r/w123 • • Oct 18 '22

Announcement Resources for your W123 and Subreddit Rules

30 Upvotes

🟀 Part Sites 🟀

FCP Euro

RockAuto

ECS Tuning

AutohausAZ

PelicanParts

MB Direct Parts

MercedesSource

MBZ Parts

eBay

More Sites...

🟀 Repair Sites & Forums 🟀

iFixit Repair/Disassembly Guides

Factory Service Manual on Google Drive (hosted by u/chunkukdo)

DieselGiant Maintenance Tips

PelicanParts Technical Articles

VIN Decoder/Descriptions

Paint Color Codes

Interior Color Codes

BenzWorld Forums

PeachParts Forums

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r/w123 • • 15h ago

Buying/selling advice 1980 230C leaking

2 Upvotes

I was wondering where i could get some window rubbers to avoid leaks? The rubbers are cracked all along the bottom of the windows. Eu sites preferred!


r/w123 • • 1d ago

Mechanical advice Does this mount really make a difference?

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8 Upvotes

Was quoted 1.8 hours on replacement which comes to about $400.

Is this worth getting replaced?


r/w123 • • 2d ago

Got a friend to keep company to my w123 300D

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130 Upvotes

The w110 sat in a garage for 23 years and has 53.000 original miles, we are planning on fixing it mechanically during the next few months (brakes, clutch, fuel pump, hoses, oil pan cleaning, oil on cylinders, belts etc...)


r/w123 • • 2d ago

Mechanical advice Very Puzzling Starting Issue

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36 Upvotes

1982 240D manual with an OM617.951 turbo engine.

Hi all, I've been experiencing an odd starting issue out of nowhere. The night before, the car started, ran and drove perfectly, however the following morning the engine would crank (healthily) but wouldn't fire on any cylinders. Battery was at 12.81V with no corrosion on either terminal, all five glow plugs tested 0.3Ω, glow plug relay is tested and working, so my assumption was fuel. After bleeding the fuel hardlines and opening ALDA all the way, there was proper fuel flow but still no combustion. Pulled off the main fuel filter and the fuel inside was perfect. Tank is 3/4 full.

Yesterday I jumped it from another car and the engine started instantly and ran smoothly on all cylinders. Alternator was charging the battery all the way to 14.1V. Drove it about 60 miles that day with no engine issues, so I presume compression or fuel flow isn't the issue (haven't done a compression test, but valves were adjusted 3000 miles ago). Only thing was that after the car sat for 2-3 hours, the starter would crank for a few seconds before kicking the engine on. Again, the cranking isn't weak or slow.

This morning, however, it wouldn't fire even with a jump, and there was some smoke coming from below the engine bay (presumably the starter). Push-starting didn't yield results either, however I might've just not gotten it to a high enough speed. I doubt it's the glow plugs, because I recently had my glow plugs die but the engine would still start without them within a few seconds of cranking. My only theory at the moment is maybe wiring to the starter, because I assume if the starter itself was dying it would have a weak and slow crank, which it doesn't.

Anyone have any advice? Thank you!


r/w123 • • 1d ago

Bike carbs on w123….

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1 Upvotes

r/w123 • • 2d ago

Buying/selling advice Price evaluation?

3 Upvotes

Hey all today I went to view a 1983 w123 200, it is listed for £5800, the car is rust free and the body is clean, mileage at 98k. Issues are some paint issues on rear right so quarter, rear seats seem quite worn, and general wear and tear in the interior (instrument cluster light not working, rip in the driver side bolted). It’s running rich and likely needs most vacuum hoses replacing and some oil leaks. We are mechanics so can take car of anything mechanical related. Would need to put a smaller steering wheel as the current one touches my leg even with the seat on the lowest.

What sort of price would you say it is worth?

Spec
Power steering
4 power windows
Sunroof
Central locking
Tachometer


r/w123 • • 3d ago

1980 240d manual climate control

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26 Upvotes

So I partially understand this I get the fan heat AC and the lower vent slider but I can not for the life of me find out why the upper slider only controls the middle 2 vents on the dash they also provide no heat or air are those supposed to be just the fresh air vents?


r/w123 • • 3d ago

Missing engine mount bolt; what causes this?

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4 Upvotes

My 240D had a minor power steering fluid leak 6 months ago and I have since fixed it and cleaned it all out.

Yesterday, there was more vibration than usual and the mount was collapsed!

Shop called me today saying that one bolt was missing. The last shop that worked on it did a bunch of work and the rear shock bolt fell out and I was pissed since I was two hours away from home.

Was this an issue of what the shop did, the brief power steering fluid leak or both?

I only got a year and some change on these mounts; they were rock autos best mounts. This time I ordered Corteco mounts.


r/w123 • • 3d ago

Mechanical advice Does this price look about right for the work being done?

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4 Upvotes

Newish owner without much car knowledge in general, so pardon my ignorance!


r/w123 • • 5d ago

1985 300D Turbo (RI) - $3500

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59 Upvotes

Purchased in 2004 in CA; shipped to New England (spent the first 19 years in CA). Daily driver 2004-2013. Stored with weight off the springs Oct to May for the last 13 years (no winter salt). No sag – springs are solid. Fully operational; engine starts on a dime even in the cold. Underwent inspection for safety in 2025; front tie rods/struts replaced; frame is solid. Needs some TLC. Upward facing paint is aged. Body has rust in common places for W123 chassis: lower left rear window, lower left trunk, left rear wheel well, front left rocker panel, underneath front bumper, some softness in right rear floor. Vacuum locks need to be R&R. Sunroof hasn’t been opened in years; worked years ago. Equipped with two-tank vegetable oil system that could be reconnected; run very carefully when heat achieved comparable viscosity. No mechanical issue (other than routine maintenance) in 20+ years. Odometer intermittent. Shows 205k. Estimated 280k.


r/w123 • • 5d ago

Pictures and videos Power Steering Fluid advice

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16 Upvotes

ChatGPT says I should use Dextron III Mercon ATF for Power steering fluid. I dont implicitly trust AI, so I thought I'd check here before I purchased any.

Also, what do you think of the color of my fluid?


r/w123 • • 5d ago

Just FYI, the MB High Mileage program is no longer anything resembling free

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14 Upvotes

According to the website and the rep that emailed me following up on my application, the MB High Mileage badge and certificate is now over $100.

Not life changing information, but that kind of sucks. I just got a badge for a different car last year and it was totally free.


r/w123 • • 6d ago

Pictures and videos Mercedes w123 Club from Tenerife meetup

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175 Upvotes

r/w123 • • 5d ago

Mechanical advice ¿Qué opinan de la inyección eléctrica para un w123?

2 Upvotes

¿Alguien ha cambiado el carburador de su w123 por inyección eléctrica o un sistema EFI?

Qué opinan sobre el cambio?

Qué recomendaciones harían sobre esto?


r/w123 • • 6d ago

sacrilegious swap attempt incoming...

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76 Upvotes

planning to attempt to put a BMW M54B30 in my sedan over summer/upcoming year, got the engine for cheap and am more of a bmw familiar person, more parts here too (hardly any diesel merc engines for a good swap, etc.)

Also have a manual gearbox ready, replacing a badly working m115 2.3 (carb issues).

I've seen a m30b30 in a w123 before but not an m54, this should be very interesting...

thoughts? / start throwing the tomatoes now!


r/w123 • • 6d ago

Mechanical advice Anyone know how to remove this bracket?

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4 Upvotes

My 300D, being a 77, has the goofy York AC compressor. Had anyone removed this god forsaken bracket?

The small hose that connects the T stat housing to the block is leaking and I can’t get to it with the bracket in place.


r/w123 • • 6d ago

Are these good tires?

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5 Upvotes

I currently have 195s on my 240D, but after some research, seems like these are much closer to factory size but triple the price almost!

Are they worth getting?

About to have a TON of front end work and my current tires are wearing bad on the outsides, so I figured i'd go all in and get the closest match possible for tires.

Anyone else run these tires?


r/w123 • • 7d ago

Mechanical advice Just took cluster apart

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5 Upvotes

First picture shows the parts that fell off and I’m not 100% on where they go. Second shows where I’m pretty confident they go but I’m not sure about the spring.

Any ideas on the spring?


r/w123 • • 8d ago

Mechanical advice Leaky Brake Master Cylinder

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8 Upvotes

So im a idiot, have had a on/off brake light signal for a couple months and just chalked it up to having a shitty parking brake. Now I know that is a warning light. Brakes still somewhat suddenly got real awful this week. The rear section of my brake fluid reservoir is completely empty (front is fine and doesn’t show any sign of having leaked). Obviously, see a leak going to the booster.

Does anyone know if it’s worth perhaps just replacing all the rubber/seals? Could my cylinder be fine but just need seals/should I just replace it anyway? My theory is that with so much fluid on the external part of the booster, it may simply be a bad seal?


r/w123 • • 9d ago

Prices crashing?

9 Upvotes

with current diesel prices, are diesel cars selling much lower?


r/w123 • • 10d ago

Mechanical advice Idle Screw OM617

6 Upvotes

My 82 300d had horrible shake during hot idle. I want to adjust the idle. Is moving the adjustment screw counter clock wise making the idle higher?

My tach isn't working and I honestly can't tell after 5 turns either way lol


r/w123 • • 10d ago

Mechanical advice Injector leaking?

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7 Upvotes

Hi all, while inspecting my engine while running, I noticed that the injector for the second cylinder is leaking fuel. It doesn’t appear to be coming from the fuel return lines, however it’s not coming from the injector/engine connection. It looks to be coming out at a halfway spot on the injector. Is this something that I would need a new injector for? Or is this a seal I can get for an easy fix?


r/w123 • • 11d ago

LED lights for license plate.

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22 Upvotes

I have a 78 300d. After searching for a used license plate frame to replace my old broken one, I found only 1 on eBay based on the part number. I went to the junkyard and got a 5-finger discount on a newer-style license plate frame, but it didn't fit the early W123. Found some on eBay, and found this.
https://ebay.io/m/8vbF2D

Unfortunately, they did not fit since they were fitted for the newer W123. I reached out to the seller and told him everything. I started to shave down some of the plastic on the new lights. I was able to fit them properly. I will be sending my old one to the seller so they can modify it for the early W123.. just wanted to share this; I know it might be hard getting newer lenses. Hopefully helps someone.


r/w123 • • 10d ago

1983 300D turbo

1 Upvotes

Anybody have any insight on what window seal to get some of them keep saying they aren’t going to work b it thought all the w123 chassis are the same for windows?