Thoughts on this? 300ce

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ChrisCLS55

Active Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2015
Messages
452
Location
North East
Car
Mercedes E63
Mercedes 300CE-24 Carat Duchatelet

I’m currently looking at the possibility of buying an older Merc to have some fun with and the one in the link looks amazing and within my budget, does anyone from here know of this this car first of all, had any exrience with the dealer and most of all, what known problems exist with these cars mechanically and what should I be looking to check over etc.

Kind regards
 
Unfortunately i cannot help with any of your questions Chris,but the car in the advert looks stunning,Good Luck with it if you decide to go ahead.
 
Unfortunately i cannot help with any of your questions Chris,but the car in the advert looks stunning,Good Luck with it if you decide to go ahead.

Thanks, it does indeed, I’m not fussed about the Carat Duchatelet thing if I’m honest nor do I like the wheels or steering wheel, but I’ve been looking at the W124 a lot this last year and want something older that looks good and is mechanically decent so that I can use it and take to classic car shows with my boys.

I’ve also been looking at the W140 as well as I love the S class in all its guises. I’m sure a member on here was selling a white W124 saloon which had a lot of work done on it, a real stunner that was, missed out on that it seems as I couldn’t find it on Piston Heads where I think it was listed.

I’ve emailed the dealer today and they replied straight away and filled me in on some extra information and that if I have any more to email or call.

Appears they don’t provide finance facilities, which isn’t a real issue, and it appears they are acting as agents almost for customers rather than these cars being their own. Again that’s not a real issue.

I wouldn’t mind I only found it online today and was in Hampshire for a few days back, Wednesday and Thursday, so I could have went and looked at it...

It’s a stunning car though, or appears to be!
 
Some Oe Carat Duchatelet wheels would look lovely, Why does the sides of the car look like a Matt finish,Hardly any reflection?
 
Some Oe Carat Duchatelet wheels would look lovely, Why does the sides of the car look like a Matt finish,Hardly any reflection?

Yeah noticed that myself, not that it would put me off as a friend of mine runs a body repair and paint shop.

Has anyone owned one of these W142 coupes or even saloons? It’s a striking car easthetically in terms of the shape and lines which the front and end seem to just sandwich in so perfectly resulting in a great stance and profile. IMO anyway.
 
It is here again in Carandclassic, along with some others for comparison.

Mercedes 300CE For Sale | Car and Classic

Honest John overview here, also containing links to W124 cars for sale:

Mercedes-Benz W124 Coupe and Cabrio (1987 - 1997)

It looks a stunning car. I would want to see it up on the ramps to check underbody and oil leaks ... engine, g'box, diff etc. plus the usual stuff to look out for on a test drive.

Good luck ... and let us know how you get on.
 
Billy had a 124 coupe list going about 6 years ago from memory, I can't find it but the mods might be able to..?

Maybe its best to go find one more like what you want to use because for starters that front looks awful low, they run out of travel, angles do funny things, needs to be modded properly for that height IMO.
 
I had a w124 Saloon, it was on 172k when i sold it, Never let me down, i did have to replace the OSF window reg and a Wiper relay thats about it.
It was 1988 260e it went really well for it was and I6 was super smooth.

No rattles are squeaks id certainly have another, great cars, I think they suffered loom issues around 1993 when mb change to bio degradable wiring.
 
Chris

The camera almost always lies (is that a song title?). [emoji83]

It’s a very strong, well presented add with really nice photographs. All designed to do what they have.

You have to get along there, see it in the flesh with no rose tints on and give it a nice country and main road cruise. If that passes muster then it may be ideal for you. Keep in mind that failures on these cars can be very expensive now. Small rattled often disguising large bills. In fairness though that is true of lots of “older” Mercs/cars now.

These is no substitute for getting in it and driving it. If possible, take along an impartial friend who has no interest other than giving an honest assessment on the car. If you can get a professional inspection done. You are looking to shell out a fair bit of money. The cost of a professional multi-point check is small beer in comparison.

124’s are great cars (some say the last of the true Mercs).

Sorted ones should drive like a magic carpet with no bangs, rattles or, rolls. The box should be smooth with no revs flaring or clunks between shifts. The engine must not smoke or leave oil deposits all over the road.

Sorry. Nothing exciting to advise on really. Just good common sense car buying sense. You have asked on here and that shows in itself smart thinking.

Let us know how you get on please?


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It comes with the original wheels too....

WHEELS, TYRES & BRAKES The Mercedes comes with two sets of alloys; the two-piece rims photographed are all in fantastic condition and are shod in nearly new tyres. Also available are the original Carat Duchatelet alloys in good condition but requiring tyres. The suspension has been upgraded recently with new shocks and springs that have lowered the ride height giving the car a more purposeful stance.
 
I know the previous owner who did most of the work on the car.. for that kind of money I'd find a very good original car which would be possible for the same money.
 
Wow beautiful.
 
24v is a great engine, beware engine electronic components expensive when needed.

It looks tidy but not original and a lot of money for a w124 coupe.

If you’re not fussed about any of the bling seek out another that might be cheaper

Love w124 coupes but when they go wrong they bite hard
 
"Founded by Frederic Duchatelet in 1968, the Belgian company "Carat by Duchatelet" specialised in the elegant modification of Mercedes-Benz and Rolls-Royce motorcars. Duchatelet interiors were among the finest available in the 1980s and ‘90s, while exterior modifications were usually subtler than the ones from other coachbuilders of that time."

Subtle and elegant that car is not. It's a 140k mile W124 in a mini skirt and leopard print stilettos.


Thanks, it does indeed, I’m not fussed about the Carat Duchatelet thing if I’m honest nor do I like the wheels or steering wheel, but I’ve been looking at the W124 a lot this last year and want something older that looks good and is mechanically decent so that I can use it and take to classic car shows with my boys.

In that case you could buy a much less blingy W124 Coupe for less than half the money.
 
It looks fantastic, with older cars, sometimes the very best option is to buy the very best you can, even if it’s more money initially... it can prove cheaper in the long run if it has a good history and been well looked after :)
 
That's certainly all the money, isn't it.

Read post 16 again, then read it again & again, & again if necessary.

HTH.
 
The BIG problem with any W124 is head gasket leaks, 75% of the ones I looked at when buying had them...

Oh, and rust. Wheel arches in particular, and maybe jacking points. And windscreen surrounds. Look for wet front carpets....

I liked my 320 a lot and was sad to see it go, but the lack of leather always irritated me. My fault for buying it, I guess.

Eventually sold on Ebay for £500 in 2009 with 135000 miles. Apart from a water pump and lower wishbone needing replacement (the 320 ball joints are welded to the wishbone), it was very reliable.

When I was looking, the informed advice was to avoid the 24V 3.0 engine because it was "all noise and no go". Certainly, it needs a lot of revving to get it moving. The 320 is much better in that respect, so my advice would be to go for a 320, decent torque and still good power at high revs.
 
I know the car and the two previous owners
As said,if you aren't fussed about the carat bits buy a nice original car
PS:The wheels you thinking of changing to will not fit,and they'd look shite too
 

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