1990 w124 300te-24

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BlueQuinn

Active Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2013
Messages
150
Location
London
Car
Mercedes-Benz 300TE-24
I've bought a Porsche and I only have one parking space at my flat, so my excellent W124 Estate has to go.
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Painted in Smoke Silver metallic with mushroom leather upholstery.

Loads and loads of detailed pictures are here https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluequinn/sets/72157651028371800/

It has 212553 miles on the clock, most of it in its early life. It has bucketloads of history and has had all the big expensive jobs done over its life (e.g. engine mounts, ball joints, head gasket, radiators, etc).

It was last serviced in January and as well as the normal jobs the rear wash/wipe motor was replaced and I subsequently replaced the distributor and rotor arm with genuine Bosch items. (this cured a hesitation issue)

It got a fresh MoT in November (advisory for a minor oil leak that the specialist told me wasn't worth fixing, and surface rust on brake pipes which really could be fixed in an hour with a wire brush attachment and a drill.)

*Really* solid body (it looks like it had partial restoration and respray at some point- it was dry stored for 5 years, so this may have happened then), but slight rust on all four wheel arches (idiot 2nd owner put those nasty chrome arch covers on) which is possibly still fixable by a smart-repair person. The passenger side front wing is quite rusty in the usual place and slightly dented as well, so I bought a used genuine Mercedes wing, wirebrushed all rusty bits back to bare metal and primered it. This is included: It's ready for sanding and painting in the right colour.

There is *no* rust in the rear side panels (a common problem) and the *jacking points are all sound*, and there are no leaks, and no wind noise. There's some aluminium bubbling on the passenger side rear side window trim, but not the driver's side

The self-levelling suspension works perfectly.

It's loaded with kit:
5 Leather seats. (I have most of a 7 seat conversion I'll chuck in for an extra £100 if you want. You'd still need the floorboard lid things which can come off any 7 seater with mushroom/creme beige/quartz carpets.)
leather door trims, steering wheel and gear knob.
Electrically adjustable front seats, the driver's having two memory settings. Even the headrests are electric!
Four electric windows
Electric tilt and slide steel sunroof
Electric passenger door mirror.
Central door locking with convenience control (closes roof and all windows automatically when you hold they key in the 'lock' position). Works from both front doors and boot.
Alarm immobiliser with remote locking and arming operation. This is turned off at the moment because it's a bit sensitive in the wind, but if you like remote locking you can turn it on again. It's the original 80's Scorpion one.
Anti lock brakes
Headlamp wash wipe
Sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors
Dual zone air conditioning (Not working - out of gas as it stood for 5 years and then they banned R12. I had it pressure tested and apparently it's all sound. I was quoted £350 for R134 conversion or try a fill with RS24)
Alloy wheels - 7J 15 inch 8 hole replicas with almost brand new Continental Premium Contact 5 tyres. These are the Sportline size so I put 205x60R15 tyres on.
I also have some 17 inch genuine Mercedes Mehkab wheels with new Good Year Eagle Assymetric 2 tyres on. I will include these for an additional £450.
(The spare is the original 15 hole 6.5Jx15 with a 195/65R15 'Lee Conquest Sport' which is a budget thing but will get you home. Rolling radius is the same more or less as the 17s, a bit more than the 15s.)
Power steering
Cruise control
Blaunpunkt Toronto 420 BT CD/RDS radio with SD card, USB, Aux inputs, bluetooth, hands free, ipod/iphone compatibility.
Or I'll put back the Kenwood KRC-477R with CD changer instead.
4 Kenwood speakers.
Electric radio antenna.
Burr walnut veneer
Retractable loadspace cover and cargo net.
Outside temperature display
Original first-aid kit, jack, tool kit and warning triangle.
Genuine Mercedes ribbed floor mats.
Additional roof bars.
Outside temperature indicator.
Headlamp wash/wipe

Electrically, the car is almost perfect. All the warning lights come on correctly when you turn the key and they all go a out again when they are supposed to. The rear heated window works, as does the rear wash wipe (just had a new motor and switch)
The only electrical fault I'm aware of is that the rear tailgate should pull the boot closed when you gently pop it onto the catch. This doesn't work, so you have to close the boot properly yourself. It might the the motor or a connection, I've not bothered to check because it's a pointless frippery anyway.
The front wiper doesn't really get any faster on the fast speed - this is either because the motor is worn out, or the jumping wiper mech needs lubrication, or both.

The engine is the 3 litre straight six M104.980 with twin camshafts, 24 valves, variable valve timing and electronic fuel injection. It's the non catalyst model, which means you get a very healthy 231 bhp, (a fair bit more than the 3.2 that replaced it!). In the last 2 years it's had a new head gasket, new oil seals for the timing cover and camshaft cover, new rotor arm and distributor cap, new oil level sensor, new thermostat. It keeps perfect oil pressure and water temperature. Unlike the later 280 and 320 models the 3 litre version uses a distributor and proper HT leads so it does not suffer from the dreaded wiring loom failure. Emissions are nice and low. Spot on, in fact.

The gearbox is the 4 speed automatic, with a switchable economy mode. It changes and kicks down exactly as it should.

The self levelling suspension is in perfect working order with no leaks. It rides really well. The front anti-roll bar bushes have recently been changed, as has the left hand front wishbone and spring both with new genuine Mercedes parts. The rear right driveshaft was also replaced recently with a genuine Mercedes item. The brakes (nearly new vented discs all round) are have a recent pad and fluid change and are powerful and progressive. They have ABS which appears to work fine. The parking brake cables and shoes have been recently replaced so you have the rarity of an E class with a perfectly functioning parking brake.

The leather interior is soft, clean, and in superb condition with no cuts, burns or tears. Unusually for these cars the drivers side bolster is intact and in good shape, though with a bit of patina. All the wood is perfect with no cracks, blooms, lifting or any other faults. The carpets, having been protected with mats for the last 23 years are absolutely pristine. The boot carpet could do with a clean. All the plastics are clean too, as is the headlining, with no sagging. The car has never been smoked in, never had a dog in it. There is one small crack in one of the plastic covers for the socket on the driver's side rear seat that engage when you fold it down, and the plastic trim behind the seat belt buckle on the same seat is broken, and held in place with a rubber washer. You can't tell either unless you're looking for it. You can find a photo of this in the Flickr album

There was a problem with it idling (it would cut out when in gear at parking speeds), which I *think* I fixed just by cleaning up the contacts on the idle switch. However, I'm not 100% sure as I have not driven it much since then, so the price reflects this. In all other driving conditions it is fine. It goes like a train, the engine is smooth and quiet and sounds wonderful when revved. There is a video of it running in the Flickr album. The 4 speed autobox is fine too.

I'm hoping to get £1000 for it with the 15 inch alloys.

Add £450 for lovely 17 inch wheels. Add £100 for (most of) 7 seat conversion.

I'm open to offers, as I need the car gone.
 
Sold!
 

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