There is a 1978 280E near me cheap and in great shape, it tempts me but I fear missing that sweet diesel clatter. How do you all feel about the gas 123 cars?

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1972 280SE 4.5

I have a '78 280CE. LOVE IT. Sucks on gas, sucks. Faster than the diesels by a lot. My valves are out of adjustment so it sounds like a diesel lol.

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68 280SL - 70 280SL - 70 300SEL 3.5 - 72 350SL - 72 280SEL 4.5 - 72 220 - 72 220D - 73 450SL - 84 230GE - 87 200TD - 90 190E 2.0 - 03 G500

Nissan GTR - Nissan Skyline GTS25T - Toyota GTFour - Rover Mini - Toyota Land Cruiser HJ60 - Cadillac Eldorado - BMW E30 - BMW 135i

I have a 79 280CE, been in the family for 20 years, clocked almost 220K. It has been just as reliable as any diesel W123 with the proper maintenance. Not so good on fuel(16MPG) but lots of fun to drive.

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1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

I will be restoring a really nice 280CE for a customer soon. it's a 115, not a 123, but it's in great shape. I can't wait to pull the spark plugs, and the carburetor and the rotor cap and buttons... fun fun fun.
one thing I noticed is the york compressor appears to be aluminum... is it? I've only seen cast iron yorks... how much fun is that going to be to replace?

I recently got an '85 Euro 280E 4 spd (had a 5 form the factory). It is a fun car but yes, the fuel consumption is harder on my wallet than the Veggie cars. Besides, I have been fueling at home for so long, I forgot how to use a gas pump!

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All Diesel Fleet
1985 R107 300SLD TURBODIESEL
2005 E320 CDI (daily)

LOTS of parts for sale!


EGR block kit
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/355250-sale-egr-delete-block-off-plate-kit.html

1985 CA emissions 617 owners- You Need This!
Sanden style A/C Compressor Mounting Kit for your 616/ 617 For Sale + Install Inst.

Sanden Instalation Guide (post 11):
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/367883-sanden-retrofit-installation-guide.html

I saw that today too...I want to know why the seller isn't asking 2x his asking price. Maybe I'm just accustomed to seller's asking too much...

For me, I'd love to find a 230 E. That 280 E looked nice but his asking price tells me that something big is wrong. I sent him an email and will post his response.

Did you sell your diesel w123 yet?

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1982 240 D, 308,000 - 321,127 miles (sold)
1982 300 TD,166,500 - 226,000 miles
1998 E 320, 120,000 - 144,000 miles
2005 C 230 K, 26,000 - 77,000 miles (sold)

No.

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"Knowing is not enough, we must apply.
Willing is not enough, we must do." Goethe

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1951 Chevy 3100

2003 Indian Chief Roadmaster

1983 GMC 1 ton Dually

1982 Chevy 1 ton Dually, service body (sold)

'90 GMC Suburban 6.2 "SS Veg-Burban"
(single tank WVO\diesel conversion) SOLD

'81 300D ~ Mama's car...my job (now my car)(but still my job) SOLD

'83 300sd ~ rescue car SOLD

2005 Ford Taurus (Mama's new car)(NOT my job!)

Yes, down deep I am vulnerable to buying/owning my first MB gas burner.

No one in my family has ever owned a gas-Mercedes-Benz, and I'm not real interested in being the first since 1969 to break the diesel-Mercedes-Benz tradition. That's 41 years and counting!....

But suffice to say - with the used E320 W211 CDIs and Bluetecs around, I don't see that (buying a gasser) happening anytime soon......

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

I like your attitude!!!

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

Yes I sold my leaky 300D.

RE the 280E:

The guy spoke to me on the phone earlier, the car came to him from a friend who owed him dinero. I got the idea he has zero knowledge of MB. I always roll my eyes when I hear claims like miles<100K, but also worry i'll miss some sweet deal. It's a side effect of being a tight add bastard.

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1972 280SE 4.5

If it's a So. Cal. car - I don't see a downside to seeing/buying it.

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

You'd be surprised to see some of these cars in socal. There's a junker for every nice one on the road.

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1982 240 D, 308,000 - 321,127 miles (sold)
1982 300 TD,166,500 - 226,000 miles
1998 E 320, 120,000 - 144,000 miles
2005 C 230 K, 26,000 - 77,000 miles (sold)

Carb... doesn't that make it a 280C?

I think the 280CE is a second car. So would I buy a W123 gasser as my daily. No. But the 280CE is in immaculate shape, and I look and feel good driving it. Its a weekend car. W124 Diesel is my daily.

If it were this one, I'd say YES!

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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.

Copy that!

The junkers in Texas all seem to have bird poop and/or covered with tree sap.

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert