Vlad
MB Enthusiast
I went to a probate auction last week and sitting outside were two cars up for auction, one of which was a very early C Reg W124 300E.
At first glance it looked very shabby which turned out only to be dirt.
On closer examination it was a very very tidy rust free example with only 79,000 miles on the clock. After rooting around in the car I found a fully stamped up service book and some old MOT's.
The car started up first turn of the key and ran very smoothly with full oil pressure. Everything electrical worked including the sunroof and I also learnt that the car was coming with 12 months MOT and 3 months tax.
Well that was it I couldn't let the old girl go to a non enthusiast and after agreeing with the wife that I could bid for the car off I went.
Long story short, I won the auction and took the old girl home. Amazing that being 19 years old, there wasn't a squeek or rattle from the car as we drove home. Engine and gearbox were nice and smooth, good oil pressure and engine temperature and good brakes.
Spent last week cleaning her up and the body condition is remarkable....no rust in the usual places such as front wings, wheelarches, rear screen, sills, jacking points etc. Infact the wheel arch lips are as shinny as the day she was built.
The interior has come up a treat after much shampooing and vacuuming.
I've also changed the oil, oil filter, air filter and spark plugs.
The only problems I've noticed with the car are as follows;
1) Idle is very low......car could do with a tune up I reckon. Saying that once past 700rpm she's very smooth and revs cleanly.
2) On the driver side rear door just below the weather strip which protects the glass as it disappears into the door, the paint work is starting to bubble a little and it needs to be treated before it breaks the paint work. This is the only rust on the car and in itself its very minor. On the same door inside, somebody has had the door card off and has not made a very good job of re-attaching it. Needs to be taken off and re-hung. Again a minor job for somebody who's good at doing this sort of thing.
I'm putting her up for sale....one of the conditions from my wife, as I already have 2 other W124's. I would really like the car to go another enthusiast as it's unusual to find such an early W124 and one with such low mileage.....this is likely to be one of the oldest surviving W124's in the UK as it was registered in February 1986 which was only 4 months after the W124's went on sale in October 1985.
I'm looking for offers circa £1795, which is a fair price for such a low mileage 300E and one in such good condition.
Links to some photo's of the car can be found below.
Many thanks
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y182/mjtray/DSCN0632.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y182/mjtray/DSCN0631.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y182/mjtray/DSCN0628.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y182/mjtray/DSCN0630.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y182/mjtray/DSCN0629.jpg
At first glance it looked very shabby which turned out only to be dirt.
On closer examination it was a very very tidy rust free example with only 79,000 miles on the clock. After rooting around in the car I found a fully stamped up service book and some old MOT's.
The car started up first turn of the key and ran very smoothly with full oil pressure. Everything electrical worked including the sunroof and I also learnt that the car was coming with 12 months MOT and 3 months tax.
Well that was it I couldn't let the old girl go to a non enthusiast and after agreeing with the wife that I could bid for the car off I went.
Long story short, I won the auction and took the old girl home. Amazing that being 19 years old, there wasn't a squeek or rattle from the car as we drove home. Engine and gearbox were nice and smooth, good oil pressure and engine temperature and good brakes.
Spent last week cleaning her up and the body condition is remarkable....no rust in the usual places such as front wings, wheelarches, rear screen, sills, jacking points etc. Infact the wheel arch lips are as shinny as the day she was built.
The interior has come up a treat after much shampooing and vacuuming.
I've also changed the oil, oil filter, air filter and spark plugs.
The only problems I've noticed with the car are as follows;
1) Idle is very low......car could do with a tune up I reckon. Saying that once past 700rpm she's very smooth and revs cleanly.
2) On the driver side rear door just below the weather strip which protects the glass as it disappears into the door, the paint work is starting to bubble a little and it needs to be treated before it breaks the paint work. This is the only rust on the car and in itself its very minor. On the same door inside, somebody has had the door card off and has not made a very good job of re-attaching it. Needs to be taken off and re-hung. Again a minor job for somebody who's good at doing this sort of thing.
I'm putting her up for sale....one of the conditions from my wife, as I already have 2 other W124's. I would really like the car to go another enthusiast as it's unusual to find such an early W124 and one with such low mileage.....this is likely to be one of the oldest surviving W124's in the UK as it was registered in February 1986 which was only 4 months after the W124's went on sale in October 1985.
I'm looking for offers circa £1795, which is a fair price for such a low mileage 300E and one in such good condition.
Links to some photo's of the car can be found below.
Many thanks
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y182/mjtray/DSCN0632.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y182/mjtray/DSCN0631.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y182/mjtray/DSCN0628.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y182/mjtray/DSCN0630.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y182/mjtray/DSCN0629.jpg
