300D sold back to orig. owner 8-1-06
'84 Volvo 264GL Diesel, owned 2000-2013

The 240 doesn't look like it would be for me. A little research shows that they were 500+ pounds heavier and only had 82 HP. A little better power to weight ratio than the MB 240 to be sure, but still a little too underpowered for my taste.

__________________
1984 300 Coupe TurboDiesel
Silver blue paint over navy blue interior
2nd owner & 2nd engine in an otherwise
99% original unmolested car
~210k miles on the clock

1986 Ford F250 4x4 Supercab
Charcoal & blue two tone paint over burgundy interior
Banks turbo, DRW, ZF-5 & SMF conversion
152k on the clock - actual mileage unknown