W124 & ac

[macp]

Evening all
been looking at 124`s in various guises and a lot of them have no AC so out of interest would you buy with or without AC ?

 

[trapperjohn]

Without. Unless the AC system has been kept in top fettle. Less to go wrong. Sunroof and windows work fine for me, plus plenty of "puff" thru the centre vent when the fan is on IV.

 

[d w124]

I`ve got one without,but it never was prob.Best is to find one with though

 

[Smiley]

mine has no a/c; less to go wrong!

I would buy one either with factory fitted a/c or without, I would not buy one that had had a/c fitted later.

 

[219]

Most don't have it , it was an expensive option that most people did not take up .

You will find it mostly on higher specced six cylinder cars which also have leather and all the other 'toys' .

 

[andy_k]

Definitely with

The system is fairly easy to overhaul/repair.

The most common failure is the condenser which rusts through due to all the leaf mulch and other crap which gathers in the radiator

 

[EDZ649]

I wouldn't buy any car now without A/C, except a car that never had it as an option in the first place.

 

[Darrell]

Is a/c really that necassary in UK?

 

[EDZ649]

Is a/c really that necassary in UK?

A/C isn't just about keeping you cool in the summer, it works much better that a normal heater/blower and demists much better too!

 

[wemorgan]

When buying a classic car I'd buy the car on condition rather than on specification alone.

 

[219]

Definitely with

The system is fairly easy to overhaul/repair.

The most common failure is the condenser which rusts through due to all the leaf mulch and other crap which gathers in the radiator

Can be an expensive thing to do , relative to the cost of the car , most W124's now change hands for hundreds rather than thousands of pounds .

If you get a car with an R12 system that hasn't been touched in years , the cost of conversion can be quite high .

 

[grober]

Without. Unless the AC system has been kept in top fettle. Less to go wrong. Sunroof and windows work fine for me, plus plenty of "puff" thru the centre vent when the fan is on IV.

Tend to agree with "TJ"----in theory A/C is desirable---- but for a car of that age factor in ---possible reliability problems, probably uses a banned refrigerant!, can smell badly if its been neglected, or the drains are choked, leaky systems need frequent regassing etc etc and it becomes less attractive. So only buy a car with the original factory fitted equipment which has documented evidence of money spent in maintaining it. As Pontoneer says its mainly fitted to top spec cars which fetch "all the money" in good nick. In a neglected car air con is often the first thing to "fall by the wayside" since its a complicated but non essential system.

However having said all that its the one thing I would have liked to have had when I bought my car 8 years ago!

 

[Will]

My £320 300TE doesn't have air con. I don't really miss it to be honest - 4 windows and a sunroof plus ventilation fans are okay.

If I had a W124 with a modern type system that was working properly, it'd be a nice bonus though.

Will

 

[JumboBeef]

My W124 doesn't have air con...........and I DO miss it!. On most warm to hot days, you'll find me in my air-conned Disco!

 

[Roger Jones]

I have cars with and without. In those without, I miss it on just one or two hot & humid days a year.

I've had one car converted from R12 with the Retro Pro kit:

Primalec - find leaks the professional way - Retro Pro and Airco Bio-Flush

It cost me about £75 three years ago. I don't claim that it gets down to "ice cold", but how important is that?

 

[andy_k]

Can be an expensive thing to do , relative to the cost of the car , most W124's now change hands for hundreds rather than thousands of pounds .

If you get a car with an R12 system that hasn't been touched in years , the cost of conversion can be quite high .

not many of the W124s have R12 - as has been said it was usually the later 6 pot models that had it fitted.

Condenser plus dryer should cost less than £300 if it's a DIY job then add £60 for a re-gas which isn't exactly a huge price

 

[manalishi]

If the car's got leather it definitely needs AC (IMHO).

AC is a must-have for a car you want to enjoy in Summer (even the UK). But I reckon the difficulty of findng a W124 in the right condition/colour/spec with properly maintained AC makes some of us forego AC.

 

[manalishi]

Oh, incidentally, I didn't vote as the poll options aren't clear. Yes = must have AC, or Yes = it's optional.

 

[coupe deville]

mine has it but it don't work, had it regassed at kwik fit last year in readyness for the summer but it must have a leak as it lasted about a week [ the summer and the air-con ] but i dont miss it, roof open is much better

Ive won £100 on Kimi winning GP, £10 at 10/1 and won £30 for podium place with £20 staked at 6/4 :bannana:

 

[Pringles]

I would not buy one without it because it makes a being stuck in traffic on a hot day with children in the car bearable. My Merc is used all the time but it comes into its own on long journeys and air con is a must have for me for all year round enjoyment.