1985 Mercedes 300D Review - An Inline-5 Diesel Luxury Car!
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
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The thoughts, feelings, and opinions expressed in this video are the sole thoughts of Zack and no one else. The thoughts expressed in this video do not reflect the owner, dealership, or organization that owns the vehicle featured. The purpose of this video is to provide entertainment with the hope that you will take what you see and formulate your own opinions. DO NOT make a financial decision based off of this video.
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Ah yes, the engineer’s Mercedes.
My grandparents still have theirs! Same year and color. Over 750k miles!
Some small things:
Mercedes made many versions of these cars as we know
By 85’ the most powerful US version was the turbo diesel, but they did made a 2.8 DOHC inline 6, which made 180hp and could of had a 4 or 5 speed manual.
All turbo diesel cars were automatic, but the 4 and 5 cylinder cars non turbo could of been a 4 or 5 speed manual, but the 5 speeds are incredibly rare units made by getrag.
The 85’ is considered the best version, with the updated injection pump, climate control system, turbocharger and a few other improvements, but the charm of the early cars are there with the cat ear headrest, weird interior colors like Green and orange.
These cars can be “push started” as an automatic, Mercedes designed a pump in the tail shaft of the transmission that when going roughly 20 mph, you can put the transmission into drive from neutral, and start the engine, no electrical power necessary to crank or to start.
Long live the 123, I drive my 85’ sedan all the time here in central Fl, when I’m not driving my 94 Camry wagon or my 80’ triumph spitfire
Mercedes w123 knowledge! Thanks. Ask me Alfa Romeo Milano or 75.
I am fortunate to own a 1979 240D U.S. model with the factory rear seat headrest option so I have four cat ear headrests to enjoy 😀
Quite the garage you have! I love your passion for older but very stout cars.
loved mine until it lost breaks and met a tree, also fellow central floridian here.
I understand how you're struck by the beauty of it. It's just stunning
My rich uncle had an MB from the 1970's or 1960's? It was so different than the American sedans everyone else in the family had. That one you drove still had the "Proper Mercedes Look" when they weren't everywhere and people would say 'Wow! a Mercedes!".
My parents' neighbors had a brand new W123 Diesel in 1977. In 1981 or 82, "Miss Claire's" husband, Mr. Cotton, bought her the station wagon version (brand new) for her Birthday. They kept the emerald green sedan. Their son was my best friend and these cars fascinated me. Not a rich neighborhood. My parents had a Pontiac Catalina or Olds Delta 88 w crank windows lol
Best looking Mercedes sedan of the 80’s in my opinion. Love the proportions.. would love a 560SEC though
Mercedes benz king of the road!
There was a 560SEC for sale in California for a little bit that was om617 swapped.
You should try one of these with no turbo, one less cylinder, and a manual.
I daily drive a 1982 300td (the wagon version of this car)… it keeps up just fine for the most part with modern cars… and it makes me smile every time I see it.
Great video!
Great review!
It is what it is, Zak. And yet, did you notice the European only issued safety triangle attached to the underside of the trunk lid? Oh, we would have loved for you to have found the original tool kit in that very used trunk as well.❤
Very rare and very fine!
I’ve always loved the wheels on the older Mercedes.
Own a 1980 300D non turbo, white white blue interior. Some paint dings, but as its a CA car, no rust. Get compliments all the time. Only thing to watch out for on these is a) alternator brushes wearing out on 'rebuilt' alternators not properly charging, and make sure you check your oil pumps. If the alternator brush wears out it;ll stop charging and then you need a tow. Low oil pressure is about the only thing that will blow these engines (I guess all motors really, but with the high compression, if it doesn't have good oil flow, the engine will lose compression long before it overheats.). Otherwise, normal maintenance (do note, it's a Mercedes, so it's no Japanese car. It has regular replacement intervals for a lot of stuff. Just don't complain they didn't warn you :p)
Lately I’ve been exploring past my love for classic American brand cars & looking at other older cars of foreign brand. These late 70s-80s Mercedes are real nice!
The power mirror button in the center console for the passenger side only. A Million miles easily! Great video review as always!
I've been eagerly awaiting this video. Thank for coming up and filming it!
That trunk lock seems problematic, but it's intentional. There's basically two lock positions, one allowing the vacuum system to unlock it for you, and the other direction is to require you to use the master key. These came with a valet key that wouldn't open the trunk or glovebox. I've had both the W115 and W123 in four cylinder stick shift diesel, plus a W114 with the twin carb automatic. Best overall was the W123, but mostly because the previous / original owner was a Boeing test pilot who was meticulous.
My favorite Mercedes. My dad drove a Mercedes sedan in the 70s when he worked for Mr. Tivols. It was a company car. ❤😊
Timeless design no doubt. I think I'll get one. The daily is a hopped up crown vic. Yeah I'm gonna get one. Great video.
I passed up one of these to get my Grand Marquis (the other Merc), it was absolutely the right choice at the time but I'll always wonder what might have been.
You guys are nuts to work on this car.
A car that looked great, drove great, and outlasted its competitors. If I could have picked one of these up when it was 3-5 years old it would have been a dream car to me.
Bruno Sacco best Mercedes designer, ever
These were in the road when I grew up in Europe. Never seen it as a luxury car for some reason. I remember many of them in taxi service. I remember the butcher in town had one and a farmer had one as well. I remember families owning the station wagon. I like it but I prefer the W124 especially as a wagon. Sadly owning a Mercedes in the US is not as fun if you can’t work on it yourself and because not all the parts are available anymore.
These old Mercedes will last a lifetime and a half.
The uneducated engineers at Mercedes today in 2025 can definitely learn many things from their forefathers. MBs nowadays are absolutely disastrous.
I agree but remember that you are looking at the last of the all mechanical cars (no computer, mechanical fuel pump). Remove the battery and the car will run forever as long as it has diesel fuel.
My dad had 2 of these, and he got t boned in one, and it saved him, and gave one to my sister as her first car.
I was walking down a side street in Huntington, CA as a teen in 2001. There was a white one of these with a turbo diesel badge and a for sale sign on it. $2500. I was peeved my parents wouldn't let me buy it and drive it back to the midwest. A rust free 300D? Shoot I would probably still be driving it today! I miss how inexpensive used cars used to be :(
Sold my mothers one owner 1982 300 D , many parts are not availabe. I took care of car when I was teenager until fall 2023. 41 years.
Her car was concourse condition and she had many other cars but never let it go. This was her baby kept for sunny days. My dad had large car collection.
The problem is the mechanics are hard to find know what they are doing in Texas and took month get in line for repairs.
The current diesel is not good for the car and you would have to add additives.
You have to have a large wallet is to drive this car.
I sold the car for crazy money and paid for all repairs over the years.
Unpopular but correct. These cars are not good daily driver classics. Totally unobtainable and expensive parts, and weird quirks that can disable the car. I think contemporary GM cars are a much better daily driver classic for Americans.
I knew a guy who had one of these. He converted to run on cooking oil.
I had a 77 300D non turbo. Pale yellow with a green vinyl interior. Driving around Houston people would switch lanes when they saw me sitting at the red light assuming I would be slow. They weren’t wrong 😅 Regarding that Childish Gambino video. If you look closely you can see the rear door isn’t closed all the way while driving around. He didn’t realize you had to slam the hell out of the doors
If you have to slam a w123’s doors, it means the hinges need to be lubricated. And unlike American cars, the w123 have hinges with a grease fitting!
Cudowne auto, miałem 240d żeby pokonać wzniesienie musiał się rozpędzać 5min😂
257k miles and its just barely broken in. My absolute dream car since ive known myself.
"Paulie from the Sopranos"! He was my favorite on that show!!
What’s up with the exhaust ? Looks like it’s hanging off.
Guesssing it rusted off and that was their quick fix for it
I had the same basic car back in 1990. It was a 1985 diesel in light blue with dark blue Bentex, auto without the turbo. I didn't have it long because it had trans issues and it spend a ton of time at a service shop. The day I got it back, it sold to a guy who contacted me and asked to buy it. That was a really nice car, but I would rather have the 1981 Olds 98 Regency sedan diesel that I also owned at that time.
When a mercedes was a Mercedes.
💯
The W123 Mercedes is the best car ever made. Built like a Swiss watch, engineered to perfection, uber reliable and competent in all conditions, and still good enough to be used daily today. Signed, a very happy '84 280E owner.
I would love a 300TD turbo wagon. These are some of my favorite Mercedes-Benzes because of how solid they are. These aren't remotely quick but they're unkillable. Choosing one of these over a Cadillac or a Lincoln meant that the buyer cared more about engineering and driving experience than gadgets and bling. These are subtle unlike Mercedes-Benz today. I much prefer the Euro-spec lights and bumpers though. The W123 came in so many different colors.
In your walkaround when you were talking about the color, you were using the German-style parking lights where only one side of the car is illuminated for parking on a narrow street.
How did you find my dream car to review, Zack? It's even the color I'd pick.
The tank that looks like a car.
My uncle had the 4 cylinder version with a 3 speed manual. A slow but very neat car to drive.
Four diesel Benzes of different generations and models here in metro Birmingham if you ever head to Alabama!
my W116 was purchased new in May 1980 by the original owner at Crown Motors of Birmingham
When you're driving a Mercedes Benz, 100 miles an hour plus on the Autobahn, you don't need a big frigging bottle.
Their views Are you either drive or you pull off the road to drink.
How can you get almost 2K views and have less than 200 likes? Come on people… let’s like these videos!!!!
Yeah, that is a very good looking car, indeed. Obviously they're very different cars, but that Mercedes kinda gives me the same kinda feeling I get when I look at a 65 Mustang. Not too flashy, there's nothing crazy going on, but it just looks RIGHT.
Best engineered cars ever made. Yes they were made to last.Unlike todays plastic cars. They were built with honesty. I'm proud owner of 6 of them,all original. Will I ever sell them NO Because I love them
I've found that the NA diesels play nicer with the automatic transmission, you have to consider that the transmission was not designed for the diesel. They just put a different modulator in them to shift sooner to keep the rpm in the diesel's relatively low power range.
Lower RPM shifting on the NA or the turbo versions?
@gregorymalchuk272 Lower relative to the gas models.
excellent condition , respect
You were in my neighborhood!
9:33 I worked at Macca's. I made ones that looked that good. Only for myself.
High lift over into the trunk 😮😢
The best car ever made imo
My family has the coupe version of this car and I also love it. However the carburetor that our 230 gas powered merc has can be somewhat troublesome…
Partial to the 124 myself but it wouldn't exist without the venerable 123
"1976 Mercedes-Benz w123 development" finds good video on youtube, nice music
lol it only makes 41 bhp per liter of engine so it better be reliable! Any super under stressed should be reliable!
The GM 5.7L Diesel of that era may around 22 bhp / L and the pre DX block motors that blew up would like a word with you.
@@bobbbobb4663 its made by gm plus they took a low compression gas v8 and turned it into a high compression diesel.
@ Without doing anymore research, the turbocharged OM617 was probably the highest output / L production car diesel engine in the world when released in 1978.
The perfect car to drive in Miami to a docks for some 'business'
10s and 20s, the kind of business that makes you sleep wirh the fishes if you get what i mean
My MIL had one of these until about five years ago.
Good looking car 😁
What do you put in if you cant find a motor for it?
A side dump exhaust? On the fuel filler side? Good thing it’s a diesel, otherwise it’d burned down by now
Nice 😊
The OM617 is a very popular engine swap for 80s Toyota pickup/4Runners. I’ve seen many on the forums over the years. Making Japanese trucks more reliable with …. European parts? 🤨
When Mercedes meant Mercedes
These are cool.
He's a 90s baby in an 80s Mercedes
Only thing better would be a Wagon version.
How do you adjust the passenger side mirror? Do you have to reach out of the window & push on the glass? 😂🤣🤔🤔 Mad that a Merc still had manual mirrors in '85! I know power ones were uncommon then,but you'd think a Merc would've had them!
The passenger mirror is electric, the adjuster knob is in the center console.
You could never get a 300D in the US with a manual - only the 240D. My Dad's first German car was a 78 300D - non-turbo, that came later. Slooow, but still faster (a relative term) than the 240, and probably on par with the B and C body GM olds 350 diesels which were initially popular before the engines self-destructed. That car resulted in a 40 year plus tradition of German makes for Dad and his two sons. but never again a diesel. These do have a bank vault quality and are unexciting but also unflappable. By standards of the late 70's they handled pretty well. No sports car, but safe and predictable. Logged a lot of seat time in it myself. The AC sucked - there was an old line purporting to quote some Merc engineer - what do you mean they Americans want air conditioning AND a sunroof? Heresy. Radio was a bit of a joke too. Dad swore it got 24 mpg no matter what speed he drove on the highway - which was often close to flat out, since max was around 90. Finally, although this was the small Merc, and fairly bare bones inside - the 300D based a bit over 19k. Cadillac's most expensive offering, the still newish Seville, based a bit over 14k. People just knew you had money (or at least spent it) if you were in a Benz back then. But they were still regarded as 'practical' - oh so and so, they're very practical.....
Om617 immortal engine
You forgot your trench coat and driving gloves.
Sidepipe😂
Slow, but amazing.
Just change gearbox oil
The 280E had more power
good cars. i never understood why people like manual transmission🤔.
A good manual is fun to drive. I love the engagement of managing the link between the engine, wheels, and road. Modern automatics may be faster but I'm not chasing laps on a track so I don't care.
Their not that slow .try a naturally aspirated one
Who's childish Gambino? What a silly name.
These old Diesel Mercedes are NOT good working guys daily driver classics. They require specialist tools and jigs to work on, parts are unobtainable and expensive, and they have a lot of peculiarities that can kill the car, like ball bearings in the vacuum pump that are smaller than the oil pump pickup screen. Extremely temperamental vacuum modulation of the automatic transmission. And the nightmare of Bosch Jetronic injection on the gasser models. Old GM cars are much better for for daily driver classics for Americans.
This is actually my car, It has been by far my cheapest and easiest vehicle to maintain. The only special tools I've had to buy so far was a 27mm socket for the injectors and the right size spring compressor, that's it. but don't get me wrong the Jetronic in my 450sl sucks. and parts? rock auto and FCP euro have been my go to
Peugeot from the same era/size was better)))
Huge moonroof
Ugly bumpers and headlights🤢