Celicasaur
Active Member
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2011
- Messages
- 199
- Car
- W212 E63 AMG PP
Hey guys, I don't post often here and when I do, it's normally to post something about my A124. I'm at a bit of a cross roads and was thinking it might be an idea to ask the MB collective over here for their thoughts.
In short:
I bought a shed of an E230 124 cab back in 2016 thinking it would be a fun project to work on as a resto-mod. It's at this point where I wish somebody would have told me that buying an old classic for 'cheap' that needs a lot of work, is a TERRIBLE idea...of course...nobody was there to tell me that and boy did I have to learn the hard way. Safe to say that 98% of my ownership of this car has been nothing more than work in progress and enjoying it sporadically when the sun is out on those 5 days a year. I could tell you guys a story of my ownership, but perhaps you might be able to figure it out by reading the list of work below:
So, you get the idea - it's had a LOT of time and money invested. I've got a few remaining niggles to iron out but nothing that I won't get done over the coming weeks:
BUT
Despite all of this work and the fact that it gives me tingles when I look at it, particularly from the side or any rear angles - I just don't enjoy driving it. When I bought it, I had visions of being cool in my boring yet stylish Mercedes once I'd restored it. But the truth is....while it is incredibly boring and very pretty...I enjoy driving my wifes 2004 1.3 Yaris more and I just see the A124 as nothing more than a liability....needing to keep it happy and dry and treating it with kid-gloves for fear of needing any more rare parts to give it TLC with. The list of work above is one thing, but it's another to factor in the sheer man hours required...
Does it sound like it's time for me to weigh up selling it? Or shall I pay for some secure storage and forget about it for a year and weigh it up in 12 months? I think I've only covered 3 or 4000 miles since owning it. I think the sheer amount of work I've done on the car has kind of killed the 'fun' of actually owning it which is kind of tragic when you think of it. Thoughts?
In short:
I bought a shed of an E230 124 cab back in 2016 thinking it would be a fun project to work on as a resto-mod. It's at this point where I wish somebody would have told me that buying an old classic for 'cheap' that needs a lot of work, is a TERRIBLE idea...of course...nobody was there to tell me that and boy did I have to learn the hard way. Safe to say that 98% of my ownership of this car has been nothing more than work in progress and enjoying it sporadically when the sun is out on those 5 days a year. I could tell you guys a story of my ownership, but perhaps you might be able to figure it out by reading the list of work below:
- New main roof rams from Top Hydraulics
- Replacement roof module (my goodness - finding one was the bane of my life!!!)
- Replacement seat belt modules (yep, the first one I bought got cooked because of the leaking roof of course)
- Brand new Mohair roof and headliner (Jan 2019) from Car Hood Warehouse
- New windscreen
- Brand new upper engine harness from MB Brentford in 2017 (there was only one more in stock in the Milton Keynes warehouse after my one apparently)
- 18" AMG wheels
- H&R lowering springs all over
- Bilstein B8 shocks all over
- Re-laquered interior wood (looks great, especially the gearknob area)
- Replacement gear knob and steering wheel in that wooden trim
- Full underbody surface rust treatment, protective coating and then wax
- Rear subframe off, restored and fitted with new bushes
- Diff out, new bushes
- All rear suspension arms and bushes replaced
- All front suspension arms and bushes replaced (including that weird steering damper thing)
- Engine and transmission mounts replaced
- Replacement transmission to remedy a shift-flare from the original box
- Full exterior respray (Nautic Blue) - clear over clear flow-coated
- Leather interior restored
So, you get the idea - it's had a LOT of time and money invested. I've got a few remaining niggles to iron out but nothing that I won't get done over the coming weeks:
- Bit of rust under the doors to treat and remedy
- ABS light is on
- Full suspension alignment as it's a bit floaty at speed for some reason
- Refit rear bumper on hinge (i drove off a high kerb and popped it off)
- Fix rear tailgate plastic handle crack
- Straighten out front wing guard (that high kerb really screwed me....ambulance was coming through and i didn't want to hold up the emergency)
BUT
Despite all of this work and the fact that it gives me tingles when I look at it, particularly from the side or any rear angles - I just don't enjoy driving it. When I bought it, I had visions of being cool in my boring yet stylish Mercedes once I'd restored it. But the truth is....while it is incredibly boring and very pretty...I enjoy driving my wifes 2004 1.3 Yaris more and I just see the A124 as nothing more than a liability....needing to keep it happy and dry and treating it with kid-gloves for fear of needing any more rare parts to give it TLC with. The list of work above is one thing, but it's another to factor in the sheer man hours required...
Does it sound like it's time for me to weigh up selling it? Or shall I pay for some secure storage and forget about it for a year and weigh it up in 12 months? I think I've only covered 3 or 4000 miles since owning it. I think the sheer amount of work I've done on the car has kind of killed the 'fun' of actually owning it which is kind of tragic when you think of it. Thoughts?