How are those E320 CDI's doing these days?

I could sell all 3, put a hitch on the CDI for when I need to get something like a sheet of plywood or what not.

Which part(s) of your story doesn't make sense to you, and why?

I think the newer ones have a better reputation than the older - but from my perspective there's a lot of electrickery in new cars that would need a bit of a sideways step to get used to from a mechanic's point of view

Having owned my CDI for a year and a half, and 18K miles, I say if you can sell all three and come up with the cash difference for a "NICE" CDI, you will NEVER look back and say "Wow, I wish I'd kept all those old cars...."

I've noticed that the great majority of negative comments about the CDIs on this board come from people who have never owned, let alone driven, a CDI. I can also remember, 23 years ago when I bought my wife her 87 300TD, I heard the same remarks about the W124 with the OM603 engine.

Sure they are more complex cars than a W123, but compared to a Model T, a W123 is complex, but owners of W123s are OK with that......

Don't get me wrong, I'm not dissing W123s and W124s, I still own 2 W124s, but neither have any immediate needs, and are driven sparingly, so little time or money is required to keep them. My wife refuses to consider any replacement for her W124 wagon, it sits in the garage ready for her to accumulate the 3K miles per year she drives. The cabriolet gets about 1K per year, it's purely a toy and one I feel confident will be a winner in the appreciation sweepstakes as time goes on.

<edit> Err, 3 W124s. Keep forgetting about the 91 300D. It's a transient car, just using it this winter to keep the salt off the CDI. Have already agreed to sell it to a friend when the snow stops. But the other two are longterm keepers.

Here's a thought: Keep the truck, get a CDI, and maybe keep the nicest diesel you now own as your fun car.

Jim

I'd sell the two diesels and possibly the truck. I don't need all 3 really. The truck really helped out around school. Or I'd sell the truck and the '87 and keep the '78 bcayse I only paid $1k for that and clean w123's are getting hard to find.

I'd probat have to finance the remainder of the CDI. But If I do get this new job this week teaching will pay out my summer paycheck account and I can put that towards a CDI as well and just make up the difference somehow.

The W126 diesel will trailer just fine. I had a hitch installed on mine to transport goods in an enclosed UHaul trailer a thousand miles. No truck needed.

Nothing against trucks other than their extra cost draining factor.

I like it. That's the best plan here I've read, whether you realize it or not.

If a W126 will trailer #2,000 or so, which they will - the CDI will have zero problems doing it too.

True.

didn't read all the posts.....
 

So, hopefully no one suggested this. Keep all the vehicles and add another parking space. :eek:

The Mrs.TheDon suggested keeping the truck. It will be the last one left after I sell off the other two since it's insured as my daily driver.

I did see that the w211 has a large trunk. I was expecting something like the w126 with the fuel tank in the way. I saw one on CL that's hunter green or whatever it's called (I want a green one or brown if they exists) with the split rear seat but no parktronic.

It's wise to decide things together, whenever possible.

If you can find a CDI with the pass-through, fold down right rear seatback cushion, you can haul your snow skis, fence posts, and other loong articles without them hanging out the open trunk lid, side windows, or having to strap them to the roof. Unfortunately, the CDI I bought for my personal car wasn't equipped this optional feature. Not sure, but I believe all the W211s have pre-threaded 4-point roof connections for the MB luggage-racks.

Tyler got one of the Freeh cousins the Green you reference. I may be wrong, but that green exterior may have only been available in the 05?

Truck is getting the axe too, won't have to pay like $400 for another plate and registration is easy to transfer.

If I need another truck I'll just go buy an 80's C10 for $1200 like my room mate did.


I'm not sure on the color availability but it's a dark hunter green.

I kept my 84 wagon but I have a garage and I couldn't let it go. I bought a 05 CDI. It's a super dark metallic green (melanite black pearl metallic) which looks black at first glance. I'm quite happy. There was a 06 CDI here on CL with 89K miles for $12.8K and it was fully optioned. That's the way to go. To the Don: quit working on the cars all the time and give your time to something else. Transportation is transportation.

http://miami.craigslist.org/brw/ctd/4899731094.html
http://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/ctd/4877002861.html
http://sarasota.craigslist.org/cto/4898305853.html
http://keys.craigslist.org/cto/4833866913.html

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...1&d=1424619637

Pretty sure we will see an explosion in CDI ownership soon.

I'm on board with this decision.

05 and 06 are the better years due to the om648 straight 6. The 07 went to the V6 which was (prior to release) rumored to be more powerful and have better economy. Those rumors were false, and later years had DPF and Adblue which are power and economy killers. Until the current 4 cylinder diesel of 2014 the OM648 is still considered to be the best choice in most owners views. The SBC repair can be pricey, but what MB repair is not? The benzworld w211 forum is actually a worthwhile place (wow did I just say that?!?)