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View Full Version : What makes 123 diesels sooo nice (an opinion)


VLayton
02-28-2004, 03:31 PM
Hello all, I wanted to share with how I've come to my passion.
I've always loved cars, since the age of 1/2. Car movies, car video games, car toys, legos that could be made into cars, you can get the picture. When I was 7, I lived in Germany for about 2 years. It was a whole new world car styles, sounds, and smells (diesel) right at the time 123 chassis was in full swing. I remember riding in a 123 and a 116 diesel taxi.
My first car was an Oldmobile with 111 thousand miles of experience with the ill-famed 231. (once I requested some engine seals from a dealer, who told me that engine was usually replaced at 60-70 thousand miles and it wasn't worth it.) Somehow I got it to 196 thousand, despite the abuse of a car stunt fan type. After considerable experience with another fine but expensive GM, a Ford from *#*#*#*#, and a 1985 Civic, as well as driving about 100 other examples of 20+ cars (yes I keep track, 564,xxx thousand total miles driven to date) I found that this off-beat, $2100 16 year old German diesel was the best handling/feeling 3400 pound cars I'd ever driven.

Although slow, in the world of economic transportation, here is a car that

Handles exellent, Rides smooth with tactile feel, is capable of 500-800 thousand or more miles on one engine, requires no plugs, rotor, catalytic converter, O2 sensor, yada yada yada.
Simple, reliable, fixable, restorable, durable, and excellent.
I like it so much, I barely know or notice or care about most other cars. I only buy, use, and fix them(for the time being. I plan to help keep as many examples around as much as possible. I'd better go, talk to you all next time!

VLayton
02-28-2004, 03:46 PM
Here's a little more insigt:

of 564,xxx miles, about 290,xxx are in a 123 chassis diesel.

Needless to say, I have a decent grasp on how they should drive.

I changed the oil in my Cutlas.

I took my GMC to the shop.

I replaced a fender, a radiator, a thermostadt, plugs and wires on my Honda.

I took my first Benz to a shop, and the second initially, until I took over.

I haven't been to a shop with a 123 car for anything other than tires/alignment since 1999. With no formal instruction, I have studied the 123 for almost 8 years, the natural desire propeling me to learn this one model fluently, although I admit I am an obessed amatuer, sometimes that is better than formal credentials. Man does time fly. Goodbye again.

4point5
03-24-2004, 02:11 PM
Wow man, you're obsessed! Just kidding, I am almost as bad...

I've owned more 123 chassis M-B's than any other chassis, and must have driven well nigh a hundred of them at this point (between diagnosing friends' cars, road testing for possible purchase, etc)...

Keep up your 123 studies----

-JAS

84 300TD
73 280SEL 4.5

connor
04-12-2004, 12:53 PM
Ride on brother.

-Sean

1985 300D
1991 420SEL

rpchc
05-08-2004, 02:25 AM
I too love the 123. I purchased my first in 1993. It had 123K miles on it. I still own it, and it now has 437K miles on it. My kids learned to drive in this car. I now own a second (Same year and model) I have put over 100K on it. It's been 11 years in the same model and make and I still love it. I also agree with you 100% regarding repairs. For the most part it is a joy to work on.

D.L. SWINFORD
05-11-2004, 06:33 PM
Howdy All!
And I thought I was the only nut.
Until 2002 we had two Benz.
A 1987 W124 300E purchased in 1989 with 19,xxx miles and when traded Him for a 2002 Hyundia XG350L he had 198,xxx miles. That's another story.
We still have our 1985 W124133 purchased in 1987with 9,xxx miles and now 289,xxx miles.
I do all of my own servicing and what repairs when needed which ain't very often.
I change the engine oil and filter every 2,500 miles.
All fluids annually.i.e diff, trans, brake and cooling.
And this has paid off.
Would you believe I'm still on the original timing chain? See what clean oil can give you?
At last valve adjustment He only had 3 degree stretch.
Yestertday I replaced the vacuum hoses, all of them, what a difference that made in everything using vacuum; engine, turbo, transmission, A/C, door locks & whatever.
Happy Trails Beep Beep from the Shadow on the Gulf Coast. Don