How good does a rear wheel drive Mercedes W123 diesel do in the snow?

One would wonder, if a rear wheel drive 1985 Mercedes is even driveable in the slightest snowy conditions let alone a blizzard. Well today I went out to prove how capable these amazing rear wheel drive machines are with a good set of snow tires.

[@mattiasjohansson1727]

One of the most common cars in northern Sweden, no problems with the winter.

[@SirDrifto]

They really are great in the snow

[@matthewlee2686]

Cool ride. I'm addicted to vw diesels. I own 4 of them

[@SirDrifto]

Are they reliable

[@matthewlee2686]

@@SirDrifto very reliable. All the mk4 models. Engine code alh and bew

[@DeanMk1]

@@SirDrifto I had an original 1471 cc Rabbit Diesel (1980 model C) from 1987 to 1992. Not the fastest car in the world, but it always started....until the valve guides started to go. Weak link with that engine is the how the OHC is setup. Direct acting on the valve via followers that are metal cups that sit over the valve/spring assemble. Clearanced by metal discs that fit inside the cup. Because the cylinder needs to seal, the spring pressure is a bit on the high side, but the cam acts directly on valves, via those cups, and because its always rotating in the same direction, the guide and the valve stems wear on those sides that are always pushed against each other. Granted, I think I got about 100K + out of the engine before I finally pulled the head. Once I got fresh parts in that head, the engine worked like a champ. My friends all drove hot rods that wouldn't drive worth a shit when the cold weather kicked in and they used to joke my VW was paiinted yellow because it served as their taxi cab. I was ALWAYS giving those guys a ride because they couldn't tune their cars worth a shit!

[@DeltaStar777]

As a Swede used to a lot of snow I would never drive as fast even with winter tyres :-)

[@SpikeArrowood]

❤️❤️❤️Turbo D snowplow!!! Loving the 123

[@rusty-old-car1118]

Thanks for the show! I am considering moving from one of the hottest parts of the United States to one of the coldest with a 78 model w123 and wondered the feasibility.

[@SirDrifto]

They do wonderfully in the winter. Block heaters are your friend

[@russelldesigner2682]

Wonderful video. I like it.

[@SirDrifto]

Thank you!

[@russelldesigner2682]

@@SirDrifto I support you and it's your turn.

[@evenbremseth1207]

I drive the same car In norway. No problem In the snow😊

[@SirDrifto]

What tires are you running over there?

[@nehuge]

Gotta love the yellow fogs

[@SirDrifto]

French everything 😎

[@Johnko512]

Классное видео. Позитивные ребята. Респект! Один вопрос- где это снято?

[@lizdejesus5578]

I enjoy it, thanks for sharing.

[@SirDrifto]

Thanks for watching!

[@whisper263]

Amazing video, can we get snow cruise videos with this car? No music or talk, just pure W123 sounds. ps what's the name of this song?

[@SirDrifto]

I'll have to look back at the song list. I will definitely do more videos. Though I don't drive this car in the snow anymore. Didn't realize how hard winters are on w123s

[@rayman1611]

I had a 300TD 1982. It got stuck…always…without fail whenever the snow fell. And yes, I used the very best snow tires.

[@dct124]

So weird seeing a car without shoulder strap seat belts. Reminds me of the days in the back of a Buick Roadmaster.

[@SirDrifto]

Well technically it has them I was just being an illegal seagull 😂

[@dct124]

@@SirDrifto were you now? 🤣

[@colynbray9768]

What type of roof rails are those? Love the video!!

[@dct124]

So, temps are dropping and I've put over 20k miles on the Nokian WR GR4 and they are better in colder wet temps than warmer wet temps. So far that's the only weakness I've noticed. Really good in summer dry temps. Anything over 90°F they are gooey especially if you push them. Below that in the dry they are like a typical grand tourer and grippy. In the summer wet you can feel the car move about but I never felt like I'd lose control of the car I just know a summer tire is way better in the wet. These are good in summer wet up to 60mph. I've done 80mph in the wet but it's definitely sketchy in those warmer temps. I've tried 80mph in wet lower temps and they are a lot more grippy than in summer so above 70°F My car is tire pressure sensitive in warmer temps, not as much in colder temps. These tires definitely like it cold. I'd give them a B for summer wet and a B+ for winter wet on a rwd E350 w212. Crazy thing they wear evenly. I haven't had to rotate them. I use a tire depth gauge and I am pretty consistent in checking and maintaining proper cold tire pressure. They typically hit 36 front and 37 rear. I want to try those Toyos next that another Estate owner had.

[@SirDrifto]

They sound like great tires.

[@dct124]

@@SirDrifto they good just struggle in warm wet weather, but I've never seen the traction control light come on. They seem to float in lane. It's pretty cool now and they just grip, it's really night and day.

[@DeanMk1]

@4:30 that shot of the car going under the overpasses looked like Mercer, heading east under 99. The intersection being Dexter. You guys aren't in Seattle, are you? We've had some pretty good snow the past few years.

[@SirDrifto]

I wish! Good old Denver Colorado

[@DeanMk1]

@@SirDrifto My brother used to live in Denver in the early 70's. Do you guys still have that street with the 12 stoplights that turn green all at the same time? My dad tried to run those lights and almost plowed into the back of a Jaguar E-type. Well, he got 11 of them anyway. =)

[@22fret]

We've had loads of 123s in Germany and I can say that they are pretty useless in winter without some proper weight on the rear axle. No traction at all...

[@lizdejesus5578]

I drove BMW, Mercs on the Snow with no issues.

[@SirDrifto]

What bmw did you drive?

[@philipquinn766]

Hello Sir.. I am new to your channel ...I'm thinking about buying the same car as you same year same color same everything. It doesn't have a vin Number and I be worried.. Any advice you could give me would be greatly appreciate.. I'm here in Atlanta thanks

[@SirDrifto]

Does it have a title? Vin is important because it allows ownership to be transferred. I might be worried whether their is a financial lein or it was stolen previously. There's multiple spots on the car where there is a vin. Double check those areas

[@philipquinn766]

thank you for responding sir.. I'm going to look at it this weekend.. I'll let you know.. really appreciate you contacting me.

[@stangleeze]

Cars loaded with weight I’m sure it helps with the traction

[@edp6944]

Did you add anti-gel to the fuel tank, while running?

[@SirDrifto]

Correct.

[@edp6944]

@@SirDrifto what kind of MPG you get on the wagon?

[@karelkosarek8282]

Great car... But that music kinda suxx 😅

[@SirDrifto]

I’ll do better next time

[@dansshop]

In Denver?

[@SirDrifto]

Yes sir

[@ChaChiVooDoo]

I wouldnt drive it in Winter simply because the road salt will destroy it

[@veliborbudic]

This is mercedes kombi (wagon) ,but w123 sedan have big trouble on snow...

[@SirDrifto]

Get some snow tires!

[@veliborbudic]

@@SirDrifto are you ever driving w123 sedan on deep snow ? Try it, even with new snow tires. I haved 4 mercedes w123 sedan and 2 kombi ( wagon) models. It is big diferent. Wagon is heavy on backside. So, he cruising on snow much better.

[@SirDrifto]

@@veliborbudic i used my 77 240d in the winter. Had great luck with it. But did throw in sand bags in the back.

[@Philip.Magnusson]

It's like 100kg difference between the sedan and the estate, just load the trunk up with 100kg worth of stuff and you have the same basis. I've had 5 w123s, 3 sedans and 2 estates and I live in Sweden, never been a problem.

[@martinsv9183]

No the sedan is good in snow for being an rwd. At least with the gasonline engines. 50/50 weight distribution and very narrow tires. So actually better than most new rwd cars. But sure the station wagon is even better.