Looking at stepping out of the Volkswagen scene.. MERCEDES TURBOWAGON

[srgtlord]

I was sucked in on the 40mpg mark

[scrounger]

Yes there are some parts that are weirdly expensive but owning one is not that bad, there is kind of a myth about repair costs and insurance.

I have heard that a new window crank motor is expensive. It uses 5 glow plugs, 5 injectors. All the same as the vw, just one more. The normal repair parts and gaskets are inexpensive, with several manufacturers making them. It does take 8 quarts of oil and more coolant. I wanted one without a computer and with diesel for cheap. Try and find a car that fits that classification.  

Have had mine for over 2 months I have done a little body work and repainted some areas. Undone many areas of neglect, ball joints, tires, fuel injectors. Have a total of about $1000 in maintenance in it. I have a set of belts, fuel filters, oil filters.  I still want to get new shocks although it rides smooth and maybe a second set of wheels for summer use.

We have a lot of rough roads and the ground clearance is about like a similar sized SUV. With snow tires on all 4 it has decent traction.

I hope to drive mine for at least 10 years. Maybe in 20 I will still have both my MB and VW.

If you want one then get one, If you don't then don't, helps to keep the demand down.

Should add: I don't think that 40 mpg would be impossible to get. Mine was getting 28 and after some tuning I am up to 32-33 in 50 deg weather. It would take a hot day, light foot to keep the boost low and not any headwind. Time will tell.

[745 turbogreasel]

The fuel economy isn't so bad either...we have over a million kms on one, and another half million on the other beaters we have owned over the years. The can easily approach 40mpg vs 55mpg in a 1.6 td driven the same way. I have seen 45mpg in bone stock high mile form.

You Canucks and your giant gallons!

I work on quite a few of the older MBZ, and have found no part that cant be had cheap from the JY in good order.

[rs899]

^^..if you can find them in JYs now.  Five years ago a visit to my favorite yard in DAB would find 10 of them.  Now , only one.

I just sold my '83 300D.  It never got more than 28.  I think the '85 would be the only one that would get you over 30.

They are built a lot tougher than VWs.  But rebuilding the front end is an expensive endeavor.  VW struts are real cheap.

I still have 2 240Ds and a W116 300SD to play with, but wanted to get rid of an automatic that was going to need work eventually (240k)

[wolf_walker]

85's a good year for the w123 and 126 diesel.
The W123 in 85 had the blue oval vacuum transducer to try and un-insane the ***ting on the vac controlled automatic.
Watch those switches on top of the valve cover, and learn the vacuum diagrams, and mind the trans line pressure.
Ditch all that smog crap. 
I can't remember if the W123 got the higher stall speed converter and taller rear axle ratio or just the W126, it makes a difference though.
I averaged 25 with a lead foot on most of mine, strong cars.  I've seen 30mpg but not regularly.  I'm sure it's possible.
US MPG mind you.  Compared to the 14 the gasser version got it was outstanding, it's not a light car.
It's not a VW, in any respect, for sometimes better (usually) and sometimes worse. 
That thing cost a small fortune new, a handful of Rabbit's worth of cash.
I miss my Mercedes, every time I buy another one I wonder why in hell I've been
driving anything else.

I drove a straight euro 5spd (not 4) non-turbo W123 sedan once, it was a GREAT car. 
Very different character.  The conversions are not quite the same but are a good start.
My next W123 will be a 240D for the manual climate control and windows and sunroof, with an
OM617 and a manual trans.

[8v-of-fury]

My next W123 will be a 240D for the manual climate control and windows and sunroof, with an
OM617 and a manual trans.

Did the 240D come with the 617? or just the 616?

240D   MY 1977–1983 - OM616.912   62-67 hp (46 kW) @ 4000 97 lb·ft (132 N·m) @ 2400

Ungodly gutless that thing would be lol.

I frigged up, I shoulda bought that damn wagon!

[scrounger]

From what I understand the 240d had  the 2.4 616 and the 300d had the 3.0 617

[wolf_walker]

Yep, 240 was the 4cyl, 300 5cyl.  The latter was NA briefly before it got the turbo OM617.  That turbo motor originall came in the old W116
chassis S Class car, which was a fine car in and of itself other than maybe the climate control, and US bumpers.
W123 chassis is close enough between the 4/5cyl that one can swap em around without too much grief.
I'd actually like to rebuild and turbo/intercool the little 4, it was done back in the day and I know stock 617 turbo
power can be had from it with reasonable lifespan.  There is a very pleasant amount of room under-hood
with the smaller motor in the w123.  People use the 240D 4spd manual with the 617, there are technically some balance
issues, and in fact the service manual says not to do it interestingly, but a lot of folks have now.  The euro manual 5cyl flywheel
is unobtainable, much like the actual 5spd.  Less known is that the pumps are calibrated differently for manual/auto.  Having a stick
on an auto pump'd motor feels "weird" but you can get used to it, the mile of crazy German throttle linkage isn't helping matters
but again time breeds familiarity.  All those old Mercs were that way to a degree, lots of throttle travel, you really had to foot-down
on them.  My last daily Merc was a 73 280 gasser with the dual cam M110 I-6, carb'd with an exhaust and euro manifolds and a tweaked
carb, fun car if not overly efficient.  The W114/115 is a better chassis in a lot of ways than the W123 in my opinion.  And dirt cheap.

Getting off track I know, but another thought has been that a Volvo 240 wagon would be a good place for a turbo 617 to live.
I appreciate the diesel they were available with, but they are scarce and expensive to repair relative to the Mercedes motor.
I think that'd be a good driver after it was sorted out.  There was a kid on turbobricks that put a TDI in one awhile ago
with great success.

[scrounger]

Wolf
Seems like a work to pull the motor on a mercedes and adapt it into a volvo. Mercedes has already addressed all the issues with making the engine work. What advantage would you have?

[wolf_walker]

No doubt it'd be a job.  Made considerably easier by getting hold of an original diesel front core support, more room underhood lengthwise.
I'm just a fan of the 240 chassis, it's cheaper and more plentiful than the W123, and there is considerable upgradeability
for the brakes and suspension these days, and pretty decent parts support in general, again cheaply.
If the original diesel that was available in them was, well, available, and not such a bear to rebuild, it would be less
appealing.  The redblock is a fine motor as far as gassers go, but it's still a gasser.
The 240 is a damn fine car, I've owned six or so over the years.  It is crude in comparison to the Mercedes equivalent
of the day in a lot of ways, but it works very well.

[Wayland]

This one's for sale near where I live. I've been thinking of going to see it. Ad says 300,000 miles, but it could be Km. Good deal or not?

http://comoxvalley.en.craigslist.ca/cto/3588232645.html

[wolf_walker]

This one's for sale near where I live. I've been thinking of going to see it. Ad says 300,000 miles, but it could be Km. Good deal or not?

http://comoxvalley.en.craigslist.ca/cto/3588232645.html

All depends, the mileage wouldn't scare me if it's been maintained.  Drive it and see.