Fresh off the trailer! '76 300D with 200k or something. Nice paint, horrible interior but good floors. Needs a head gasket. What can you guys tell me about these 115s? Anything to look for when splitting the head on this N/A 617? I've only played with 123/124/126/210.

Drives better than a 123 in my opinion, i love them. Nice car!

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WOW!

That car's a looker!

Right on! Another W115 with a shot at continued life.

The 617 in the W115 is pretty much the same deal as in W123. The differences are in the stuff that bolts to the engine, manifolds, etc. Shouldn't prove any more challenging to you than what you're used to with the W123 especially.

I've read that the W114/W115 was the first chassis to have ball joints in the front end, the first with factory center console, the first chassis to have the new rear suspension design that was used well into the '80s. And it was still a very much old school body. There isn't another chassis quite like it.

Have fun!

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- Greg -
1973 220D, The Prodigal Benz
1974 240D

Something ive noticed on mine you should enjoy. The 114/115 doesnt have half the rust undercoating of the 123. Normally you would assume this is a bad thing, but ive found that it also doesnt possess the horrifying hidden extensive rust that 123s develop secretly.

A rust hole is generally clear and localized. It may rust faster, but it will be obvious, which is nice for keeping the car from actually rusting out completely

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Beautiful car!!

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Marc-Andrι

W115 1975 300D "Geraldine"
W115 1976 300D parts/tutorial car

Thanks guys. It's definitely got some body filler in the fenders, but the repaint is really remarkable. It looks like all of the trim was removed and the glass was out. It does have some patches in the floor, but that seems to be common with the 114/115. After driving CTS-Vs and 500HP Audis for the last couple years I never thought I'd have a 80hp sedan with white wall tires sitting in my driveway! Here's a picture after a quick wash:

Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice.

Remember, jealousy is the sincerest form of flattery.

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1983 300TD 240k Thistle Green Auto (Euro) [sold]
1984 300D 240k Petrol Green Auto
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"You know, times are changing. Ladies can do stuff now and you're going to have to learn how to deal with it."
"What? Were you saying something? Look, I don't speak Spanish."

WD 40 will make those white walls white again

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Moss Gate Bed & Breakfast
1985 300 TD GG done in by a red light runner
1984 300 CD Sold
2008 Titian
2000 Cadillac SLS
1966 FLH Sold
2003 Harley Ultra

I sort of regret not getting my rustbucket W115 220D on the road (this was a few years before I was on the Peachparts forums). So, I've been curious about them for a long time. I owned mine for around a year and a half, but it never left the patchwork project stage.

Can you describe, perhaps, the difference between the W115 and W123 driving experience? For example, if I thought about it, I could probably describe the difference between driving a W123 300D turbo and a W126 300SD pretty well (having owned and driven both).

Again - to the OP - congrats on the purchase and good luck with the car. I hope that I can add a W115 to my own driveway sometime in the future. Probably won't be for a few years at least.

When you pull the head there are a couple 'hidden' bolts up in the timing chain gallery-watch out for them!

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$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment

I've had both, W123 and W115. They weigh about the same, have similar track and wheelbases, and share the same rear suspension. The W115 has an older style sub-frame up front that the suspension mounts to, while the W123 suspension mounts right to the body. I guess that makes a difference. One would think the W123 is more responsive. I never looked up the data, like max turning force.

The W115 feels "smaller" to me. I can see out of a W115 much easier than I can out of a W123. The W123 interior, to me, feels much more enclosed, the dash and hood seem bulkier and higher than in the W115. Handling and "roadfeel" all seem better to me in a W115.

I bet it's all "in my head"!

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- Greg -
1973 220D, The Prodigal Benz
1974 240D

I can't really comment on the 115 vs 123 driving differences, I've only gone from trailer to driveway with it. I do like the seating position of the 115 more than a 123. It has a classier feel to it that a 123, but that's not very surprising. The trunk is gigantic in these things! It definitely turns more heads than any classic MB I've had. Quite a few neighbors have been stopping to ask what year and praise the condition, I didn't even get that when I had an "euro" (African) spec '85 250 for a few weeks.

Nice find. Was it in MD?

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'89 260e (212K Mi.), '92 400e (208K Mi.), '92 400e (not a misprint) (146K Mi.), '95 C220, '81 240D--Sold

It was in D.C. near capitol hill.