Thinking of getting a 124

[WooferCooker]

Hi guys

I am just after some advice regarding w124's, I have always loved the old merc's but never owned one.would i be mad considering one of these as a daily hack? I would be looking at automatic diesel models.

I am just after any buying tips specific to these car's, are they expensive to repair? reliable? I don't actually mind spending a bit of cash on one if it means once repaired it will go on to give me lots of happy motoring, i just don't want something that is constantly braking down etc lol

 

[trapperjohn]

Welcome to the forum. Lots of tips on here. If this does not put you off nothing will!!

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/general-discussion/129223-w124-buyer-check-list.html

 

[GP801]

I use ours as a daily driver. As long as you dont mind the fuel bills they are great cars for everyday use. Comfortable. Great turning circle so easy to park/turn for a big car. Just remember they are all old cars now so unless it has been obsessionally maintained it will have issues. Parts are easily available and most are not that expensive.

 

[SilverSaloon]

I run two 1994 multivalve diesel 124 estates.

one has 260,000 the other 240,000. Both require minimal maintenance and have never broken down.

 

[mattc]

Get one. They are fab. I run a twin turbo'd one for fun. I have a diesel golf for work and its devoid of character compared to the 124.

Even the youngest are now 16 years old so take your time and buy a good one.

Are you looking at a particular one at the moment?

 

[WooferCooker]

Thanks for the link to the buying check list.

My situation is pretty much buy a modernish disesel passat/mondeo etc for around £2000 which can be expensive to fix things like injectors, dual mass flywheels etc or buy an old merc which is imo cooler and a nicer place to be for around no more than £1000 and leave a grand behind to maintain it.

What kind of MPG can you get from the diesels around town? 99% of my driving is around town 30 mph roads etc.

Other than general maintenance as to be expect with any old car is there any common major problems with these car's that are likely to cost more than the cars worth etc? I don't mind fixing little niggles my self.

 

[WooferCooker]

Are you looking at a particular one at the moment?

Hey there

I am looking for a diesel estate

 

[brigadier]

My situation is pretty much buy a modernish disesel passat/mondeo etc for around £2000 which can be expensive to fix things like injectors, dual mass flywheels etc or buy an old merc which is imo cooler and a nicer place to be for around no more than £1000 and leave a grand behind to maintain it.

Good thinking!

 

[mattc]

Hey there

I am looking for a diesel estate

I know that; I meant do you have a link to one in particular for us to comment on? It's amazing what some of the guys see on here that others of us miss. If its local to someone they may also offer to take a look first, especially if it saves you a long, wasted journey.

 

[bolide]

E300 Diesel: 33 mpg all the time

Nick Froome

 

[horatio]

I managed mid 40's from my 250d on runs. I used it on a 50 mile commute rain or shine, never caused any problems. The are comically reliable if you look after them.

Expect the odd niggle- suspension clonks, windows motors packing up that sort of thing.

 

[DITTRICH]

E300 Diesel: 33 mpg all the time

Nick Froome

Just to back up Nick's figures...

In London school run at peak times through Blackwall tunnel we seem to get around 28mpg on a 16 mile round trip - lots of queueing. A long leisurely 55mph drive with tires pumped up can see 45mpg over long distances. London to Moscow is around 42mpg over 1,925 miles. I've done 60k miles in this car over 7 years. The car is an s124 1994 24v 3 litre diesel estate with 4 speed auto. The cars are getting to an age when stuff just needs to get done. Old cars are cheap for a reason, but if you choose carefully, cheap motoring can be achieved.

 

[Ierton]

Are the 4-matics any good?

 

[Ian B Walker]

Are the 4-matics any good?

not unless you have very deep pockets.

 

[219]

I am going to be selling my 1999 ( Indian built ) W124 E250D .

I will post an ad in the classifieds section here at some point today . I have already got a thread - late 124 - with a lot of info about the car .

I bought the car as a project about a year ago , and have done a fair bit to it , had six months good use out of it , during which it returned 40 mpg all day long and more on long runs ( being 5 speed manual ) .

There were issues with the gearbox when I got the car , which have now come to a head and not something I want to be contending with in freezing temperatures , so I'm going to move on to something else .

 

[shanksy]

I had looked at W124's for a couple of years before I decided to take the plunge and finally get one as a daily driver.
I have learnt a hell of a lot in the last few years about maintenance but never once regretted it.
If you get the chance buy one

 

[219]

Thanks for the link to the buying check list.

My situation is pretty much buy a modernish disesel passat/mondeo etc for around £2000 which can be expensive to fix things like injectors, dual mass flywheels etc or buy an old merc which is imo cooler and a nicer place to be for around no more than £1000 and leave a grand behind to maintain it.

What kind of MPG can you get from the diesels around town? 99% of my driving is around town 30 mph roads etc.

Other than general maintenance as to be expect with any old car is there any common major problems with these car's that are likely to cost more than the cars worth etc? I don't mind fixing little niggles my self.

A 124 may have a dual mass flywheel as well ; mine does . They can have more modern features than you realise since MB tend to be at the forefront of technology .

This was one of the items the mechanic raised when he removed my gearbox . I looked in Eurocarparts and they seem to range from £300-£600 ish . On trying to determine the correct one for my car by entering VIN and engine no's then trying the suggested part no into the MB Parts website , came up with one fairly close at £270 .

The ideal situation would be to find a rusty/crash damaged donor car with good mechanicals to get everything for a reasonable price .

Not wanting to wait for an elusive donor car to turn up , I have decided to move on from mine .

Thought about another 124 estate ( I've had two ) but good ones are getting hard to find now . I'm going to look at a W203 C180K estate on Sunday .......

I've looked at lots on the net over the past few days , for a given price the petrol ones always seem to be lower mileage/better condition than the equivalent Diesel ones ( been looking at petrol C180K vs C220 CDI estates ) . The petrol ones look to return 40+ mpg , better on a run , and with 10p/litre difference in fuel prices should not break the bank . I'll see what I think on Sunday , but keen to get something soonish as I don't want to run the 500 through the winter .

 

[horatio]

Not got a quote for rebuilding the box? It might cost less than you think.

Someone I know had the similar problem not being able to find a steering box for an old BMW- managed to get it rebuilt locally for a few hundred.

 

[219]

Not a quote , but the garage phoned a local reconditioner and was told £500-£700 , possibly more .

Secondhand boxes tend to go for around £150 - just a matter of finding the right one .

I just don't need the hassle right now .