Regular Car Reviews: 1978 Mercedes Benz 300CD W123

When a Mercedes was a MERCEDES!

[RdVortex]

The best part is: this isn't even by far the slowest model. Here in Europe they also sold the 200D with a whopping total of 54hp (later on 59hp). The acceleration with that engine is measured with a calendar instead of a stopwatch.

[paininthebass]

"It feels like im driving Chernobyl's sarcophagus"

Beautiful.

[edison]

The dad-click part has to be one of my favorite bits you've done so far.

[The_Osprey]

If the apocalypse ever happens these car will be worth several children.

[mqbitsko]

In 1999 I bought a 1987 300SDL. Only had 60, 000 original miles. Paid $12, 000, and was happy to do it.

Letting that car go was the biggest mistake of my life. 12 years later the buyer STILL emails me to laugh at me once in a while.

[sensibleb]

I would spend an inordinate amount of time trying to get that hood to go down the final 3/4 of an inch.

[Pandamasque]

As someone who was born in Kyiv, roughly 70 miles from Chornobyl, 3 years before the disaster and was growing up with many W123s around, I ASSURE YOU, the Sarcophagus reactor confinement facility held up NOWHERE NEAR as well as the W123s! This is NOT a joke. Also the W123 has waaaay better build quality, smaller panel gaps and so forth.

[hkm_]

One of the most reliable engines ever. And the style is timeless!

[axia]

"This is a block of German Steel" - picture of the cast aluminum alloy valve cover. GG RCR, I chuckled.

[soranopratanavaraha]

6:55-7:00 every car in the background driving backwards

[theautumnred]

Nice car! I drive a $500 '83 300SD with half a million on the clock and still running fine.
She's rough around the edges but still shines up nicely. Best $500 car ever!

[oDarkXo]

5:06
"this car is for a 19 year old with a fistful of condoms and an almost stache"
the accuracy of this statement is astounding.

[Mrdrcaptaintroy]

I'm 19. I have a fistful of condoms. And I drive a w123 Mercedes

[MrArturPlay]

5:59 Wow! That guy can drive backwards really good!

[nosay]

I've got the 280CE version of this car in red. Fully restored in show condition. Use it everyday as my A to B car. I love it

[JacksonKillroy]

Oh man, golden era rcr is something else truly. The roman cover song intros, the spitfire narration and the WRITING. Holy shit.

[iBOOM]

In Germany we call that particular Mercedes Diesel sound "nageln" which means "nailing".

[Boemel]

I once got to drive in a 70s 300S, 180hp 3liter inline 6, really pulled well, back seat had springs like beds used to have. So comfortable! And my god did it stop, it had ventilated discs!

[banpeinet]

Such wow! Only 500 dollar for a 300CD W123! In the Netherlands a 300CD in this condition would fetch around 10 times as much as that! ;)

[roberts]

Love the color. Someone swapped later fog lights to this one. That year the fog lights were clear. The '78 also had the "evil servo" in the Chrysler-designed automated climate control. Manual control from a 240D is much better, as is the later ACCII from about 1980 on. I have an '83 300D (turbodiesel) and I used to have a '77 240D. I swapped the 240D manual transmission into the 300D for the best combination Mercedes never made. My 300D is up to 344, 000 miles and still going, just not going real fast. Top speed is about 110, and it likes to cruise about 85, but you're still not going to win any races.