Looking for an interesting, comfortable cruiser

[Moultoneer]

I love my W126, it is far more special feeling than my w124

It's that "special" feeling that is hard to define and will be different for every driver. A lot of people get really excited over a cars HP, yet that means next to nothing as as I'm concerned. I'd struggle to tell you the HP of any car I've ever owned, (although I'm quite proud of the fact that my Renault 760 should have all of 17hp when finished!)

But I know that I love the cabin in any 126. To me, it looks likes like a special place to be. Modern cars just don't do it, and the more modern they become the less I like them. I hate those over clutted dash boards with big screens and "infotainment" centres. To be perfectly honest, I'm not very keen on cup holders! What was that old joke, "don't drink and drive because you might spill it".

And don't older cars give so much better visibility, without the massive 'A' posts and huge door mirrors? I saw a little Mini Metro the other day for the 1st time in ages.There seemed to be so much glass that it looked like a little green house on wheels.

Yes, I'd like a 126. Any pics of your 300se? (PM it if you like.) The only thing I'm not sure I'd be too keen on is the high revving engine at motorway speeds. That's why I mentioned the 420se. Economy isn't supposed to be much worse thanks to the lower revs.

I did look at a 300SE a few weeks ago but there were a few too many red flags even for me.

Maybe I'll have to make do with something utterly boring until I come across "the special one"!

I'm sure I've read it before, but please remind me when the 124 series facelift occured? And am I right in thinking that the 124s are slightly lighter than the 126s?

LG.

 

[grober]

The W124 was a design generation ahead of the W126 which had more in common with the W123 model. The W124 lifted many design features from Mercedes first compact saloon the 190 or W201 -- the first " C class" It had the 5 link rear suspension , no separate coil front suspension subframe, but struts and coils feeding loads into front chassis/ secondary bulkhead to save weight. Altho some V8 w124 models [ LHD only] emerged later it was never initially envisaged that the engine compartment would house anything but inline engines. The engines were updated in 1992 onwards to twin overhead cam designs and the body face lift followed in 93. Around the same time the paint technology changed from solvent based to water based paint and its generally acknowledged these later cars were more prone to rust. They also suffered from degrading wiring insulation in the engine compartment. The sweet spot for these cars would be from mid 89 [ various engineering improvements from the intial release] till the face lift in 93/94. Slightly older tech but longer lasting, the later cars had begun to feel the influence of the bean counters.

 

[Moultoneer]

Hi Graeme and thanks for that. I've been looking at the 124 320 coupes tonight. I like them but I think that I'd be struggling with my bike.

Was that wiring loom issue right across the Merc ranges, and were there specific years for that problem? I was also looking at a 202 c280 from 97. It still has the kinda "classic" Benz look about it and the straight 6 engine.

Years ago I remember reading about the paint problems. Wasn't that down to new EU regs? I'm sure I read that Mercedes tried several different processes, with varying results so that it was almsot a bit of a lottery which cars would suffer and which would last longer.

You mentioned the 201 there too. That's another model that has never really fired me up, although I understand that the C202 was the model that replaced it.

Typically though, whatever car arouses my interest, you can bet your life it will be at the other end of the country!

Cheers, LG.

 

[grober]

The wiring insulation [ Joe Lucas supplied allegedly!] was fixed by 97 -it was designed to degrade in landfill after the car was scrapped but degraded prematurely in the heat of the engine compartment. That said even the later better plastic could become brittle eventually if cooked by the engine- the LT wiring to HT coils under the cam cover plate were particularly susceptible to this. You are correct the change to water based paint was to prevent volatile organic solvent emissions from the paint dipping,spray booth and drying oven processes

 

[Edd1968]

Hi and welcome.
Just to put the cat amongst the pigeons, have you considered a CLK class? Now there's a comfortable cruiser if ever I saw one!
... Not that I'm biased or anything!

 

[Moultoneer]

Hi Eddi. Yes, I have looked at a few on-line and there seems to plenty up to about £3000. I was going to say that I'd never get my bike in but I've just watched a vid on a 270cdi and see that the rar seats fold flat!

What do you think of this one;

Mercedes-Benz CLK270 2.7TD CLK 270 CDI CLK270 Elegance | eBay

I love the colour. MOT history not to bad. What are the big problems with them, there must be some! I don't like the big dash screen of course and would have to remove the cup holder!!

What would this car have cost new? 6-sp manual, must be quite good on diesel then.

Cheers, LG.

 

[MD5]

Hi LG, I see that you've looked at the 211 E class and remain unmoved, which I understand, but..... my first ever MB was a 124 coupé about 20 years ago, and I haven't been without a 124 since. I eventually replaced a 124 E280 estate with a 211 E500 estate, which I've had for 8 years now, and the drive is sublime. I give mine the same sort of usage as yourself, which is why I've kept it so long as a hack. The V8 engine, 7 speed box and airmatic suspension are such a great combination, they would make your trek an effortless joy, and they are a couple of generations old now! If you find yourself looking at 211s again, look for a well maintained E500 Avantgarde that has had the SBC pump replaced, but be careful of the suspension.

 

[Edd1968]

Hi Eddi. Yes, I have looked at a few on-line and there seems to plenty up to about £3000. I was going to say that I'd never get my bike in but I've just watched a vid on a 270cdi and see that the rar seats fold flat!

What do you think of this one;

Mercedes-Benz CLK270 2.7TD CLK 270 CDI CLK270 Elegance | eBay

I love the colour. MOT history not to bad. What are the big problems with them, there must be some! I don't like the big dash screen of course and would have to remove the cup holder!!

What would this car have cost new? 6-sp manual, must be quite good on diesel then.

Cheers, LG.

In my opinion it's a nice car. It's lacking a couple of the options I like, electric seats, xenon headlights, autobox, pre face-lift dash etc. But as you saw, on the Coupé the seats fold right down.
Given the mileage and what I've described it's missing, I'd offer £1700, cash, no warrantee given or implied.
Then again, I'm a bit of a wheeler dealer!

 

[Smart320]

Wish I was a wheeler dealer

 

[400ixl]

You can fly from Southampton to Newcastle return for less than the fuel one way.

Sounds like the car will just sit idle at either end, so why bother at all, just fly and use public transport for the bits at either end.

 

[Edd1968]

We bought Mrs Edd1968's CLK from a small dealer, I much prefer to deal with them as opposed to main dealers as with something like this you can knock off a couple of hundred for the warranty etc that they would put on it.
With a private car of course none of this applies as cars are in the main sold as seen.
I always check the mot history though as you can tell alot about the way the owner looked after his or her car by what can come up on there.

 

[Edd1968]

You can fly from Southampton to Newcastle return for less than the fuel one way.

Sounds like the car will just sit idle at either end, so why bother at all, just fly and use public transport for the bits at either end.

Surely it's about the experience of driving such a great car though.
... It is in my opinion.

 

[Edd1968]

How about this one...
Not checked anything...

MERCEDES CLK320 CDI SPORT AUTO | eBay

 

[Yugguy]

Only mentioned the Lexii as I think they have the best chance of the toys still working as they get older.

This is the bugbear of older premium car ownership. That sweet V8 engine will go on forever but all those little electrical toys won't.

 

[Moultoneer]

EXCUSE ME MR ED1968. COULD YOU PLEASE GET YOUR PESKY CAT OUT OF MY PIGEON CREE PLEASE!!

Sorry, but you certainly have "put the cat amonst the pigeons". I've been out and about on my bike all day,most of the time wondering if I would dare risk a CLK for 10-12 months. There are flipping loads to choose from! I liked the sound of the diesel but then came across this;

The 270cdi is a notorious engine for things needing doing on it.

Swirl Flaps will leak and the motor is underneath.
they need to be removed and the spindles blocked.
Half the engine bay has to come out to do this, takes between 12-16 hours if you know what you are doing.

EGR gets bunged up, not really an issue take it off, clean it up and then put it back but bypass it.

Cats are starting to block on them, you can decat it and it will still passes MOT.

Injectors. The copper seals wear and they start to leak, coast around £75 an injector to take out, clean up and refit new washes and bolts.

MAF. These go quite often, but are only £75 from Mercedes.


I had the 270cdi in my ML, my father in law has a garage so I get it all done for free (almost) but I wouldn't buy one if you can't do the above yourself.
I used to get around 28mph average from my ML270, in my E320 petrol Estate I used to average the same. On a run the ML would see 32, the E320 estate would see 36mpg.
My old man had a W211 e270 when they came out, he used to see 35 average and 40 on a run.

Just isn't enough in it to justify buying the diesel imho, plus the E320 is a glorious engine, where as the 270 is pretty agricultural and not very Mercedes like imho.

Any of that sound familiar? Any idea how much boot space you lose on the convertable? Do the rear seats still fold a convertable? Just asking because of this one;

MERCEDES CLK 320 CONVERTIBLE | eBay

So far I haven't been able to find many bad words said about the 3.2 V6 engine.

If you get the chance, could you do me a favour please and measure the distance from the boot lip to the back of a folded rear seat? I would need 54" to slide my bike in, (and I've thought about how it would work. I'd cut a piece of some sort of board, with one shiney surface, to lie on the boot floor. I'd put an old blanket on that and then, with the front wheel removed and at least one pedal, I should be able to slide the bike in on the blanket. Surrounded by the rest of the luggage it wouldn't be going anywhere.

Thanks again,

LG.

 

[Moultoneer]

You can fly from Southampton to Newcastle return for less than the fuel one way.

Sounds like the car will just sit idle at either end, so why bother at all, just fly and use public transport for the bits at either end.

In theory that could work, but in practice it might be a bit difficult, not least of all getting back from Newcastle airport to my place. That's assuming suitable flights Friday evening and again on the Sunday. Plus, while I would hope that the car will be idle most of the time, it would be nice to have the option of a weekend run down to Plymouth in the summer or along to Poole where a friend lives. And I have to say that I am kinda looking forward to the driving.

 

[Moultoneer]

Only mentioned the Lexii as I think they have the best chance of the toys still working as they get older.

This is the bugbear of older premium car ownership. That sweet V8 engine will go on forever but all those little electrical toys won't.

Completely agree. My search has now been widened to include CLKs, and I see that they have auto wipers and auto lights. Well, in my 40 years of driving, I've never had any problems turning on and off lights and wipers as and when I've needed them. It's not that difficult, is it? Auto wipers? I'm hoping that that function could be turned off, otherwise I might be turned off.

I know for a fact that it would totally get on my nerves having the wipers start at the first sign of moisture on the screen.

It often seems to me little more than gimmiky inovation for gimmiky inovation's sake. That's why I tend to gravitate to older models I guess.

LG.

 

[Edd1968]

EXCUSE ME MR ED1968. COULD YOU PLEASE GET YOUR PESKY CAT OUT OF MY PIGEON CREE PLEASE!!

Sorry, but you certainly have "put the cat amonst the pigeons". I've been out and about on my bike all day,most of the time wondering if I would dare risk a CLK for 10-12 months. There are flipping loads to choose from! I liked the sound of the diesel but then came across this;

The 270cdi is a notorious engine for things needing doing on it.

Swirl Flaps will leak and the motor is underneath.
they need to be removed and the spindles blocked.
Half the engine bay has to come out to do this, takes between 12-16 hours if you know what you are doing.

EGR gets bunged up, not really an issue take it off, clean it up and then put it back but bypass it.

Cats are starting to block on them, you can decat it and it will still passes MOT.

Injectors. The copper seals wear and they start to leak, coast around £75 an injector to take out, clean up and refit new washes and bolts.

MAF. These go quite often, but are only £75 from Mercedes.


I had the 270cdi in my ML, my father in law has a garage so I get it all done for free (almost) but I wouldn't buy one if you can't do the above yourself.
I used to get around 28mph average from my ML270, in my E320 petrol Estate I used to average the same. On a run the ML would see 32, the E320 estate would see 36mpg.
My old man had a W211 e270 when they came out, he used to see 35 average and 40 on a run.

Just isn't enough in it to justify buying the diesel imho, plus the E320 is a glorious engine, where as the 270 is pretty agricultural and not very Mercedes like imho.

Any of that sound familiar? Any idea how much boot space you lose on the convertable? Do the rear seats still fold a convertable? Just asking because of this one;

MERCEDES CLK 320 CONVERTIBLE | eBay

So far I haven't been able to find many bad words said about the 3.2 V6 engine.

If you get the chance, could you do me a favour please and measure the distance from the boot lip to the back of a folded rear seat? I would need 54" to slide my bike in, (and I've thought about how it would work. I'd cut a piece of some sort of board, with one shiney surface, to lie on the boot floor. I'd put an old blanket on that and then, with the front wheel removed and at least one pedal, I should be able to slide the bike in on the blanket. Surrounded by the rest of the luggage it wouldn't be going anywhere.

Thanks again,

LG.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but the cab seats don't fold sir.
However the 3.2 V6 (petrol) is a beaut and it seems also to be bullet proof. When we were looking I asked many of the same type of questions however we weren't looking for a diesel. Therefore I never did any homework regarding that engine.
... Put it this way, we/I love them now so much I am in fact flying south tomorrow to pick up another one I have just bought!!! His & hers if you like!
Without measuring you'll be fine with your 54" the boot is cavernous and with the seats dropped its a mini van!!!
CLK
Our New Car

 

[Codger49]

Completely agree. My search has now been widened to include CLKs, and I see that they have auto wipers and auto lights. Well, in my 40 years of driving, I've never had any problems turning on and off lights and wipers as and when I've needed them. It's not that difficult, is it? Auto wipers? I'm hoping that that function could be turned off, otherwise I might be turned off.

I know for a fact that it would totally get on my nerves having the wipers start at the first sign of moisture on the screen.

It often seems to me little more than gimmiky inovation for gimmiky inovation's sake. That's why I tend to gravitate to older models I guess.

LG.

Fortunately the CLK wiper switch has an 'off' position, and the 'auto' light position is also optional.

 

[Moultoneer]

Hiya Codger and cheers. The light thing probably wouldn't bother me too much but auto wipers would. When you say they have an off switch, do you mean they are either "off" or on "auto", or can they be operated like those pesky old difficult wipers of old where you had decide yourself when to selct normal, fast, (for monson downpours,) or intermittant?

I really quite like the idea of one now. They don't seem to be as prone to so many problems as some other models but I'm sure they can suck a wallet dry as fast as any. I seem to be getting a bit paranoid in my old age. I remember buying my 500SEC 10 years ago with virtually no homework at all, (and maybe just got lucky, as apart from high tickover and one seat back that didn't want to move it was fine, and so gorgeous to cruise around in.) Unfortuanately had to sell it when I packed my job in. It was a great colour too, a kind of metalic turquise with a light tan cloth interior.

At least there is no shortage of CLKS to look at, many for less money than an average Citroen 2CV, (not that I have anything against 2cvs, in fact I rather like them.) There must be a reasonable condition, reasonably priced CLK not too far away.

Anyway, bedtime.

Cheers, LG.