My son's new ride! Not a Porsche, but it is German.

[vonsmog]

My son is in his fourth year at RIT for mechanical engineering and needed a new car as his Suzuki Sammy rotted out and has seen way better days. So I said pick something out that will last and you like. After doing some searching, he came up wanting a Mercedes Benz W123 with a diesel, as we are starting to make our own biodiesel. So the search was on, and he did all of his research. He wanted a standard transmission, but then he wanted a turbo diesel as well. Problem is MB never put a manual with the turbo motor in the 300D's. But many have been converted, and the 5 speed is the hot setup if you can find a 5 speed transmission. So the hunt was on, and we found a 85' Euro 300D which had a four speed in it originally, and then had its motor and transmission swapped out about 100k miles ago. Car was from Alabama with no rust and the motor and transmission he wanted and was only 6 hours away in RI. So we made the trip and ended up buying it. It drove home without a hitch sipping fuel and getting over 30 MPG the whole way. I'm so glad he picked this out instead of some rice rocket or sh@tbox. I guess whats old is new again!

[Rick V]

Very cool. Those cars are the type that if you see a deer in the road you hit the gas and not the brakes. True tanks. I would love to DD one

[EarlyPorsche]

The om617a swaps are gaining popularity because you cant hurt that engine! How is acceleration with the turbo and a 5 speed?

[vonsmog]

Originally Posted by EarlyPorsche

The om617a swaps are gaining popularity because you cant hurt that engine! How is acceleration with the turbo and a 5 speed?

Its not fast, but it keeps up with traffic with no problems. Is quite nice to drive compared to the auto transmission. The 5 speed really changes the way the car drives.

[Baz]

Sweet! Your son has good taste, Von. Those older Benz's run forever!

Congrats!

[onewhippedpuppy]

Nice! I'm a sucker for those, I spent a fun week putting around Denver while visiting friends.

[intakexhaust]

Nice. Keep that gunsight aimed and enjoy.

[FLYGEEZER]

Hey vonsmog, It's not just the 123 but the 124 wagon behind it that you need to tell me about. I've had a 95 E320 wagon for 13 years and it's my daily driver with 174,000 miles on the odometer. The 124 series that ended in 95 was the last of the "real" Mercedes. After that, they started building cars for the great unwashed masses and things went downhill as far as qualtity. Great find on the 123, you have great taste in autos. I wish you my best!

[vonsmog]

Originally Posted by FLYGEEZER

Hey vonsmog, It's not just the 123 but the 124 wagon behind it that you need to tell me about. I've had a 95 E320 wagon for 13 years and it's my daily driver with 174,000 miles on the odometer. The 124 series that ended in 95 was the last of the "real" Mercedes. After that, they started building cars for the great unwashed masses and things went downhill as far as qualtity. Great find on the 123, you have great taste in autos. I wish you my best!

The 124 is a diesel as well with only 38k miles on it. It belongs to the guy we got the 300D from. He had a bunch of neat cars, and was thinning out the collection, by selling the 300D. The photos were taken at his place in RI. when we went to see the car.

[t951]

My FIL just sold his 85 300TD with 525000 miles on it. He bought it in 1986 and ran it until he was too old to drive anymore. "Grease and oil every 3000" was the mantra.

Ran perfectly and was still solid....not a squeak. The only thing that wore out was the front seat.

Great car.

[tevake]

Now that is a surprisingly practical mature choice for a young man to make, good on both of you. I'd bet that it will last him a while.

Cheers Richard

[vonsmog]

Originally Posted by tevake

Now that is a surprisingly practical mature choice for a young man to make, good on both of you. I'd bet that it will last him a while.

Cheers Richard

Yea, well this is his other ride that gives his mother and I fits!!!

[Skytrooper]

Hey Von...whats he going to do with the sammy ? I am in the mood for a new project and since I have owned several in the past, I would be interested in a tired old sammy.

[vonsmog]

Originally Posted by Skytrooper

Hey Von...whats he going to do with the sammy ? I am in the mood for a new project and since I have owned several in the past, I would be interested in a tired old sammy.

Sorry Matt its gone already. Sold it last week for $2400 to some kid who wants to be able to do some offroading.

[ZAMIRZ]

My car when I'm in Iran is a 230E 4-speed from the same generation. My grandpa bought it new and he rolled it once at around 100 km/h and walked away with minor injuries. It took a couple months to get it all back together, but it drives great to this day. You can't kill these cars, your son will enjoy it.

[azasadny]

Very nice!

[tevake]

Originally Posted by vonsmog

Yea, well this is his other ride that gives his mother and I fits!!!

Whew, is that a Honda 350 all cafed out. I love it Did you guys do it up your selves?

Very nice!!

Cheers Richard

[vonsmog]

Originally Posted by tevake

Whew, is that a Honda 350 all cafed out. I love it Did you guys do it up your selves?

Very nice!!

Cheers Richard

My son did it up, he has been doing them for past few years. He finds these tired old bikes on Craig's list and resurrects them like this. He has done a few now and has four in all stages right now!

[VincentVega]

Cool car, nice get.

I grew up working on them, though at the amateur level. Valve adjustments, vacuum door actuators, leveling suspension in the wagon... most jobs are simple.

I've only driven a manual behind a 240, hard to believe a slower car was ever produced.

Good luck with it. You dont see ones that nice around here any more.

[mikeesik]

That is a nice understated , somewhat mundane, post middle age ride. That ought to keep him in line..a bit.
If he lived in Germany driving those wheels , he'd be probably branded as a -DIE LINKE-