Faults:

AC didn't work when I bought it. It was a $500 repair.

I had to replace the flex discs. I did the work, $80.00 for parts.

The start solenoid went bad. $40 part on eBay and one Saturday afternoon to replace it.

I rebuilt the front suspension and steering system. $300 in parts plus $90 for an alignment. I probably spent 16 hours on this job.

General Comments:

This is an awesome car. Probably the best production vehicle ever built, in my opinion.

The car looks great. It has a real classic look to it. It has real bumpers!!

It is a little slow to start, but it just zooms along the interstate. It has great passing speed.

Faults:

Tie rods needed replaced at 315,000 miles.

Transmission flares badly between second and third gear upshift (started recently at 320,000 miles).

Rubber fuel lines needed replaced.

Heater stops occasionally.

General Comments:

This is by far the best car I have ever owned. It handles real nice, and is very reliable.

It has the usual maintenance issues, due to the fact that it has over 500,000 Km.

Minimal oil consumption, and good mileage.

Faults:

New alternator pulley installed wrong, oscillated & snapped.

Rebuilt alternator, belt snapped after 100k. I put it on too tight.

Can't determine if the new battery isn't being charged, or the positive terminal is grounding out via contact with the hood.

Sun-roof will not open.

I LOVE this car. I plan on owning it forever...

When running, it is a dream...

Faults:

Not much, bought from a little old lady from California who didn't drive it much and kept it garaged.

Had a problem with it starting, and after replacing the battery and starter, found out it was a $3 part the connector that goes over the battery cable...

Rebuilt the vacuum pump, only a $50 rebuild and got great instructions off of mercedesforum.com. Step by step instructions from people who love these cars like me.

Other than that, runs/drives like a dream, beautiful car, roomy interior, great engineering and performance, won't drive any other... it's a 123 for me!!!

General Comments:

The turbo model is the only way to go, the non turbo is too slow on take off, that was my first car, this is my 2nd 300DT and I absolutely love it... feels good to open the moon roof and see the stars... great cars.. best ever built.

Faults:

Air conditioning hose leaked. Had to buy a whole new system because we no longer use Freon.

General Comments:

This car is my baby. Already know who gets it when I'm no longer able to drive. Looks and drives like showroom condition.

Faults:

Air Conditioning needs freon and it costs too much to buy the freon.

The motor mounds have been replaced.

The motor would run when shut off.

The Tac is not working.

General Comments:

It has a lot of miles on the motor and continues to run great.

The clock still works and keeps good time.

The seats are still perfect.

The sunroof works perfectly.

The paint is pretty good, but is beginning to fade.

Body is perfect and the wheels still look great.

The cabin is good, but I am very big and it is hard to get in and out of.

The trunk leaks a little.

The seats are very comfortable.

Is too slow on the take off, but is great on the roadway.

Gas mileage is very good.

Sometimes hard to find Diesel gas.

Faults:

The car had trouble with the heater. It would only come on if I said a special prayer or whacked the dashboard.

It leaked oil like the Exxon Valdez.

I had to replace the motor mounts.

General Comments:

Okay, my Mercedes sounded like a truck and smelled like a semi, but I LOVED THIS CAR! My kids always joked that it was a piece of junk and they hated to drive it because it was so heavy.

What I learned is heavy metal is where it's at. October first, I was hit by a drunk in an SUV going 70mph. She hit my back and then she hit me again driver's side. My heavy metal ate up her front end. Although I have spinal injuries, had I been in any other car, I could have been dead.

When it was time to get a replacement vehicle everyone said get a Japanese car. I am the proud owner of a 1979 Mercedes 300 Diesel.