Thoughts on the value of a super low miles W124

[Sp!ke]

Long time since I've been on the forum so a big hi to all.

I've been asked by a close friend to assist with the sale of his late father's w124 and I'm struggling to work out it's value so thought I'd post some details here for input/thoughts.

So it is a 1986 w124 230e, bought almost new as a demonstrator 38 years ago by its current owner. It will be 40 years old in 18 months or so which means it will soon be ulez exempt which is a big plus. The car has only 33,940 miles

The car hasn't been driven in at least 3 years but I took a jump pack with me in summer and it started right up. It was running a bit lumpy like it was on 3 cylinders but par for the course given the circumstances. I don't think it needs much more than a distributor cap/plugs and fresh fuel to run right. It's been garaged all of its life so appears very solid.

Pics tell a thousand words so have a mooch through the pictures and let me know your thoughts.

 

[Sp!ke]

Thought i should add that I know valuations are subjective as the likes of Charles Ironside would set an eye watering price...

I'm thinking what it's worth now as is ...and whether or not to give it an MOT and service before sale or whether there is some benefit in leaving it in barn find condition.

 

[Will]

I’d think it would be worth getting it running smoothly and MOTd.

MOT history looks reassuring - I’d be checking for rust/corrosion at this age but there’s no major concerns I can see. What’s the bodywork like?

It has to be one of the earliest W124s around on a ‘C’ plate?

I would consider one of the specialist auction houses? As you say, another 18 months and it’ll be ULEZ exempt, also tax and MOT exempt. Classic insurance, no depreciation - but I don’t think I’d want to daily it, especially if it’s as clean as it looks. Would be worried about it getting damaged or stolen!

 

[Skd884]

 

[BlackC55]

Its all about underside condition. The suspension parts will still deteriorate due to age so this has to be factored in to its value. I am aware most people wont think about this but it plays a part in a valuation for me. I would not touch it at all before sale other than a new dizzy cap etc so it runs properly.

If it hasn't had a head gasket it will probably need one soon if it starts getting used. The gasket itself corrodes usually due to lack of coolant changes and just sitting idle. I done many of them because of this.

£5-7k as an estimate if the underside is good.

 

[Sp!ke]

Its all about underside condition. The suspension parts will still deteriorate due to age so this has to be factored in to its value. I am aware most people wont think about this but it plays a part in a valuation for me. I would not touch it at all before sale other than a new dizzy cap etc so it runs properly.

If it hasn't had a head gasket it will probably need one soon if it starts getting used. The gasket itself corrodes usually due to lack of coolant changes and just sitting idle. I done many of them because of this.

£5-7k as an estimate if the underside is good.

I did my best to look underneath but it was on the driveway rather than being up on a ramp. From what I could see it all looked surprisingly clean.

I believe it's been very well looked after by a local independent up until 3 years ago with no expense spared. I'll get my hands on the paperwork and check whether or not it had the head gasket done at all. I did check the oil and no signs of water in there or under the oil cap.

My own long departed w124ce (230e) needed it's head gasket done at around 110k miles so I was aware that these engines were prone to head gasket failure at some point.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

If you're tempted by the auction house route, bear in mind that both you and the buyer will pay a LOT of money to the Auction house for the very valuable work that they do in presenting and managing their sale.

I'm not upto date on the numbers at this level - they're easily checked - but it used to be at least 25% to cover both sides, admin and miscellaneous fees. But it's money to provide a service to those who can't be bovvered.

What's a car worth? Whatever someone will pay. Or, in the case of an auction, a notch more than what the second highest bidder would pay.

Don't lose sleep over the convertible price. Convertibles live in a privileged world of value, and general wear and tear.

To sell it, as the wise man says, don't plough much more than a distributor cap into it, but give it a jolly good clean and some nice photos. Brilliant cars

 

[Sp!ke]

So I think both I and BlackC55 thought between 5 and 7k is about right for this.

Yes, at auction it's possible that biddings could climb well above that but because it's only a 4 cylinder 230 I feel that serious collectors won't be too interested.

I spoke to the original owner probably ten years or more ago asking that he gives me first refusal and I do quite fancy the car myself but she who must be obeyed has rather firmly said that I can't have another car....

I'm thinking that perhaps the best way forward is to get it running smoothly...maybe an oil and coolant change and an MOT (keeping costs down) and then stick it on car and classic and with it being able to be driven away, 7k sounds very reasonable for such a low mileage soon to be exempt classic.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

A good plan. And saleable to The Steering Committee as a short term fix.

Just bear in mind that when the car was parked up it may have been because of a much more expensive or fundamental fault. (Oil leak, strange behaviour / noise at speed, steering, tyre, brake issue, or whatever). So make a calculation about whether you’re prepared to take on that risk.

 

[Sp!ke]

A good plan. And saleable to The Steering Committee as a short term fix.

Just bear in mind that when the car was parked up it may have been because of a much more expensive or fundamental fault. (Oil leak, strange behaviour / noise at speed, steering, tyre, brake issue, or whatever). So make a calculation about whether you’re prepared to take on that risk.

The car was parked up due to ill health.

 

[ChipChop]

The cars value is also dependent on how quickly the owner wants to get rid of the car. The auction route will dispose of it quickly but probably for far less than expected factoring in dealers looking for a margin and auctioneers fees. A private sale at a higher price may take many months and a lot of the owners time to achieve a sale.

Another option is to contact a specialist like MTSV and cut out the auction middle man. GLWTS.

 

[Sp!ke]

Good point ...I have reached out to MTSV and had a good conversation and they expressed an interest in the car. This gives my friend options for a fast sale should this be required.

 

[poormansporsche]

Air con on a pre facelift 4 pot really is rare as rocking horse £hit. Even if not working it's definitely better it being there, especially on a potential ULEZ daily...... Gotta add to the value

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Long time since I've been on the forum so a big hi to all.

I've been asked by a close friend to assist with the sale of his late father's w124 and I'm struggling to work out it's value so thought I'd post some details here for input/thoughts.

So it is a 1986 w124 230e, bought almost new as a demonstrator 38 years ago by its current owner. It will be 40 years old in 18 months or so which means it will soon be ulez exempt which is a big plus. The car has only 33,940 miles

The car hasn't been driven in at least 3 years but I took a jump pack with me in summer and it started right up. It was running a bit lumpy like it was on 3 cylinders but par for the course given the circumstances. I don't think it needs much more than a distributor cap/plugs and fresh fuel to run right. It's been garaged all of its life so appears very solid.

Pics tell a thousand words so have a mooch through the pictures and let me know your thoughts.

Unfortunately I can’t help, but great to see you back on the forum and posting

 

[Pontoneer]

Long time since I've been on the forum so a big hi to all.

I've been asked by a close friend to assist with the sale of his late father's w124 and I'm struggling to work out it's value so thought I'd post some details here for input/thoughts.

So it is a 1986 w124 230e, bought almost new as a demonstrator 38 years ago by its current owner. It will be 40 years old in 18 months or so which means it will soon be ulez exempt which is a big plus. The car has only 33,940 miles

The car hasn't been driven in at least 3 years but I took a jump pack with me in summer and it started right up. It was running a bit lumpy like it was on 3 cylinders but par for the course given the circumstances. I don't think it needs much more than a distributor cap/plugs and fresh fuel to run right. It's been garaged all of its life so appears very solid.

Pics tell a thousand words so have a mooch through the pictures and let me know your thoughts.

That is a super early one from the first year of production , and with Tex interior ( or maybe the old leather pattern carried over from the W123 on such an early car ) could just be leather , but W124 leather seats usually have the later pattern .

I immediately thought of Charles Ironside also , but he is not active of late .

I’m not sure if Jay Manek is still on this forum , but worth reaching out to him .

I’d be inclined to give it a basic service ( oil , coolant , poly belt , plugs , dizzy cap and a new battery ) . If you can drain ( siphon ) the tank and put fresh fuel in then you ought to get the car running well . For an MOT it would likely need tyres and discs/pads , at this point the costs will mount up , but a well running car with a fresh MOT , what history it will have , and ideally get it valeted to look it’s best , and I’d think you would get a lot more than for ‘ barn find ‘ condition .

I’d think it well worth spending a grand or so to present it to its full potential and that you will boost the value by at least that much if you advertise it in the right places : official Club Gazzette would be my place to start , maybe some of the classic car magazines .

I paid £4K for my excellent condition 1994 E220 estate just two years ago with at the time 183,000 miles , now 211,000 . Your car I’d suggest should sell for no less than £5k with the low mileage and probably a good bit more .

The ULEZ factor is an important one , my pal recently sold a tatty 260E , pre facelift but not sure which year , maybe an E reg , but with rusty front wings , rust around the windscreen , and where the aerial went into the back wing , highish mileage but new MOT , for £2500 after paying £1200 for it . A guy answered his eBay ad within hours and came up on the train from London to Ayrshire for it that weekend , and drove it back down .

Your car will go for much more .

 

[Pontoneer]

I’d think it would be worth getting it running smoothly and MOTd.

MOT history looks reassuring - I’d be checking for rust/corrosion at this age but there’s no major concerns I can see. What’s the bodywork like?

It has to be one of the earliest W124s around on a ‘C’ plate?

I would consider one of the specialist auction houses? As you say, another 18 months and it’ll be ULEZ exempt, also tax and MOT exempt. Classic insurance, no depreciation - but I don’t think I’d want to daily it, especially if it’s as clean as it looks. Would be worried about it getting damaged or stolen!

See post #105 in this thread

P

Post in thread '£4000 reliable mercedes?'

Sep 3, 2024

Those numbers make your E220 a 47 mpg car. I've no idea how you achieve that. And your 500SEL is an 11 mpg car, which seems as low as your 47 mpg seems high. For comparison, on a gentle run my CLK 500 could get 30 mpg and my CLS55 about 26 mpg, but running average for both was about 24 and 21 respectively. My 1.6 diesel does 55-60 without trying, which over the year is well over 3000 quid to put into the savings pot (for a big Jag diesel i think )

I just drive sensibly and keep to the speed limits ( mostly ) ; I remember also , many years ago , winning an economy run in my 5...

• Pontoneer

• 

That is my £4K E220 which is my daily driver ( only car ATM ) , some weeks it is out every day , other times it can stand for a week , still looks just as nice .

I bought a 4cyl for economy due to the fuel prices 2 years ago , and will be keeping it , but do plan to get another SL at some point and keep the 124 for daily use .

 

[Smiley]

Air con on a pre facelift 4 pot really is rare as rocking horse £hit. Even if not working it's definitely better it being there, especially on a potential ULEZ daily...... Gotta add to the value

Only if it is factory a/c. The dealer fit Davia a/c systems were not great when they were new and no spares have been available for years.