The Mercedes Benz W123 chassis is one of the best produced by any car maker in the world. With 2.5 million units sold, you can find many of these "young timers" still in service in many war torn and third world countries, a testament to their reliability. I love these cars for their simplicity, bountiful headroom, panoramic sun roof and overengineered reliability. My wife and I both drive W123's, I have a 85 300D and she drives an 84 300TD.
My car is a $350 junk yard queen. List of things I have done to it so far:
- Manual 4 Speed transmission swap
- Euro tow package installed
- Warne Drei Ecke installed
- Turbocharger manual boost controller (Voodoo3) ~13psi
- ALDA mod, backed out all the way, replaced original hoses
- PBR brake pads installed
- New Bosch (made in India) injectors
- Moog w115 sway bar links
- Vogtland sport springs (50mm drop)
- Bilstein HD's on all four corners
- Front end rebuild:
- Ball Joints
- UCA
- LCA bearing
- Tie Rods, Drag Link
- Idler Arm rebuild
- Rear pass drive axle replaced
- New windshield
- 3.8L GM air box + K&N filter install using OEM oil separator
- Massive degrunging of the inside
Things left to do:
- Replace emergency brake pads
- Paint
- Redo boost/egt gauge cluster
- Monovalve replacement
- Interior replacement/repair/cleaning
- Carpet redye and shampooed
- A/W IC
- VNT Turbocharger