My beautiful W124 has been Stolen

[trainer]

I hope that you get you car back. If not I hope you get some insurance money to allow you to purchase something you can enjoy as much.

 

[ChuckyYeager]

Baffles me why someone would suggest diesel isn't readily available in Africa , when every single truck that seemingly endlessly traverse the continent and a large proportion of the cars run on it .

Maybe it was all the high speed testing in your youth Chuck ?

Just finished reading your autobiography actually , it was very good.

I spent the first 25 years of my life in Africa! Yes trucks run on diesel and so do generators which many homes and industries use to generate their own electricity because of erratic and sometimes non existent supply of electricity from the national grid. No one wants a diesel W124 in the African countries I have lived in.

I only stated what I know for a fact so the OP doesnt lose hope of finding his cherished car going by the number of 'on a ship to Africa' posts.

 

[1989w124]

Hi all,

Thanks for all your replies.

nothing has turned up so far, and chances are looking increasingly skin.
Some people seem to think that it's probably in a container to Malaysia or indonesia, possibly Africa.

Another theory is that the car has been taken for scrap metal dealing.

It's just so gut wrenching... Last year somebody hit her while she was parked outside my house. It took months to sort out and repair, with help from some people on this forum ( especially carat 3.6 amg)

I do like the idea of perhaps having a thread for all the stolen Mercedes out there...

But thank you all for your thoughts, let's hope they really don't like diesel! ! !

 

[Buster'stheboy]

Sorry to hear this.

I do hope you get her back.

I watched a TV show last week about cars being stolen and shipped abroad. A man who runs a Chauffering business had 2 Mercedes stolen (newish ones) and the Police managed to get them both back for him. Fingers crossed for you and Jenny too.

 

[Biglips]

Sorry to hear about your loss. I hope it turns up again. Makes me think I might activate the tracker my car is fitted with. I suspect I would get a peanuts payout if my car was stolen. Certainly not enough to get something comparable.

 

[trapperjohn]

My commiserations too. Not that many 124s left on the road now and to see them go by this means is totally abhorrent.

What we need is someone in the rozzers stolen car squad who loves his/her old Mercs. With a will to get them back. And an effective justice system.

Hope you do manage to get it back.

 

[jaymanek]

Im sorry but I agree with the others.. Its been in the press many times, W123's & W124's get stolen off London streets every day and they are in pieces on their way to Africa within hours. They get split and sent in parts across different containers and then re assembled on the other side..

I was always very nervous about parking my car in London and so had a tracker fitted, used a wheel clamp, steering locks, cat1 alarm, you name it!
And that was an underground car park.

 

[clk208]

Im sorry but I agree with the others.. Its been in the press many times, W123's & W124's get stolen off London streets every day and they are in pieces on their way to Africa within hours. They get split and sent in parts across different containers and then re assembled on the other side..

I was always very nervous about parking my car in London and so had a tracker fitted, used a wheel clamp, steering locks, cat1 alarm, you name it!
And that was an underground car park.

Sorry to hear of this theft, must be very upsetting for the OP especially after having the car for so long. Almost becomes like a member of the family.

<Begin off topic rant>

London is a tough place for any car enthusiast, unless you happen to be a multi millionaire with appropriate space and security. From worries of idiots bashing into your pride and joy when it's parked in tight on street parking to petty vandals, organised criminals and local councils everything is against the favour of people who want to keep their car in one piece!

Having lived down there for 8 years and moved away last year I was beginning to miss the buzz of the place, the great places to go out etc. Until I had to spend some time there for work this month and it reminded my why I got the hell out of there! Crazy place with limited redeeming features, unless you happen to be very very wealthy. Where my friend lives there is house just been snapped up for £1m. It backs on to the overground bit of a busy underground line and is next door to a bail hostel with all sorts of dangerous people coming and going.

With 10m+ people chosing to make the capital their home, I am probably missing something but glad to be out of it.

<End off topic rant>

Very best of luck getting your car back - I really hope you have success with it.

 

[jaymanek]

Yes exactly my feeling... I often miss my old life there... until I go there... Then it all comes flooding back!

 

[C43AMG]

+ 1 Jay. Yes i have been driving in London in a professional capacity since 1967 and lived there from 88-98 moved out to Weybridge,working ans living in London not good. I must admit i haven't enjoyed London for a number of years now.

 

[bpsorrel]

I moved away from London 8 years ago after spending most of life there (apart from 10 years in Nigeria as a child) and initially I missed it like crazy. My Dad still lives there and all my clients are based there, so I frequently go back, but now, I'm REALLY glad when I go home to my "country" pad in the evening!!

Luckily, when I go to London, I leave my car in my Dad's garage and use the underground to get around. I hate driving in London these days. Such a shame. My best years were spent there, clubbing and having fun, but now, I don't enjoy it at all...

 

[Mobb]

Im sorry but I agree with the others.. Its been in the press many times, W123's & W124's get stolen off London streets every day and they are in pieces on their way to Africa within hours. They get split and sent in parts across different containers and then re assembled on the other side..

I was always very nervous about parking my car in London and so had a tracker fitted, used a wheel clamp, steering locks, cat1 alarm, you name it!
And that was an underground car park.

+1 - sorry to hear about your car 1989w124, I hope you find a solution soon, whether it be accepting the payout from the insurers or getting the car back..

With regards to trackers and security, it really does make me want to get the tracker subscription for my CLK paid.. I dont think Id want another one if I lost mine.

 

[bpsorrel]

Regarding Trakker, to be honest, I'm not sure I'd want the car back after some scrote has driven it...(I had a car stolen in London about 10 years ago. Police found it and it was damaged. No way I'd want it repaired and given back to me!)

I'd rather buy another, but then again, none of my cars are "special" to me; maybe I'd feel differently if they were...

 

[Sorry Pete]

Sorry to hear about this OP. In the last few years the w124 has become a rare sight on the roads here, especially in saloon guise, which should make spotting yours easy, if it's still on the roads.

Did you have any security fitted? Alarms / immobilisers / steering locks? I'm guessing the guys who did this low-loaded it onto a recovery truck.

I'd be so disappointed if mine got stolen. If you've invested as much time and energy into your car as I have, it'd be like losing a trusted companion.

Demand for these old diesels in some circles hasn't waned though, driving through Richmond Park recently, I was followed by a guy in a w124 for a few miles; upon parking-up he enquired whether it was for sale.

Hope your insurance gets this sorted.

 

[jaymanek]

I'd rather buy another, but then again, none of my cars are "special" to me; maybe I'd feel differently if they were...

Yes this is the point about a tracker... I wouldnt have one on a "replaceable" modern car... but my cars are pretty special to me, and if one went missing there would definately be a void, id want it back for sure.

 

[W2--]

Sorry to hear this. Best of luck finding it.

 

[Niks]

Demand for these old diesels in some circles hasn't waned though, driving through Richmond Park recently, I was followed by a guy in a w124 for a few miles; upon parking-up he enquired whether it was for sale

Whoa.. was this guy in a black 124 saloon by any chance, asian chap???

Last year I had a guy who turned his car around from the opposite side of the road, over took all the other cars to catch up with me, then started flashing his lights and driving up real close to me. It p***** me right off so I stopped the car in the middle of the road, go out to confront him as to what his problem was. He puts his window down and asks me if I wanted to sell my car and how much would I sell it for!! I told him no its not for sale and never will be! He wouldn't take no for an answer, but I just walked off, got in the car and drove off. Never saw him again.

 

[rascalmaster]

Whoa.. was this guy in a black 124 saloon by any chance, asian chap???

Last year I had a guy who turned his car around from the opposite side of the road, over took all the other cars to catch up with me, then started flashing his lights and driving up real close to me. It p***** me right off so I stopped the car in the middle of the road, go out to confront him as to what his problem was. He puts his window down and asks me if I wanted to sell my car and how much would I sell it for!! I told him no its not for sale and never will be! He wouldn't take no for an answer, but I just walked off, got in the car and drove off. Never saw him again.

there's a few asian chaps around here... and some of us have back cars but the rest (like me) choose to go incognito; and drive around in silver ones just to confuse you

 

[minio]

I am very sorry to hear that your car has been stolen. Hopefully you will get it back.


It makes me worry about my car (it lives on the street) and I do live in London too.

Regarding to the possibilities about it's fate, I know a chap from Nigeria and he is buying and shipping cars out to the Africa and all he ever shipped out from the UK was running on petrol (mainly Toyota's).

Prices of those old Merc's in the E.E. are too low to make it profitable to ship the car and re-sale it or strip it to parts. You can get one (rough) for as little as £500 and that is a fact.


Greg

 

[1989w124]

Still no news from the police, sadly.

i tell you one thing, if i had known w124s were being targeted by gangs than I would have gladly fitted mine with a tracker.

I grew up with that car, and would love to get my hands round the b@st@rds neck.

then call the police.

It's true to say that she's not a joy riders car, but I'd rather think of her being in one piece than broken for parts.