***For the W123 Enthusiasts***

[cawimmer430]

I had to shed a tear when I saw this car. Beautiful...just beautiful. [image no longer available]

1979 Mercedes-Benz 220D "Taxi"

Any self-respecting '123 enthusiast will note that the 220D was an extremely rare car- only 56,738 were made compared to nearly 330,000 200D's, 450,000 240D's etc. This is a German-spec taxi version from the late '70s. Under the hood, a 60-hp 2.2-l 4-cylinder engine mated to a 4-speed automatic: standard taxi package although the automatic was optional. Beautiful. I love the W123. Hands down the best MB ever made.

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I see a lot of W123's around here. But I never see a 220D or a 250!

 

[450SEL6.9]

I love the W123 and this particular car is rare of course, but it doesn't quite do it for me. I never liked the twin circular headlights and the colour-matching wheels. I actually don't like that wheel style on any Mercedes.

 

[cawimmer430]

I love the W123 and this particular car is rare of course, but it doesn't quite do it for me. I never liked the twin circular headlights and the colour-matching wheels. I actually don't like that wheel style on any Mercedes.

Latter (1982) W123's got rectangular headlights (with the exception of the 280 and 280E / 280TE and the coupes which had those from the beginning). I prefer the circular lights seen here because that's the W123 I saw growing up. And I love those hubcaps. I think I know the ones you prefer (like on the 450SEL 6.9 right?), but those don't look too good on the W123 IMO. Those 14" rims are "too sporty" and looking at the W123, you can't help see an elegant car with almost no sporting potentials.

 

[450SEL6.9]

I saw the circular lights growing up as well since I lived in Canada. Those circulars were on the W116 as well with the massive US-style fender.

The hubcap generally fitted on the 6.9 is the style I prefer on the W123, W116 and W126. I like that silver wire-style wheel design.

 

[cawimmer430]

I saw the circular lights growing up as well since I lived in Canada. Those circulars were on the W116 as well with the massive US-style fender.

The hubcap generally fitted on the 6.9 is the style I prefer on the W123, W116 and W126. I like that silver wire-style wheel design.

Did you know that those rims were designed with "cooling" in mind? The design enabled air to flow in and cool the brakes. MB innovation.

 

[450SEL6.9]

No, I didn't know they were designed to cool the brakes. You really are an expert on these old Mercedes Benz, cawimmer.

 

[bum-man]

I did not know that either! One thing I'll definitely commend the 123 for was it's superb brakes, they almost completely make up for the underwelming acceleration most of the 123s have.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, instead of taxis here's a racing Carlsson 123 Coupe. Right click save as.

 

[cawimmer430]

No, I didn't know they were designed to cool the brakes. You really are an expert on these old Mercedes Benz, cawimmer.

I subscribe to Mercedes-Benz Classic and Mercedes Enthusiast. Mercedes-Benz Classic is an internal MB magazine and they usually feature vast technological articles on older MB's. That's where I learn these things.

I highly recommend both these magazines. Mercedes-Benz Classic is in German, but I believe an English version is also available (not sure though). Mercedes Enthusiast is a UK magazine and very well-written as well as informative. And they love the W123 and have connections to the best W123 experts in the UK. Two guys dedicated to preserving the "best saloon car of the 20th century".

 

[cawimmer430]

I did not know that either! One thing I'll definitely commend the 123 for was it's superb brakes, they almost completely make up for the underwelming acceleration most of the 123s have.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, instead of taxis here's a racing Carlsson 123 Coupe. Right click save as.

I agree. During my testdrive of a rusty W123 200D with 60-hp, I could feel the brakes were as solid as the day the car left the factory. Funny video too BTW!

 

[450SEL6.9]

I think I'll pick up a Mercedes Enthusiast subscription. I'm checking Mirbach regularly for a 6.9 or any W116 model. The sublime 300SL Gullwing Roberto posted a thread on is already sold. No surprise there. It was in gorgeous shape. I'm hoping to find an armoured model to purchase.

Bum-Man, the video you posted is fantastic. The car was a 280 Coupe modified by Carlsson. Correct? Shouldn't it have the rectangular headlamps? I guess they must have been changed.

 

[bum-man]

Bum-Man, the video you posted is fantastic. The car was a 280 Coupe modified by Carlsson. Correct? Shouldn't it have the rectangular headlamps? I guess they must have been changed.

Yup, a 280 coupe with ~230bhp from what I understood. I can't really answer your question about the rectangular headlamps, I don't understand it myself since they didn't have them from factory.

 

[cawimmer430]

I think I'll pick up a Mercedes Enthusiast subscription. I'm checking Mirbach regularly for a 6.9 or any W116 model. The sublime 300SL Gullwing Roberto posted a thread on is already sold. No surprise there. It was in gorgeous shape. I'm hoping to find an armoured model to purchase.

I highly recommend this magazine. Have fun reading the interesting stories in it.

 

[450SEL6.9]

cawimmer, what do you think about this 280 E W123? The mileage is 55,000 km for a 1981 model car. Have you seen a W123 with lower mileage? It's left hand drive and looks like it's in spectacular shape. Silver is a decent colour, it was my favourite for the W123, but I like a darker shade today. I'm thinking about buying it. The price is not listed, but I'll contact Mirbach.

http://www.mirbach.de/main.asp?main=auto_detail&ID=2095&subnav=1

 

[ALI]

I always hoped they would make a new E-class with the same exact Qs of the W123 design with the most dynamic and cleanest curves . Pretty much like these two range rovers :
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[cawimmer430]

cawimmer, what do you think about this 280 E W123? The mileage is 55,000 km for a 1981 model car. Have you seen a W123 with lower mileage? It's left hand drive and looks like it's in spectacular shape. Silver is a decent colour, it was my favourite for the W123, but I like a darker shade today. I'm thinking about buying it. The price is not listed, but I'll contact Mirbach.

http://www.mirbach.de/main.asp?main=auto_detail&ID=2095&subnav=1

I had a look at it, and you should DEFINITELY GO FOR IT! A car in such good condition with such low mileage means that little will go wrong and it won't ruin you financially! 55,000 km!? Holy crap this thing hasn't been used at all: literally. The bodypaint is also a classic W123 color, in fact, most 280's or 280E's I see are colored in this color for some reason, even the coupes! I'm getting quite jealous now...

 

[450SEL6.9]

I could hardly believe it, 55,000 km! I don't expect the W123 to be hideously expensive to fix. I just don't know how difficult it would be to transport the car to Canada what, if any, resultant taxes there are. I haven't got the price yet, but if I can get car, transport, tax, for 10,000 Euros, that would be superb!

I really would love a coupe or wagon, but I doubt I can find another in this condition and mileage. It was a one owner car averaging 2,000 km per year of its life!!

Update: A friend of mine at MB Canada suggested I not try the overseas importing. He says there are still W123s around with less than 75,000 and he was right. I found a 240D with even lower mileage about a 30 minute drive away so no international shipping. The customs process would be hell and I would basically pay a few hundred percent premium over even the best conditioned W123.

Cawimmer, most of the W123s I've found in Canada are diesels. I saw a few 300D, a 300CD and 300TD, but they all had 400,000-plus km. At what mileage, cawimmer, would you look for another car? How much work would they require at 2, 3, 400,000 km?

 

[cawimmer430]

Cawimmer, most of the W123s I've found in Canada are diesels. I saw a few 300D, a 300CD and 300TD, but they all had 400,000-plus km. At what mileage, cawimmer, would you look for another car? How much work would they require at 2, 3, 400,000 km?

German taxis in the 70s and 80s were mostly W123's, especially the 200D, 220D and 240D, sometimes a 300D. These taxis were generally kept until they racked up 450,000 km. After that, they would be exported to Eastern Europe where they would be used as taxis or sold to private buyers.

To be honest, I wouldn't worry much about the diesels. Generally, you have to change the oil and do regular maintenance and they'll run fine. A gasoline W123 will require more input as far as I know. That is not to say the diesels are perfect, but they're generally built well and last long. Mileages upwards of 400,000 km are in essence "just the begining of this diesels life". I wouldn't hesitate to buy a high mileage W123. And if the engine is shot, there's a lot of spare motors out there so a heart transplant won't be too costly.

In a previous issue of Mercedes enthusiast, there's a W123 owner in Singapore who's 230E has racked up 1.4 million km, most of it in city traffic! And it still works and runs like new! The engine is original etc. When I go home in a few months, let me see if I can scan it for you.

 

[cawimmer430]

Yup, a 280 coupe with ~230bhp from what I understood. I can't really answer your question about the rectangular headlamps, I don't understand it myself since they didn't have them from factory.

Post 1982-W123's got the square headlights. Except for the coupes, 280, 280E and 280TE.

 

[450SEL6.9]

Thanks, cawimmer. I found a 240D two days ago with 35,000 original km. It's barely been broken in. Since most of the W123s I'm finding in my part of the world are diesels, I might as well look for the biggest of the lot, the 300D. A TD would be fantastic. I saw a 300D with about 300,000 km going for 4,000 Canadian dollars.

 

[cawimmer430]

Thanks, cawimmer. I found a 240D two days ago with 35,000 original km. It's barely been broken in. Since most of the W123s I'm finding in my part of the world are diesels, I might as well look for the biggest of the lot, the 300D. A TD would be fantastic. I saw a 300D with about 300,000 km going for 4,000 Canadian dollars.

A 240D with 35K on the clock!?

GO FOR IT!

You couldn't be asking for a better example. Plus, owning a 240D is a wonderful experience. I've read many accounts of 240D owners being so happy with their car because of the way it feels. Obviously, it's not a very fast car, but the feeling of driving one is enough to make up for any performance it lacks.

I once testdrove a Euro '79 200D (60-hp) W123 and I was the happiest man when I testdrove it. I didn't even notice the 33.2 second 0-100 km/h time simply because I was smiling all the way when I sat in it enjoying it to the fullest. These cars incredibly well-built and fun in their own way. Not every car you drive gives you fun from how fast it is, no no.

A 300D or 300D Turbodiesel will be faster, and the 300D should get similar fuel economy as the 240D, but keep in mind that the 300D Turbodiesel, especially later in life may develop turbocharger problems. I've read that this is a common problem so keep an eye out for that. In Europe, the used car market for W123's is basically focused on the 240D / 300D for the diesels, and 230E for the gasoline models.

Anyway, I'd go for that 240D! Sounds like a bullseye! What's the price on that thing?