Tell me about W123s...
Discussion
I'm feeling a growing urge to get a W123 as a runaround and I wondered how much truth there was in their bullet-proof reputation?
How reliable are they usually and do the parts tend to be expensive?
If I was to get one it would be used as everyday transport, so economy starts to become quite important. What are the diesels like and - herecy as this may sound to some - how do they respond to chip fat?
How reliable are they usually and do the parts tend to be expensive?
If I was to get one it would be used as everyday transport, so economy starts to become quite important. What are the diesels like and - herecy as this may sound to some - how do they respond to chip fat?
They're a 35 year old design, the youngest examples of which are now 26. They're simple and strong. Their parts are of the highest quality and were assembled to a high standard. They had remarkable longevity built in. But most have come a long way and are well on the road to destruction, as a result of time, use and neglect.
Most are wrecks. They will keep going for a while yet. But maintaining them is a losing game.
A few have been either sparingly used or maintained without regard to cost or both. If you can find such a car, prise it from its owner's hands and continue to look after it without regard to cost, it will go on forever. But not without significant expense and effort maintaining the standard. It will reward you with total reliability and integrity and will appreciate in value.
They drive like old cars, too. Quite satisfying but not modern. The diesels are extremely slow (0-60 in 30 seconds slow) but unburstable and will run on anything even vaguely flammable, although they're not that economical. A late 230 E with the M102 motor is probably the best compromise between usability and economy.
Most are wrecks. They will keep going for a while yet. But maintaining them is a losing game.
A few have been either sparingly used or maintained without regard to cost or both. If you can find such a car, prise it from its owner's hands and continue to look after it without regard to cost, it will go on forever. But not without significant expense and effort maintaining the standard. It will reward you with total reliability and integrity and will appreciate in value.
They drive like old cars, too. Quite satisfying but not modern. The diesels are extremely slow (0-60 in 30 seconds slow) but unburstable and will run on anything even vaguely flammable, although they're not that economical. A late 230 E with the M102 motor is probably the best compromise between usability and economy.
Edited by r129sl on Thursday 26th May 10:36
r129sl said:
The diesels are extremely slow (0-60 in 30 seconds slow) but unburstable and will run on anything even vaguely flammable, although they're not that economical.
Ah. Although I'm not after a rocket ship the novelty would start to wear off once I was being overtaken by milk floats. I guess the benefit of going for a diesel is destroyed if the economy isn't great either.W124Bob said:
Whats your budget?the SOTW cars are now all but gone so you really need to think in the £3-3K for a daily driver.Check the footwells if the car has a sun roof,the drain channels get blocked and the blulkhead rots,would you consider a 190E?
It's all a bit hypothetical to be honest, I hadn't got as far as thinking about budget. I think it's definitely the older Mercs that appeal, I'm not that into the later ones, so a 190E wouldn't be quite the same. Well, maybe a Cosworth would...Gassing Station | Mercedes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff