A124 at Charles

[michaelk3289]

Michael:An old mercedes in good nick will always have presence and always turn heads
Anyone can have a new car but not anyone will have an old one that looks and drives like new

true dash,

i still think the market for these cars is a small one which makes selling them all the more difficult.

i would love this car and love the colour combo, but i think we are a small few!!!

 

[michaelk3289]

A £16k BMW has a lot of depreciation to come. Look after a W124 convertible in excellent condition and it should not have that.

I was buying fish and chips near here the other day and as I waited outside for my haddock to be fried to order, (the joy of not living in Kensington. 20 years without fish and chips), and saw a 2 year old Audi A4 convertible for £11k, and a 54 reg Porsche Boxster S (54k miles) for 14k in a secondhand dealer. Almost as cheap as the chips...

i agree with you in regards to the depreciation, however i ask you this, how long would you have to keep the w124 for before it increased in value and how much would you spend keeping that car in that condition during that time.

listen guys im on the side of the w124 here, i just think this is why others choose modern cars over older ones

 

[Niks]

Theres a guy near my ends who has a E320 Coupe in that colour with an AMG Gen II kit on it, its an N-reg I think. Next time I see it, i'll take a pic of it.

 

[Dee-124CAB]

Slightly off topic, but where would one look to see if the wiring harness is in good nick or needs replacing??

 

[d w124]

i agree with you in regards to the depreciation,however i ask you this, how long would you have to keep the w124 for before it increased in value and how much would you spend keeping that car in that condition during that time.

Why would you care,I keep my ones good to please myself not others

 

[michaelk3289]

Why would you care,I keep my ones good to please myself not others

me too dash

 

[MD5]

i agree with you in regards to the depreciation, however i ask you this, how long would you have to keep the w124 for before it increased in value and how much would you spend keeping that car in that condition during that time.

listen guys im on the side of the w124 here, i just think this is why others choose modern cars over older ones

Michael, it's one of the dilemmas of buying a cherished example - they can only deteriorate! Bought in the right condition, though, they can be maintained to a certain standard, but not as a daily driver if you are looking for an appreciating asset. Your comparison of a newer BMW against one of these is like comparing a decent brandy to vodka and coke!
MB coupés and cabriolets up to a certain era command higher prices the older they get.

Dee, whilst the looms can degrade right the way through, the plug ends where they get moved around with coilpack/plug changes etc will be a good place to start, and across the top of the engine may be worth a look inside a section of the loom.

 

[rigel]

My thoughts (for what they are worth) are that these cars, like good wine, can only get better with age.

Their styling is classic and rather understated, unlike some of the later model/marquees.

I wouldn’t pay what is being asked for it at the moment, but I’m sure when someone does, they will be far from unhappy.

Not many cars are blessed with the ability to waft along with the roof stowed.

Regards. R

 

[scillyisles1]

i agree with you in regards to the depreciation, however i ask you this, how long would you have to keep the w124 for before it increased in value and how much would you spend keeping that car in that condition during that time.

listen guys im on the side of the w124 here, i just think this is why others choose modern cars over older ones

This is a very good point - most people who talk about classic cars appreciating in value conveniently fail to include running costs and maintenance. If this car needs new wiring loom, water pump, viscous fan coupling, new front wings, ETA etc (and my guess would be some or all of these) then the costs are very significant in comparison to the purchase cost. The extra retained value from doing all the work on the car if you then tried to sell on would be zero.

To check the wiring loom - remove black plastic splash cover behind battery in engine bay and check part number sticker on loom as it enters ECU. Manufacturing date should be visible.

 

[grober]

Slightly off topic, but where would one look to see if the wiring harness is in good nick or needs replacing??

Some pics of examples here
PeachPartsWiki: W124 Engine Wiring Harness Replacement
AND
V12 Uber Alles, Rewiring the Mass Air Flow Meter (MAF) Connector and Wire Harness in a Mercedes Benz S600

 

[Charles Morgan]

I am not interested in appreciation in value, the avoidance of depreciation is quite good enough to make ownership with the increased maintenance requirements still economic.