Taken the plunge - my new W124 E320 Coupe

[Charles Morgan]

That is very helpful Sorry Pete - precautionary maintenance wards off all manner of big problems.

 

[Charles Morgan]

Or as Field Marshall Rommel once said - Sweat saves Blood.

Sounds like the W124 owners here (in all its various guises) should try to get together?

Pottering - Go for it then! I am quite happy contemplating a long trip on the Autobahn, which I suspect will be quite harsh on the car, so a long distance cruise is probably the least stressful thing to do with it.

 

[Charles Morgan]

Car was collected yesterday and I am falling deeper in love. Drives beautifully, sports suspension works well, if just a tad harsh on poor surfaces, although that could be the Michelin Primacy tyres, goes when I want it too, but so much more relaxing to drive than my ex BMW, and the seats are far more comfortable and supportive. A couple of nigglettes, but nothing bothersome, so will put together a list of things to do at the next service.

Surprisingly, I found driving around London this morning at rush hour to sort out my parking permit extremely relaxing.

 

[d w124]

Or as Field Marshall Rommel once said - Sweat saves Blood.

Sounds like the W124 owners here (in all its various guises) should try to get together?

I`ll be up for that

 

[d w124]

i recall a post here telling a story about a german chap who took a cabriolet car on test and didnt notice all his cash he left on the backseat flying out of the envelope and flittering on the autobahn at high speed. ha ha

I remember that,a guy testing a new A3 cab with the money on the back seat lol

 

[del320]

Hi Charles, I've just returned from three weeks in the sun so have just caught up with this. Looks like you've got yourself a superb straight motor, which, apart from Sportline and an electric passenger seat seems the twin of mine.

You'll grow to love it, appreciating the design detail and build quality. It's still an old car however and inevitably events will occur - I believe the 124 series is by far the single most popular Mercedes model on this Forum and there is tons of info and tips if you search.

No-one is more enthusiastic about these models than me and as I see you joined only in February, you may not have come across my refurbishment project thread from last year.

Happy motoring!

 

[d w124]

No-one is more enthusiastic about these models than me

Don`t be so sure that`s what i keep thinking about myself

 

[mattc]

No-one is more enthusiastic about these models than me

Don`t be so sure that`s what i keep thinking about myself

No! I'm Spartacus! FIGHT

 

[Charles Morgan]

Del - may I congratulate you upon such a thorough re-fettling of your car, it looks wonderful. I hadn't seen the thread, but I had seen your photo album, and the shots of your Coupe in the Highlands (I assume) just look stunning. I am intending to do a brief Highlands Tour in May after visiting Glasgow for a wine event, so will hopefully get to see similar scenery.

I am resigned to the car having issues, the good thing for me is that I don't need to rely upon it and savings of depreciation on newer cars go a long way towards repair costs! I just wish I had a drive/garage to be able to do cosmetic things more easily.

d w124 - perhaps a London W124 chapter to kick things off?

 

[d w124]

d w124 - perhaps a London W124 chapter to kick things off?

That sounds like a plan Should we start a thread?

 

[mykulmerc]

Looks great - and probably a lot better value than some more recent models. I would love to hear how it drives compared to 202/203 210 etc.

 

[Charles Morgan]

That sounds like a plan Should we start a thread?

A very good idea.

 

[d w124]

A very good idea.

Thread started,put your name down

 

[corned]

Firstly, congratulations on your recent purchase Charles - it looks a peach! As a 211 owner I am slowly warming to the 124 series. Great cars. Enjoy!

Secondly, I had no idea the 124's were so different from each other. Looking at Ade's pictures, and Charles', the front is completely different. Different bonnet, grille and headlight units. Surely the heritage grille is not interchangeable with the newer one?

 

[Charles Morgan]

Looks great - and probably a lot better value than some more recent models. I would love to hear how it drives compared to 202/203 210 etc.

I can't say I have enough experience, but I did have a W203 C32 AMG, and this is very different. I had great satisfaction flooring it with the auto in sports mode and leaving a cheeky 307 trying to overtake me somewhat piqued. I feels much more like the E500 I had - imposing, turbine like engine with plentiful torque, but from an earlier era.

 

[jasonyw]

I didn't know you can still buy a new W124. I thought Merc stopped selling them in 1997.

 

[Charles Morgan]

I didn't know you can still buy a new W124. I thought Merc stopped selling them in 1997.

There's always one....

 

[trapperjohn]

And that one.... is depriving a village of a central character somewhere

 

[mykulmerc]

I didn't know you can still buy a new W124. I thought Merc stopped selling them in 1997.

Who said anything about a new 124??

 

[Charles Morgan]

Had a very good weekend familiarising myself with the quirks of the car. MPG after a brim to brim fill works out at just under 29mpg, which given I have been flooring it as well as a fair bit of city driving is pretty good, but the fuel gauge only shows it as 90% full and at well under half capacity when only 32 litres were used (vs 70 litre capacity) so will have to watch this.

Front left speaker doesn't like Classic FM (they clearly boost bass to a high level) so may need to replace the front speakers. And I definitely must put on reversing sensors where I am!

Met Spike from whom I bought his roofbars, and learned about the lock barrel problem (prompted it must be said by this idiot switching off when still in drive, and I couldn't then remove the key - it is 3 years since I last drove an auto, so that accounts for a certain proportion of the idiocy).

I was certainly aware that it is a heavy engine upfront - negotiating tighter corners requires some circumspection, especially with the light steering - and I much prefer the autobox in sports mode for that, despite the effortlessness of the economy setting. Car very comfortable, but might need to use a back pad for the small of my back which is quite weak.

Now my brother in law wants one! My sister was looking daggers though....