With inflation, this is a $90k car. Extremely reliable. Very well built. I got a 85 300D mint for $7k. Can’t go wrong. Most comfortable and relaxed car I’ve ever owned, and I’ve owned over 100 cars.
Good Morning from germany, the home off all Mercedes W123 (;-). Let me tell you (in my bad school english...) between 1986 to 1990 i was a taxi driver in theese Mercedes W123 (200 D, 240 D). We have to work for 12 hours in it. After a few month you can't see any detail of your cab. In this time other driver become the W124 Mercedes and i wish my boss also will do this step. So many years later i remember on it with a new view. You do right ! These Mercedes are the best ever made Diesel from Mercedes Benz. Greethings from the small town Burlo. And belive me, we are a litle bit prowd, that so many people in the world like our Mercedes car's.
@@WindozeCS You didn't understand my comment. These older Mercedes cars are very easy to work on. The new one from the 2000s are impossible to be fixed all by yourself. You are forced to take the new Mercedes cars to the dealership.
Oh my Good God!! I would kill for this exact same car *in this condition!!!* I've never seen an 80s W123 in such great shape!! Heck, I'd be scared to drive it on a public road, lest someone crashes into it or something! 😂
If only there was a way to get these haters with such empty and miserable lives to have it impossible or very difficult to dislike good quality videos. Their only purpose on earth is to hate.
Che bella!! Meravigliosa Mercedes 300D non conosco l' invidia ma di questo signore americano sono davvero invidioso per avere una Mercedes degli anni 80 così in splendide condizioni!!! COMPLIMENTI PER LA CURA E L AMORE CHE RISERVA A QUEST' AUTO
Back in My Young Bachelor Days in San Antonio, Texas, I drove a W123 1985 300D Turbo Diesel. And had use of My Brothers 1984 500 SEL Euro specs, but My M-B model was the best ever and very economical. Since then, I've had C280 and ML320 models, again, the W123 is still the best ever. Currently, I AM seeking a W123, maybe the 280E ? But that diesel gave Me 40+mpg and no trouble ever. Congratulations ! That's a beautiful NEW car .
Congratulation! You found an amazing one. Almost got tears in my eyes when you opened the tool bag, reminding about my own 240D driven from 81 to 89, the fall of Berlin Wall. Sir, you made a good deal!
The biggest problem with these cars (W123 240D 300D 300TD, 300CD W126 300SD) is if someone owns a pristeen example, they know what they have and they never sell them no matter what you offer them.
Yep, I love mine to death bought it with 155k miles, services it, got new tires and took care of it. I love it and wouldn't part ways with her no matter what. I wish she was a two door coupe but I'm happy nonetheless.
I have been looking for a Mercedes for months and turned down a lot cause I knew I’d fine the one... and just yesterday i bought this exact model, same year, except in the color cream you mentioned on Craigslist, I was shocked I even found it! I’m so so excited to drive it, this is a beautiful color!
Wow this is the best W123 I've seen.Just amazing salute to the previous owner hands down. It's just perfection. Listen to the sound when he hits the gas. AMAZING
The grandparents of a buddy of mine growing up had these and I remember them vividly. Nothing like the sound of that 5cyl diesel. The vault like doors and comfort of the seats stand out. Peerless quality. The best car you can buy, in my opinion.
defiantly 4 disc brakes. There is a rear drum brake that is actuated via the e-brake, but the rear two brakes are discs just like the front with a smaller caliper and pads. If it was a 1985 (at least for the usa market) you had the option of ABS. I have seen it in my friends 85 300td wagon and several w123 300sds .
I have the 1981 Mercedes 240d with a 4 speed manual and it is one of the best cars I have ever owned. It is also fun to drive. Mercedes out did themselves with this car.
Back when having a Mercedes was actually something to be proud of. Only problem that Mercedes still has to this day unless you pretty much have a garage for it, never takes it through the colder climates and more then it rusts. Horribly.
The 300 turbo diesel engine five cylinders is the most powerful engine ever made . It's a real monster . I had one like this car but with 7seats . It was my life love
This is one of the best cars ever made, albeit very expensive as new. They were abundant as cabs in my country when I was a child. There are thousands still running as cabs in Morocco. For me this is the quintessential Mercedes. I think this is money well spent, take care of it, and it will retain value
what a score...perfect car, prefect condition great color combo...I am jealous,,,if it were mine I would flip the White walls in with those wheels..WW look great with the old hub caps the alloys look great black wall
Keep an eye on the block for a hairline crack between cylinders 5 & 3 (order is: 12453) this is between the two cylinders furthest to the rear while the engine is sitting in the car. Easier to detect on the earlier models. On the later ones the turbocharger masks the problem.
That thing is nice, your daughter has good taste in cars. I've had 3 of them, my mom and dad have had 4, my brother had 1, my sister had 1, grandparents had 3, aunt and uncle had 3. We love them. If you do your maintenance then they should last about forever. Lol
Underside looks typical for a San Jose, CA area car, though oil leaks are more common. I own two. The good not mentioned: Independent Rear Suspension (handles well on curves), mechanical diesel needs no electricity (less likely to strand you). Bad points: mechanical vacuum pump parts can slide into timing chain and destroy engine, climate controls are usually erratic, transmission often shifts hard, parts are often 10x a Chevy (if even available) ex. rebuilt engine is $8500, and no cup holders! The auto transmission runs out of gears, spinning 3000 rpm at 65 mph. Seems they could have given a taller final gear with 4 speeds. Not "rear drums", but disks as you can see in the underside walk-around. Owners are slowly developing retrofit solutions to many endemic problems. I wouldn't say the best car ever designed, but because they were expensive, many were babied at the dealers by original owners. Go to PeachParts M-B Diesel owner's forum for info on repairs, even if you don't swing wrenches yourself.
William Grissom in Europe most of these comes with no aircon, no abs, no cruise control, no turbo. A 4 or 5 speed bulletproof manual. Less or no vacuum lines means less problems. They live forever here when you keep the rust away.
The whitewalls can be turned around to the black. Mercedes sometimes supplied the car that way and the new owner decided what to do. Tires were not rotational back then
@@hank4279 I don't recall ever seeing whitewalls on a Mercedes during that time. My hometown had plenty. I thought it was odd they didn't as I loved whitewalls back then. Also, look at promotional videos and photos from the era.No whitewalls. In fact, no european cars had whitewalls that I can remember.
@@DCGuy1997 ah you were just a baby then so your memory is not there. Mercedes whitewalls when ordered was a specific code on the build sheet. Whitewalls in general were popular back then even on US cars
@@hank4279 ha! There were several on my block alone. One neighbor had 4! But here they are: A 76 300D(Green/green), 79 300D (light ivory/brown), 3 79 300SD's (silver/black, white/blue, red/cream, an 81 300SD black/tan, an 84 300DT(gray/palomino) and 85 300DT (light ivory/palomino). We had a 77 300D (gray/cream). My friends parents had them too. I could list the other ones in town but would get tired of typing. None had whitewalls. And I don't recall seeing any at the dealer. I loved cars and was well aware of features. I reminded a high school friend at our 30th reunion that her mom had an 82 Olds Custom Cruiser diesel (tan/burgundy) but she didn't believe me. Called her aunt and she confirmed I was right. Trust me. My memory is crystal clear when it comes to cars of that era. :)
I was just a 10 or 11 yo child back in 76 but i do remember some of these models coming new with ww tires a neighbor bought one new and it came with them from the factory
Megan. You bought a wonderful car. Congrats!! I have owned 4 different w123s. And 1w124 and 1 w126. All wonderful diesels. The most I had issues with were the w123 &126turbo-diesels. Not The turbos just the items in the automobile and the transmissions in both of those because there are lots more electronics. Good running cars other than that. So if you can get a few extra parts like the window switches now and some dash piece Parts I would get them now. Before they vanish. The w123 240d slow yet delightful, of the three I have owned and my latest are always reliable and nothing goes wrong hardly ever Because they are more basic. They start even after sitting a year! So next time in the market.... the 240d if you can handle it a bit slower haha. The w124 turbo 2.5 is amazing too. Even better than the 300d w123. IMHO. However yours looks showroom. Keep it babied and it will be a stylish classic auto for many years to come.
John Handy: All the Diesels from that era were Low-Pressure Indirect- Injected Diesels...utilizing the Ricardo Process : Stainless Steel swirl combustion chamber bankrolled by Peugeot. It's why all Diesels then,smoked like hell under load....and did not make much power until the advent of High Pressure Direct Injection Diesels.......which made twice the Torque and 1 1/2 more Power in later years. They (W123) were well made cars in the day......but a Peugeot 604/505 Turbo Diesel..beat them in ride quality,reliability,....and especially noise-suppression from road and engine noise entering the passenger compartment. A Intercooled 106 horsepower 2.5 Peugeot Indenor 505 Turbo Diesel with a 5 Speed would run circles around a 300D TD back then...and get way better MPG.
Many years ago I saw a man putting kerosene into his 505 so I asked him whether it didn't lack proper upper lubricants and ran too hot. He said it was all he had used for the previous 350K miles! Said it was the most reliable car he had ever owned.
hello from Canada. Very smart muve to buying an old mercedes Benz diesel.. in pristine condition. New cars this day's are purely made. Plastic and electronic garbage
Though as a European I dislike the US version of the W123, with the weird headlights and bumpers and the heating automatic that always breaks down, but this is a beautiful car! Beautiful color combination and just like all US cars filled with luxurious options. Make sure you protect it from the harsh sun, that is what kills these cars in the US, as a classic Mercedes specialist I have seen many US cars and their interior and paint were all completely destroyed by the sun.
Most of us in the USA love our versions. The headlights give it character and personality. Euro headlight look soulless to me. Our bumpers add elegance but also at the same create a more rugged look. Euro bumpers make the car look stunted or unfinished.
I'm sorry but the words "Mercedes Benz parts" and "cheap" are an oxymoron like "jumbo shrimp". And finding a mechanic, still alive, that understands the complex vacuum system that runs the door locks, transmission shift, climate control and power brakes will not be an easy task. It's a beautiful car and built like a tank but the vacuum system is a nightmare. The first thing I would do is find a good used or a rebuilt vacuum pump just to have. If the pump fails and diesel gets in your vacuum lines you're in several thousand dollars worth of trouble.
One more thing. Put diesel additive in the fuel tank every second fill up if you can. The car will purr like a kitten and last so much longer. It will literally almost eliminate the shake after A few months.
I tried to buy one in decent shape for so long now but no luck whatsoever so far...they are gone gone gone...only ratcars and rust left....i wish i had a time machine to go back and buy 3 or more!
Wow! Fantastic find. I had an 85 back in the early 2000s. I had 4 wheel disk brakes you should to. Can I ask what you ended up paying for it? Whatever it was I'm sure it was worth it. I have a 2001 e320 now. Nothing like my 85.
Two things: 1) How much did you pay? 2) At this point, 33 years out, it would be ashame to make this a 'daily driver' car, because it is too clean. It is so close to showroom quality that it would take very little to make it a show car -- and keep it that way.
That's called midnight blue with the palomino interior same as my '85 California which I wouldn't trade for a 2019 anything. One thing is the '85's had a higher ratio rear end that lowered the highway RPMs.Love it.
