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I need help/advice about buying this W124 Convertible

We had a mid-1990's W124 into which a previous owner had fitted aftermarket aircon. Loads of W124s didn't have it as standard at that time. I seem to think it was a well-regarded brand, but it was hopeless. It just didn't work properly when it was hot outside! :doh:

some seem to integrate very well, whilst others just have a little button on the dash by the gear stick..

im sure some were very good, perhaps as good as the original, but from understanding in the times i was researching when buying mine, the radiators were not changed when upgraded to air con, and in doing so, the system was semi rubbish, those that did upgrade the radiator seemed to work as good as the original.. would be good to see two w124 side by side, with and with out... to see the tangible difference
 
Mine had aftermarket (Diavia?) kit fitted from new but had the buttons in the centre console as OE.

It worked well in up to 30 odd degree heat of recent summers except in heavy stop start traffic where I suspect the rad, being standard, was too small and the temp crept up until the AC cut out at 100C. Which was when you needed it most.. This may also have been due to only having 1 auxilliary fan.

It also blew coldest at less than full pelt (setting 2).

Never needed gas in the 3 years I owned it and given it was 19 years old when I sold the car I was surprised (and happy) it worked at all.

Ade
 
Mine had aftermarket (Diavia?) kit fitted from new but had the buttons in the centre console as OE.

Yep. Diavia. that was it. The system had a single button (presumably an original part, it looked identical to the MB one) cut into the dash in about the right place. We had just about every possible thing done to fix it (flushes, regases, new rad, pipes, compressor). Useless. Great car otherwise though.
 
Mine had the dehumidifier button and AC button as per OE

300CE-24V_041.jpg


If you looked closely you could see the symbols were stuck on transfers.

If the AC works over a range of driving conditions, I wouldn't be put off by an aftermarket system.

Ade
 
did the aftermarket one have a red light to signify that the a/c was off?
 
I did not buy it at the end.
I rang the seller today (a couple of hours before auction end) and, thanks to your warnings guys, he confirmed what you already knew. It does not have Airconditioning.

He says that it was too late to revise eBay description.
Hang on, I am no experienced eBayer, but I think there is a way that you can add some information / correction if you really want to.
Oh!, and in addition to all the faults I mentioned in post #6, he also confirmed that headlight wipers and cruise control do not work. Still not sure about rear window electric demister.
All these faults in a relatively low mileage car described as "everything works well"!
What (personally) worried me most is the fact that a 17 year old car was completely unmarked and described as "there aren't even any stone chips"Hmmm"
A full respray?
But then, why resprayed?
Rust?
Accident?
Rough life?
I frankly do not know.
Anyway, I think the seller should be happy with the price it achieved!


With the faults\problems\niggles you found, I think you did well to walk away. Yet the ad reads like it was a minter. Was the seller previously an estate agent?

Looking at the sellers ID, maybe you should try Nick Clegg motors.
 

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