W201 availability? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

bipolardave · #1 04-16-2012, 09:50 AM

Gents,

My W115 project is just a headliner away from being pretty much complete. I'd like to start thinking about my next diesel.

I really like 300SDs. They exude class and look great doing it. There's plenty of fine examples on the market in the $5k range if one's willing to travel.

I also like the W201, preferably one that allows me to row my own gears. Unfortunately, good ones don't seem to out there in the same volume as W126s. I rarely see them pop up on ebay or Craigslist in diesel form.

According to Wiki, there were almost 2,000,000 of this chassis built over 10 years (mostly gassers) and some of the earlier diesel models were exclusive to the US while the 2.5T was available on these shores only in 1987.

I'm not necessarily after an '87, but am curious was to why there's comparatively so few of the other models for sale. What gives?

pawoSD · #2 04-16-2012, 05:59 PM

Since they were by far the most inexpensive MB, many more were bought by people in debt up to their eyeballs, so they would skimp on actually maintaining the vehicle, slowly running it into the ground....so many more have been trashed or dumped because of this. Also since so many more were gassers, when they develop issues they can be a lot more expensive and complex to repair, so yet again people dump them. They can be found in nice shape, its just hard. I have a '93 gasser thats in good physical shape, engine is toast however, I'm working on an OM601 swap to make it a nice 190d. One that never existed, a 1993 190d.

bipolardave · #3 04-16-2012, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

Since they were by far the most inexpensive MB, many more were bought by people in debt up to their eyeballs, so they would skimp on actually maintaining the vehicle, slowly running it into the ground....so many more have been trashed or dumped because of this. Also since so many more were gassers, when they develop issues they can be a lot more expensive and complex to repair, so yet again people dump them. They can be found in nice shape, its just hard. I have a '93 gasser thats in good physical shape, engine is toast however, I'm working on an OM601 swap to make it a nice 190d. One that never existed, a 1993 190d.

Makes sense, I suppose. Although by the same logic the 240D was the among the cheaper MBs and there are plenty of those around in good condition.

rs899 · #4 04-16-2012, 08:51 PM

Were you around in the 80s? The second oil crisis brought about by the Iranian revolution made diesels popular in the US from 80 to about 85. Then , problems with GM diesels became well known (even without the internet) and the price of gas took a dive from about $1.30 in 82 to way under a buck by 85. In the early 80s, more than half the Mercedes imported were diesels. By the late 80s, eveyone had gone back to gassers. There were very few diesel W201s (and W124s and late W126s) imported compared with W123s and W126s earlier.

We also saw, Toyota, Nissan, Mazda, Isuzu , Peugeot, Ford (captive), Volvo (VW) in the early 80s. All gone.

ds190 · #5 04-16-2012, 09:07 PM

What he said:-)

And, you need to find out how many were sold in the USA, because 2 million was the total GLOBAL sales figure. Next, remember the 201 was designed to be a fuel efficient vehicle in response to the Arab oil embargo of the 70's, and by the time the 190 made it here in 1984 with a 2.3l or 2.2l engine, the embargo was over, gas prices had dropped way back down, and 'Mericans wanted great big engines again. The 2.6 was brought over to appeal to more horsepower and compete with the BMW 3's. Unfortunately, the 190 was really overshadowed by the more powerful and not that much more expensive 124 vehicles.

Also, back in the 70's, one could buy the 240D/300D/230/280 midsize sedan, or the S class sedan, so less to choose from. However, the Baby Benz had to compete with the mid and full sized sedans, and did not do that well here.

bipolardave · #6 04-16-2012, 09:50 PM

Thanks for the answers.

Maybe I'll just track down the 300SD *and* get a 190 gasser.

Oh no! The wife just caught me typing that, gents. Keep me in your thoughts....

pawoSD · #7 04-16-2012, 11:22 PM

I did the opposite, I have a 126 gasser and am making a 201 diesel.

Though I have a 126 diesel and 124 gasser too.....another thing I have is an addiction to old MB's. Look out, the addiction will find you!

Driving a 201 compared to a W123 is night and day, waaay more fun to drive and sophisticated. I think the 201's have one of the best "door thunk" sounds of all of the older ones too, a real solid vault sound.

sd300td · #8 04-16-2012, 11:46 PM

I've been in the market for a nice w201 ” row your own” for about three years.... Albeit a gasser.

In that time I have seen exactly one. Lots of autos though.

ROLLGUY · #9 04-17-2012, 12:29 AM

You will not find an '87 with the 2.5 and a 5 speed (although you could probably make one). If you want a manual, you are stuck with the 2.2. However, manual gassers are easier to find than the Diesel with a manual, so you could make a 2.2 manual with the parts from 2 cars (5 speed from a gasser, +2.2 automatic 190D). You may have to cross a few state lines to find a 2.2 5 speed.

daw_two · #10 04-17-2012, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rs899

Were you around in the 80s? The second oil crisis brought about by the Iranian revolution made diesels popular in the US from 80 to about 85. Then , problems with GM diesels became well known (even without the internet) and the price of gas took a dive from about $1.30 in 82 to way under a buck by 85. In the early 80s, more than half the Mercedes imported were diesels. By the late 80s, eveyone had gone back to gassers. There were very few diesel W201s (and W124s and late W126s) imported compared with W123s and W126s earlier.

We also saw, Toyota, Nissan, Mazda, Isuzu , Peugeot, Ford (captive), Volvo (VW) in the early 80s. All gone.

Yes, I was around and I remember. My boss bought a new 85 300D --- said it was going to be the last company car he bought. The last time I saw him in 2003, he still had the same car. I wasn't into MBs in 2003, so I didn't ask him how many miles he had on it.