The Star® Journal

Article: Pierre Hedary
Technical Data: Richard Simonds
Images: Daimler Archives

When we wrote the first W123 Buyers Guide seven years ago, fuel was $4 per gallon, the economy was in crisis and there was an alternative-fuels craze taking the vintage diesel-car community by storm. One result was that W123s – especially the diesels – started becoming desirable because of their mechanical fortitude, ease of repair and reliability. Now they're even more popular.

Today, even a cheap new car can cost more than $25,000 – and the control modules that govern the engines have a limited life span and then burn out like Christmas tree lights. A new set of values drives the kind of person who has fallen for the W123, and that person is tired of dealing with the electronic and mechanically planned obsolescence of the modern-family car.

Not to say that the W123 isn't collectible – a solid, clean W123 will garner its fair share of attention everywhere it goes. An example of the breed painted in the Stuttgart company's famous earth-tone colors has the aesthetic draw of a young Brigitte Bardot – innocent looking and sweet – a little car that had the sole job of making its drivers smile. And in a world of $10-million vintage Ferraris, this certainly counts for a lot.

Background

The W123 was built from 1977 to 1985 for the U.S. market and can unofficially be divided into three different eras.

The first era of W123s, including the 240D, 300D, 280E and the all-but-forgotten 230 in the U.S. market, lasted until August 1979. A plethora of additional models was available in other markets. These four-door sedans had textured seat covers, textured dashboards, clear fog lights, flat steering-wheel pads and diesel engines with large, serial glow plugs. They were generally less powerful than the later cars, and they also used automatic transmissions with a mechanical linkage to control shifting. The color palette was very diverse, although the durability of their interiors was lacking.

For model year 1978, a coupe was added; four different engines were available. The 280CE was introduced, as well as the 300CD, which was unique to the U.S. market. In 1979, a station wagon with several engine options was added to the lineup, but in the United States we only received the 300TD.

The second era began in September 1979. The biggest change involved switching to parallel glow plugs on diesels and incorporating a vacuum modulator control to smooth shifting on diesels with automatic transmissions. The M110 engine was left unchanged while the 230, with relative fuel-economy issues, was withdrawn from the U.S. market.

The easiest way to identify the second-version cars is by their dished steering wheel, smooth dashboard and updated seats. In August 1980, the station wagon received the turbodiesel engine that was used in the 300SD. By May 1981, the 300CD was also equipped with this engine. This is, to my mind, the most brilliant thing Mercedes has ever done. By 1982, the entire lineup was powered by diesel engines; the only non-turbo-charged option was the excellent 240D. Subsequently, the 300D turbo became the most popular Mercedes-Benz sold in the United States. Also in 1981, Mercedes updated the climate-control unit on the 300D and 280E for more reliability.

In 1983, Mercedes-Benz updated the model range once more. While subtle alterations were made to the interior, illuminated sun visors were the most obvious change. 1983 also proved to be the last year for the venerable U.S.-market 240D, which was replaced by the less-durable 190D. Up until 1985, Mercedes continued to supply the 240D in Europe, where it sold well until the end of production.

The venerable 300D and its variants were updated one more time in 1985. The two biggest improvements included a boost in horsepower, a 2.88 rear-axle ratio and a more effective shift-control device, known as a pressure converter. Devoted fans of the car believe that Mercedes could have sold the 123 for at least another five years, but all good things must come to an end.

Reasons to buy a W123

• Amazing robustness and reliability, and easy to maintain. A huge online DIY community is happy to share information.
• No control modules or engine-management systems to fail; diesels can even run without a working battery or alternator.
• Excellent suspension and handling, with brakes to match.
• Excellent design characteristics with attractive proportions, and amazing all-around visibility adds to the car's desirability.
• Unlike other older cars, new spare parts are readily available from both Mercedes and OEM suppliers at reasonable prices.
• With continuing maintenance, the basic structure of the car could last forever. Components are long-lived and rebuildable.
• Environmentally friendly – buy a W123 and that's one less new car on the road, and one less old car for the planet to reabsorb.
  
  

Reasons not to buy a W123

• Don't buy one for your teenage son or daughter just because it seems safe. There are safer and equally practical Mercedes-Benz cars available, such as the W202 C-Class or W210 E-Class.
• Fuel economy: Once offering relatively good fuel efficiency, today the W123s are only average.
• Ability to burn alternative-fuels is a feature, not an advantage; avoid W123s converted to run on recycled vegetable oil.
• Acceleration and high speed are not their strong suits.
• W123s require regular attention to stay "right." If you need a cheap car that you can drive and forget, buy a used Hyundai.
• Aesthetic appeal: They do look cool. Then reality sets in, and owners find that even cool cars need maintenance and repairs.
  
  

Checkpoints

• While the W123 range is renowned as a very hardy and repairable automobile, many of the models can be overpriced and tend to have a number of common issues.
• Look for rust in the sunroof tray, floor pans, battery-tray area and doors. Station wagons also rust near their back windows. Other areas do rust, but these are the most difficult to fix.
• Oil consumption should be examined closely. A good example won't use more than a quart between services; a quart every 800 miles is not great but still acceptable.
• Dashboards crack and replacements are not easily found.
• Watch out for vacuum issues and be prepared to fix a few of them, especially in the vacuum door locks and climate control.
• Watch out for diesels that were used as waste-vegetable oil burners; a new injection pump might be in your future.
• Front suspensions need rebuilding at about 150,000 miles. Factor in about $1,500-$2,000, using high-quality parts.
• Test a/c compressor, climate control thoroughly; repairs can be done but are costly; factor that into your purchase price.
• Rear CV axles occasionally need replacement. Correct GKN axles are expensive, so factor this into the purchase price.
• Seats eventually decompose in the 1977-82 W123 models. Repairs are straightforward, but new excelsior pads and seat covers cost more than $2,000.
• Rear power-window regulators can wear out and will make a clattering noise when the window reaches maximum height. Window wiring can also break where the doors open and close.
• Plastic radiators, windshield gaskets, engine mounts, drive-shaft flex discs and the like should be checked carefully.
  
  

The bottom line

To many of us who own W123s, these aren't just old cars; they are the best automobiles ever built. There are examples for every budget: Plenty of low-mileage cars exist that anyone would be proud to show, and there are many great, usable examples available for daily use – this writer has driven examples out of wrecking yards just by putting in a hot battery and air in the tires.

But every old car has problems. In the case of the W123s, which are nearly impervious to mileage, it seems that Mercedes has gradually trimmed the supply of unique interior and exterior trim items available. While many used parts do exist, more perishable items – especially in specific colors, such as an uncracked blue dashboard – are nearly impossible to find. Consider this when purchasing and look for a car that has visible components and details intact.

A car with a few issues may still be a good buy; just buy at a price where a few thousand dollars of repairs won't make you unhappy. Negotiate aggressively, particularly on the station wagons. Question any claim of "no needs." Bottom line: Next to the famous 300SL, the W123s might be the most iconic cars Mercedes-Benz ever built. If you haven't owned one, you're missing out.