dtutty

My name is Doug Tutty. I live in Orillia, Ontario, Canada.

My current car is a 1986 Pontiac wagon, chevy 305 with 630,000 Km on it.

I put between 20,000 and 80,000 Km/year on a car (average 50,000).

I need to replace the Pontiac. Parts are getting hard to get. I can't get the springs I want, I had to get a used wiper motor that by the time it got here cost more than a new one, and I had to get junkyard axles and spindles.

The nail in the coffin is that its rusting from the inside out and there are holes in the floor.

We need a replacement vehicle that is very reliable and designed to last. I also need a vehicle that is not computerized and has minimal electronics; they give my wife a headache. She can't even have a Timex watch on her purse yet alone wear one.

The 300TD (preferred) or 300D, being pre-electronic diesel, seems perfect. Since the local highway (#11) has short on-ramps and people drive like it was a multi-lane expressway, I want the turbo. It needs to have an automatic tranny.

Question: Where can I find out the differences between the model years 1981-1985? I understand that for 1981 the diesel was turbocharged and the 300D moved from the W123 to the W124 platform for 1986. Other than this, I don't know if one year is to be preferred to another.

Thanks,

Doug.

thebenzbar

Since you're in Canada, I presume you may have more choices of various W123 euro-versions & US-versions to pick from than US residents.

The diesel W123 300-series models varied as such (I did not include the 240D, 240TD, 220D, and 200D models):

USA-versions of the 300D sedan, 300CD coupe, and 300TD wagon were turbodiesels from 1981.5 to 1985 (early 1981 models were non-aspirated)

The euro-spec versions were available as:
300D sedans were non-aspirated diesels for all model years.
300TD wagons available in diesel and turbodiesel options.
There were no european-spec 300CD coupes.

dtutty

I've purchased a 1984 300SD. Thanks to all who emailed me.