Its not a sports car and was never designed as such! I've had 8 W124's in my 34 years on the road and despite many Range Rovers, a Volvo or two, 2 big Fords and all sorts of other nonsense, I keep coming back to these outstanding Mercs. Although getting rare in good order, they will just keep giving. There are many examples around the world with over a million miles on the clock and many of these are Taxis. You have to ask the question why!!!! We will never ever see build quality like this again. They are not faultless (biodegradable wiring harness!) but unless you can afford a new car with a long extensive warranty and also like looking like every other car on the road, the W124 has no equal (in my opinion). They have character, great road manners, a dependable, relaxed aura and are as comfortable and poised as you could possible want. An estate version will swallow wardrobes and fold totally flat, a cabriolet will make you feel like every journey in the sunshine is in Monaco. Get adventurous people, ditch the dross and the mundane and go find a slice of automotive history. Sermon over!
Just bought a 1992 300D 2.5 TurboDiesel with 250k miles. After doing a bunch of work to it, it drives wonderfully and I love it. Also, I really enjoy working on it. Everything goes together the way you think, everything is simple and well built. Door panels go on and off better than on any other car, no stupid plastic clips to break.
@@TheTurpin1234 Congratulations on your new car! I've 250D aswell, 1992, but NA engine! 356k miles. Great car, great engine. Used to have 2.2l m111.960 too. Remember to do proper underbody rust prevention if it already does not have one, and check the rocker panel from behind the front wheel, collects alot of junk. And change the power steering filter too! (Mann H85). Liqui Moly's Diesel Purge is amazing stuff for these engines, I recommend flushing ur engine with it. "Diesel Mercedes" youtube-channel has a great video about how to do the procedure, taking off fuel hoses etc. :)
This makes me feel better about dropping a lot of $$ to bring back my 93’ 2.8 M104. Full suspension rebuild, brakes, AC, and other odds ends. At 200k, looking forward to another 100k!
@@darens1926 The m111.960 I had (2.2l dohc) had 310k miles when the degradable wiring harness burned to crisp. The engine itself was in a great condition, camshaft was clean and smooth. 👍 Reliable engines, the gasolines too.
@@TheTurpin1234 300 D W124 had an OM603 or possibly OM606 engine, both 3,0 liter straight 6 cylinder engine. 2,5 liter was a 5 cylinder engine named OM602 or OM605 originally fitted in the 250 D / E 250 D W124.
The last of the great hand built cars! I own two, 1994 E320 Sedan and 1995 E320 Cabriolet. These are by far the best cars ever produce. Anyone who's ever driven in a W124, the first thing they'll tell you is how smooth the car drives, you don't feel the transmission shift the slightest bit. Thanks for making the video, JayEmm.
I bought my 1995 E320 Coupe in 2005 with 85K miles. The oil gets changed every 3K miles and my next oil change will be due at 320K miles. It's my daily driver and I intend to reach a million miles one day. High mileage is a badge of honor, literally, as I am due for my second High Mileage Certification grille badge noting 500K km to accompany my 250K km grille badge. May the star shine brightly!
How is the body with those many kilometres? I want to purchase a high mileage coupe but I'm worried that there will be lots of wind noise at 100kmh and rattling...
James, I know the reason behind the wing mirrors as I used to own a W124. The thinking behind the design was to give you better vision of the kerb when parking, cyclists etc on the nearside with a taller mirror , and better vision on the driver's with a wider mirror to see what's coming from behind on the offside.
I had an E420 that was decently quick, and out of almost 60 cars owned, was in the top 5 cars I've owned. Bullet proof reliability, and when it was hit by an intoxicated driver going over 60, I walked away without bleeding at all. That car was a lovely drive, classy, didn't have a bunch of "dealer only parts" like my E430, which wasn't as good. It's a car from the days when the luxury was not only in feature count, but in thoughtfulness, durability, the quality of materials, and the quality of construction, all areas where my V8 powered w124 not only excelled, but was the standard all vehicles wished they could achieve. The tooling was even sold off to a Korean car company I believe, because it was just far too good to just die. I'd have another without a second thought.
The first E-Class was the W114/115 chassis series launched in the late '60s, 2 generations prior to this one, though Mercedes-Benz had been making mid-size cars since the '50s, if not before, with the Ponton series and the Fintail. These are amazingly capable cars, a friend of mine has a 1986, very early model, W124 300TD, so 5-cylinder naturally-aspirated diesel (we never got the factory turbo-diesel in the UK as the turbo sat where the steering column went in right-hand drive models) with the estate body, which his dad got as a company car and collected from Mercedes-Benz UK in Milton Keynes. The car has been in constant, high mileage use all its life, bar about 6 months after he inherited it when his dad died when he put it into a Merc specialist for a renovation as it was looking a little tatty. The engine had never been taken apart in the car's life, and only had routine servicing and parts replacement over its life and still ran without fault but he wanted to cure a small weep of oil from the head gasket area which the car had had since it was about four years old, so they pulled the engine out and pulled it apart. After just over 850,000 miles they could still see the honing marks in the cylinders from when the engine was originally built. The gearbox, unusually for a UK car the 5-speed manual unit, and diff just had the inspection covers removed for inspection and were deemed still well within factory tolerances so they were re-used with just oil changes and new external seals for the sake of preventative maintenance. In the 2 years the car has been back on the road, now looking like brand new again, the car has racked up another 100,000 miles on his daily commute from Gloucestershire to Didcot and back again, returning the low 30s mpg. The interior on that car, in black MBTex, needed nothing during the refurbishment other than a thorough clean. It's not surprising the diesel W124 was Europe's favourite taxi during its life and well beyond, and there still are plenty of them plying their trade in Spain...
+1. An exceptional vehicle the MB W124 series; I, II and III. . As a '94 E-320 Coupe owner I'm preaching to the crowd.. An uncle ordered the Smoke Silver w/Creme Beige leather coupe new & for the past 6-7 years its been in my care with a condition "as new".. Mercedes... "Engineered Like No Other Car In The World".. Great drive down memory lane Jay.. Thanks!
A thirty minute drive in W124 will tell you nothing about the model. You need to own one and use it throughout a year's driving cycle before you get to appreciate the car's full capabilities.
I run a dyno, tuning classic road, race and sport cars almost exclusively. Many of these highly rated vehicles are a disappointment when they are actually driven. The Mercedes W124 is amongst the very best, in almost every way. You are right that it does not feel fast or responsive, but a run through the hills in company with Porsche, BMW, Audi and the like will find you losing very little if any ground, while you are driving quite effortlessly. The engines build power with RPM, so the urge increases, the faster you go, with a genuine push in the back above 4500rpm. My wife drives a modern Mercedes c200, widely praised for ride and handling, but my 300CE rides better, is quieter, and feels so solid. It cannot quite match the cornering or braking ability of the C200, (it has much smaller tyres for a start) but it is a real pleasure to drive. I also have a British sportscar I drive through the hills, and compete in club motorsport, (now approaching 45th anniversary of holding a competition licence). It is also pleasurable, in a quite different way, with a huge impression of speed, noise, and connection to the machine. I am buggered, but happy after 200km in company. The Mercedes however will cover the same ground more quickly and without effort, and I am happy to drive another 500km in the day with ease
A friend of mine bought the 300TE-24 new and his widow is still driving it! Back in the days we drove from Bremen to Munich and back on the same day and felt refreshed when we got home (Ok, slightly overstated 😊) But all the mid range Mercedes, then there where no E, C, B or A class, where made to cover miles and miles and miles wearing a suit to a business meeting and they still are very good in this regard.
I've been around the same 124 for 32 years, owned and driven it since around 2007. If you can't catch a freaking Citroen, there is something wrong with the car. Also keep in mind these cars were designed for German roads-- the acceleration is not best from 0-60 mph, but from 60-120 mph, i.e. for merging on to the autobahn. But even today, with my poor '88 260E being somewhat worse for wear, if you step on the gas at 45 mph or higher, the car feels like it drops, squats, and then takes off like no tomorrow. When I first started driving regularly, if I was in a tight spot on the interstate and got on the gas to get out of it, I found myself about 200 feet further down the road than I expected. If you want to see a 124 shine, you need to drive it fast. They're almost sluggish at low speeds, but it is way too easy to unintentionally find yourself pushing 90 mph without trying on highways. The 124 excels also at being the best "compromise" car. It's not a sportscar and was never intended to be, but for a heavy sedan it does very well. But it's also insanely practical--you wouldn't believe the sheer amount of crap you can pack into one. Safety-wise, they're about as good as you can get for a '80s/'90s car. Yes, there is no such thing as a cheap Mercedes repair. But even with my nearly 35 year old car, it is as reliable as your average 3-5 year old car. Also, I've definitely noticed that if it's done right, once you fix something, it stays fixed. I got my car by inheriting it from my Dad, a native German who only bought it (at first) because it was cheaper than a new Buick. But Dad knew his cars and took fantastic care of them, so I inherited a very lightly used car in near mint condition. Just like when we first bought it, it continually finds new ways to impress me. They're not perfect, but Mercedes got awfully dang close with the 124.
Bought a '95 E280 Masterpiece limited edition of 1000. M104 193 BHP 143 MPH.Plenty fast enough.140k miles drives superbly.Yes the rec ball steering is slightly vague and she rolls quite a bit ,as specified new with higher ride height ,during spirited cornering.Planning road trip Malaysia to Thailand ...eventually!
Those pillarless 124s are lovely. Nice vid, James but a bit more of the interior would be good in your reviews of luxury cars would be appreciated. As EinkOLED mentioned.
Mirrors: your ideas are right combined with reduced fuel consumption by having a smaller mirror where not needed. Everything was thought about with these cars.
@Amer mur You are wrong and right. CE belongs sometimes to the Model Name but all Coupès at Mercedes in the 124 line up start actually - like I mentioned - with C. All T-Models started with an S and all Convertibles started with an A. The E 200 and E 320 Models for example don`t even have a C or CE in their model name. So the Series is called 124 and than - depending on the Version - you put a W, S, A or C in front.
call me odd, but i love the tiny sun visor between the regular visors on these things. the interiors on these old Mercs last forever with just a bit of regular care. that's true luxury in my mind.
It was always said in the automotive press at the time that these cars were hewn from solid granite and are the last MB’s to be built to these standards. I loved these coupes and lusted after a 320CE with those same AMG wheels as a teenager.
Look at it! They always remind me of a moment on top gear where Clarkson started pushing the buttons and saying something like "i will not break you will not break me i will last forever". Cars like this don't need to be fast, similar to a saab carlsson; park it up, walk away from it for about 10 seconds, then look at it. These days, that's all the speed it needs
I have a 1995 E420 best car I've ever owned. it's got a lot more pop when you are driving around in 3rd gear. 4th gear on the highway. I had the 300 Coupe and then I went to the 4.2l 279hp V8 and you really do want that one over the six. I'm not finding the parts to be too expensive if you look around a little. And, you want to make sure that the wiring harness has been replaced.
I've had two of these in the past and can state that these were the last of the quality built MBs! The engines and gearboxes are good for 200K at least!
I have a 1993 Mercedes 300TE wagon (estate). I consider it a nice driving car but the performance is adequate at best. People go bonkers for the wipers on the headlights for some reason but everything after that doesn't really get noticed. If you are considering the purchase of any old Mercedes, I don't recommend these cars to people that can't do their own mechanical or maintenance work because these old cars will eat you alive financially if you have to take them to a mechanic for everything. I really enjoy my old W124 Benz. I really like the fit and finish and the attention to quality Mercedes gives these old cars and the ride quality is really nice. One last thing, If you purchase a W124 (or any old car) you need a second car as a backup. If you do use an old Mercedes as your only car, buy a quality pair of shoes because you will be doing a bit of walking instead of driving.
Stunning car and gearbox aside, I'd have the manual, I would thoroughly enjoy this car so long as I could afford the running costs. I commented about the dim witted gearbox from the 190E era on the C43 video, kicking down when it wants too and not when you do and I thank you for showing what I meant on this video.
I've just bought 280.000 km W124 320E sedan with Getrag manual in unbelievable excellent condition. And its a best car ive ridden, and I have had a pleasure of likes of R8, S55 amg and nothing comes close in the feeling of drive
The answer to your question about the odd shaped passenger side rear view mirror: it was to reduce frontal area. Not by much mind you! But in the early 80's, Audi significantly upped the aerodynamics game with the 100 and its, at the time, avant-garde aerodynamics. I believe the 100 had the lowest cd ever for a passenger car so for the W124, Mercedes was trying to do the same and pulling every trick in the book. Not that people were complaining because in the 70's, Mercedes would charge you extra if you wanted a passenger side mirror to begin with!
I own a 1995 E320 wagon and love the way it runs and handles. Unfortunately, Mercedes used some bio-degradable insulation on ignition wires. Buying used, one should check that the wiring harness has been replaced.
That 3.2L i6 is M104 if you didnt know. Its capable of making 500-700 if turbocharged and it sounds good although its quite underrated engine. Btw: cool video!
All you really need is about 50 more HP. AMG did that with a 3.6 displacement i.e. a diesel crank, different cam profile, injectors ECM flash ect. Now you can buy a stand alone ECM that will do basically the same. I'm not a fan of turbo charging the 104 motors especially without the oil squirter's and a water chilled oil cooler-which some came with. The cylinders are too thin and the heads don't seal that well especially #6. Their a good motor and came in different variations but it costs way to much to make them 700hp and have them last longer than a few dyno pulls or track days. Been doing these for awhile and my recommendation has always been get the adapter for the BMW 6spd manual, an LSD, larger injectors and a stand alone ECM. Along with cleaning up the intake and exhaust you'll get an extra 50 hp that won't kill the motor. Its plenty and with the 6sp you'll have a little snap. Want more power step up to a larger displacement. 124's are a great size and smooth riding. Not too big not too small and even stock have some pull if you stand on it. As for handling you have a thousand options. All in all great car's to clean up and have around. Hell the CEO stood up at a stock holders meeting and said Benz needs to get back to making the 124's. Chassis's are great for starting point, strong and tight and the right size. Stock to full on race. Just wish someone would start making the 500E steel front fenders.
4:44 besides the size, there is also a slight curve in the mirror.. the result is vehicles viewed in the mirrors are the same size.. that time the warning " objects in mirror are closer then they appear" was engineered away
The W124 and the W201 have different size side mirrors due aerodynamic reason. I know, it sounds weird, but it is.The Audi A6 C4 and the Golf 4 have similar different size side mirrors because of aerodynamic as well.
I am very happy with my 1996 320T (now nearly 300,000 kilometres) 5-speed auto with climate control, sunroof and all mod cons, left hand drive because I live in Europe. I have no trouble getting parts as and when needed which is not often. Also perfect for pulling trailers. You mention the 4-speed box is better than the 5-speed, why is that? As soon as I bought it four years ago I had the automatic oil & filter changed and my garage told me that was a good idea as they were both very dirty. I've owned quite a few MB T models, 123 & 124's over the past 45 years. Always second or third-hand vehicles. I've only broken down once in all those years. Great cars, reliable, solid and robust!
at a certain age climbing up into a vehicle, or falling down into a car seat becomes a problem- and so is getting out. the w124 is perfect. right at the hip bone😉
I've acquired a mint 1995 e300d in azurite blue absolutely love it and can run it on cooking oil! I'd be happy to let you drive it if interested and want a series on combating cost of living crisis!
Fantastic cars, an interesting feel to the steering and lots to look out for when buying from bio degradable looms through to sub frame mounts literally dropping off, we’d never part with ours, thank you for an entertaining informative video, ours has just hit 214k with the 2.3 4 cylinder.
The wing mirrors are different sizes because mass aspherical technogy was not introduced till a few years later when curved glass came through. It was designed like this and on other cars for rear view a parking reasons,i think.
The theory of the smaller mirror is actually very simple. Some people find it hard to know how wide there car is so on the opposite site where it is harder to judge how far of you are of a object in a narrow street, it is now harder to hit something with your passenger side mirror and gives you also the ability to make a little more space with oncoming traffic in some narrow german streets.
I've got one with the same colour and rear boot lid wing , e320 , I've also got a BMW 335i twin turbo that would leave it for dead, but I absolutely love it , buy one and you won't regret it.
I have one of these still, coupe identical to the test car but in Ruby Red and regd in 96 on a P plate, and yes the E320 in particular has cost eye watering amounts to keep in shape because there are many parts unique to the 6 cyl 24v engined models, as your mate says everything that can fail will fail. The drivers side mirror has to be wider because its flat not convex glass and causes enough blind spots as it is, the NS mirror is convex and squarer and sticks out less for passing hedges etc. Coupes and cabriolet are small cars in comparison these days and refreshingly narrow, about a foot shorter than the saloon/estate and its in the rear passenger space where most of the cutting took place, coupe is also lower roof line than the saloon equivalent so if you are a taller driver you develop a leaning posture because the sunroof causes further loss of headroom. A beautiful design, arguably the saloon in higher spec and the right colour is a better looking car than the coupe but beauty in the eye etc, there's not much better looking than a later E500 saloon in a dark colour, infinitely better looking than almost anything made today, which i wouldn't give you a thankyou for. I've had 4 W124's, the most reliable was the simplest of the lot a 300 Diesel auto saloon, the most unreliable was an E320 estate which had £19,000 worth of extras fitted by MB, that's not a typo i had the original sale documents, in the end i had to give the thing up or it would have bankrupted me, you would not believe what it had cost the first owner over the ten years he kept it, never a bill less than £500, some bills over £3000. They might be reputed as hewn from granite, but in reality its the more mundane versions are the better bet for long term classic ownership...for an example front bottom ball joint for baser models under £20 from the dealer, on 6 pot 24v models ball joint is integrated into the wishbone, no change from £350 for genuine and they wear badly on the UK's third world road surfaces. As regards performance i suggest there's something not quite right with the test car, possibly gearbox cable from throttle assembly snapped (oh yes they do that too and it's a gearbox out job to refit) because once you get the 320's moving they can give modern fast cars a run for their money and with the right tyres there's not much can keep up with them on fast flowing bends once you get up to 3 figure speeds.
Rearview mirrors are designed for Autobahn (Highway) driving, supposedly one mirror is better for close-distance reflections and the over for short-distance reflections.
Kuddlesworth NA good luck finding a manual! Also Mercedes manuals of the kinda suck outside of the famous doglegs from the Cosworth. I drive an 86' 300e auto. Shifts nice
The 300CE was on my bucket for years. The, one day while looking through Craig's List I got lucky and found a 1995 E320 Cabriolet Black on parchment/mushroom, the same car just convertible. The car had only 83K miles and the owner sold it to meet 60% off the market value. I've never been happier in my life about buying a car until this one. The car is so rare, many lookers stop and ask, what kind of Mercedes is that? You have to remember, the car is 25 yrs. old and back then it came with a hefty price tag of $76K. Needless to say, you had to have been making a decent salary in 95 to be driving around in Mercedes two-door coupe 300CE or E320.
First mod on that car. Put back the original exhaust. These cars are so comfortable to drive. They eat miles up effortlessly. You really wouldn’t want anything else if you are going on a long distance drive. You get out of the car at the other end not feeling like you have been in a car for hours at all.
So about the colour, Emereld green black metallic in english is the Smaragd Schwarz Metallic in german. Colourcode is m189. I've got the same colour on my W210 E-class. Yes, it is actually dark blue but it gives a lovely green glare in the sun. Really difficult colour to get repainted though
he was trying to say the c43 was slow the other day,i don't know why all these utubers are trying to pretend they are all used to driving 0-60 in 2 seconds with rack and pinion steering that has 1 turn lock to lock it is all a bit tiresome,i have a clk430 and you cannot push the throttle to the floor and hold it there for 5 seconds on any road but a motorway it is a rocket
@@raycroal haha coming from a 99 c43 owner i have to say off the line its not the best, but when i get on the highway i almost get in trouble every time with it. oh nice you have the clk430 same engine in my c43 but just tuned by AMG. M113 fam !!!! very strong engine plus pretty quick as well.
The W123 was the first E Class. Of the same era as the W124, The W126 pillar-less Coupe (500/560SEC) was The top banana. Apparently it was and is very difficult and expensive to build pillar less coupes without rattles and window alignment issues. Thats why the BMW E36 had pillars.....
Yep, it was a motor trade standing joke in the '80s that if you bought a new Mercedes-Benz, even the steering wheel was an optional extra. UK Mercs never came from the factory with in-car entertainment fitted, in fact I don't think they did in any market, they only came with a pre-radio fitting kit. Any head unit was chosen at, and fitted by, the supplying dealer. A Blaupunkt unit was the most common choice, but if someone really wanted to spend some money you could specify a Becker unit, though they are very rare in the UK as one of those could easily top £1,000 at the time...
I have a 87 ce done by a custom coach company into a convertible , not knowing the coupe would ever come in a convertible. It’s been a drop top since 89 .
Owner of a W124 E300D ‘95 OM606.910 n/a 4speed auto 324.000 miles 521.000 Kilometers Is it relatively slow?, yes but it makes me drive wisely. Is it big? Yes, but it has presence o the road. Is it cheaper than a lot of new cars?, Yes, but it gives you a luxurious aura. A lot of people think that they are less safer than new cars? Yes, but it’s the opposite. Is it old?, Yes, but it has soul. Has a loud engine sound? Yes, but let the beast make its roar. Is it super cheap to maintain? Not always, but god, it worth it. So... is it the perfect car ever! Of course not. It has its problems... like any other car. Things I did and check to my car, and the people that would like to have this model have to do: (Of course there are more things) So, I checked these: (Some changed, some just checked) - front suspension, ball joins, front ends, shocks (changed) - rear shocks (checked) - multi link rear suspension (checked) - engine mounts and transmission mount (changed) - Crank case breather: plastic elbows, breather tubes, pressure diferencial valve (changed) - Clean fuel inyectors (done) - engine fuel hoses to inyectors (done) - Starter glow plugs (changed) - starter glow plug relay ( to capacitors changed) - temp coolant senders (1 checked, 2 changed) - biodegradable cables on harness.( some changed) A/C - Klima Control relay failed (unplugged, opened and changed 1 burnt resistor) Interior - all four window elevator (checked, greased and re tighten. One of the rear, changed) - roof window ( checked grease and little rubber sliders) Trunk - water seal rubber (checked) - rubber washer shaped of the rear bumper bolts (changed) ...a lot history and some money of course... but after have of Kilometers, well, it’s normal to do a lot of things.
The daddy of the w124 is the 500E - if you feel performance is important it will not disappoint. A 5 litre quad cam V8 is shoehorned into the engine bay along with wider more aggressive body styling and 500Es were actually assembled by Porsche over 18 days per car. The 500E is a true super saloon and were coined the "Wolf in Sheeps clothing" because the body styling changes were so subtle it would take someone to know what they were looking at to recognise what it is. There are also E60 AMG w124 models that fetch over £100k today depending on condition etc. Highly collectable cars. They should have had a mention in this video but otherwise a fair assessment and that coupe is a lovely example! More interior shots as others have mentioned would have also been beneficial.
IMO, the 4-speeder trany is not better than its 5-speed successor, I had each. I now have a 3.2l i6 M104 with the 5-speed auto (722.6) on an R129, and it is bulletproof. 23 years, 260k Kms, almost daily driven, and going strong. Downshifts perfectly. Now I agree, the W124 coupé, has a lovely silhouette, almost looks lighter than an R129.
+1.. Well said @ 4:45 or so. .. Mercedes North America back in the day; '80s & '90s would fully spec MB models to the piont where options were few; Read fully loaded. .. "Times they are a changing" as our '23 E-450 Estate, Station Wagon, Kombi or T-Model as there known.. starts modestly equipped. .. MB offers an optional laundry list totaling $23K or more. .. The MB NA order guide isn't quite Porsche AG bad,, where the time of day is optional, however, its close. .. The W124 model series is/was "The Best or Nothing". ..
4:24 they did this, just like any German car manufacturer at that time did, to fit more cars next to each other on the factory car park, before they were loaded up on the lorries and trains.
Last summer I occasionaly meet 560 sec W126 parked in our street. It was fully restored car in absolute mint condition...and seeing it after a very long time I have to "say"...my ohh mine! Next to all modern desigs produced the seays that car is an Art! What a statue it was in silver metalic and gray leather interior...I was staring on that monument glittering in sun... catching my breath... I am sorry to "say" but most of modern massproduced cars look like pudding next to it...
Its not a sports car and was never designed as such! I've had 8 W124's in my 34 years on the road and despite many Range Rovers, a Volvo or two, 2 big Fords and all sorts of other nonsense, I keep coming back to these outstanding Mercs. Although getting rare in good order, they will just keep giving. There are many examples around the world with over a million miles on the clock and many of these are Taxis. You have to ask the question why!!!!
We will never ever see build quality like this again. They are not faultless (biodegradable wiring harness!) but unless you can afford a new car with a long extensive warranty and also like looking like every other car on the road, the W124 has no equal (in my opinion). They have character, great road manners, a dependable, relaxed aura and are as comfortable and poised as you could possible want. An estate version will swallow wardrobes and fold totally flat, a cabriolet will make you feel like every journey in the sunshine is in Monaco. Get adventurous people, ditch the dross and the mundane and go find a slice of automotive history.
Sermon over!
Just bought a 1992 300D 2.5 TurboDiesel with 250k miles. After doing a bunch of work to it, it drives wonderfully and I love it. Also, I really enjoy working on it. Everything goes together the way you think, everything is simple and well built. Door panels go on and off better than on any other car, no stupid plastic clips to break.
@@TheTurpin1234 Congratulations on your new car! I've 250D aswell, 1992, but NA engine! 356k miles. Great car, great engine. Used to have 2.2l m111.960 too. Remember to do proper underbody rust prevention if it already does not have one, and check the rocker panel from behind the front wheel, collects alot of junk. And change the power steering filter too! (Mann H85). Liqui Moly's Diesel Purge is amazing stuff for these engines, I recommend flushing ur engine with it. "Diesel Mercedes" youtube-channel has a great video about how to do the procedure, taking off fuel hoses etc. :)
This makes me feel better about dropping a lot of $$ to bring back my 93’ 2.8 M104. Full suspension rebuild, brakes, AC, and other odds ends. At 200k, looking forward to another 100k!
@@darens1926 The m111.960 I had (2.2l dohc) had 310k miles when the degradable wiring harness burned to crisp. The engine itself was in a great condition, camshaft was clean and smooth. 👍 Reliable engines, the gasolines too.
@@TheTurpin1234 300 D W124 had an OM603 or possibly OM606 engine, both 3,0 liter straight 6 cylinder engine.
2,5 liter was a 5 cylinder engine named OM602 or OM605 originally fitted in the 250 D / E 250 D W124.
I would appreciate a tour of the cabin in these reviews.
Its a must
+1
The last of the great hand built cars! I own two, 1994 E320 Sedan and 1995 E320 Cabriolet. These are by far the best cars ever produce. Anyone who's ever driven in a W124, the first thing they'll tell you is how smooth the car drives, you don't feel the transmission shift the slightest bit. Thanks for making the video, JayEmm.
Now THAT's a proper Mercedes.
I bought my 1995 E320 Coupe in 2005 with 85K miles. The oil gets changed every 3K miles and my next oil change will be due at 320K miles. It's my daily driver and I intend to reach a million miles one day. High mileage is a badge of honor, literally, as I am due for my second High Mileage Certification grille badge noting 500K km to accompany my 250K km grille badge. May the star shine brightly!
Omar Abou-Zied my 93 has 186k miles, i have a manual trans to go in as my auto is weak in reverse !;(
whitewarmaker, I am on my second transmission because the original failed to proceed in reverse.
How is the body with those many kilometres? I want to purchase a high mileage coupe but I'm worried that there will be lots of wind noise at 100kmh and rattling...
Congrats!!, I hope to have those badges on the grill of my cars one day.
Hi Omar! I want to buy one of these E320 if is in a good condition do u recommend it as a daily? This!
From the days when Merc were engineered like no other car
James, I know the reason behind the wing mirrors as I used to own a W124. The thinking behind the design was to give you better vision of the kerb when parking, cyclists etc on the nearside with a taller mirror , and better vision on the driver's with a wider mirror to see what's coming from behind on the offside.
Built before the accountants took over.
Lol everyone blames the accountants. Never the commercial sales director or external market forces...
@william III Good knowledge!
Agree on all your points...
W124 best car Mercedes-Benz ever made in terms of build quality
Built before Chrysler.
@Kraken1000 I’m rather new to mercedes benz. What does that mean? That the accountants took over? How did they?
I had an E420 that was decently quick, and out of almost 60 cars owned, was in the top 5 cars I've owned. Bullet proof reliability, and when it was hit by an intoxicated driver going over 60, I walked away without bleeding at all. That car was a lovely drive, classy, didn't have a bunch of "dealer only parts" like my E430, which wasn't as good. It's a car from the days when the luxury was not only in feature count, but in thoughtfulness, durability, the quality of materials, and the quality of construction, all areas where my V8 powered w124 not only excelled, but was the standard all vehicles wished they could achieve. The tooling was even sold off to a Korean car company I believe, because it was just far too good to just die. I'd have another without a second thought.
The first E-Class was the W114/115 chassis series launched in the late '60s, 2 generations prior to this one, though Mercedes-Benz had been making mid-size cars since the '50s, if not before, with the Ponton series and the Fintail. These are amazingly capable cars, a friend of mine has a 1986, very early model, W124 300TD, so 5-cylinder naturally-aspirated diesel (we never got the factory turbo-diesel in the UK as the turbo sat where the steering column went in right-hand drive models) with the estate body, which his dad got as a company car and collected from Mercedes-Benz UK in Milton Keynes. The car has been in constant, high mileage use all its life, bar about 6 months after he inherited it when his dad died when he put it into a Merc specialist for a renovation as it was looking a little tatty. The engine had never been taken apart in the car's life, and only had routine servicing and parts replacement over its life and still ran without fault but he wanted to cure a small weep of oil from the head gasket area which the car had had since it was about four years old, so they pulled the engine out and pulled it apart. After just over 850,000 miles they could still see the honing marks in the cylinders from when the engine was originally built. The gearbox, unusually for a UK car the 5-speed manual unit, and diff just had the inspection covers removed for inspection and were deemed still well within factory tolerances so they were re-used with just oil changes and new external seals for the sake of preventative maintenance. In the 2 years the car has been back on the road, now looking like brand new again, the car has racked up another 100,000 miles on his daily commute from Gloucestershire to Didcot and back again, returning the low 30s mpg. The interior on that car, in black MBTex, needed nothing during the refurbishment other than a thorough clean. It's not surprising the diesel W124 was Europe's favourite taxi during its life and well beyond, and there still are plenty of them plying their trade in Spain...
+1. An exceptional vehicle the MB W124 series; I, II and III. . As a '94 E-320 Coupe owner I'm preaching to the crowd.. An uncle ordered the Smoke Silver w/Creme Beige leather coupe new & for the past 6-7 years its been in my care with a condition "as new".. Mercedes... "Engineered Like No Other Car In The World".. Great drive down memory lane Jay.. Thanks!
A thirty minute drive in W124 will tell you nothing about the model. You need to own one and use it throughout a year's driving cycle before you get to appreciate the car's full capabilities.
Hi would you be able to expand on this I’m debating getting one, as a relatively new driver. I’m only 21. Cheers
Just wondering because of the age of the car would it be okay to use the full year round
Is it workable as a daily driver in your experience?
Similarly, one read of this comment isn't enough. You need to come back several times to wonder why on earth you'd write something so daft.
I find the coupe of this series even more attractive than the SL/SEC. The proportions are wonderful.
I run a dyno, tuning classic road, race and sport cars almost exclusively. Many of these highly rated vehicles are a disappointment when they are actually driven. The Mercedes W124 is amongst the very best, in almost every way. You are right that it does not feel fast or responsive, but a run through the hills in company with Porsche, BMW, Audi and the like will find you losing very little if any ground, while you are driving quite effortlessly. The engines build power with RPM, so the urge increases, the faster you go, with a genuine push in the back above 4500rpm. My wife drives a modern Mercedes c200, widely praised for ride and handling, but my 300CE rides better, is quieter, and feels so solid. It cannot quite match the cornering or braking ability of the C200, (it has much smaller tyres for a start) but it is a real pleasure to drive. I also have a British sportscar I drive through the hills, and compete in club motorsport, (now approaching 45th anniversary of holding a competition licence). It is also pleasurable, in a quite different way, with a huge impression of speed, noise, and connection to the machine. I am buggered, but happy after 200km in company. The Mercedes however will cover the same ground more quickly and without effort, and I am happy to drive another 500km in the day with ease
A friend of mine bought the 300TE-24 new and his widow is still driving it! Back in the days we drove from Bremen to Munich and back on the same day and felt refreshed when we got home (Ok, slightly overstated 😊) But all the mid range Mercedes, then there where no E, C, B or A class, where made to cover miles and miles and miles wearing a suit to a business meeting and they still are very good in this regard.
I've been around the same 124 for 32 years, owned and driven it since around 2007.
If you can't catch a freaking Citroen, there is something wrong with the car.
Also keep in mind these cars were designed for German roads-- the acceleration is not best from 0-60 mph, but from 60-120 mph, i.e. for merging on to the autobahn. But even today, with my poor '88 260E being somewhat worse for wear, if you step on the gas at 45 mph or higher, the car feels like it drops, squats, and then takes off like no tomorrow. When I first started driving regularly, if I was in a tight spot on the interstate and got on the gas to get out of it, I found myself about 200 feet further down the road than I expected.
If you want to see a 124 shine, you need to drive it fast. They're almost sluggish at low speeds, but it is way too easy to unintentionally find yourself pushing 90 mph without trying on highways.
The 124 excels also at being the best "compromise" car. It's not a sportscar and was never intended to be, but for a heavy sedan it does very well. But it's also insanely practical--you wouldn't believe the sheer amount of crap you can pack into one. Safety-wise, they're about as good as you can get for a '80s/'90s car.
Yes, there is no such thing as a cheap Mercedes repair. But even with my nearly 35 year old car, it is as reliable as your average 3-5 year old car. Also, I've definitely noticed that if it's done right, once you fix something, it stays fixed.
I got my car by inheriting it from my Dad, a native German who only bought it (at first) because it was cheaper than a new Buick. But Dad knew his cars and took fantastic care of them, so I inherited a very lightly used car in near mint condition. Just like when we first bought it, it continually finds new ways to impress me. They're not perfect, but Mercedes got awfully dang close with the 124.
i agree. I have a '93 E280, comes alive at 80 kmh
Bought a '95 E280 Masterpiece limited edition of 1000. M104 193 BHP 143 MPH.Plenty fast enough.140k miles drives superbly.Yes the rec ball steering is slightly vague and she rolls quite a bit ,as specified new with higher ride height ,during spirited cornering.Planning road trip Malaysia to Thailand ...eventually!
i think those masterpiece things were mainly made for the Malaysian market, or that part of the world. The higher ride height was specified for there
@@tduhpohylnvrz correct.
Those pillarless 124s are lovely. Nice vid, James but a bit more of the interior would be good in your reviews of luxury cars would be appreciated. As EinkOLED mentioned.
Mirrors: your ideas are right combined with reduced fuel consumption by having a smaller mirror where not needed. Everything was thought about with these cars.
We had a C124 (Coupe is not W, it starts with C) 300 CE back in the days. Still can remember the first time seeing the Belt Mechanism in Action :-)
@Amer mur You are wrong and right. CE belongs sometimes to the Model Name but all Coupès at Mercedes in the 124 line up start actually - like I mentioned - with C. All T-Models started with an S and all Convertibles started with an A. The E 200 and E 320 Models for example don`t even have a C or CE in their model name. So the Series is called 124 and than - depending on the Version - you put a W, S, A or C in front.
I just picked up a 1987 W124 sedan. Need to sort a few details to make it road-worthy, but truly excited.
Loved my 300E W124 (sold to make way for my current drive). Still miss it.
call me odd, but i love the tiny sun visor between the regular visors on these things.
the interiors on these old Mercs last forever with just a bit of regular care. that's true luxury in my mind.
It was always said in the automotive press at the time that these cars were hewn from solid granite and are the last MB’s to be built to these standards. I loved these coupes and lusted after a 320CE with those same AMG wheels as a teenager.
It feels more like a luxury car, then some of the 3 or 5 years old Mercedes models.
My first car is a C124 300 CE-24 manual. It's such a nice car. You've picked a great car!
How can you not like Mercedes WTF
Look at it! They always remind me of a moment on top gear where Clarkson started pushing the buttons and saying something like "i will not break you will not break me i will last forever". Cars like this don't need to be fast, similar to a saab carlsson; park it up, walk away from it for about 10 seconds, then look at it. These days, that's all the speed it needs
it's videos like this that make James' channel truly fantastic.
I have a 1995 E420 best car I've ever owned.
it's got a lot more pop when you are driving around in 3rd gear. 4th gear on the highway.
I had the 300 Coupe and then I went to the 4.2l 279hp V8 and you really do want that one over the six.
I'm not finding the parts to be too expensive if you look around a little.
And, you want to make sure that the wiring harness has been replaced.
I've had two of these in the past and can state that these were the last of the quality built MBs! The engines and gearboxes are good for 200K at least!
Man, now I want to get a W124!
I have w124 in very good condition, its always a pleasure when older gentlemen just stare at your car :D
People buy these cars for the status quo and the solid luxurious driving experience you get from it.
I have a 1993 Mercedes 300TE wagon (estate). I consider it a nice driving car but the performance is adequate at best. People go bonkers for the wipers on the headlights for some reason but everything after that doesn't really get noticed. If you are considering the purchase of any old Mercedes, I don't recommend these cars to people that can't do their own mechanical or maintenance work because these old cars will eat you alive financially if you have to take them to a mechanic for everything.
I really enjoy my old W124 Benz. I really like the fit and finish and the attention to quality Mercedes gives these old cars and the ride quality is really nice. One last thing, If you purchase a W124 (or any old car) you need a second car as a backup. If you do use an old Mercedes as your only car, buy a quality pair of shoes because you will be doing a bit of walking instead of driving.
W124 coupe is one of the most beautiful cars Mercedes has ever produced
I own one. A 320 in a rare colour combo of metallic green with tan leather. Love it
Stunning car and gearbox aside, I'd have the manual, I would thoroughly enjoy this car so long as I could afford the running costs. I commented about the dim witted gearbox from the 190E era on the C43 video, kicking down when it wants too and not when you do and I thank you for showing what I meant on this video.
I've just bought 280.000 km W124 320E sedan with Getrag manual in unbelievable excellent condition. And its a best car ive ridden, and I have had a pleasure of likes of R8, S55 amg and nothing comes close in the feeling of drive
I had the E320 coupe with 5 speed auto and was faultless.. Made for more more comfortable cruising and semi decent mpg for such a car..
Finally a car that this guy fits in !😬
The answer to your question about the odd shaped passenger side rear view mirror: it was to reduce frontal area. Not by much mind you! But in the early 80's, Audi significantly upped the aerodynamics game with the 100 and its, at the time, avant-garde aerodynamics. I believe the 100 had the lowest cd ever for a passenger car so for the W124, Mercedes was trying to do the same and pulling every trick in the book. Not that people were complaining because in the 70's, Mercedes would charge you extra if you wanted a passenger side mirror to begin with!
I own a 1995 E320 wagon and love the way it runs and handles. Unfortunately, Mercedes used some bio-degradable insulation on ignition wires. Buying used, one should check that the wiring harness has been replaced.
Is it worth doing a full wiring harness replace?
08:00 please remember this model is nearly 20 years old. Back in the 90s that was considered fast 😂
That 3.2L i6 is M104 if you didnt know. Its capable of making 500-700 if turbocharged and it sounds good although its quite underrated engine.
Btw: cool video!
@das wright yeah! Its like bmw e36-46 i6, but reliable and stronger!
All you really need is about 50 more HP. AMG did that with a 3.6 displacement i.e. a diesel crank, different cam profile, injectors ECM flash ect. Now you can buy a stand alone ECM that will do basically the same. I'm not a fan of turbo charging the 104 motors especially without the oil squirter's and a water chilled oil cooler-which some came with. The cylinders are too thin and the heads don't seal that well especially #6. Their a good motor and came in different variations but it costs way to much to make them 700hp and have them last longer than a few dyno pulls or track days. Been doing these for awhile and my recommendation has always been get the adapter for the BMW 6spd manual, an LSD, larger injectors and a stand alone ECM. Along with cleaning up the intake and exhaust you'll get an extra 50 hp that won't kill the motor. Its plenty and with the 6sp you'll have a little snap. Want more power step up to a larger displacement. 124's are a great size and smooth riding. Not too big not too small and even stock have some pull if you stand on it. As for handling you have a thousand options. All in all great car's to clean up and have around. Hell the CEO stood up at a stock holders meeting and said Benz needs to get back to making the 124's. Chassis's are great for starting point, strong and tight and the right size. Stock to full on race. Just wish someone would start making the 500E steel front fenders.
@das wright c36 w202 isnt quite hard to find but they're getting rarer.
Would you recommend those mods for a 2.8L? I’m around 190HP, stock. How does the stand alone ECU play with the rest of the functionality of the car?
@@darens1926 just install megasquirt ecu and maybe holset or borgwarner turbocharger.
4:44 besides the size, there is also a slight curve in the mirror.. the result is vehicles viewed in the mirrors are the same size..
that time the warning " objects in mirror are closer then they appear" was engineered away
The W124 and the W201 have different size side mirrors due aerodynamic reason. I know, it sounds weird, but it is.The Audi A6 C4 and the Golf 4 have similar different size side mirrors because of aerodynamic as well.
I am very happy with my 1996 320T (now nearly 300,000 kilometres) 5-speed auto with climate control, sunroof and all mod cons, left hand drive because I live in Europe. I have no trouble getting parts as and when needed which is not often. Also perfect for pulling trailers. You mention the 4-speed box is better than the 5-speed, why is that? As soon as I bought it four years ago I had the automatic oil & filter changed and my garage told me that was a good idea as they were both very dirty. I've owned quite a few MB T models, 123 & 124's over the past 45 years. Always second or third-hand vehicles. I've only broken down once in all those years. Great cars, reliable, solid and robust!
at a certain age climbing up into a vehicle, or falling down into a car seat becomes a problem- and so is getting out. the w124 is perfect. right at the hip bone😉
Should of test drove an E500 saloon. A genuine classic.
That's a lovely and classy coupé! Excellent review as always, James.
Im on my 2nd c124 320. Just love them. They are pure class and totally underrated.
I've acquired a mint 1995 e300d in azurite blue absolutely love it and can run it on cooking oil! I'd be happy to let you drive it if interested and want a series on combating cost of living crisis!
Fantastic cars, an interesting feel to the steering and lots to look out for when buying from bio degradable looms through to sub frame mounts literally dropping off, we’d never part with ours, thank you for an entertaining informative video, ours has just hit 214k with the 2.3 4 cylinder.
The wing mirrors are different sizes because mass aspherical technogy was not introduced till a few years later when curved glass came through. It was designed like this and on other cars for rear view a parking reasons,i think.
The theory of the smaller mirror is actually very simple. Some people find it hard to know how wide there car is so on the opposite site where it is harder to judge how far of you are of a object in a narrow street, it is now harder to hit something with your passenger side mirror and gives you also the ability to make a little more space with oncoming traffic in some narrow german streets.
no mate
I've got one with the same colour and rear boot lid wing , e320 , I've also got a BMW 335i twin turbo that would leave it for dead, but I absolutely love it , buy one and you won't regret it.
I have one of these still, coupe identical to the test car but in Ruby Red and regd in 96 on a P plate, and yes the E320 in particular has cost eye watering amounts to keep in shape because there are many parts unique to the 6 cyl 24v engined models, as your mate says everything that can fail will fail.
The drivers side mirror has to be wider because its flat not convex glass and causes enough blind spots as it is, the NS mirror is convex and squarer and sticks out less for passing hedges etc.
Coupes and cabriolet are small cars in comparison these days and refreshingly narrow, about a foot shorter than the saloon/estate and its in the rear passenger space where most of the cutting took place, coupe is also lower roof line than the saloon equivalent so if you are a taller driver you develop a leaning posture because the sunroof causes further loss of headroom.
A beautiful design, arguably the saloon in higher spec and the right colour is a better looking car than the coupe but beauty in the eye etc, there's not much better looking than a later E500 saloon in a dark colour, infinitely better looking than almost anything made today, which i wouldn't give you a thankyou for.
I've had 4 W124's, the most reliable was the simplest of the lot a 300 Diesel auto saloon, the most unreliable was an E320 estate which had £19,000 worth of extras fitted by MB, that's not a typo i had the original sale documents, in the end i had to give the thing up or it would have bankrupted me, you would not believe what it had cost the first owner over the ten years he kept it, never a bill less than £500, some bills over £3000.
They might be reputed as hewn from granite, but in reality its the more mundane versions are the better bet for long term classic ownership...for an example front bottom ball joint for baser models under £20 from the dealer, on 6 pot 24v models ball joint is integrated into the wishbone, no change from £350 for genuine and they wear badly on the UK's third world road surfaces.
As regards performance i suggest there's something not quite right with the test car, possibly gearbox cable from throttle assembly snapped (oh yes they do that too and it's a gearbox out job to refit) because once you get the 320's moving they can give modern fast cars a run for their money and with the right tyres there's not much can keep up with them on fast flowing bends once you get up to 3 figure speeds.
Forget we bought this one at 6 years old, also for any decent DIY types these are easily maintainable at home.
Love my 94 E320 Coupe far better put together than my E350.
Rearview mirrors are designed for Autobahn (Highway) driving, supposedly one mirror is better for close-distance reflections and the over for short-distance reflections.
It's all about elegance and panache with these cars.
That is a great AND stylish first drive.
I've always wanted the 300CE-24 with pillar less windows with a manual.
Kuddlesworth NA good luck finding a manual! Also Mercedes manuals of the kinda suck outside of the famous doglegs from the Cosworth. I drive an 86' 300e auto. Shifts nice
The 300CE was on my bucket for years. The, one day while looking through Craig's List I got lucky and found a 1995 E320 Cabriolet Black on parchment/mushroom, the same car just convertible. The car had only 83K miles and the owner sold it to meet 60% off the market value. I've never been happier in my life about buying a car until this one. The car is so rare, many lookers stop and ask, what kind of Mercedes is that? You have to remember, the car is 25 yrs. old and back then it came with a hefty price tag of $76K. Needless to say, you had to have been making a decent salary in 95 to be driving around in Mercedes two-door coupe 300CE or E320.
First mod on that car. Put back the original exhaust. These cars are so comfortable to drive. They eat miles up effortlessly. You really wouldn’t want anything else if you are going on a long distance drive. You get out of the car at the other end not feeling like you have been in a car for hours at all.
So about the colour, Emereld green black metallic in english is the Smaragd Schwarz Metallic in german. Colourcode is m189. I've got the same colour on my W210 E-class. Yes, it is actually dark blue but it gives a lovely green glare in the sun. Really difficult colour to get repainted though
Haha hey! You WERE catching up to that Citroen...the M104 is no slouch!
he was trying to say the c43 was slow the other day,i don't know why all these utubers are trying to pretend they are all used to driving 0-60 in 2 seconds with rack and pinion steering that has 1 turn lock to lock it is all a bit tiresome,i have a clk430 and you cannot push the throttle to the floor and hold it there for 5 seconds on any road but a motorway it is a rocket
@@raycroal haha coming from a 99 c43 owner i have to say off the line its not the best, but when i get on the highway i almost get in trouble every time with it. oh nice you have the clk430 same engine in my c43 but just tuned by AMG. M113 fam !!!! very strong engine plus pretty quick as well.
@@brokeneuros9369 the kickdown on my 02 clk from 45mph is very fast great sound from the m113 too
Had a mint E320 coupe 10 years ago. Lovely car and gave £700 for it. Thanks for the reminder 👍
owned a w124 220ce, a few year's ago, great car,
I'm surprised Doug DeMuro isn't after your blood for that last line. Just a lovely car.
Lovely thing to smoke around in for the summer, love the pillar-less windows!
Well done on the presentation, covered a lot,a well rounded test.
Jay rediscovered the wheel
Used to be one abandoned near me we would always go up and sit in it and pretend we where gangsters as kids will always love theese for that.
I've always wanted one of these.
The W123 was the first E Class. Of the same era as the W124, The W126 pillar-less Coupe (500/560SEC) was The top banana. Apparently it was and is very difficult and expensive to build pillar less coupes without rattles and window alignment issues. Thats why the BMW E36 had pillars.....
Yep, it was a motor trade standing joke in the '80s that if you bought a new Mercedes-Benz, even the steering wheel was an optional extra. UK Mercs never came from the factory with in-car entertainment fitted, in fact I don't think they did in any market, they only came with a pre-radio fitting kit. Any head unit was chosen at, and fitted by, the supplying dealer. A Blaupunkt unit was the most common choice, but if someone really wanted to spend some money you could specify a Becker unit, though they are very rare in the UK as one of those could easily top £1,000 at the time...
I have a 87 ce done by a custom coach company into a convertible , not knowing the coupe would ever come in a convertible. It’s been a drop top since 89 .
Really enjoyed.
Cheers mate, luved you in Shaun of the Dead
Literally had to take a second look to make sure it wasn't him.
W124 coupe, the last of the True Mercedes, an engineered marvel!
7:45 He probably tweaked the throttle My Older 260E would downshift two gears if necessary to get you up to speed.
Top video!! Good to see people exploring different cars !!
Owner of a W124 E300D ‘95
OM606.910 n/a 4speed auto
324.000 miles
521.000 Kilometers
Is it relatively slow?, yes but it makes me drive wisely. Is it big? Yes, but it has presence o the road. Is it cheaper than a lot of new cars?, Yes, but it gives you a luxurious aura. A lot of people think that they are less safer than new cars? Yes, but it’s the opposite. Is it old?, Yes, but it has soul. Has a loud engine sound? Yes, but let the beast make its roar. Is it super cheap to maintain? Not always, but god, it worth it. So... is it the perfect car ever! Of course not. It has its problems... like any other car.
Things I did and check to my car, and the people that would like to have this model have to do:
(Of course there are more things)
So, I checked these:
(Some changed, some just checked)
- front suspension, ball joins, front ends, shocks (changed)
- rear shocks (checked)
- multi link rear suspension (checked)
- engine mounts and transmission mount (changed)
- Crank case breather: plastic elbows, breather tubes, pressure diferencial valve (changed)
- Clean fuel inyectors (done)
- engine fuel hoses to inyectors (done)
- Starter glow plugs (changed)
- starter glow plug relay ( to capacitors changed)
- temp coolant senders (1 checked, 2 changed)
- biodegradable cables on harness.( some changed)
A/C
- Klima Control relay failed (unplugged, opened and changed 1 burnt resistor)
Interior
- all four window elevator (checked, greased and re tighten. One of the rear, changed)
- roof window ( checked grease and little rubber sliders)
Trunk
- water seal rubber (checked)
- rubber washer shaped of the rear bumper bolts (changed)
...a lot history and some money of course... but after have of Kilometers, well, it’s normal to do a lot of things.
I would love to see you do a mercedes 190e cosworth if you can get your hands on one, it is a merc that has always interested me.
Every time I search w124 anything on here this video shows up and I’m more and more jealous of the owner after each view.
I'll tell him
Absolutely love this model
Such a nice car and place aswell. At which place was this video shot ? Which place is it ?
I have this -90 Sportline lowered with wide 60" tires.
The daddy of the w124 is the 500E - if you feel performance is important it will not disappoint. A 5 litre quad cam V8 is shoehorned into the engine bay along with wider more aggressive body styling and 500Es were actually assembled by Porsche over 18 days per car.
The 500E is a true super saloon and were coined the "Wolf in Sheeps clothing" because the body styling changes were so subtle it would take someone to know what they were looking at to recognise what it is.
There are also E60 AMG w124 models that fetch over £100k today depending on condition etc. Highly collectable cars.
They should have had a mention in this video but otherwise a fair assessment and that coupe is a lovely example! More interior shots as others have mentioned would have also been beneficial.
IMO, the 4-speeder trany is not better than its 5-speed successor, I had each. I now have a 3.2l i6 M104 with the 5-speed auto (722.6) on an R129, and it is bulletproof. 23 years, 260k Kms, almost daily driven, and going strong. Downshifts perfectly. Now I agree, the W124 coupé, has a lovely silhouette, almost looks lighter than an R129.
love my s124 300td 87 250k miles and super strong
+1.. Well said @ 4:45 or so. .. Mercedes North America back in the day; '80s & '90s would fully spec MB models to the piont where options were few; Read fully loaded. .. "Times they are a changing" as our '23 E-450 Estate, Station Wagon, Kombi or T-Model as there known.. starts modestly equipped. .. MB offers an optional laundry list totaling $23K or more. .. The MB NA order guide isn't quite Porsche AG bad,, where the time of day is optional, however, its close. .. The W124 model series is/was "The Best or Nothing". ..
Owning a W124 in South America converted me to Mercedes!
You’re correct about the mirrors
4:24 they did this, just like any German car manufacturer at that time did, to fit more cars next to each other on the factory car park, before they were loaded up on the lorries and trains.
The narrower mirror on the passenger side is so it does not hit parked traffic in tighter streets apparently.
Last summer I occasionaly meet 560 sec W126 parked in our street. It was fully restored car in absolute mint condition...and seeing it after a very long time I have to "say"...my ohh mine! Next to all modern desigs produced the seays that car is an Art! What a statue it was in silver metalic and gray leather interior...I was staring on that monument glittering in sun... catching my breath... I am sorry to "say" but most of modern massproduced cars look like pudding next to it...
Glad i have mine exactly the same😎
Same here. Will leave me when i'm dead, not before.
Nice 1 Darren 😉. Thought I recognised that plate and coupe ! Cheers Billyw124
Thanks buddy. Small world, this internet one ;) Hope you're keeping well :-)
If you happen to get the chance, I'd really like a review on the Honda Accord 7th gen Type-S or the Accord 6th gen Type-R