Paging all W123 owners

"Niquemarshall" (dominiquemarshall) 02/11/2016 at 12:28 • Filed to: None

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I checked out an 82 300TD station wagon the other day, and i sorta want it. The rear SLS is in good shape it only has a bit of rust. It also has a charging issue but when I looked at it the belts were very loose. My question is, how cheap to own are W123? I know they’re pretty reliable but are they Volvo reliable? I currently drive a redblock Volvo.

Seat Safety Switch > Niquemarshall 02/11/2016 at 12:37

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If it’s not reliable, can you flip it for about what you would pay if you use a can of spraypaint, some spray wax and a power polisher?

Most cars are just better pictures in the ad away from another $500, I think.

MultiplaOrgasms > Niquemarshall 02/11/2016 at 12:44

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Is it well maintained? If it is, then it should be Volvo-reliable.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Niquemarshall 02/11/2016 at 12:45

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I’d say they’re Volvo 240 ballpark. In some respects the 240 Volvos are certainly no better. With rebuilds, we (my dad, an uncle, a cousin, etc. ) pushed three Volvo 240 series diesels into the high 300k mile range, and we’ve got a 300d W123 that’s in the 270k range sans rebuilds and two 240ds in the high 100s to mid 200s that are currently down for rebuild, after running a W115 240d into what I want to say was the high 200s. Beware leaks, however, and replace them timing chains. Also, spontaneous rapid oil consumption on one cylinder only (!) is apparently a thing that can happen. One of the 240ds.

Agrajag > Niquemarshall 02/11/2016 at 12:45

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Dirt cheap. Downside (and a big one) is you need to order everything. This might help for some other things to inspect but for that price I’d get it as long as it runs.

Niquemarshall > Agrajag 02/11/2016 at 12:51

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I want to. He’s only asking 1000 and that’s with the cool rally lights it has

Berang > Niquemarshall 02/11/2016 at 12:51

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Hey it’s in German taxicab paint. I read somewhere that Mercedes would use up all their excess taxi paint on U.S. models because Americans didn’t know better.

RTChoke > Niquemarshall 02/11/2016 at 13:03

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I have a 79 that is starting to dissolve but still runs fine at about 400k miles. Pretty easy to work on, I’ve done a lot on mine, parts are readily available new or from the knackers, maintenance manuals (electronic or paper) easy to find. On the alternator the adjusters sometimes get a bit wonky and are somewhat sensitive to belt size. You can haul lots of stuff in one. Offer $750 and get the thing if for nothing more than to have a cool beater. Change the oil (good diesel oil) and filters and suspension fluid and drive it like you stole it, those diesels love to be flogged and get better the harder they run. I’m on an active list of old MB diesel owners that can help you with anything.

RTChoke > RTChoke 02/11/2016 at 13:05

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I forgot to say, any Benz needs maintenance and to stay after issues, but these things are 3rd-world sorts of cars so it’s not like they are exotics.

RTChoke > Agrajag 02/11/2016 at 13:06

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A lot of parts are available at your local auto parts, and there are lots of aftermarket suppliers for stuff.

RTChoke > Niquemarshall 02/11/2016 at 13:07

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If you mean the yellow lights, those are fog lights, you select them by pulling out the light switch

Steve in Manhattan > Niquemarshall 02/11/2016 at 13:59

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I’d check out what you can get for a little more money. These cars are generally bulletproof, but remember the only part of the car that’s a diesel is the engine, as I found out with my W124 sedan.

Niquemarshall > RTChoke 02/11/2016 at 14:33

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So parts aren’t as expensive as I’ve heard? I had a 190e once and parts weren’t too bad.

Niquemarshall > RTChoke 02/11/2016 at 14:34

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It had some rally style lights mounted on the bumper

Agrajag > RTChoke 02/11/2016 at 15:31

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I’ve never found one thing for mine at a local place, but the huge aftermarket is what makes these things cheap to maintain.

RTChoke > Niquemarshall 02/11/2016 at 15:31

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There are some sources that are reasonable for new parts if you need to order them, even for actual Benz parts, and for a lot of stuff you can find used parts at a junkyard if they have any 123s or at the auto parts store. The only thing specific to the wagon is the rear suspension stuff (and hatch latches, etc.) but even new it is not too bad. The engine head is different as it has the suspension pump built in but with good clean fluid those go pretty much forever. okiebenz.com is our email list server, if you get the car sign up and you’ll get loads of experience and advice, even used parts and sources for new. If you can get the car for not too much (I’d offer more like $750, room to dicker some), it would be fun and you could probably get (most of) your money out of it if you ever sold it. They are great old cars, solid, handle well, real MB engineering, haul a lot... but you do need to stay after them.

Agrajag > Niquemarshall 02/11/2016 at 15:32

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Not expensive at all. The w123 and the w124 are pretty much the exception.

kanadanmajava1 > Niquemarshall 02/11/2016 at 15:33

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Usually only rust keeps these from going forever. My friends father had one with 500,000 km and it looked like a 5 year old car. He said that 500,000 km is a good break-in procedure for a 300TD.

If that happens to be a turbocharged model (as TD doesn’t stand for it) the turbocharger might need be replaced at some point.

RTChoke > Agrajag 02/11/2016 at 15:35

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I have bought a brake master cylinder (reman) was like $40. Wheel brake stuff if they don’t have it they can get it tomorrow, or just mail order it. Filters and such are at the auto parts. Some stuff you can find on Amazon from vendors. A lot of the consumable stuff is commodity at this point, some things you might want more quality OEM stuff but even that you can get easily.

RTChoke > kanadanmajava1 02/11/2016 at 15:38

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Can be rebuilt too fairly easily. I just got one already rebuilt (or it might be new, I have not looked at it yet!) yesterday from a buddy for <$200 or you could pull one at a junkyard. Same engine as in the 126s so that expands the parts supply.

Niquemarshall > RTChoke 02/11/2016 at 16:36

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I’ll always look after it. I’m a real big tinkerer so I’ll always be replacing stuff on it even if it’s not bad. That’s my bad habit haha