1985 Mercedes-Benz W123 300D review from North America

* Car maintained 80% by former MBZ dealer, Lewis Automotive Group in Beckley WV and 10% by Smith Motor Cars in Charleston, WV; 10% by other authorized dealers.

* Returning car from Florida involved three separate repairs: in Savannah GA, Rock Hill, SC, and Charlotte, NC. $400

* Car's vacuum pump went out $400

fuel pump replaced $400

repaint and repair minor body rust $2500

water leak onto right rear floor (not yet fixed)

cruise control has just stopped working, est cost to fix $500

radio replacement (transferred from previous car) : Philips 532 RDS head unit, MB Quart speakers, plus a separate woofer, McIntosh amp, Sony Xm satellite installation

glove compartment lock $100.

I love this car--a great improvement performance wise over the 1981 300D it replaced. There is ample power for any hill, including the longest, steepest stretch on the US Interstate system (I-64 at Sandstone Mountain).

Once repainted the original metallic gold, the car is a real show piece that gets high praise from many people who can't believe it's 17 years old. I think these 123 sedans, manufactured from 1980 to 1985, are among the most beautiful cars Mercedes has made.

The mileage has been disappointing. One guidebook said highway mileage should be 33 mpg. I get somewhere between 25 and 28.5. The US EPA says 22, but I have never done that poorly!

The car starts quickly above freezing, but I have to crank it a minute or so under 10 degrees F, and that's with German Fleiss fuel anti-gel, an under carriage light, and dip stick heater working. This is the car's first winter. Its first 16 years were spent in coastal Florida. I drive with studded snow tires, a winter necessity here in the West Virginia mountains.

I cannot lavish enough praise on the sound system and the delight that Xm satellite radio brings to daily driving. I enjoy crystal clear classical music wherever I go, save through mountain tunnels. And WV Public Radio is the only RDS linked network operating the the US.

ABS was available this model year. The car does not have ABS brakes, yet the emergency handling is excellent.