1983 Mercedes-Benz 300 TD Turbodiesel [W123]

1983 Mercedes-Benz 300 TD [W123] in Half Brothers, Movie, 2020

Class: Cars, Wagon — Model origin: — Made for: USA

1983 Mercedes-Benz 300 TD Turbodiesel [W123]

00:28:03 Vehicle used a lot by a main character or for a long time

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Author	Message
humungus ◊ 2025-12-07 11:29	badges:
Sensevision ◊ 2025-12-07 12:18	1979 Mercedes-Benz 300 TD
zodiac ◊ 2025-12-07 15:03	As the model was introduced early in 1978, it didn't reach the market until MY 1979. Which means MY 1979 is correct. However it's actually a 300 TDT, where; T = GER: Tourismus und Transport = ENG: For Leisure and Work https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_Baureihe_123 . The estate model was actually called that. D = Diesel T = Turbo Before someone argue against it, I, too, thought it was strange when I first heard about it. It was a friend of mine who had one of these, in silver, who enlightened me. -- Last edit: 2025-12-07 15:04:09
130rapid ◊ 2025-12-07 17:33	1982+ for Turbodiesel, 1983+ for plastic waterchannel inners.
tore-40 ◊ 2025-12-07 19:24	Simply 300 TD in the brochures
zodiac ◊ 2025-12-07 23:14	tore-40 wrote Simply 300 TD in the brochures Yes and no. Models possible: 200 T, 230 T, 250 T => estate versions of the 200, 230 and 250 models. 230 TE and 280 TE => estate versions with fuel injection. Sedan models known as 230 E and 280 E. 240 TD and 300 TD => estate versions with fuel injected Diesel engines. Sedan models known as 240 D and 300 D. 300 TD Turbodiesel (or TDT in short) => estate version with fuel injected and Turbo charged Diesel engine. No equivalent sedan model.
night cub ◊ 2025-12-07 23:50	But tore-40 was talking about the US version. The US only received the 300TD model, which was sold without the Turbo from 1979-1981, and with the Turbo from 1982-1985.
zodiac ◊ 2025-12-08 00:21	130rapid wrote 1982+ for Turbodiesel, 1983+ for plastic waterchannel inners. What is "plastic waterchannel inners" ?
130rapid ◊ 2025-12-08 00:29	The slats keeping rainwater from side windows. Thicker for 1983.
zodiac ◊ 2025-12-08 00:39	night cub wrote The US only received the 300TD model, which was sold without the Turbo from 1979-1981, and with the Turbo from 1982-1985. The U.S. received the 300 TD from March 1978 and the 300 TD Turbodiesel from 1981. The 300 TD was not offered in 1981. Source: W. Robert Nitske, Mercedes-Benz DIESEL Automobiles (1981), Motorbooks International, Osceola, Wisconsin, U.S.A. ISBN 0-87938-146-9 The badge clearly says 300 TD TURBODIESEL. Why would the U.S. sales organisation call it 300 TD which is the version WITHOUT Turbo? The book is unclear on the matter and name it differently depending on where one is reading. On page 131 it says it's designated 300 TDT, but on page 132 it says 300TD (turbo). -- Last edit: 2025-12-08 00:51:46
zodiac ◊ 2025-12-08 00:50	130rapid wrote 1982+ for Turbodiesel, 1983+ for plastic waterchannel inners. I believe it has the thinner ones. Partly because the 1983+ ones were that thick it had a knick before joining the one on top of the doors, and partly because it is painted in DB 504 = English Red which was offered until MY 1982 https://www.w123-bremen.de/en/sa_lack.php . I'd say this is a MY 1981 or 1982.
humungus ◊ 2025-12-08 01:11	don't know if this helps:
130rapid ◊ 2025-12-08 01:15	Thumbnails confirmed 1983 by inners and black air inlets under windshield. Up to 1982 they're nickled-silver for North American 280E and 300D.
tore-40 ◊ 2025-12-08 10:06	night cub wrote But tore-40 was talking about the US version. The US only received the 300TD model, which was sold without the Turbo from 1979-1981, and with the Turbo from 1982-1985. I was referring to the US brochures, indeed. I think you have just verified they were sold as 300 TD (or 300 D, and 300 CD, respectively), thank you They were badged with an additional 'Turbodiesel' badge, just like the former had a 'Diesel' badge, all three bodies (No books, no wikipedia, just the original brochures)
zodiac ◊ 2025-12-08 10:12	I don't like that this being a MY 1983, and to tell why I'm going to write a little story. At home is a 1967 Mercedes-Benz 250 SE [W 108] painted in Arab Grey (DB 124, Glasurit). That might be considered dull compared with the colours of today, but was actually rather common at the time, together with darker grey, black, yellowish white, dark blue, dark red, dark brown and dark green. It was actually that dull colours that in 1968 an investigation was published in Germany concerning the visibility of cars vis-a-vis cars involved in accidents. And it didn't help that no lights were on (still against the law in Germany). The solution was to recommend more vibrant colours which was possible because of recent developments in acrylic paint. Because of that vibrant colours became very common during the 70's and the DB 504 reached it's peak in the latter part of the 70's, but when the 80's came those colours fell out of fashion and was replaced by metallic ones. 1982 was the last year DB 504 was offered and must have been very rare that year. This being a MY 1983 and painted in DB 504 means it was a one off and being painted on special order. That was possible but hugely expensive. And very unlikely. Now, the film was published in 2020 and probably shot in 2019 which is over 40 years since the introduction of the W 123 estate version in the U.S. Then one must ask oneself; what is most likely - a total respray or a few replacement bits? I don't know, I just find it odd.
tore-40 ◊ 2025-12-08 11:25	Indeed. Looks like no repaint job has been done. Recently, at least. With that info, default to 1982? -Or why stop there? The badge may have been changed. Or the whole rear hatch. The bumper is missing the twin US reverse lamps - from a sedan? What's visible of the interior I leave to others to judge.
Lateef ◊ 2025-12-08 11:50	Indeed, I was curious about the rubber inners because they're clearly not there. It does have the A-pillar deflector though.
tore-40 ◊ 2025-12-08 13:44	Now that you mention it, there seems to be at least two cars used here. On with overspray on the underbody and on the exhaust, and one with a lower exhaust without any clear overspray. See also the rear stickers.
humungus ◊ 2025-12-08 16:25	more interior shots: rear end comparison: According to director's commentary, second unit went on a road trip after principal photography was completed to film some of the car-on-the-road shots (such as the one in St. Louis).
zodiac ◊ 2025-12-08 21:27	tore-40 wrote ...there seems to be at least two cars used here. That would make sense. One older with DB 504 paint job and one 1983+ with DB 504 overspray. -- Last edit: 2025-12-08 23:52:39

1983 Mercedes-Benz 300 TD Turbodiesel [W123]

1983 Mercedes-Benz 300 TD [W123] in Half Brothers, Movie, 2020

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