For simplicity sake, the 240D would be the best choice. I have a '85 300d and although it runs fine with over 280K on it, all the bells and whistles just make more things to possibly go wrong. Then you will have to deal with those money-grubbing MB mechanics!

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FrankieZ
84 500SEL EURO 87K
85 300D 267K (and still goin' strong)

Frank, I am sure that your remark was aimed at a few select, morally corrupt individuals, but here are my 2 cents.

Those would be money grubbing mechanics in Michigan. If they did business in the south they wouldn't have such a high cost of living (and doing business) as their northern counterparts do, and, many repairs would take them half the time, because they wouldn't have to deal with the buttloads of rust that Mi. cars accumulate faster than politicians raise taxes. I think that the biggest expense , at least for me most of the time, is the highway robbery prices on parts...good thing for sites like this one, that can take some of the sting out of that aspect. Besides, I betcha MB mechanics actually have slow days, whereas a Chrysler mechanic never sees the end, and probably thinks he will be buried under a pile of broken digital dashes, MAP sensors, and prematurely worn 2.2ltr. cams. (well at least I hear the newer Chryslers have improved, so maybe there is hope for them yet)
Money grubbing? Probably a must in the rustbelt of the nation. (nah nah na nah na)

Oooops, as far as the topic goes, my vote is for the 300D with the turbo...you never know when some drunk sob comes swerving out of the local Lodge in his boat, and takes up 2 lanes...I want to get away from them as quickly as I can. I also enjoy being able to step on the pedal at 70mph and get to 85 or 90 just as easily as in my 4.5 Deville. (at least in the 300 the stupid speedo doesn't start to flash at 85mph..what a piece of dorky engineering. )
-Larry

well people seem to be taking sides on this issue, so you have to decide what is most important to your father.

My vote is for simplicity's sake, the plain jane 240D will be extremely reliable and won't offer a home to too many electrical gremlins and should deliver great milage. As my first MB, I had a 77 240 with the 4 sp manual, and it would not stop (running that is)! and I didn't have to worry about elec windows, or the sunroof. (Note to Larry Bible- I thought it was a decent shifter and never put a clutch in it)

However, when the AC was on, it simply would not accelerate! Mine happily cruised at 65ish when I was using it and the road was clear and downhill

It's still in the family, and my nephew is using it and it's running fine.

Remember that they will all be at least 15 years or older,so the more complicated the car, the higher the probablity you'll be fixing something.

Regards
Russ

In defense of power windows and sunroofs, they, like power tools, are very reliable and should last the life of the car if: they were properly engineered in the first place, they are not abused (protected from kids), the control switches are not handled by greasy french-fry/whopper gulping drivers and they are given some minimal care and attention by their owner.

The only Power Windows, Power Sunroofs, etc that NEVER give trouble, are the ones that aren't there in the first place.

Noone builds things that NEVER, EVER give trouble.

Good luck,

------------------
Larry Bible
'01 C Class, Six Speed
'84 Euro 240D, 523K miles
'88 300E 5 Speed
'81 300D Daughter's Car
Over 800,000 miles in
Mercedes automobiles

Jivesh,
I have both the 300D and 240D, and would drive either around the world tomorrow!

For the most economic sense, get your father the 240D. It will get better fuel economy, easier on the parts cost, and easier for the back-yard mechanic to take care of....

I must agree with Larry, the frills of power accessories are highly overrated for the average commuter car... just one more thing to repair later.

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William
76 240D (W115) - 550K miles
78 300D (W123) - 200K+ miles

I agree with LB and WH. I have been tinkering with cars since I was around 11 (about 1966) and have to agree that the power stuff is just more stuff to go wrong later.
engatwork

BTW,
Speaking of 'power frills', it was pouring the rain outside last night and the drivers power window on the 300D would not come up more than an inch.... I had to clear the garage at midnight.
What I wouldn't have given for a hand-crank window regulator

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William
76 240D (W115) - 550K miles
78 300D (W123) - 200K+ miles

[This message has been edited by WmHarlow (edited 10-06-2000).]

Either if fine, but how about a 300SDL with an air Bag?

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Nick Koch
80 380SE (euro)
87 300SDL 204,000 Miles
96 Dodge Ram 1500

1985 was the last year of the iron head diesels. I have a feeling that my 300SD will run as long as I want to drive it, as long as I want to replace things as they break, which isn't very often.

The few extra power accessories, like the seats, sunroof, and windows, have all given me problems, and my auto transmission may not make it another 172K miles.

Another thought, if the going gets very hilly, a 240D can be painfully slow. My 77 300D (non-turbo) had a tough time maintaining 25 mph up the mountain road leading to the racetrack at Watkins Glen NY...

Would parts be available for a 190D of this vintage?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=461143507


thanks
engatwork

I have owned both a 240d with a 4-speed manual and a 300d natural aspirated with a 5-speed manual. On open highways, not climbing mountains or at high altitude, the 240 would go 80-85 mph without drama. It handles beautifully, and the brakes are typical Mercedes.
I have driven the 240 some in big cities (NYC, Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis), and it isn't much fun when merging into heavy aggressive traffic. Most of my driving is on 2-lane blacktop Maine roads, and the 240 is marginal for passing on hills.
My 300d is a grey-market market car, with crank-up windows, manual sunroof, plain heater controls. Simple car, no more geegaws than the old 240. I used to drive it from Maine to Cape Cod alot because of a tugboat job, and we would leave for work at 2:30 in the morning when the roads were deserted. The 300d will go 100 miles in an hour, no problem. It has more punch than the 240, and will pass going up a hill, but is no rocket sled. I have bought a wreck with a turbo 300 engine in it, and will do a transplant someday, and this would be my ideal car.
(I've been told that there was a European 240 turbo with 5-speed. I'd like to see that.)
If your dad has a pretty straightforward commute drive, preferably without mountains and with a 4-lane road, I think he'd find that the 240 does fine. It gets somewhat better mileage even than the NA 300 with the overdrive 5-speed, and the cars aren't in much demand and are cheap. They seem to come out of garages in suburbia when they finally move old mom off to the nursing home, and nobody has any interest in a 1982 240 with 68,000 miles on it. Most of those are automatics, though. I understand that the swap to manual isn't impossible if you have a complete donor car to get the gearbox, bellhousing, hydraulics and such out of. I have such a car for sale, by the way...
I have no experience with automatic transmissions.
seo

I have owned the list at my signature and currently own a 82 300TD and my daughter has an 83 240D.

It is not a particular engine tranny combination I would look for.

ANY W123 that has been maintained well is what your looking for. Weather its a 300D, 300TD 300CD or 240D Just look for the best maintained car you can find.

I would stay away form the phase 2 AC system. Very expensive to get the vacuum control unit. And they do tend to give problems.

So keep an eye out for any W123 but make sure it has full records, and everything is in great shape.

I sometimes enjoy driving the 240D more than the 300TD. It makes you slow down and take things slower. That is sort of nice nowadays in this "full speed ahead" society we live in.

Dave

__________________
1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car

This thread is 6 years old!

I'd go with a turbo 300D in any case. The average MPG difference between a 240D and 300D just don't make it worth having 50hp less.

What type fuel economy does a 300D turbo get with a manual transmission?

__________________
JWJ
1983 MB 300D - > 430,000 miles - Deep Blue - Bilstein Comforts - 0-60 in 24 seconds - 27MPG
1985 MB 300TD (wagon) - > 275,000 miles - Manila Beige - Thule rack - 0-60 in 18 seconds - 22 - 25MPG
Biodiesel, Mobil Delvac 1, and Viton fuel lines!