116/123

[marku]

Why does the 123 get a much better press than the 116? Don't know about elsewhere but here you might think the 123 was the only one. I would have thought that the 123 is very much the lesser car. Smaller in every way, engine, interior and general appearance but it is always getting write-ups and features in the magazines. I know that there are a lot more on the road here but which comes first? For me the 116 is the one, nothing to touch it and as for the 123 you couldn't give me one.

[daantjie]

I would say simply because the 123 was cheaper than the S Class, thus more accessible.  The S Class will always be in a class of it's own.  The 123, great in it's own right, will always be a more of an "everyman's Benz".  Driving a well sorted 116 or 126 for instance, and then driving a 123, you immediately notice that the S class is more special.

[karmann_20v]

It's about the volumes also. They sold 2.7 million 123s to less than 500,000 116s.

Another thing is that the 123 was simpler and more robust, which led to gaining a reputation of being a mule of a car with quite a few examples going over 1 Million Kms. Next time you see a televised report from Syria check the background and you'll still see them on the road.

[floyd111]

I agree. The 123 sold in endless numbers. They were everywhere, be it that in the majority of countries they were sedans, used as taxis.
The Wagons were the perfect cars to seat the larger African families
Back in the day could drive from Germany to Jordan, and each city you passed would have the same, indestructible 123 taxis, ready to serve. There wasn't even a question in anyone's mind, no thinkable alternative, if you were going to be a taxi driver.
Shiny ones at Frankfurt airport, dusty ones at the Cairo Museum. They were simply everywhere.
The press was completely lyrical about them as well, reporting an the endless amount of long-time owners, many of them crossing the 1 million km mark. In many places in Africa, things haven't changed that much since. 123's drive, drive, and drive some more, with parts available in every corner of the desert. Everyone knows how to fix them if they break.

The S-Class was a completely different beast. Prohibitively expensive, to start off with. The only mass-production sedans more expensive than the 116 would have been Rolls Royce level.
Here in Taiwan, -after taxes- the basic version 280S was sold for 2.2 million Twd (70.000usd, I still have the receipt) Back in the day, you could literally buy 5 houses or apartments in downtown Taipei for that money.
They were a bit cheaper in Europe, but still unattainable for many people.

With more options than a 123, to fix when broken, among a new-buyers crowd that had a habit of simply buying new, the vast majority of used 116's fell into the hands of non-wealthy enthusiasts, unable to foot the repair bills.
The more complex 116 suffered from rust, just like the 123's, but with many rust-areas more difficult to access we lost a great deal of these 116's to the weather.(and road-salt)
The oil crisis that followed when the 116 was halfway it's production time meant that even fewer non-rich people were willing to pick up one of the second hands.
Countless ones were simply scrapped, exported, parked and at best, driven in an utterly neglected state, just to end up scrapped, parked, or exported afterwards.
Those are the cars that have been left for us, and this is how important it is to find the exception to the rule.
This is why the 123 has such a good reputation.
Still, if you drive these 2 cars, there is no doubt which one is the luxury model.

I was desperate to drive an old Benz, and here in Taiwan, there are 1000 good 123's for every scrapyard 116.
I still went for the 116.

[djenka018]

I would say simply because the 123 was cheaper than the S Class, thus more accessible.  The S Class will always be in a class of it's own.  The 123, great in it's own right, will always be a more of an "everyman's Benz".  Driving a well sorted 116 or 126 for instance, and then driving a 123, you immediately notice that the S class is more special.

Well said.
Exact same feeling I had when I did exactly that 116 --> 123.
But 123 is a special car too.

[shaggy]

The w123 is a far more agile beast, especially in 4 speed manual form.
In the seventies it would have been the natural choice - the w116 being somewhat the behemoth.

Today, even the w116 is dwarfed in the supermarket car park. I sold the 200E to finance the 280SE simply because I wanted more metal around myself and the missus.
To say that one is better than the other is a misnomer - both the E class and the S class will, with adequate care and attention , circumnavigate the globe several times.

[marku]

Yes I agree with all that but why would the classic enthusiast choose a 123? OK fine its an old Mercedes but it is a bit pedestrian really. Not much I would have thought to interest the serious enthusiast. Here they are always getting write-ups in the magazines and we even have a 123 specialist restorer and parts shop. Give me the 116 any time there is much more of interest. It was the engine that attracted me first but having done everything I have and really getting to know it I would not exchange it for anything else. Might accept a 111 cabriolet or even a 188 300Sc coupe, no just kidding.

[shaggy]

Hi Marku, I share your preference for the w116 but, objectively, maybe classic buffs are put off the S class because they are perceived as being expensive to own and run (not necessarily true, I know).
Also the fact that a w123 will fit in a smaller lock-up? Or the fact that most w116 were automatic? Or that the w123 in estate form is a 'mega-cool surf wagon' (especially the 280)?

[marku]

MB also seems to ignore the 116. Mercedes-Benz World here has a display of 1:18 model cars from the first in 1895 to the present. Guess which car isn't featured? Right the 116. Given that it was a major design change and the first S-Class its hard to understand why. When I was last there I did take it up with a member of staff who just shrugged.

[shaggy]

MB staunchly ignore any Mercedes over 3 years old here!
The looks I get when I walk in to order 3 plastic w116 trim clips begger belief.
Far better for us though that these cars should fly under the radar. That said, the cheap ones are disappearing fast - rumour has it, snapped up by post-Gaddaffi libyans!

[marku]

MB dealers here do not want to know any spares for classic cars either. I was told by one that it was not worth the trouble and if I wanted any I had to give the part no and pay up front. If I got the part no wrong hard luck no returns or refunds. Eventually found an MB 'Classic Partner' ( must be some in France) which I recommend.

[ptashek]

Why does the 123 get a much better press than the 116? Don't know about elsewhere but here you might think the 123 was the only one. I would have thought that the 123 is very much the lesser car. Smaller in every way, engine, interior and general appearance but it is always getting write-ups and features in the magazines. I know that there are a lot more on the road here but which comes first? For me the 116 is the one, nothing to touch it and as for the 123 you couldn't give me one.

I agree with the popularity by numbers theory - there were millions of those, and cheap enough for the average Joe to own. Even to this day.
Personally, I kinda like the 300D and 280TE. In terms of creature comforts, the top of the range models weren't that much worse than a mid-spec W116.
The estate, with a 5-speed manual gearbox, was also pretty darn fast.

[shaggy]

Add to that that the w123 base models were quite quirky in that the specs were unusual. In other words, most w123's were metallic blue, larger engined automatics.
I had and early 200 four speed manual in Colorado beige with a sort of caramel tissue interior and it was highly endearing to own.
I'll try to find an MB Classic Partner in France, Marku - thanks!

[floyd111]

Or..if you get stuck for parts, check the "stealerships" post here in the ORG.
Who needs an MB dealer when there's the internet?
Getting the part number is also quite easy.
www.iauto.it has all the part fiches, and German-Spob has all the replacement numbers.