Consumer Guide 1982
Mercedes-Benz W123-Series

What's New for 1982:
Turbodiesel power and upgraded equipment come to the coupe and sedan built on the smaller of Mercedes-Benz's two bodyshells, the W123 series. The 280E sean and 280CE coupe are discontinued, along with their twin-cam inline six-cylinder gasoline engine. The diesel-powered 300D and 300CD now get the turbocharged diesel engine from the W123-based 300TD-T station wagon, which returns mechanically unchanged from last year. Compared to their non-turbo predecessors, the new 300D-t/300CD-T have 37 additional horsepower and a useful 50-lbs/ft increase in torque. Replacing the 3-speed automatic transmission as standard in these models is Mercedes' 4-speed unit, pulling a higher 3.07:1 final drive ratio (versus a 3.46:1 cog). M-B claims an 8.3 percednt city mileage gain in the EPA ratings (from 24 to 26 mpg) and a 7.1 percent improvement on the highway (up from 26 to 28 mpg). Interior revisions also shared by the wagon include a combination tachometer/quartz clock in place of the large clock formerly fitted, illuminated power window switches, and extra wood trim for the sedan's center console. Also back is the 240D, which shares the W123 sedan body/chassis structure and dimensions. It's powered by a smaller, normally aspirated diesel, which gets revised emissions controls system this year. Also new are a fuel tank made of fiberglass instead of steel, interior trim upgraded to the level of the 300 models, and standard manually controlled air conditioning (formerly a $1386 option). Other W123 models come with M-B's automatic climate control system.

For:
Driveability; Refinement; Road Manners; Room/Comfort; Driving Position; Utility (wagon); Workmanship; Resale Value

Against:
Price; Maneuverability; Upkeep

Summary:
Standardizing on the turbodiesel for the cupe and sedan shapes up as a good move. The engine in the 300TD-T wagon we recently evaluated was commendably easy and quick to start from cold. It ran with little of the clatter and vibration typical of diesels, and also gave surprisingly spritely performance. Ample sound-deadening and beefy construction account for a good chunk of the W123's none-too-svelte curb weight, so mileage is a bit below expectations for a diesel, even allowing for the extra urge provided by the turbocharger. Our wagon's 24-mpg figure was accomplished in fairly hard city/suburban driving, and fell 3 mpg short of the EPA estimate. Engine apart, the W123 offers handling and roadholding that belie its size, plus a firm but comfortable ride over the worse of roads. Power steering is properly weighted, and contributes o driving ease. Fine cabin room all around on sedan and wagon. Rear seat legroom suffers in the coupe because of its shorter wheelbase. Built as solidly as the proverbial bank vault. Interior decor sober, but materials are obviously top-quality. Very expensive, though well equipped. If you can afford a Mercedes, changes are you won't worry about the costly charges for factory parts and dealer service. Exceptionally high resale value helps offset formidable purchase price.

Verdict:
Meticulously engineered, built for the long haul, designed for maximum driving and riding pleasure.

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I just found this hidden away and thought you might be interested so I typed it up.

Alex

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1983 300D (parked for four years)
2012 VW Sportwagen TDI Manual
2001 Miata SE
1962 Chevrolet Corvair Rampside

That sure was a good year in history, wasn't it?

Fiberglass fuel tank? I didn't know that!

Thanks for the effort. I certainly enjoyed reading that.

Ken300D

1982 300D
1987 300D

My dad saved a lot of articles like this from when he bought the car. I'll try finding them and posting them.

Alex

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1983 300D (parked for four years)
2012 VW Sportwagen TDI Manual
2001 Miata SE
1962 Chevrolet Corvair Rampside

Neat stuff. I like the following:

Our wagon's 24-mpg figure was accomplished in fairly hard city/suburban driving, and fell 3 mpg short of the EPA estimate.

Even Consumer Reports had a hard time attaining that magical/mythical 30 MPG number!

Nice article. Makes my car seem a little bit newer.

I didn't know the non-turbo 123's only have a 3-speed automatic. It's funny the article mentions an exceptionally high resale value. Did Mercedes ever have a high resale value? I'm not implying anything against Mercedes which is my most favorite make, just making an observation of the used car market.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

In the early 80's yes, they did have a high resale value - often a nicely kept model would sell the next year for the original purchase price (or close) if the mileage was kept down. This was mainly due to the incredible inflation and the prices rising so much each year next year's models were so much higher folks would take the "discount" of last year's used ones.

My Dad was selling Mercedes for 35 years from '56-'91 and I saw him use that trick for years to keep himself driving a new MB every year (of course getting one for near cost from the dealer helped).

John

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John Hughes, was in Landstuhl, Germany but currently in San Antonio, TX


1978 280CE Astral Silver now 59,xxx miles and counting "Silber-Kugel"
1986 300E Black Pearl Metallic 143,xxx miles 5-spd daily driver w/ blk leather "Schwarz-Schönheit"
1989 190E 2.6 (euro) 5-spd Desert Taupe 112,xxx kms Had to leave behind in Germany!!! "Helga"
1983 300D Pastel Beige now 312,xxx + miles SOLD

OBK#24

something make you think they havnt always had a high resale value what other cars of thier vintage sell on ebay for those prices

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commercial fisherman diesel in my blood in my boats trucks and Dear old Dad has had me drivin them since i got my first license in 1968
1986 300 SDL 427654
1999 Chevy Crew Cab Dually 225423
1986 300 SDL 287000 Dad's
1987 190 Turbo 158000 Mom's (my inheritance)

that's great...i'd love to see a scanned version of this so i could print it out...

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1985 Mercedes 300DT

Hmm that's odd. I've seen '85 280E sedans for sale on eBay. I don't think they discontinued the twin cam six in '82 no sir. Something is wrong with that writeup.

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'02 BMW 325i
'85 300D 450k
'93 190E 2.6 170k(killed by tree)
'08 Ducati Hypermotard 1100S 6k
'06 Ducati S2R800 14k(sold)

Could be that MB said they were doing so at the time of write up, just like GM when they killed off Oldsmobile a year after their originally posted date, and waited until they discontinued the w123.

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RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

91 W124 300D Turbo replaced, Pressure W/G actuator installed. 210K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

MBUSA did discontinued the M110 equipped W123 in 1982. The ones you have seen on ebay are all euro models. After 1982 all 123 are diesels in the USA. 240D were also discontinued the following year, while the world kept them till the end of the run early 1986 (yes 86!!! that is not a typo!) together with the 300TDt.

Remember that Mercedes is has vastly different model for the world and for the USA. American spex Mercedes tend to be the top tier of the line-up only.

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Aquilae non capunt muscas! (Eagles don't hunt flies!)


1979 300SD Black/Black MBtex239000mi
1983 300TD euro-NA. White/Olive Cloth-MBtex 201000mi. Fleet car of the USA embassy in Morocco
1983 240D Labrador Blue/Blue MBtex 161000mi

Well hmmm. Seems contradictory to discontinue the wonderful twin-cam six in '82, considering American attitudes toward diesel passenger cars at the time. Even I thought they were loud, smelly, and slow.
I'd love to find a nice 280E with a stick, circa 1985.

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'02 BMW 325i
'85 300D 450k
'93 190E 2.6 170k(killed by tree)
'08 Ducati Hypermotard 1100S 6k
'06 Ducati S2R800 14k(sold)

The USA 280E's were "smogged". They barely had more power than the turbodiesels and returned half the mileage. The Euro 280s returned about 20 - 22 mpg and topped out at 126 mph.