2k: Market Reference: 1981 Mercedes-Benz 280E W123
The W123 generation Mercedes E-Class is a well depreciated modern classic that can be driven around without involving the jealousy of others or torching your pocket book. The average Joe will not mistake the W123 for anything built in the last few decades and assume you are rich, and gear heads will applaud your willingness to drive something slow and classy. The gavel has already hit the block on today’s 1981 Mercedes-Benz 280E W123
at $2,000 via ebay (in Bronxville, NY) and we feature it for the market reference point.
This W123 (vin WDBAA33A6BB094205) was offered as an original owner well maintained survivor car with only 90k miles on the odometer. Even though it has been off the road for the past 18 months, it would be reasonable to expect a much higher sale price, so the single bidder one this car got a great deal…probably a good chance it will show back up on ebay in the near future with new pics and more exposure.
The 280E is powered by a 2.8 liter version of the M110 that makes 140 horsepower and 145 ft-lbs of torque, numbers 40 hp down from the less emissions compromised European version.
As expected, this one is equipped with an automatic transmission, but they were available with a 4 speed.
See this car pop back up for sale at a much higher price? email us here: tips@dailyturismo.com
Pros: No Diesel fumes to choke on
Cons: No Diesel-like gas milage with this engine
Anon: see Commandment the Second below. Also, no gas mileage at all with a diesel…
Also a pro: No Diesel-like "acceleration". 23 seconds to 60 on an average day with the oil burner.
I had a 300TD a few years back; turbo 5-cyl diesel with 4-spd auto. I clocked it 0-60 on what felt like a "fast" day for the car (i.e. cold air temps and no weight in the cargo area) and it was 15 seconds. Not too bad compared to an even slower NA 240D or 300D. But still glacially slow! The M-B diesels seem to accelerate fine on the highway (let's say from 45 up to 70 mph) but from a stop, not so much.
I love me some OM617 but in non-turbo trim, it tops out somewhere around 80bhp stock. 23 seconds was all my friend's automatic '77 300D could muster, and that was after we cleaned and refurbished the entire fuel system from tank to injectors.
As a side note, the first Merc-to-4Runner diesel swap I ever worked on was a non-turbo OM617 in an '87 4Runner. After the swap, the trusty butt-dyno certainly thought it was faster… right up to the point where I got destroyed by a stock 22R powered 4Runner in a stoplight drag. He had 2 lengths on me by the time I hit the 40mph speed limit. From that point forward it was only turbo OM617s.
Having grown up in the city, NYC cars make me nervous. Too many scammers and fools and those miles may be low but they were hard miles.