How did the 95 E300 that was in Duluth look? I've owned a 92 or 93 300D in addition to now owning the 95 E300. I believe I like the '95 E300 the best.

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Jim

Minimal blind spots in any mercedes except a convettible or less so a coupe.

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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.

Whatever you buy, just buy one from one of these nuts on here Replacing old rubber parts, i.e. ball joints, mounts, etc is expensive. You can end up putting more money into one than it is worth. So, buy one from one of these guys who has already done all of that stuff!

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Current: 86 300 SDL Former: 95 S500 Coupe
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net..._4868414_n.jpg https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net..._7054117_n.jpg

Sounds like a plan, but first I must find someone willing to give up their car, which may or may not be easy

I saw it on craigslist and it looks real nice. So what do you think is better about the 95?

I like the fuel economy and the way it drives out at 80+ on the interstate.

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Jim

But how is it in terms of acceleration/power compared to the 2.5 Turbo?

A back-roads drive with that car does sound like fun (except for the summer heat/humidity and the winter storms) but two hours a day is still 1+ year of your life in a 20-year career. Nonetheless, how you spend your time is none of my business. My longest commute in 25 years was 7 miles round trip, just one of the many reasons that allowed me to retire at the age of 50.

OTOH, on weekends I had a favorite 250-mile route that I often did on my BMW motorcycle (so I'm guilty too) but that was in the days of cheap gasoline. (Pardon my old-fart whining about the "good old days").

Jeremy

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

A lot of people in the area I live in are in a "drive 'till you qualify for the mortgage" situation. It's a question of how much time you want to trade off for a more affordable mortgage or rent payment -- plus how much you value living somewhere quiet and hassle-free. I know someone who moved out of Seattle recently because he couldn't deal with the noise and the drug dealers on his front lawn anymore.

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1981 Mercedes 300TD, 1994 Honda Civic Del Sol
http://mefi.us/images/fuelly/smallsig-us/67195.pnghttp://mefi.us/images/fuelly/smallsig-us/103885.png

the 124 has a better driving position over my 210. you feel like your sitting "in" the '87 rather than sitting "on" in my '98. now that i think about it for me, a 5'8" chassis, the driving position leaves a lot to be desired in my 210. the seats are far better in 124 and my 18 month old son could peek out the windows much better in the 124. that said my wife hated to ride in that car, she said it was very drab, but she hated all of my diesels. the factory radio positioning sucks in the 124, you nearly have to take your eyes off the road to change a station. i don't mean to bash the 210, i love mine to death but mercedes nailed the 124 in my opinion as far as ergonomics go and nearly everything else.

i'd have no problems with a 2.5 124!. i think the face lifted '95 300d looks incredible but i'm not wild about that engine, though it's owners don't complain nearly as much as other models, mine included. the turbo lag and is a lot of the character in diesel mercs.

As far as the turbo 2.5 versus the non turbo 3.0 it is six of one, half dozen of another. I guess i like the non turbo because the engine compartment is a little more roomy allowing for more space to work.

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Jim

Our '96 E300D (W210, OM606NA) even has the rare/expensive pneumatic seat option but I still prefer sitting in my 124 and it doesn't even have the later-model foam corner bolsters (but I'm skinny, a big person might find them very nice).

The 210 also has a stiffer suspension; perhaps the market demanded it but I prefer the softer ride of the 124. The interior of the later 124s is much less "drab," I think. With a little modifying, I think I'd like a 1995 E300D with an OM603 engine, especially if the simpler electronics of the older car could be retrofitted.

The NA I-6 diesel does indeed leave a lot of working room in the engine compartment; you can almost "walk around" in there.

Jeremy

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

i've gotta disagree in a major way about blindspots in these old Benzes. all of the American trucks and vans (and most cars) and japanese (and even korean!) cars i've driven have better visibility than these things. my 30 ft bus with absolutely piss-poor mirrors only has one blindspot - the huge one right behind ya!

i've driven 3 different w126's and a w201 and all of themhave horrible mirrors. i love these cars, but they definitely leave something to be desired in that department. i'm used to driving large, difficult vehicles with sometimes less than optimal equipment in the same setting, but i've managed to miss cars even when shoulder-checking in these things and had a near-miss. they're not the greatest to parallel park either!

but really... in an automobile this fine they should know to get out of my way. *throws driving scarf over shoulder & toots horn like a scholar*

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1981 300SD - 283,000 KM's at purchase, 360k+ now. Engine replaced at 311k. 16" CLK wheels, w126 gen II cosmetic upgrades, late w126 leather interior. RIP. Parted and gone due to fire

1987 300SDL - 243K miles and counting. In winter hibernation!

2001 Ford F250 Super Duty "Platinum Edition" Lariat 4x4 7.3L turbo diesel, 295k+ miles, various mods for reliability and performance.

i'm glad two 210 owners car agree on the finer points of the 124. i doubt i'll part ways with my 210 but i sincerely miss the reassuring feel of a 124 in my fleet. anyone have a '87 wagon they want gone?

and for those like me who hate threads without pictures..sdl goodness!:

Jeremy, what car have you been looking at? Maybe if you've been working on a Mini it looks roomy, but that is one big engine shoehorned in there. It hits the firewall at the back, and there's about an inch and a half to the radiator in the front, not to mention how everything exterior to the block is Tetrised in.
Look under the hood of a W123 and tell me the E300D's engine bay is "roomy".

I'm also mystified as to why you'd want to ditch the bulletproof DOHC 24V 606 for the less-reliable SOHC 12V 603.

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RIP:
2011 E350 BlueTEC, Schwartz 81k (totaled by uninsured drunk driver)
1964 Unimog 404.1 (wrongfully towed by the city)
1994 E320, Brilliantsilber 208k (transmission shuffled off after sudden catastrophic fluid loss)
1982 300D, Silberblau under a blue repaint 256k (sold for parts)
1995 E320 Polarweiss, 131k (sold for parts)
1995 E300D Polarweiss, 287k (totaled by drunk driver)