MBLOVERNYC

Hello everyone.

My name is Freddy and I have been contemplating on buying a w123 in the near future and wanted some advice.

I have been a long time lurker on this forum and decided to sign up.

First a little background information:

I have been working on cars my entire life and have a true passion for working on automobiles(Foreign and domestic).

Recently I have become an all-Porsche man but have had other marques including but not limited to BMW M3's, Benz CLK430/Ml63, Mustang 5.0's, Fiat Abarth etc.

My main objective is to buy the nicest example out there without breaking the bank. I don't mind fixing consumable items on both the drivetrain and body/suspension but don't have the time for a basket case. I am leaning towards a 300D sedan or a 300td wagon but have also considered a Euro Spec 280E with the M110 but can't seem to find one. The purpose of this car would be a Sunday/Weekend hobby car and not a daily driver.

My max budget would be no more than $6000.

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

Plutoe

My advice is invest the six grand in the stock market and if you still want a W123 buy a coloring book!!

MBLOVERNYC

Thanks for the advice but my financial planner position has already been fulfilled.

Does anyone have any worthwhile advice to give?

nm300dturbo

I have a 84 300 d turbo with 250k on it. I have owned it since 2009 and driven it daily. It is a solid, reliable car. I have dealt with minor stuff like an ignition tumbler, but not much else. So the one I have has lived up the reputation these cars have.

Sharpie1

Hello:

My first MB was a W126 that I bought when I was around 22 years old for about $600. It was a 1983 300SD. It had chipping paint, a torn seat and 230k miles on the odometer. At the time, I was driving 1000 miles per week for my job.

When I finally sold the car, it had 467k miles on it. I changed the oil every 3-5k miles, had the hood painted and I probably spent $2000 total in maintenance on it.

I was 50 miles from home one afternoon while doing field service for work - and when I started the engine, the belt came off for some reason - but of course, the diesel continued to run. Being stupid, I ran the vehicle all the way home. The engine overheated. It still ran, mind you, but I think I kind of messed it up. Anyway, I sold it for around $1000 - even though the new buyer knew about the issue with the engine.

I still miss that car.

Several years went by as did several so-called "practical" cars. Basically, soul-sucking Japanese appliances. Finally, I started gravitating back to German cars once I could afford newer ones. BMWs, newer MBs, etc. This is mainly because I want to keep living my life when I'm in my vehicle - not press the pause button and drive around in the car-equivalent of a $15 toaster.

About 18 months ago, I started searching again for a car with that same engine and decided to go with the W123 300D. I spent 6-8 months looking for the right one. I found one in Atlanta, 5 hours from home. I bought it from the original owner who bought it with the European Delivery Program. He is a retired airline pilot and had copious service records and documentation. The car was and still is in pristine condition. I couldn't be happier with it. I plan to take care of it and keep it until I die. I drive it if it is clear out. I do not drive it if there is a risk of salt on the roads. I am reluctant to drive it in the rain. I just want it to last a long time. It isn't a garage queen by any means - but I just have a lot of respect for it. It's earned the privelege.

I've replaced the radiator and am going through everything and am just replacing things that fail. Timing chain replacement, gaskets, seals, hoses, etc.

Here's my advice.

-Buy a later model W123 (1983-1984 or so).
-Get one that's in as good a shape as possible.
-Ask yourself if the vehicle you're looking at appears to have been loved.
-Service records are everything.
-Take cash. $100 bills. And negotiate. Use the fact that you have cash as leverage - as that is your most powerful weapon.

Having cash allowed me to buy a car priced over $6000 for $4000.

I have 2 newer german cars that are between 2-5 years old (one BMW 328i M-Sport Coupe and one ML350) - along with my 1983 300D. If I could only have one of them, it would be the 300D all day long. I could write another 10 pages explaining why that is.

6point3

Hands down best and most reliable and useful car ever.
Best as a wagon and with a turbo.

I have gone a little different route than the last poster.
I have bought any of these whenever an opportunity came up.
I have now a couple dozen of these squirreled away. a handful of wagons and coupes as well.
I am confident that the majority of them will run again and drive......

Mike P

I use my 1982 240D stick (340K+ miles)as a daily driver. Both of my sons used this road rocket for their 1st year of driving.....67hp makes it tough to get into big trouble!!!

Mechanically the car is tremendous. I've spent silly money with rust repairs......the latest is to completely replace the entire floor. I've worsened the cost by applying the old "as long as your at it". I need therapy due to the amount of money I've spent virtually rebuilding the metal including 4 factory fenders and redoing the door bottoms.

Find a 123 that has a good body........take it to an expert to REALLY examine the metal.
Mechanicals are actually pretty cheap (I'm currently restoring a 1967 250SL------intend to make it look like the day it left the factory. The car needs some of the rubber/chrome trim replaced and a few!!!! minor items------$11K+ with a 20% discount from MB Classic and about $21K to have all the chrome triple plated restored)

The 123's are a bargain!!

surveyor911

As long as you don't plan on replacing the rubber molding around the windows it's a fun car. The rubber parts are EXPENSIVE. I saw just the other day $3200 for the whole lot. Wish I could unload mine.

minimalist

Hello. I emailed you about a 300TD - not a basket but far from perfect. She is my personal car but she has just been sitting a few years - does run and drive and no structural or visual rust - surface here and there but nothing through body or chassis. To a good home I would be very accommodating on price. Thank you PS - I owned many, many Benz - 1997 300D Wagon, 2002 E55, 1995 E320 Wagon, 2004 E500 Wagon etc etc I believe I have been a citizen on MB World for YEARS but could no log in - thus the newbie status