Chassis, 116 vs 123, Early 300SD vs 300D-T - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Shorebilly · #1 08-29-2006, 05:27 PM

Gentlefolks,

I have been involved with several different models of Benz with the 123 chassis....over the course of the past 5 years, and have found it very reliable, and I am familiar with it's faults.

I had assumed.....not good to make assumptions.....that the 300SD of of '78 thru '80 were also built on a 123 chassis, because they look so similar!

Since I joined here, and have been doing some research on a couple of cars on e-Bay......I notice that early 300SD's are built on the 116 chassis, which must be a precursor to the 126 chassis.

What are the differences besides wheelbase, if any??
What are the drawbacks of the 116 chassis, if any??

Just wondering what y'all think??

SB

brightbus · #2 08-29-2006, 05:30 PM

early 300d's are also built on the 115 chassis as mine is, if you look up the cars on mbusa website, when u choose 76, it lets you choose either 115 or 123 chassis, so i assume early 76 models used the 115 while later use the 123. also my haynes manuel has a 76 listed as 123. if the 116 is like 115, then i belive i was told that the trans isn't vacuum modulated like the 123

brightbus · #3 08-29-2006, 05:37 PM

here's a sorta timeline of mercedes

http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Pines/6633/w123history.html

even more info on the mercedes family

w115
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_W115

w116
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_W116

w123
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_W123

w124
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_W124

w126
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_W126

get to reading

Rashakor · #4 08-29-2006, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shorebilly

Gentlefolks,

What are the differences besides wheelbase, if any??
What are the drawbacks of the 116 chassis, if any??

Just wondering what y'all think??

SB

I like very much the w116 diesel. the 116 is i believe 18cm wider, 30cm longer and 200kg heavier than the W123. However, it is a not a slowpoke and in many way it is peppier than the 123 turbo diesel (same acceleration times, more stable and smaller turning radius

). The 116 existed 4 years during the 123 period and because it is a superior model (s-classe) it already enjoyed of all the advancement that you will be able to see in future year "e-classe" (first and foremost the turbo!).

The only real draw back. The 116 diesel was only made during the period of the great steel worker strike of 77-79 which forced Daimler to get their steel somewhere else than the Ruhr. So Rust is an issue in pretty much all W116 from 77 to 80 (that sadly includes 100% of the 300SD and the legendaries 450SEL6.9

). Furthermore the the upholstery has the hose Hair and will eventually decompose in a powdery mess, and all are equipped with the dreaded Chrysler (yes Chrysler!!!) automatic climate control unit ACCII which makes the AC and the heater behave unproperly (note that all USA- spex W123 300d, CD and TD as well as the SL from the same period also have it

)

Wodnek · #5 08-29-2006, 08:08 PM

the 116 has a non EGR engine. It seems to have more et up than my 123. Even though it's clearly a heavier car it handles better on the curves. It will also make a U turn on a narrow road. The doors are quite substantial, and the door glas defrosts when the defroster is on through a duct that goes into the door. You can tell you're driving an S class MB. The 123 will get a little better economy and is more able to fit in the tight parking spots. The newer 123 have a far superior climate control. On the 116 that is a never ending problem. Parts are easier to come by for the 123.

Bottom line = personal prefference. I was always a "boat" person, big Buicks, oldsmobiles, 225s etc. I prefer the 116.

beaulieub · #6 08-29-2006, 08:10 PM

I think the W116 trans is controlled by the vacuum system. I have one and am in the process of learning how to manipulate it to adjust the shifting. The W116 is simply a much more stylish creature than the 123. All that extra space, features and chrome. Ymmm! Sadly the rust issue is true. Mine has lots o rust. I'm taking mine to AZ with me this winter and will leave it there. Should survive much longer down there than here in NH!.

Go for the 116!!!

Bert - NH

Rashakor · #7 08-29-2006, 08:15 PM

if no rust! the 116 is a cleverer buy!

Shorebilly · #8 08-30-2006, 06:29 AM

The rust issue is what I had suspected.......nice to know about the climate controls......

I know the superior "S" klasse is a bigger, more goody loaded car, however I am just looking at cars that will be less trouble over the next 10 years or so.

I live about 20 miles beyond what most folks think of as "the boonies", I will travel at least 0.1 miles on gravel, to a paved road....on my way to town, and another 15 miles on the paved road without a centerline.....narrow, very narrow at points.....so smaller is actually better, in my case.....I pressure wash the undersides of my vehicles every couple of months, depending on weather/road conditions......removing any accumulated dirt/mud that holds moisture....so the rust factor is really important, to me.

SB