W124 E300D as a 30,000 mile per year proposition?

[Little Bob]

I opted out of a company car scheme 3 years ago, the intention was to purchase a reliable diesel for work and a Caterham for the weekends.

Did that and bought a W203 C220CDI with 55K on the clock three years ago, enjoyed the Caterham immensely for a year or so and then sold it.

My C220 has now done 163K and still feels great, apart from a little problem with the radio, all is well.

However, I've had a real hankering for a W124 which has gone on for quite a while now, and I'm thinking more and more about replacing the W203 with a late multivalve E300D estate...is this complete madness bearing in mind my annual mileage of 30K+?

Is the W124 simply too old to be regarded as reliable for this high distance work, or does the reputation for build quality and longevity of this model suggest it could cope perfectly well with this as long as it is maintained by the book?

Any thoughts/advice welcome - thanks.

 

[vincenz]

Bob
Get the W124, it will lap up the miles, even if it breaks they're still worth a bit in parts.

You will love it!

 

[Dave Lewis]

I'm sure it would cope very well. You'll find it very relaxing to drive
Be prepared to spend a bit every year (they're a bit like the Forth Bridge - it's a constant round of replacing bits, some cheap, some eye-wateringly expensive). A W124 is at it's best when driven a lot, they thrive on it. There's plenty of W124 taxis doing that sort of mileage in various parts of the world.

 

[corned]

As above - all those taxi drivers can't all be wrong...

 

[clk208]

I guess a well maintained one would be absolutely fine to rack up the miles.

However, I guess the fuel consumption would be getting on for double that of the most efficient modern diesels.

I would be getting out the calculator to see if it was worth it.

 

[wemorgan]

I'm sure the W124 can be a very reliable motor. But when changing cars I'm always anxious at first. Taking my time to trust the car and to get to know it. If you're doing such high mileage do you have that time? It sounds as if your W203 has been reliable to you so the safer bet for work will be to keep it going for a while longer.

A dull answer I know.

 

[st4]

I'm sure the W124 can be a very reliable motor. But when changing cars I'm always anxious at first. Taking my time to trust the car and to get to know it. If you're doing such high mileage do you have that time? It sounds as if your W203 has been reliable to you so the safer bet for work will be to keep it going for a while longer.

A dull answer I know.

In all senses of the word. I'd rather be in a crash in a 203 than 124, as charismatic a car the 124 is, 30k/yr I'd want a safer more modern car.

 

[Smiley]

Yes it would do it just fine; I do about 15k miles pa in mine - it is coming up to 220k miles now and still running pretty much as it did when new; been serviced properly and with oil changes every 6k; fuel consumption has improved since replacing the injectors about 40k miles ago, now doing 32 - 36 mpg depending on the journey - did see 42mpg on one days 400 mile round trip but it was on busy motorways running at 50-60mph all day ie driving like a nun. It has had nothing major replaced - has had a set of glow plugs and belt tensioner at 150k, injectors at 180k, tyres last about 30k, brake discs last about 100k; pads half that; had a new wiper motor, radiator (furred up), rear wheel bearing; window motor; engine mounts thats about it.

So modern diesel will use less fuel and at 30k miles pa that could swing it - also good point about modern car crash protection if you are spending all day on motorway; other than that a w124 300d will eat the miles probably up to 500k easily.

Get one inspected properly though - if you buy a rotten one then it could be scrap rather than mile eater

 

[Ade B]

Safety issues aside, 30k a year in a 124 will cost a load in fuel and maintenance - there are certainly cheaper ways to get about... I'm doing around 12k p/a in mine and as said there is always something to fix/ replace. This year its been mainly service items: replacement brake pads, a new serpentine belt, a thermostat housing and a couple of punctures (which has been cheap compared with last year)...

Other considerations are things like wear to the interior, seats etc. and of course rust..

Mine's in for its MOT tomorrow am, so fingers crossed I'm expecting new rear tyres and nothing else - if it gets through I'll even treat it to a service


Ade

 

[Smiley]

Safety issues aside, 30k a year in a 124 will cost a load in fuel and maintenance - there are certainly cheaper ways to get about... I'm doing around 12k p/a in mine and as said there is always something to fix/ replace. This year its been mainly service items: replacement brake pads, a new serpentine belt, a thermostat housing and a couple of punctures (which has been cheap compared with last year)...

Other considerations are things like wear to the interior, seats etc. and of course rust..

Mine's in for its MOT tomorrow am, so fingers crossed I'm expecting new rear tyres and nothing else - if it gets through I'll even treat it to a service


Ade

to be fair there are always service items on any car - esp one doing 30k pa - and 30k pa on a new car is going to see your depreciation bill rocket - whereas my depreciation bill to go from 220k to 250k will be about zippo.

 

[wemorgan]

My C220 has now done 163K and still feels great, apart from a little problem with the radio, all is well.

to be fair there are always service items on any car - esp one doing 30k pa - and 30k pa on a new car is going to see your depreciation bill rocket - whereas my depreciation bill to go from 220k to 250k will be about zippo.

I agree Smiley, though the OPs W203 with 163k will not continue to depreciate so fast any more.

 

[Ade B]

From my largely enjoyable experience of 124 ownership.. choosing to buy one solely on financial grounds is a bit of a hiding to nothing..


Ade

 

[Little Bob]

Appreciate the responses.

Sense would suggest getting something newer, more modern, but you know what it's like when you have an itch...

Depreciation on a newish car doing 30K would certainly outweigh the additional maintenance costs of a W124 - or would it?
My W203 cost me £10K three and a bit years ago, it's probably not worth much over £1,500-£2,000 now with an extra 110K miles on it.
The same miles on a W124 over three years should see a higher residual from what I've read.

Fuel would definitely cost me more - the W203 has always returned brilliant mpg, typically 55-60mpg on long motorway runs at 70mph.
However, the company pays for business mileage (in the form of a mileage allowance) so it doesn't all come out of my pocket - don't hate me.

But, I like the idea of something different, a potential classic perhaps, and totally different from the vast bulk of the modern tedium.

My other option, admittedly at the other end of the spectrum is an Alpina D3, horses for courses, apples and oranges etc. I would be astounded if the costs for running a (decent) W124 were not a few £K less than a D3 when depreciation is factored in, and it has to be.

Everything else leaves me cold - Audi, Volvo, Saab, BMW (D3 aside), anthing French etc, no thank you.

 

[abecketts]

sounds perfectly feasible, we have done 20k in 12 months, maintenance has been normal, if I had my time again and had realised how good a W124 is I would have bought a better condition car and i'm certain it would have been an even better experience. Just come back this week from god's own country "essex" doing the Christmas present run the 130 mile journey was quiet despite 3 brats and a load of goodies, it still amazes me as to how quiet a 14 year old car can be.

Finding a decent one will be challenge but they do come up for sale.

Good luck

Paul

 

[A210AMG]

Given your millage how about an LPG petrol one?

 

[Little Bob]

Given your millage how about an LPG petrol one?

Interesting thought.

But I seem to remember reading that this is difficult in the estate?

 

[bigyin1]

I'd say a BIG YES as someone who uses the car you're looking to get for commuting and as a work horse. I'm doing 17-18k a year in mine and now that the fuelling issue has been fixed its great . You'll need to pay for a good one, but once you've got it treat it as one of the family (clean it, look after it with preventative maintenance) and it will look after you. Look around and drive a good one (if you haven't already) so that you know what to expect...

Enjoy.

Edit - since you're in west sussex you can't be that far away from Brighton where there is a very nice man who knows a thing or two about the w124 ...

 

[nick mercedes]

However, I've had a real hankering for a W124 which has gone on for quite a while now, and I'm thinking more and more about replacing the W203 with a late multivalve E300D estate...is this complete madness bearing in mind my annual mileage of 30K+?

Finding a 15 year old car that can cope with doing 30k a year won't be easy, most are near enough worn out by now, MB diesel estate cars can lead quite hard lives...

 

[d w124]

Finding a 15 year old car that can cope with doing 30k a year won't be easy, most are near enough worn out by now, MB diesel estate cars can lead quite hard lives...

I`m my opinion i`ll be very easy as w124 is the right car for the job,and you don`t feel the plastics of new cars falling apart.If he get`s a well looked after car let`s say from Nick Froome,i`m sure he`ll have some trouble free motoring.

 

[Seamster15]

Finding a 15 year old car that can cope with doing 30k a year won't be easy, most are near enough worn out by now, MB diesel estate cars can lead quite hard lives...

Agreed, suppose it comes down to how often you can afford for the car to be in the garage for repairs or servicing. Older Diesels require more frequent Oil changes, and at 15 years old there will be regular things to change.

I wonder how many people here that do big mileages in W124's are techically minded e.g enjoy servicing and tinkering with the car at the weekends?

If you do find a good one and are moving the w203 for £1500 can I be first in the queue please!

good luck