Old mercedes comparison

[biodiesel]

Does anyone know where I can compare the features of old mercs?

I want a diesel to run on chip fat and i'd like a bit of luxury. Can anyone give me any advise? I like the style of the one with the headlights one above another (300??) but don't know what it's called. Pre 73 (tax exempt) would be good but anything you can tell me would be good.

It can't be too expensive as I'm on a bit of a budget and if any of you have something like that (pref. estate) near the Isle of Wight then let me know
07905 734990

 

[Myros]

No Merc Estates until 1979

and the w123. The estates that do exist before that are rare and were coachbuilt by Binz and others on the chassis of the day.

 

[biodiesel]

O.K., do estates, i'll just pay the tax then. I'll go and look up the w123

 

[biodiesel]

Please help I don't know anything about mercs

 

[stumpy]

Please help I don't know anything about mercs

Sorry but I'm too busy fretting about the 25% I haven't saved by buying used.

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

actually I saved about 50% buying 3 years old. Perhaps if I wait another 4 years they'll have to pay me to take it away

 

[Shambolic]

Please help I don't know anything about mercs

Why are yo here then you saddo????

 

[Hibbo]

Right then my son, welcome to the fabulous world of old diesel Mercs!

First off I'd say get a grip and be realistic. From your first post it would appear that you are looking for a tax exempt (pre '73) w115 (rare) diesel (very rare) estate (impossible) going cheap (these are genuine classic cars) on the Isle of White p )

I think you are being somewhat optimistic.

The newest w115s are now over 30 years old and decent ones change hands for a lot of money (as they look absolutely ace!), they are not 'old cars' that you can pick up for buttons and run into the ground. The ones that have been are now all resting in the big scrappy in the sky, the ones that haven't are tressured classics. Diesel w115s are EXTREMELY rare.

The w123 however, is (in my opinion) in somewhat of a limbo area between being an old car and a classic. What I mean by this is that whilst there are some minters that go for big dosh, there are also some tired looking examples that can be snapped up and are still great strong cars.

The om617 engine used in the 300D/300TD (TD meaning Touring (estate) Diesel, NOT TurboDiesel) is a superbly reliable engine that is famed for it longevity and ability to rack up huge mileages. It is also ideally suited for running on Vegetable Oil (Not bl00dy 'chip fat'!)

I can't be arsed typing any more at the mo (I've just finished a nightshift) but there are plenty of buyer's guides and such like on t'internet for the w123. Try www.w123.net for starters, if you are serious (and a bit more realistic) and stop saying you are going to run a car on fecking chip fat, I can give you some diesel specific pointers I have learnt from my own cars.

 

[Hibbo]

And another thing...

You have BIODIESEL as your username, but state you want to run a car on 'chip fat'. Now I am prepared to accept that you actually mean Vegetable Oil, so please call it so in future, but VEGETABLE OIL IS NOT BIODIESEL! Biodiesel is a substance that is chemically produced FROM veg oil, vegetable oil is VEGETABLE OIL!!!

Don't know why I am so angry tonight... Should be happy to meet another classic Merc Vegger......

 

[Bolide]

You'll find all W123 and W124 diesel estates run fine on vegetable oil, chip fat, Biodiesel and even diesel fuel. You can Google more information and suppliers of conversion kits. You normally need to make some changes to run on 100% non-diesel. Most cars will run fine on a mixture

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[biodiesel]

Thank you so much Hibbo! That's exactly the sort of info I was looking for. I knew it's not chip fat! I'll say vegtable oil from now on I promise.

I am looking at making biodiesel at some point but I wanted to get hold of a car first, then a supply of VEGETABLE OIL (sorry), then lye, then methanol (I make my own ethanol already but it's not pure so I'm looking into that), then a way of heating, washing. Sorry I've got a rough idea and I guess you know all this. Anyway, not the right forum!

So, one again thanks. I'll hunt around for more info on the w123 and the 300td

 

[Hibbo]

No problem mate, I personally wouldn't go the the expense, hassle and danger (some of them chemicals can be quite nasty) of making BioDiesel to run an old Merc as they will run, unmodified, quite happily of SVO (straight veg oil).
Veg is also a much greener fuel as there are no fossil ingredients (ie methanol) it doesn't take energy to react it and there are no waste byproducts (glycerol).

A few simple modifications and the car will be even happier, especially through winter. But you really can just pour veg oil in to these old mercs and drive off.

Good luck in finding one, unfortunately many of the w123 estates have had hard lives being used as builders vans etc. They are excellent cars though, I'm still amazed at how well my 300D drives even with nearly 200k on the clock and 23 years on.

 

[biodiesel]

Cheers, I might look into this but I think I'm going to go for a Volvo instead. Lot's of different reasons, but things like your list of cars '83 w123 300D Auto - The moneypit begins to open!' puts me of a bit. I don't mind the work but I guess the parts can be pricey.

 

[Bolide]

The Volvo 760 turbo diesel with the 6-cylinder VW engine is a good car - I had one for a while. It doesn't really compare with a W124 estate - the Mercedes is much better built and is far more refined but the Volvo is tough & powerful

There's a big difference betrween a W123 and a W124 - they're a generation apart and it does show

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[television]

The Volvo 760 turbo diesel with the 6-cylinder VW engine is a good car - I had one for a while. It doesn't really compare with a W124 estate - the Mercedes is much better built and is far more refined but the Volvo is tough & powerful

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

Just to add to the comment by Nick,, If you want a car with no feeling whats so ever go for the Volvo, the steering is rubber like, if you point it in one direction, it will eventually go there. They are one of the most horrible cars that I have ever driven, and I have had more than 450. We had them on Swedish Radio and Television, but i always took my own 300TE and claimed the milage.

Malcolm

 

[Hibbo]

I've updated my signature, I wrote that not long after I'd bought it and I thought the gearbox was fecked. It was just a simple vacuum problem in the end - thats the beauty of these old beauties - they're easy to work on, no daft electronics to worry about.

The om61x engine (as used in the w123) is THE BEST to run unmodified on SVO. No argument. The om60x (w124) is nearly as good. The key is that they use inline injection pumps and not rotary ones.

As Nick has hinted at, you may be better going for an early w124, these are really good cars and you can pick early ones up for buttons as they are not yet in the classic bracket.

Although I said 'tired' and 'hard life', these cars will (mechanically) go on for ever.

To correct my moneypit prediction, I will list what I have bought for my w123 since i bought it this summer. All rough from memory:

Air filter £7
Oil filter £7
Autobox filter £7
Autobox gasket £5
Fan belt £4
P/S Belt £4
Wiperblades £13
Steering damper £14 (although the old one wasn't too bad)

All the above I would class as consumables/service items, and none of them were expensive.

Then it failed it's MOT and I had to do the following

Weld up both rear anti-roll bar mounting points,
Weld up n/s sill/floorpan (my avatar is me looking up through the sill!)
(I bought a sheet of steel for a tenner and bought my mate a couple of crates of beer for letting me use his welder and giving me plenty of help)
Replace steering idler bushes and pivot bolt £14
Replace hazard switch - £3

It then flew through!

I've also replaced and indicator and rear cluster as they were cracked £15 from breaker.
Replaced a transmission oil cooler pipe - couple of quid from breaker.


Hmmm - now I've listed this I've realised this might put you off even more! BUT, I don't think these things (apart from the welding) would be unusual on even a 5 year old car.


The best thing to do is go and drive one. They are great cars and have bags of character - and you can just pour SVO in to them

 

[MercAl]

Hey Hibbo...great posts from yourself. Smashing read and great entertainment! Alas...all to no avail...sounds like Bio was always gonna buy something else!

 

[television]

Smashing ...sounds like Bio was always gonna buy something else!

Not much out there though for £5.75 with his outlook you never know. Hibbo is a very clever guy.

Malcolm

 

[MercAl]

Very knowledgeable guy...and nice with it! Just like your good self Malcolm!

 

[Hibbo]

Awww shucks you guys! Praise from high places indeed, thanks very much!

Did you get your clutch sorted Al?