Over engineered brilliance of the W124 Series

[Vectrolosys]

It was that time of the year again, a year since I purchased my 300TE and time to MOT the vehicle. I spent a saturday checking things over, hammeriting a few bits and pieces on the underside and treating the car to a service.

I booked her in today to Autospec (Bristol) for the MOT. I receive a call a few hours later to advise it passed first time, no advisories, nothing. Apparently the MOT tester was rather impressed with the underside condition.

I must say that I am seriously impressed with the W124 build quality and engineering. It goes to show that looking after a car that is well built in the first place, will pay dividends come MOT time.

I may be moving at some point in the near future, which may mean using the car on a daily basis. Rather than shelling out on a newer car, I am tempted to restore and use what I already have, which would mean treating the car to..

- Cosmetic body repairs
- Single point LPG conversion

I must say, I cannot find anything else as well built, or as durable and easy to work on.

James

 

[coupe deville]

my old coupe passed last 2 mot's without any advisories, after some TLC she runs like a swiss watch and looks like a 5 year old car. Got an agreed value of £3k with Peter Best insurance. Been to whitby for the day today- didn't miss a beat, checked the oil and coolant after getting back [ first trip since chg change last month - perfect ! ]

 

[franey]

Wait until you need to change the heater motor!! (if you have A/C)

 

[Will]

I've never had a Merc that hasn't passed any MOT test first time, other than my 300TE last year - it needed a set of parking brake shoes (£20).

I would have done them beforehand, but I assumed it may need a few more jobs, so though it easier to take it for the test first and then do any remedial work.

Pleased to hear about your TE though - they're great cars - comfy, spacious, reliable and easy to work on

Will

 

[coupe deville]

Wait until you need to change the heater motor!! (if you have A/C)

ah the A/C yes thats the only thing on the car that doesn't work , been told the compressor is " damaged " but I havn't chased it as I'm a windows down sunroof open fella, if we get a summer this year I might have a look
ps swiss watches dont have A/C

 

[Uncle Fester]

Great cars, and here's one that seems to have been over engineered in a different way.

http://daddytypes.com/archive/4x4_mb_300td.jpg

 

[coupe deville]

if thats not a crime -- it should be

 

[The Boss]

the best of the best!

 

[Oily Rag]

Great cars, and here's one that seems to have been over engineered in a different way.

http://daddytypes.com/archive/4x4_mb_300td.jpg

Why oh Why.

 

[kth286]

Over engineered brilliance of the W124 Series.



I'm sold.

 

[Ted]

I think they're rubbish

 

[MBK]

I like mine

 

[Vectrolosys]

I keep having a think about a car, that is produced today, that is produced with the same levels of engineering and lack of cost cutting, that is affordable by the relatively normal person, without having to go down the Rolls Royce or Bentley route. The only car that has come close in recent times for me, is the current Audi A6. I do hope that the new E class Mercedes is a welcome return to the over engineering of old!!

 

[Vectrolosys]

Thankfully, or not, mine does not have A/C. It does have the electric sunroof, a light coloured interior and Artic white paintwork. Even in the hottest weather, having the sunroof open whilst park, helps it from getting too hot inside. Though it lacks the icy comfort of A/C, for our climate, it's comfortable enough . Just look at all the W124 taxis on the Canaries, they're usually always white, seem to lack A/C but even in their heat, they're comfortable enough to be driven around in.

 

[Iben]

Mines a 1993 300TD Auto Estate with nearly 200,000 miles on the clock. Had it almost 12 months, best car I've ever owned.

 

[219]

The main thing to watch out for , having had three estates myself ( 1x W123 and 2x W124 ) , is the condition of the fuel and hydraulic pipes underneath in the region of the rear suspension : I had to eventually replace pipes for the self levelling system on all three of my estate cars due to corrosion in that area ( where road salts inevitably get thrown up and are unlikely to be cleaned off regularly ) ; have had brake pipes replaced for MOT's as well , and another Merc (W114) had to have a fuel pipe replaced because of corrosion in the same area .

The pipes themselves are not expensive ( even the long ones that go al the way from the front of the car to the valve at the back are only something like £20 from Mercedes ) but the job can be quite labour intensive as the pipes are routed above the suspension components and the 'proper' way to do the job involves dropping the rear suspension out . The spheres can also fail but are (relatively) easy to replace .

Other than that , there are not too many things to watch out for - corrosion to the front wings is easily spotted , usually at the ends of the front bumper where dirt and road salts get trapped in behind , regular cleaning helps to prevent this , the inner wings just above this area - ditto ; and the area just below the load area side windows - open the stowage flaps and feel up just below the glass to check for rust , also the area in there where the wheelarches are welded to the inside of the rear wings .

 

[Vectrolosys]

Mine has some rust on the drivers side, under the rear side window. You can feel the metal up behind the flap is crusty, but still solid. For the moment, I've dossed it in waxoyl.

The suspension pipework, unlike my old 200TE, it's all good in this area, I've waxoyled and hammerited in this area to be extra sure, I also pay special attention to it when cleaning the car, a good spray up with the hose seems to help.

On my 200TE, I had to replace the fuel return hose as it had rusted badly, thankfully, the 300's is absolutely fine, again, hammeriting and waxoyl to hopefully keep it that way .

James