Mercedes w123/240/300 diesel

[jeepster]

I am thinking about getting out from under our 2008 VW Jetta, and into something else. We own the VW outright, but it totally doesn't fit our lifestyle. We are debating what to get next, and my wife is in love with the idea of an older Mercedes Benz turbo diesel, and to me, getting an engine and car that I can acctually work on, given that I'm a diesel mechanic, kind of makes sense. We figure 3500-4000$ should get us something reliable with not many issues. I like the idea of a diesel Mercedes as, well, those engines go forever.
The VW is a nice driver, but has zero room, and horrible visibility, gets stuck in the driveway too.... Can you go wrong with a heavy steel rear wheel drive diesel powered German sedan? 

[Buckewe]

Not at all I don't have any personal experience but they are great cars and will go forever.

[huntnphool]

I am thinking about getting out from under our 2008 VW Jetta, and into something else. We own the VW outright, but it totally doesn't fit our lifestyle. We are debating what to get next, and my wife is in love with the idea of an older Mercedes Benz turbo diesel, and to me, getting an engine and car that I can acctually work in, kind of makes sense. We figure 3500-4000$ should get us something reliable with not many issues. I like the idea of a diesel Mercedes as, well, those engines go forever.
The VW is a nice driver, but has zero room, and horrible visibility, gets stuck in the driveway too.... Can you go wrong with a heavy steel diesel powered German sedan?

 Finally got rid of my wife's Benz (W211 Sport), I'll never own another! We didn't go with the TDI but it wasn't the engine that had issues, it was so many other things.

 It was a very nice, comfortable car, but holy cow was it in the shop all the time for this or that.

 If any of you ever consider a Mercedes, be well advised to make sure you have a bumper to bumper warranty, or else be prepared to pay premium service fees often.

[jeepster]

I'm thinking late 1970s mid 1980s...

[Special T]

Have you considered a same vintage Volvo wagon? My brother turned wrenches for an out fit near Bellingham I think it was sunshine motors. He bought sold repaired Scandinavian rigs.

[RatRodMike]

Give me a shout if you want a engine out of a '80 300SD.  250K but ran good when I pulled it.  The trans was locked up in first gear so I parted ou the car.  I've had plenty of ideas of putting into something but never got around to it.

[Happy Gilmore]

We will wave at you going up hills

[7mmstalker]

Quite a few years ago we had the same idea and found a used 300SD, mid 1980's. Heck of a stout car, really nice ride, surprising handling, incredible MPG for a full size 4-door- 28MPG driving 55 or 85mph! Turbo on a 5cyl diesel, slow off the line, but unknown top speed! Stevens Pass, full of camping gear, an 8 foot Christmas tree strapped on top, a Whitetail deer in the trunk, was like flat ground cruising.
 It was a bit shabby and became a maintenance headache. There are no inexpensive parts on that car, but you have owned a late model VW, I hear that about them as well. It was fairly easy to work on though.
 I did really admire the build quality of that car, it had well over 100k miles on it when I got it, but was still pretty solid as far as drivetrain. The power windows, glow plugs and timer/relay, glass seals, heater control module (vaccum operated), and some other stuff I have forgot, not so much.

Edit: after we sold that one, my neighbor loaned me his 240D (non turbo) for a trip over the pass. What a slug! MPG just OK, don't remember it being anything remarkable. Constant down- shifting,hardly enough power to maintain 65mph. My 6ft 4 frame was suffering for comfort.
 Literally half the car that the 300SD was!

[jeepster]

There are no inexpensive parts on that car, but you have owned a late model VW, I hear that about them as well. It was fairly easy to work on though.
 I did really admire the build quality of that car, it had well over 100k miles on it when I got it, but was still pretty solid as far as drivetrain.

Yeah, I too have heard late model VWs are spendy as hell to fix.... I can check the oil and put air in the tires, and that's about all the plastic covered engine will let me do to it... Maybe some fluids, but other than that, I have zero desire to pay a mechanic 100$ an hour, and buy over priced parts for something g I can't work on.... We have had a few dings and and bruises on the VW, but, it's time to let it go, before I have to fix anything... Runs great, burns oil, ac doesn't get cold cold, and needs a new bumper and headlight assembly.... Bye bye vw, hello something old and made of iron that a joe dirt like me can fix

Did I mention a chap offered me a 27 foot racing sailboat with a diesel engine in trade for the VW? I figure snag the sailboat, and sell the boats I have now and get the Benz, nut sure which order, but....

[headshot5]

I've run 2 different 300's both turbo's.   They are solid cars.  Most of the issues are pretty easy to work out.  Just change filters and oil and they go for ever.   I bought one for $1500 and ran it for 5 years and sold it for $1000.00  It was imported from Germany and had an extra fuel tank in the trunk (factory)...  40 gallons in it, made it from Missoula Montana down through Lewiston and across to the coast on one tank of fuel (1000 miles).  Worst issues are when the window motors start going out.   Lots of parts cars out there so don't be afraid to get one.     There were rust issues on ones before 1980,  1980 and newer however did not have really any rust issues.   


*Edit to add, Generally they all burn a little oil.  No big deal, lots of them drip a little oil underneath as well... 

[Alchase]

My Son-in-law has two E-class wagons, 2000 and 2001.
They were extremely comfortable, good mileage, never had engine issues,
But, for three years, one or the other has Nichol and dimed him to death. Parts are hideously expensive, and can take weeks to get.

[Happy Gilmore]

Run them on bacon grease left from breakfast

[Special T]

With mechanical injection the best alternative fuel is  a blend of 80-20% used motor oil gasoline filtered. The main reason is you can pull up to a pump anywhere and add diesel to the mix and be OK. Veggie oil and  normal fuel don't mix.  You can build a filtration system cheaper than you can make a vegetable oil conversion and you still have to filter it.

[jeepster]

With mechanical injection the best alternative fuel is  a blend of 80-20% used motor oil gasoline filtered. The main reason is you can pull up to a pump anywhere and add diesel to the mix and be OK. Veggie oil and  normal fuel don't mix.  You can build a filtration system cheaper than you can make a vegetable oil conversion and you still have to filter it.

A guy here in Anacortes buys mineral oil in bulk, gets it for 9 cents a gallon and runs it in his 240D, ready to use fuel, delivered to you for less than a dime a gallon. He fills his Mercedes up for about $1.30, only modifications he made to his car are a small 2 gallon diesel tank for winter starting, and a fuel heater for the mineral oil and swapped out fuel lines

[Special T]

An Arctic style  fuel filter heater and block heater and or parking it in the garage are all that would be needed in our mild climate for that situation.