I had a 83 300SD I bought for $3,500. Drove that thing daily for 6 years. It had $305,000 plus miles when I got rid of it. Random people stopped by my house and asked to buy it several times. The biggest problems I had was interior panels cracking, door handles breaking, and an occasional vacuum leak here and there. I brought my oldest daughter home from the hospital after she was born in it. Great times!

@SavedbyHim

3 сағат бұрын

And that's more problems I've ever had with my modern Mercedes

Mrs. Wizard is like Quintin Tarantino , she's directing the wizards videos and occasionally has a cameo in it 😄

@210SAi

3 жыл бұрын

Without the profanity laced tirades and grotesque violence

@himynameisbrianw

3 жыл бұрын

her acting lmao

@zloychechen5150

3 жыл бұрын

@@210SAi There's Hoovie's Garage, who needs more grotesque violencce than that?

@jamespn

3 жыл бұрын

I think Mrs. Wizard’s cool.

@JackhiloIRL

3 жыл бұрын

"I don't need you to tell me how fucking good my Mercedes is, okay? I'm the one who buys it. I know how good it is. When Wizard goes shopping he buys BUGS. I buy the gourmet expensive stuff because when I drive it I want to feel it."

Feeling very nostalgic watching this vid. Spent my entire childhood in W123’s as my father owned several of these over the course of almost 30 years. He would go to great lengths to be able to afford them, even when he actually couldn’t, as he was convinced those cars were nothing less than the best and safest to drive his family around. The last one he owned was a 1985 300D. Although my father himself didn’t outlive the car, it still is with the family. Needless to say the car is cherished and will probably survive for another 35 years...

@artkincell

3 жыл бұрын

Your dad had great taste. I always used the excuse that I couldn't afford NOT to own one because they are so durable.

@mathijsdevries728

3 жыл бұрын

Frank Galpin Thanks! 😃🙏🏻 And you were certainly right about your excuse... 😄

@RC-ih9ci

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you’ve kept the car and the memories that go with. These are the last generational cars and you’ll pass it on to your kids.

@erniefrijole2618

Жыл бұрын

My father also passed away before the 300TD wagon's time was up. I have it now and it'll be ready when my oldest needs a reliable steed for college. RIP Pop....

This was MB's peak. From the 60s-80s they were in a class by themselves. Best cars ever made.

@golden.lights.twinkle2329

2 жыл бұрын

Good if you have $$$$ to keep them running. If you like vacuum operated wipers and door locks. They are a nightmare when they don't work. Injector pumps cost a small fortune. A/C systems are complex and parts are not available.

@JetLee1544

2 жыл бұрын

Also some engines from the 90s. Then it went downhill.

@bryceg5709

Жыл бұрын

@@golden.lights.twinkle2329 I'm not sure where you got that opinion. I have 2 right now I did the Air Con on one last summer and the compressor was available at O'Reilly's same day for 120 bucks. The vac locks can be tough till you figure out how to troubleshoot it. Injector pumps should be rebuilt to larger volume for power which is about 1000 bucks but makes it awesome.

@marcelpatel9017

3 ай бұрын

When the Lexus LS launched, MB never recovered.

@petec9686

3 ай бұрын

Lexus of the 90s did take over from MB as the best cars in the world@@marcelpatel9017

Used to drive the wagon version of this car in the 2000's when I worked at a car repair shop, to go get customers and parts. So many good memories driving that turd...in fact I nicknamed it the "poopy wagon." If I remember right, the odometer broke at 450,000 mi and that was at least a little while before I ever drove the car. I loved the car so much the owner of the shop would sometimes let me drive it home at night or on weekends. (My diesel VW Rabbit was constantly broken so this was a treat to get to drive.) I didn't even care it had the Company Logo plastered all over it. I sure miss that car. Thanks Wizard for bringing this to us, brings back many great memories.

@zloychechen5150

3 жыл бұрын

i had one with a 2,0 m102 as my first own car. The odometer was stuck at 560000 km. I think it must have already been around once. The car was total junk in every way, with holes and everything, yet it still ran and drove, and i didn't do anything about it, because it was all too much for my crap mechanical abilities, and the fact that i didn't have any money for that. Drove it for a little while, then sold to some fetishist who already had like 5 of those. Can't even say that i was ever a fan of the w123, but what i still remember with fondness is the ride comfort.

@MrKnutriis

3 жыл бұрын

The wagon is the best and the hydraulic leveling gives it a ride even better than the regular sedan.

@mjmcomputers

3 жыл бұрын

I like my 300D but really would prefer to have the wagon. The wagon prices have gotten pretty crazy lately. A wagon seems to be 5x the cost of a sedan.

@MrKnutriis

3 жыл бұрын

@@mjmcomputers I think there is produced around 4 million of the sedans and only 200,000 of the wagon. A wagon in good condition is a collector's car.

@gdagenais8082

3 жыл бұрын

@@MrKnutriis And stupid expensive to fix.

It's a real shame that MB abandoned the durability aspect of their cars in exchange for electronics, gadgets, quirks and features.

@wholeNwon

3 жыл бұрын

Believe me, electronic actuators in just about everything are vastly superior to vacuum-operated ones with all the fragile but essential weak, cracked plastic tubing running everywhere.

@chriswinter2400

3 жыл бұрын

My 2000 s500 begs to differ not as nice but strong and good at 165k miles

@carloduroni5629

2 жыл бұрын

Gadgets sell at a higher price than durability, to the general public. That's why today's cars are full of stupid and dangerous to use touch screens instead of old buttons and knobs, which are less fancy and cost more to wire.

@smwsmwsmw

2 жыл бұрын

@@wholeNwon I'm not going to argue with that, but a whole bunch of stuff is unnecessary. It's not unique to MB, of course, but do we really need door handles that pop out as you approach, transmission selectors that rise up, speakers that disappear, doors that close the last inch on their own, latches that trigger solenoids instead of opening the doors directly, etc?

@wholeNwon

2 жыл бұрын

@@smwsmwsmw Of course we don't need (and many of us don't want) all that trouble-prone crap. But the dealers sure do!

When Mercedes made non plastic, good cars.

@x01e

3 жыл бұрын

Add BMW/Audi etc to that list

@patriciomunoz2830

3 жыл бұрын

@@x01e mm not audi, old audis were garbage too

@wholeNwon

3 жыл бұрын

If you keep putting money into any car, you can probably keep it on the road forever. I had 2 new ones from that era ('81 and '89). The truth is that both arrived from Germany with factory defects, both left me stranded several times and both had superb maintenance with no expense spared from day one. The random failures were many. Years after I had gotten rid of both of them a former MB employee asked about the cars and said "let me guess what went wrong with yours". He then recited a LONG litany of problems and just about all of them were mine. Reason: "Those were just the FREQUENT issues!!!" I'll never own another German car of any kind.

@OMGWTFLOLSMH

3 жыл бұрын

There's no shortage of plastic in this car.

@w19ely85

3 жыл бұрын

@@OMGWTFLOLSMH Whooosh!

Handing a car down through the generations is exactly what Mercedes-Benz had in mind with these (and their older cars). Awesome!

Sometimes it's not just about the money, it comes down to what the car is worth to you!

@805NAVE

3 жыл бұрын

Sentimental value is higher than monetary value!

@2Str0k3

3 жыл бұрын

@@805NAVE Even when selling stuff people seem to add that sentimental factor to the price making it ridiculous. That is the case many times you try to buy something from old people.

@moejohnson8459

3 жыл бұрын

I agree with that.

@jockodog2009

3 жыл бұрын

@@moejohnson8459 You set your realistic price. Walk away if seller doesn't budge. Hard and fast rule applies.

@flawlessfatality8105

3 жыл бұрын

That's how it is with my 5th gen 05 grand am, no one cares about these cars or takes care of them but I want mine to be the best it can and it has never let me down

I would like to see a Wizard video on "20 Cars I Turned Down Service For" or something along those lines, detailing to us what kinds of cars customers bring in that Wizard won't work on and why they're not worth it. I always knew Wizard couldn't possibly accept every car, but I still would love to hear the most ridiculous cases.

@ledzeppelin27

3 жыл бұрын

It's a downer and getting a little old tbh. Almost every video he talks about what he doesn't want to work on, why he doesn't want to work on it, etc. Like I get it man, working on almost anything is never easy, but it is literally your job. The people watching this and the customers aren't looking for the sob story, we're just here to watch cars getting worked on.

@floppyseizure8615

3 жыл бұрын

@@ledzeppelin27 Yea, he's kinda snobby for being a mechanic.

@gillesthibault429

3 жыл бұрын

There's the last more-than-few BMW Hoovimobiles...🤣🤣🤣

@Dreddy72

3 жыл бұрын

half of it is stuff he may not want to do(i.E. bmws from hoovie...), the other half is mainly stuff hes skeptical about getting paid for. you do 3k of work on a car worth 1.5k, how likely is the guy to actually pay up?

@nicolajc

3 жыл бұрын

a long list of BMWs

*Correction:* It's the non-turbo 300D that is around 85 horsepower (87 HP to be exact). The turbocharged 300D puts out 123 HP and 184 lb-ft of torque.

@Rum1981

3 жыл бұрын

Here in Austria the na 300d is rated at 88 HP...

@Thorbyr

3 жыл бұрын

@@Rum1981 US uses imperial horsepower and austria uses metric horsepower, hence the difference

@fensterlips

3 жыл бұрын

@@Thorbyr Not really. The 300d he mentions is "NA" or naturally aspirated - not a turbo

@superdragUSA1

3 жыл бұрын

Yup

@iamasmurf1122

3 жыл бұрын

So the cars basically a gutless pile of junk ! Yeah no thanks

The W123 was completely over engineered. A wonderful car. My dad had one. It was built like a tank. The W124 was a good series as well.

"This is over 10 years ago, it's quite a ways back." Dude, when you're my age, 10 years ago seems like yesterday.

@suzumr2754

3 жыл бұрын

@Richard Birkenwald I fell asleep after the 10th word of your comment.

@Rambogner

3 жыл бұрын

@@suzumr2754 rude!

@trwsandford

3 жыл бұрын

Kitdinker. it WAS yesterday.

@oliverdelgado6952

3 жыл бұрын

When someone says 10 years ago I think 90s

@kenross863

3 жыл бұрын

@Kitdinder..too true 10 yrs ago does feels like yesterday haha

Well, the owner's daughter has great taste. What a fantastic machine I'd trade in my E class for a well maintained 300TD any day.

Wizard, one thing that sets you apart from other mechanics is that you actually care about your customer's well-being, and this video really hammers that point home.

I can smell the inside of that car through the computer.

@justindavis3623

3 жыл бұрын

Smells like a horses's ass.

@devinehrenreich1255

3 жыл бұрын

Yea it smells like u

@JGHDVCFGT

3 жыл бұрын

Well Mercedes did use real horse hair in their older cars.

@justinmurphy2227

3 жыл бұрын

One of those cars you can be blindfolded and thrown in and know what you're in. A '69 Chevy C-10 is one. A public school, school bus, is definitely one too!

@Face2theScr33n

3 жыл бұрын

Mine's not diesel, but the interior has a distinct smell. The blue leather *vinyl seats are in great shape if anyone wants to buy them! 89 260E (124 body)

Mercedes dealerships still offers plenty of brand new parts for this car

@GlamStacheessnostalgialounge

3 жыл бұрын

But for the price they sell them at you're better off buying salvaged parts. I always owned really really old cars, and despite what people think, all major parts are super durable and you most likely won't have issues with ones from another car.

@cwdrock

3 жыл бұрын

At the prices they charge I have no doubt.

@davidpackphoto

3 жыл бұрын

MB has a whole classics decision for parts on classic Mercedes. They are expensive but when you need a part..

@davidjacobs8558

3 жыл бұрын

@@GlamStacheessnostalgialounge maybe so for the older car. I have 2008 Mercedes, which was always garaged, and the low beam light bulb died. So I removed the socket to replace the bulb, and the insulation plastic on 2 wires became so brittle, they were falling apart, exposing the bare copper wire.

@neilmurphy845

3 жыл бұрын

Jee that's great wish other car companies could do that

The relationship between you and Hoovie is so wholesome. It is super funsies to watch some of your shared stories evolve and watch the perspective on the car shift separately for each of you. If I'm ever headed cross country again and need a service on my way, I'll be reaching out to you guys!

When Mercedes-Benz's business model was to build the best automobile possible, cost be damned.

One of the interesting and neat things about Mercedes is how much they value heritage cars - to the point that they have a whole classics division with parts and technical help for the restoration industry. Finding good used or rebuilt parts makes far more monetary sense for the value of these 300D’s

Took my driving test in one of these (an ‘85) in 1985...my folks just sold it a year or so ago. I should have bought it. 33 years and no major repairs. We even did our own maintenance on it...very simple and very stout cars, back when reliability was more important to the brand than luxury.

This car is just beautiful to look at, nostalgic memories and one of the most durable vehicles Mercedes Benz ever made.

@MrKnutriis

3 жыл бұрын

I think it keeps looking better and better. I drive my '83 300TD and it looks better and drives better than a lot of new cars.

@neilmurphy845

3 жыл бұрын

And best of all her granddad drove it

@neilmurphy845

3 жыл бұрын

No show qeen

I have an 82 300TD wagon in my driveway, still runs and has been in the family since my mom bought it new. I have so many memories with the car the last thing I want to do is part with it. It's still a very solid car, lucky for me I found a very good mechanic. I once took it to a local Mercedes dealer, my service adviser told me there are only two guys in his shop that could work on the car. And he was one of them. There is one thing that I really like about the car that Mercedes doesn't do anymore. When you open the door(from the outside) the handle that opens the door doesn't feel cheap. It takes a good but light tug to open the door, feels like your doing something. My mom once asked me why I was keeping it. I told her it was her fault for buying such a good car.

@wholeNwon

3 жыл бұрын

Agree that the door handles were good, as was M-B Tex. That's about it.

@erniefrijole2618

Жыл бұрын

Yep...my '85 300TD is the family time machine.... it'll outlive two generations and if my son falls in love with it like I did....who knows

Cool video. I've driven 3.0L Mercedes diesels for the past 24 years. They've provided me with great service, and I will say until my dying day that they were the best cars ever built. Definitely the best automotive diesel engine ever built. Hands-down. I've only had one W123 300D, a 1982 model which was my step-daughter's first car. My love is more for the W126 300SD, same engine. Wonderful machines. I have a 1984 300SD with 752K miles on it, which I retired about five years ago. Many miles and memories in that car. I bought a 1983 300SD about a year ago, and paid twice its value, because it only had 132K miles on it. You don't find them with miles like that anymore!!!! With only 170K or so, that little gold car you're working on has a LOT of life left in it!!! Beckmann Technologies in Durham, NC rebuilds the climate control boxes, and the cruise control amplifier and servo. Or at least they used to. They're still in business, not sure if they're still doing those older ones or not. Just send in a core, and they'll send you back a rebuilt unit. I used them years ago, and never had any trouble. beckmanntechnologies.com. Having driven these great old 3.0L cars (and two 240D cars, one of which I still have, both manual transmissions), I have to agree with you on most points. But please, dear God, PLEASE don't do that LED instrument light change. The instrument cluster isn't set up for it, and it will eventually fry the whole cluster. NOT a good idea. Replace or bypass the potentiometer, and/or clean the bezels where the lights come into the cluster. They fog up with age. Often, that one thing can make all the difference. And parts aren't as rare as people think. Plenty of aftermarket parts to be found. Just don't buy Japanese junk parts! There are still sources for good German parts without going to the dealer OR the Classic Center, if you do some research! Great video. Thanks for sharing. Good luck with this timeless classic! I'm so happy it's going to be saved!!!

@winstonemerson2439

5 ай бұрын

It wont fry the cluster,leds draw practically zero current compared to incandescent bulbs.

There is a 2 million mile one of those in Norway. Former taxi.

@akaki202

3 жыл бұрын

Not really a Merc fan but these older models have so much character.

Love these indestructible Mercs. First foreign cars that I witnessed after the USSR collapsed ( I am from the Eastern block )

@GlamStacheessnostalgialounge

3 жыл бұрын

I'm also from Eastern Europe, and yeah these were so great for letting me appreciate how much better our own cars were taken care of. All of these stupid things were high mileage, trashed and leaking cars that probably should have been scrapped but instead got sent to us.

@OMGWTFLOLSMH

3 жыл бұрын

No cars are indestructible, including these. Did you not hear the long list of common failure points Wizard indicated? And most of them rust too. You see them forever in 3rd world countries because they can't afford to buy new ones, so they cobble together repairs with what they can find or make do with. If they were indestructible, the Wizard wouldn't have the vast knowledge and experience he has from repairing so many of them.

@jinglemyberries866

3 жыл бұрын

@@OMGWTFLOLSMH You know what he meant stop being pedantic.

I was 16 in 84 and remember seeing these and the 190E everywhere back then. I miss cars being built to last...

Mrs. Wizard clearly loves Mr. Wizard and you guys have a great vibe. Much respect

I have 3 of these. I work for a shop that works on classic benz's all the time. Truly amazing cars that will never be remade again. Long live w123 Diesel

@1985toyotacamry

3 жыл бұрын

And the only time that Mercedes sold more Diesels than petrol in the United States. Very interesting concept.

@210SAi

3 жыл бұрын

Where’s the shop located?

9:40 You might be wrong there, wizard. Mercedes have a classic division that will supply you with parts for their older models. Not sure if they're supplying W123 parts too, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did. I do know for a fact that you can get new parts from them for models like the Pagoda SL or the 300SL. Of course: Being new old stock or reproduction OEM Mercedes parts, they do cost a pretty penny. www.mercedes-benz.com/en/classic/classic-service-parts/ I inherited a cat-less 230E W123 from my granddad in the late 80s. I still remember starting it up for the first time, thinking I hadn't turned the key all the way because the engine was so quiet. I also remember that the seats felt like an old time-y, sprung sofa and how comfortable the car was overall. I also remember that it was the first (and thus far only) car I spun nearly 360° on a public road... :D

@marekw.9816

3 жыл бұрын

I learned on Jay Lenos Garage that Mercedes will sell you any part for any late model Mercedes. Cost might be an issue though.

@kitten-inside

3 жыл бұрын

@@marekw.9816 It's a Mercedes. If cost is an issue, you have the wrong car.

@jrt2924

3 жыл бұрын

@@marekw.9816 Unfortunately that might not be case always.. To some parts Mercedes just says "NLA" good luck. Even in w124 chassy

@pfsantos007

3 жыл бұрын

Some of the prices are ridiculous, though. $600 (on sale, reg. $1000) for a set of fuc*ing rubber door seals??? I would understand if those were for a gullwing...

@freibier

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I think they even offer 3D printed version of parts which they no longer have in stock as originals. But I think these are mostly intended (and priced) for keeping your pristine condition collector Merc going instead of repairing a $500 W123 :-)

I had a 1980s 240D with a 4 speed manual trans. I loved it but it had a water problem from the AC. It wasn't draining properly and as a result got some pretty serious rust. Great cars.

Those older MBZ diesels are really the best. My parents had one. Great car! The trick to them is you have to maintain them the way they were intended. You cant go cheap. If you take care of them and perform the required maintenance when its supposed to be done they will last forever. I have a 2014 E350 now and so far its a great car, no issues. The best or nothing!

I love that story behind you and Tyler and I'm very happy for your success. You're all a class act and ms. Wizard is a great editor as well. Nice to see her involved as well. Some nights I put on a long video before I fall asleep and I'm out like a light 🙃. The Bob Ross of automotive repair!

@210SAi

3 жыл бұрын

Except the Wizard makes no mistakes

@fergamis

3 жыл бұрын

@@210SAi just happy accidents 😂

@Tool0GT92

3 жыл бұрын

The real story is Tyler and Wizard were in a bidding war over a Ferrari.

@fergamis

3 жыл бұрын

@@Tool0GT92 "that" story..also that's not "the" story either 😂 doesn't matter I love watching them both and wish them all the success in the world

I have a 92 190d and as you said these old Mercedes have an interesting smell. Mine still smells brand new and thank you for letting me know why it smells the way it does. :)

@artkincell

3 жыл бұрын

I had a 87 190 turbo diesel, the only year those popped into North America. I had that the same time I owned one of my 85 300 turbo and my 79 non turbo 123 chassis. The 190D had 385,000 miles on it when I sold it. Still running strong, but rusty.

@jwenting

3 жыл бұрын

@Justinian Yi not in Europe I think. They were company cars here, and company cars in Europe have traditionally almost all been diesels because diesel costs a lot less than petrol in Europe.

@davidjacobs8558

3 жыл бұрын

I heard Reinhard Heydrich died because of that horse hair filling. When he was shot by resistance assassin, the bullet went through the car seat before it entered his chest. and got some of the horse hair into his chest. Reinhard Heydrich managed to jump out of the car and chase after the assassin to shoot back, but after he was hospitalized, the horse hair caused severe infection, which killed him.

@gilbertg.8501

3 жыл бұрын

I have a 190E 2.3 1993 that has the original smell as well. I miss driving her, she’s been ooc for 8 months

@alt7488

3 жыл бұрын

@@davidjacobs8558 happened a lot, a lot of civil war deaths are mainly attributed to secondary infection from the cloth uniforms

Its refreshing to hear someone who really knows what they are talking about objectively assess the condition of a car.

There was even a coupe version as well. I think they were called CE in the designation. And was available with 2.8 liter petrol engine if I remember correctly with 130 horsepower

The best Merc ever! You still see a ton with millions of miles on the dirty roads of Morocco as taxis!

@jmsjms296

3 жыл бұрын

It only means they're dirt cheap... and Africans love them!

@banaana1234

3 жыл бұрын

@@jmsjms296 Africans really know reliable cars. Old mercs and especially toyotas.

Mr wizard, all the parts are indeed available directly from Mercedes. I’ve purchased all the parts you’ve mentioned and then some for my 1985 300TD. I recently purchased a new zebrano wood center console parts are not as expensive as many would like to believe.

@unavailableusername3814

3 жыл бұрын

Seriously? I have access to an 83 or 84 that hit a deer and needs a grille and some piece that connects oil filter to the block and being in the poorest part of the country the junkyards are useless. It's in pretty good shape otherwise but I hit this deadend same as the current owner and for the super steep learning curve I would have due to my ignorance of Mercedes-Benz products. Also this being non-turbo is a major point of concern. So I'm gonna take another shot at it but with a focus on finding a factory shop manual in English!

@petrolpancakes2946

3 жыл бұрын

@@unavailableusername3814 Try your MB dealership. There is wonderful factory support for these cars and you’d be surprised what parts are still available. It may take a couple of weeks to receive if coming from Germany, but you will get them.

@kalinandonov2799

2 жыл бұрын

I love comments where you learn something from. Thank you!

My Dad had an ‘84 190D - put 300k on that thing and was still running great when he traded it in.

@Grantly

3 жыл бұрын

Hey lon. Looks like my subscriptions are leaking.

@martywittenburg8174

3 жыл бұрын

I had a 1975 Mercedes as a daily driver. Ate a lot of fuel but never broke down. Drove that tank for four years. Sold it for cheap and basically traded it for a 1996 Corolla that I drove for 7 years with much better gas mileage. The Mercedes was great but I could have bought 2 Corollas plus a motorcycle back then. I'm on my second Corolla right now and I have a Moto Guzzi. Could have just skipped the Mercedes part.

@rock3tcatU233

3 жыл бұрын

It finally passed its break in mileage.

Mr. Wizard! The W123 300D is the best car ever made. I have a Euro import, 300D with a 4- speed gearbox. It's a 123.130 with manual climate control, manual sunroof, and manual windows. Basically, everything that "usually" breaks on this model is manual. I also swapped the 3.47 final drive with a 2.88 and can drive 75mph and the speedometer reads 60mph. I'm really looking forward to some more content on this car. Keep up the outstanding content.

Do your magic, Car Wizard! Keep that beautiful tank on the road, it hasn’t even gone past its break-in mileage! Just one minor correction: the turbo OM617 has 130 horsepower (ones with California emissions have 5 HP less). The naturally aspirated diesels had the 89 HP. And yep, I still have the original first aid kit in mine, infact I just replaced the plastic lid.

I really hope we get to see more of this as it is fixed. These are cool cars.

@TypeTuber

3 жыл бұрын

Yes! This is one I’d like to see in detail as you work on it.

I have an 85 300D. I’ve been using it as my daily driver in Tucson during the winter season for many years.. It has a 4 speed manual which really wakes up the driving experience. It’s a great car for long distance driving. It handles corners extremely well. The 134A in the AC system is a weak point - but the AC even with R-12 was weak even when it was new. You mentioned the engine shocks. The motor mounts are also a common issue. But it keeps soldiering on. Anyone who says they’ll get 30+ MPG must be going down hill with a tail wind. When I had the auto trans 22-24 was the best I could get. Then I swapped in a 4 speed and it did drastically improve the MPGs.A great car!

@qwertyui90qwertyui90

3 жыл бұрын

get the York AC compressor in there the R4 rotary type are garbage

@wholeNwon

3 жыл бұрын

You'd think that MB would have realized that their AC systems were crap (which they were) and install good ones. The answer is that of course they knew; they just didn't care. That's true of most of the defects in these cars.

The turbo 617 should have somewhere between 115-120hp ... it's the non turbo 3L that's like 80-90hp. Had an 85' 300CD for 5 years, solid car. If they're tuned up right they're not slow, keep it in Drive-3 while cruising in-town to keep the Revs up ;)

Have to love those Huge Steel hood springs that Mercedes used to use. Never need replacement!!

@jironmeister

3 жыл бұрын

I had broke one.

15:38 The turbocharged OM617 actually make like 125 hp and 180 ft-lb of torque! It doesn't sound like a lot but it makes a huge difference over the NA.

@A-FrameWedge

3 жыл бұрын

His quote for the HP is actually for the non-turbo engine which is basically the same engine without the turbo.

@micahrlusk

3 жыл бұрын

it also produces more than just 5-6 psi as he stated, closer to 8-10 or so.

I love listening to this man,he really knows his stuff.And how unusual to hear an american use the term 'bumper' instead of 'fender'. Carry on the good work Car Wizard.

You sound like a conscientious mechanic, and you have a great story telling ability. I love listening to stories about your experiences. Would like to see a follow up when this car is running.

On KZread there's a channel by the name mercedessource. It's maintained by an older guy, who has many mercs and a lot of experience repairing old mercs - tools too, especially for diesel models. His main hint for engines on old diesels was making sure the injectors are working properly. Faulty injectors push too much fuel in the cylinders and cause catastrophic meltdowns inside the engine. Worth checking :)

@joshuaschofield9178

3 жыл бұрын

Kent is very well known around the w123 community, he really does good work

@pfsantos007

3 жыл бұрын

@@joshuaschofield9178 He's very knowledgeable, but keeps slapping the cars!

@Johanniscool

3 жыл бұрын

This comment. 👍

@TheRazvy1990

3 жыл бұрын

@MrZep420 yes ! I look at his channel from the begining 😁

‘3L little turbo diesel’ *looks at all the tdi’s at home that are well below that*

@AndyH23284

3 жыл бұрын

@Mr. Cairo But on mileage before scrapping it.

@caleidoo

3 жыл бұрын

@Mr. Cairo Lots of TDI's in Europe in smaller cars have less than 123HP that this 300D Turbodiesel made.

@tomast9034

3 жыл бұрын

@@caleidoo my 1,5 dci has only 100...:D

@GlamStacheessnostalgialounge

3 жыл бұрын

The common thing between all of them is that they're slow, stinky, smokey diesel and literally any petrol car is going to blow them out of the water.

@MrKnutriis

3 жыл бұрын

@@GlamStacheessnostalgialounge You should drive one for a few days - or maybe you're in too much of a hurry for that. They're not sprinters but trust me, you will get to your destination in just the same time as any other car will.

i had a 190e and my wife had a 300d like this one and they smelled exactly the same, now i know why! Thank you! this video makes me wish we had our benzs

I drove one of those for some time, a 1982 coupe, same TD engine. It started going slower and slower come to find out there was corrosion in the fuel tank, so it got a new one and after that it drove great. Serious turbo lag but once over 3000 rpm it would keep going. What I liked the most about it was the super comfortable suspension. I later had a 1983 coupe CE 280 6-inline 170 hp that was fast and a blast to drive.

That one to me is the classic Benz styling, always loved them. I've had a 99 and an 04 and like the older ones.

Love the styling of these old Mercedes!

This is one car I really want to see repaired. The 300D is a bulletproof beast. Such a great car that will run for more than a million miles.

Best car I’ve seen on your channel yet! I’m a Mercedes enthusiast and have owned a couple, I’m a 190e guy. Another break the bank car. Gatta love the vacuum locks though, always loved how you could lock the entire car from the trunk. 240D has been on my wishlist since I was a young child. Someday!

I always wanted one of those. My father had a 300TD wagon back in the day in Europe.

@1985toyotacamry

3 жыл бұрын

I see the wagon version of it in the United States with a Turbo Diesel. I love it

Not for the Wizard so much but for the client: KZread, "Mercedesource" Kent (Seattle) makes and develops kits, tools and tutorials pertaining to these cars.

@davekana8388

3 жыл бұрын

Kent helped me keep my W123 going, had 325K when I had to move it along. Still went diesel, TDI 5 speed Bug!

@kavinskysmith4094

3 жыл бұрын

might wanna make sure he still exists considering what just happened up there however.

@minskmade

3 жыл бұрын

kent is the god on these.

@wallacegrommet9343

3 жыл бұрын

Eventually, every cool German car from the 80’s migrates to Seattle

@neilmurphy845

3 жыл бұрын

@@dizzy2020 yeah if I ever bought a Mercedes that's the first guy I'd go to

That thing is SO CLEAN, I'm amassed! If it was my granddaughter I would be very happy to have the wizard working on this.

Man! I gotta say. It puts a smile on face to see you working on the older ladies Wizard.

For his daughter? This, THIS is not a starter car! this is a FINISHER car!

@md2k8

3 жыл бұрын

The Car Wizard should have bought his daughter a 2008 Toyota Highlander 4WD mid-size SUV, because it is a lot safer than that Prelude, that she wrote-off. It has the 3.5 L V6 engine and it is a lot smoother than any four-cylinder low-end vehicle. It is also the first-model year of the second-generation of the Highlander, because this one lasts a lot longer, than any first-model year of the other generations of other vehicles. A lot of them, still go for a number of miles or kilometres, same with the older, GM vehicles with the 3800 V6 engine.

@stephenjones5240

3 жыл бұрын

@@md2k8 If he wanted safe he should have bought his daughter a Smart 4 two, apparently they passed the European crash test with a better safety standard than almost every other car. Also they do less injury to pedestrians.

@md2k8

3 жыл бұрын

@@stephenjones5240 I think, I heard about that vehicle before and I saw it in person. But, a Smart Fortwo is still too small and still unsafe for the Car Wizard's daughter. They are throw away vehicles - this is on the not to buy list. A mid-size or larger sedan, a larger crossover or a minivan is the best safest vehicle in its class - a 2017 Honda Odyssey eight-passenger or a 2010 Hyundai Sonata four-cylinder.

@reallyhappenings5597

3 жыл бұрын

In a few years they'll swap... Dad will want the classic and daughtrr will want the modern car that he's only put 80k on

@OMGWTFLOLSMH

3 жыл бұрын

@@md2k8 - She took the car joyriding without permission. It wasn't hers.

My first car was a 1975 Mercedes 240D, W115 chassis. Loved that car. Still regret letting it go. I've owned several W123s, and I currently have a W116 300SD which is an awesome car.

couple notes: the factory manual specs turbo boost as 12 psi although most have around 8-10 psi. While commonly referred to as "horse hair" the seat padding is actually coconut fiber. This fiber does degrade over time and an new pad makes a world of difference as does making sure springs are intact. if you can do the work, aside for time, you should be able to keep these cars on the road for a long long time. Great cars. I have a 300sd which adds a few more things to ultimately go wrong, but it is more luxurious.

My uncle had one like them. It was pretty silver. And the engine pretty neat with how the engine looks with it's metal pipes.

I've got a wagon version of this. Love my 300TD-T. I'll be watching this series! Thanks Wizard!

My all-time favorite car. I still have a 1983 300TD wagon that I drive weekly - and maintain myself.

one of my all time fave cars. smoothest ride. amazing utilitarian design. the key to keep them from rusting is replace all the window seals. im amazed the door corners are not rusted. as a 300d owner get a mityvac to fix all the vacuum locks :P. agree with harness...to much scary stuff there. another tip is don't power spray the engine with out wrapping the glow plug relay in plastic...ask me how i know this..... love the channel.

B W Have had a few. My 84 I’ve had 25 years. Timing chain every 115k. Injector springs can get worn out and dilute your oil. Vacuum door locks are slow, you have a leak. Can cause vacuum issues and transmission goes haywire. Change the oil every 2800 miles and don’t accidentally unplug vacuum lines removing the giant oil filter. Trans will act crazy and someone will tell you you need a new trans when all you had was an unplugged line or a leak. You ever go to turn the car off and it doesn’t turn off, you have a vacuum leak. Lift the hood and push the stop button on the engine. Left side. Regularly check calipers for leaks. 84-85 2 rubber seals on the large fuel filter bolt. Replace those every time you replace the filter. That’s a more common leak cause in that area. 83 on down has 1 seal on the banjo bolt. 2nd filter needs changing when you change the big filter, remember also, there’s a fuel tank screen that can get plugged up and make you think something is wrong. Every time you fuel up, add a antimicrobial like Bio-Kleen. Don’t waste your time with cheap batteries. Just spend the $180-200 and get the Bosch. You’ll be glad you did Have good glow plugs. Good ones do their job in under 20 seconds. If it’s taking over a min, you need plugs. If you hear a metallic rattle from under the hood, chances are it’s your air cleaner bracket which wore out due to the vibration of that diesel. They sell upgraded brackets. Just know if all you’ve driven is modern cars, it’s normal to think these are slow. Competitively they are to modern. But these had a primitive traction control and take off in second gear. If you need some extra juice to get into traffic from a stop, take off in L. These engines last forever when taken care of. But the transmissions do good to see 300k. When anyone wants one of these, they often buy into the idea they last forever. They do as long as you are meticulous about maintenance. Most is easy DYI. Great cars

@wholeNwon

3 жыл бұрын

Yup. Harsh shifting? Remember those flex pads. Excessive vibration? Remember those motor mounts. Battery blowing up? Voltage regulator? Bad alt.? Sunroof not closing? What, you expect it to? Learn how to adjust your own valves. Those things are just nightmares unless you're retired and like to tinker with them yourself. Even then, a LOT of what they need is really tedious to do.

@shiffroninc.4977

3 жыл бұрын

Why timing chain at 100k? Use good oil, change it Often and check the chain for stretch. Mine has 250k on it stretch well within limit.

Car Wizard: sorts out an old Mercedes that Hoovie wanted to buy Hoovie: I don't want it now

I'll look forward to the find and repair episodes to come. Add a replacement under hood pad to the list.

My friend in high school had a ‘78 240D 4-speed. Dog slow. Sooooo much fun! A 300D is on my bucket list and feeds into my love of tinkering and keeping them going just like my Volvo 740T wagons and my 1965 Chrysler. I very much appreciate the show and tell under the hood and list of common issues. I’m looking forward to update episodes.

A friend had 5 MB diesels. '76 240D, '79 300D, '80 300D, '80 300SD Turbo, and '87 300D Turbo. All of them tanks. All over 300k miles. When we went to pull-a-part, the diesels had 400-600k miles while gas MB had 100-300k miles. The 240D saved his life. Some guy t-boned him on the driver's B pillar going 75. My friend walked away.

A W123 is always worth repairing because you're investing in something that is built to last!

@OMGWTFLOLSMH

3 жыл бұрын

Makes no sense. Why did it need repairing if it's built to last? Anything will last if you keep throwing new parts at it. Too many people wax nostalgic for these old lumps. I wouldn't trade my modern S-Class 4Matic for this old beast in a million years.

I'm very excited to watch this series unfold. I just picked up a '79 240D. I really really would've preferred a 300TD (wagon) but there are very cars of this era and style here (Hawaii). I snapped up the first decent example I could find. Only has about 250k on it and it runs really well. Starts up on the first crank every time. Biggest selling point was the manual transmission. I wouldn't have bought it otherwise. There's a bit of rust here and there in the common areas (hood hinge drain areas, B-pillar floor) but nothing serious. As long as I get to it in a reasonable amount of time, there shouldn't be any sort of major surgery. The interior needs work too, but first I need to address the hood hinge areas because there's a bit of water coming in. After that it should be good to go until I'm ready for a full teardown or until I sell it and move on to another project. I've been daily driving it to work for the last month and I really enjoy it. As you said, it's so very slow. I thought it wouldn't be too bad, but boy was I wrong. I've driven a clapped out T2 Transporter and a stock 60s Beetle, and both have felt quicker than this.

@bobbbobb4663

3 жыл бұрын

Fellow 79 240D manual owner here since 1993. Great cars. Slow with the AC on. Tolerable with the AC off. 20 seconds to 60. 3rd gear ratio is a little low and I wish the car had a 5 speed. On the plus side, the car will hit 95-100 mph and still get 25-30 mpg. I would recommend you keep a couple of spare firewall fuses for the glow plugs in the car (although in Hawaii you may never need the glow plugs to start the car). Also, check the suspension components. I'm currently restoring parts of the front and rear suspension because after 40 years, things wear out. Good luck and happy ownership.

I don't work on cars for a living but I like to watch mechanics to learn about them. You should never feel guilty for charging for an inspection/diagnosis of a part or job. The customer doesn't just pay for labor and parts, they are paying for the knowledge and skill as well. I work in IT and I have had clients argue with me about charging a diagnostic fee. You have the knowledge of your trade and that knowledge is valuable as well as your time taken to diagnose the issue.That logic applies to any trade. Great content and keep up the good business practices Car Wizard!

Oh man so many memories, my grandpa had 2 of these, a 79 240 and a 83 300, my parents got the 240 and sold it after a few years when I was a kid, I got the 300 as my first car back in 2004, I drove that thing for years, eventually gave it to my dad to store as I stopped driving it and he still has it to this day. Still runs and drives great. Fantastic cars.

I really like you’re approach to business. Do it right or don’t do it at all. I get so much crap from people for thinking this way. Refreshing to see other people who think the same way.

Do you know youtuber:Mercedessource? You should make a contact to Kent Bergsman! King of old Mercedes 👍

Favorite channel this month. Had to watch the previous videos and its a unique delivery and style in a crowded KZread market. I cant get angry when working on cars with him on in the background lol. Keep up the hard work!

AWESOME video! I have owned 20 of these and work on them extensively! Great cars! The AC compressor is a R4 GM. It is nothing but junk! I converted 3 of mine to the Sanden compressor! It's the best conversion I have done! Looking forward to the series. You definitely know these cars! REFRESHING!

These and the om606 are having a resurgence in Europe with aftermarket parts and performance mods right now. Fantastic engines.

I've owned a bunch of W123s, very cool cars. Crazy what's up with the wiring. Luckily, once you have it started, this is one of the last cars ever made that can run and drive with no electrical systems working. I think you're mixing up the horsepower rating with the non turbo 300D. The turbo has about 123 horsepower.

great vid. i have owned a few. grew up in europe, very common, great cars , i currently have a 1984 300sd. hope to see this car fixed. keep doing what you do.. i have learned alot and you help with work that i do.

I've always liked the smell of the interiors of these old Mercedes. Never knew it was horse hair. Interesting!

@shiffroninc.4977

3 жыл бұрын

Actually they haven’t used horsehair for many years. Lots of coconut fibers in the w123

Vintage Mercedes makes every part for every Mercedes you just have to pay so you can get every part

I also had a 240D, Wizard. with a manual transmission. That is the slowest car I have ever had, but also one of my favorites once we got up to speed. It was a real pleasure to drive.

THAT is a glorious car and keeping it on the road is worth far more than the "book value" of the car. All the best, I'm always happy to see nice cars/machine that can be kept running, ALSO.... mice oh boy they do enjoy chewing wires.

Would love to do the same with a decent volvo 240 - growing up my family always had one

Mercedes made the FIRST diesel car around 1936.

Great videos wizard. My mother bought a new sentra a couple of years ago & mice were nesting under the hood. Rubbed some irish spring soap all over the hoses & they haven't come back. It really works.

I'd love to see a follow-up video, once all of the issues are addressed. We have quite a following of these 🚗 cars in Boone, NC! There's also a shop that specializes in Audi/Mercedes diesels here to. 👍 Great video and walkaround!

Having had nearly 75 of these cars, I know exactly what you will be going through. You touched on just about all the common issues with these cars. By the way, at minimum, the entire dash and center console have to come out to replace the wire harness. You might be better off adding a multi-pin bulkhead connector to the new engine bay harness, and leave the interior alone. That is if the rodents did NOT get inside.

@ty2010

3 жыл бұрын

I did that with a 77 Grand Marquis, was a squirrel instead of mice/rats.

I absolutely love W123s! One of the greatest cars ever made and very easy to work on and maintain.

@MrKnutriis

3 жыл бұрын

It has become easier over the last 10 - 20 years with KZread instructional videos and the internet to source parts but troubleshooting the vacuum system on your own is almost impossible unless you have good instructions. It's not a Chevy. The good thing is that it can be repaired, and give you another 20 years of service.

WIZARD, my grandfather has 2 '83 300SD Turbo Diesel models that he had restored completely. New engines and tons of parts from Germany some years ago. He drives one and keeps the other in showroom condition. He's relatively close to your area, in Wichita. They are TANKS!

Great video, CW! Very detailed, with good advice and excellent closeup photography. I happen to have the same 300D model -- even in gold! -- but '85. Out of love for it, I am bringing mine "back from the brink" as well. (Lent it to poor friends 4 years ago. They did their best on their limited budget, but were unable to keep it up. And it came back with dents and broken taillights and bezels and a myriad of other issues.) I will never lend this car out ever again, of course. Also, the character of the restoration and maintenance game on these W123's has changed drastically in the last 10 years: Both these cars and the parts for them used to be plentiful. Now it's difficult. The final remaining MB parts supplies are down to the dregs and often simply gone. I fortunately have a super mechanic who used to work at a Mercedes dealership, and also has previously worked on my car for years. Nonetheless, there are now so many things that need maintenance --- lubrication EVERYWHERE --- that I am learning to do as much of the smaller stuff as I can myself, esp around the body, and leave only the hard stuff -- engine and transmission -- to him. (Thanks so much to Kent Bergsma's "mercedessource" KZread channel, and all his tutorials, and his lubrication kits and specialized tool kits!!!) Three real issues for owners of these cars who want to still "daily drive" them: 1) As mentioned above, you are going to *have* to learn to do a lot of the easier maintenance, lubrication, and inspections/checks yourself. It just gets too exorbitantly expensive, unrealistic, and even a safety issue, to leave the myriad of issues to your mechanic. 2) And even then, youre still going to need a mechanic experienced with these W123's, like CW is from his earlier days. My mechanic has a new trainee under him. And that trainee is smart, carefil, and competent. But because so few of these cars come in the shop any more, his trainee will probably never have the opportunity to learn everything my mechanic knows about them. If you cant find such a mechanic in your area, i higjly suggest you consider giving up the W123 game. 3) Finally, a serious and yet rarely mentioned issue for your customer and his daughter, and for me as well, is the difficulty of finding collision insurance. Once, as you say, we put more into a car than its "book value" (Kelly Blue Book, etc.), we are at risk of losing all that repair and maintenance investment, because most insurance companies , while happy to sell you collision insurance, nvtl will pay you only the book value in event of collision, thothe total of your collision premium pmts may be many multiples of book value. On a 30-40 year old car -- no matter how superbly maintained -- that means probably getting a check from them for well under $1k, when the car, if superbly maintained, may be worth $12-20k. (Heck, even crappy ones are now $2-5k.) And if we are going to be driving the car daily, we surely will not want to purchase -- or qualify for -- so-called, "classic car" insurance, since those policies require that the car be garaged and *not* driven daily: only to weekend drives and car shows. So what to do? I have not yet found an agent or company, but searching through the BenzWorld.org forums has me convinced that for your customer, CW, and for me, what we probably will end up wanting is what is called, "Agreed Value" insurance. (Dont let the insurance co. convince you to go with "Stated Value" insurance: it is trash, and you'll be screwed on the day you need it.) With Agreed Value insurance, you and the insurance company agree to the true value of the vehicle -- including excellent maintenance -- based upon usually annual inspections by a 3rd party Valuator (which requires a fee of course), and current market value. Then if your car is the victim of a collision, you will get reimbursement for repair or replacement up to the previously agreed upon value. I am not an insurance agent and cannot guarantee the veracity of the above, so check into these things yourself to verify or nullify. Thats just my understanding to date, and as I say I am still on the hunt for such insurance. If you, CW, or anyone else here, happen to have experience getting Agreed Value insurance for your "older daily driver", please respond here: I would love to know! Thx.

That first aid kit and it's cradle out like that on the rear dash tells me there's been a fuel sending unit repair going on..

@johnwedzicha

3 жыл бұрын

Wrong! MercedesSource just did a vid yesterday showing that the fuel sending access is behind the rear seat back. Under the first aid kit is the vacuum reservoir.

@Rum1981

3 жыл бұрын

@@johnwedzicha At the sedan, you remove the vacuum reservoir in direction to the trunk, then you can pull the sending unit out of the tank... in a wagon the tank would be under the car, so the access to the sending unit is behind the back seat

These are one of my bucket list cars. I want one, but..time marches on. I'll have another old MB someday.

@plektosgaming

3 жыл бұрын

I highly recommend getting an older 1960s/1970s S class, though - the gas engines are very simple and they have a lot more power. My favorites are the W112 and W108. They are worth restoring and drive very well.

@mattscullin5844

3 жыл бұрын

@@plektosgaming thanks for the tip. I owned a '97 E420. The m119 V8 was such a wonderful engine. I drove it cross country several times, while getting 24mpg consistently. The rest of the w210 was OK for me. Dead nuts reliable. Terrible paint...I've had my eye on a w126 for a while.

@plektosgaming

3 жыл бұрын

​@@mattscullin5844 It's OK - the older ones before were better and before they put computers in any of them, so it's easy to keep running and fix up. The 1970s/early 80s SL are also inexpensive and soon to be classics. Very fun cars. That said, the best engine Mercedes probably put in their cars was the M180. Bulletproof - basically a tractor engine that they also used in their military vehicles as well. The M110 is pretty much the same thing with injection - when it works, it's great. You want the newer K series models - their problems are mostly hoses and connectors. They were in the 280 series of cars. The 280SL are expensive now, but the 280 sedans are almost forgotten and nobody is interested in them.( ie - low cost :) )

For the sentimental value and the fact that to get a daily driver won't cost much more than another car she might not want as much, its worth it. She'll treasure this car.

Wizard I like all your video's. I believe I worked on that car many years ago at a Mercedes dealership in Nebraska. I notice the ALDA on top of the pump has had the emissions cap tampered with. We would loosen the lock nut and turn them two turns to make them run less lean, and have more power. It was most important to adjust the valves on these engines or they would not start in cold weather. They had a tendency to tighten up. Just a tip.

There's a channel that works on these older Mercs all the time, Mercedessource. Very clever chap.