W124s - advice please

[jdrrco]

I am looking for a cheap, reliable, solid car that will last me a couple of years and not cost too much to run or in depreciation.

I've just seen this on Pistonheads and not sure if it's good value or not.
Mercedes : Mercedes E200 (W124) Estate

I will probably do about 15k miles a year.

Any advice please?

 

[jdrrco]

Sorry, posted in classifieds by accident. Please move to general. Thanks.

 

[Sp!ke]

moved for you.

 

[Ade B]

Hi

For the long answer browse the many and varied threads on here about 124s. Experiences differ and depend heavily on how handy you are with spanners or how friendly you are with the local cheap independant.

The short answer based on my experience is 15k miles a year in an old car is financially no cheaper than running a new car and factoring in depreciation. In fact taking fuel costs into consideration, I reckon its cost me more than running a much newer (more economical) car. Petrol alone is working out at around 20-26p per mile depending on type of driving.

The car posted, whilst nice and clean is expensive for a 220 (didn't think they did a 200?), you'll rapidly destroy its value by adding the miles you are talking about. I'm not sure that the 220 is particularly economical as it is a big car.

Having said all that, they are great cars and I have enjoyed owning mine for the 3 and a bit years and 42k miles I've had it.

Give Nick Froome a call, the price indicated is in his territory - and take a few for a test drive before you buy - there is a world of difference between a good one and a shed.

Ade

 

[d w124]

Ade:I`m sorry mate but you`ve had bad luck with your car,even though it was a low mileage.I`ve had my E200 for 3 years and appart from oil change twice and the front break pads,nothing else and i don`t spare money when it comes to the car.

 

[Ade B]

Not sure it was bad luck, if you compare costs with a couple of other owners of similar cars, mine are about par for what's been done and most were service or wear items.

Depends on miles and use I guess.

Didn't you recently have a full respray on yours - that counts as bodywork costs?

Ade

 

[d w124]

Didn't you recently have a full respray on yours - that counts as bodywork costs?

Ade

Yes i did,but that was on the 320.Here is both cars http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/members/d-w124-albums-my-car.html the red one is the 2l.

 

[Sorry Pete]

Agreed, that one looks pricey especially if it's from a private seller. As mentioned there are many w124 threads on their practicality as an everyday workhorse. I'm pretty sure that one is a 220 as it's a post '93 facelift one .

Regarding depreciation, it will depend on how long you keep the car. There's still a premium on sub 100k mile cars but any car made in the last 20 years, that's regularly serviced will easily do double that. I had a summer job shifting cars through an auction and was totally surprised at the number of ex-fleet vauxhalls and fords with mega (+150k) miles and wore them well. The one proviso would be that those miles couldn't have been put on in that length of time unless they were done on a motorway. I'd bear that in mind when looking.

The 124's have a well-earned reputation for longevity and reliability, and that's at the cost of intensive servicing. That's obviously lessened if you diy. I'd have a browse here: w124.co.uk

I'd consider a post '93 multivalve diesel given your anticipated annual mileage. The 12v ones are slow. Ask me how I know Saying that, I simply love mine to bits.

Good luck with the search

 

[219]

I never spent a huge amount on either of my 124's - the first I owned for about seven years and added 100k to the mileage with only tyres , brakes a couple of exhausts ( one back box plus one full system ) besides routine servicing , before the diff packed in at 200k and I sold the car for spares ; the other one I had for just under a year , covering about 15k with new discs and pads all round just after purchase and two tyres .

It has been much the same story with numerous other Mercs I have had , which include W114 , W115 , W123 , W201 , W116 and W126 models with at least two of each type other than 116 through my hands - I tend to always overhaul brakes and if needed replace tyres on any car as soon as I buy it - thereafter usually oil and filter changes plus exhausts as required are about all that is needed .

Other than the one diff failure on a 124 , none of my (Mercedes) cars has ever broken down and left me stranded in 30+ years of motoring and I don't know how many miles .

 

[James Rothwell]

I had an L reg 300D Estate Auto as a pub/station car and it was great! Never let me down and did an excellent job or ferrying myself around and also was very helpful when I moved house. I even enjoyed driving it!

 

[blondebier]

I had a nice silver 230TE. I bought it for £1100 and sold it a year later for £1150.

I serviced it during this time, but other than that and fuel it cost me nothing.

It was a joy to own.

Good choice, they are great cars!

Buy it. It's a load of car for fiesta money.

 

[Pringles]

I think that looks reasonable value for a 7 seater with those miles and air-con.
as long as the servicing is up to date.

 

[jdrrco]

Thanks for all your input, really appreciated

Seen another one which has just arrived at a local garage:

1989 MERCEDES-BENZ 230 te estate
G-reg, 69,000 miles, mother of pearl Grey, full mercedes service history, new mot, beige leather, electric sunroof, electric windows, taxed for 6 months, alloy wheels, 7 seats, central locking, drives superbly, mint condition, £1,495 ONO.

Now that sounds like a bargain! Any comments?

What's the 230 engine like reliability, power, econ-wise?

 

[Smiley]

yes that is a god buy if the mileage is genuine.
I have had a w124 300d estate for 12 years and have added 200k miles in that time. Only routine servicing and a couple of relatively minor repairs; the key is regular maintenance - and if you are handy with the spanners they are very easy to work on. An excellent used buy - you will find that the best ones esp the diesels get snapped up quickly. Nick Froome's at www.124.co.uk are pricey but you are paying for the sourcing of a good one to start with (getting harder now) and having had it properly prepared eg engine mounts, ball joints etc etc.

 

[Sorry Pete]

Yep, that sounds more like it. Great colour combo and leather too. Set aside a fund for repairs; at the age they're getting even the one in your OP would likely need new parts in its 1st year. You might get lucky, but to eliminate chance as far as possible, look for lots of bills.

The 230 engine is far more preferable to the 200, especially for the estate models. Reliability wise, all the powerplants fitted to the w124 range are hardy, and developed from well proven designs. Timing chains should be replaced at the 100k mile mark.

I think this thread answers your question re: reliability.

230 engine lifetime m102

Listen for rattle and clatter on startup. In fact just turn it on and off from cold for a few seconds each time. It should start easily and listen for rattle. With the mileage your prospective one has done, it should be minimal.

In all fairness, the biggest culprit is rust so basically check the lower 6 inches of the car. Pop off the dust covers over the jacking points, arches f/r, inner arches front behind the headlights, under washer bottle and abs pump, door seals esp rear.

 

[Smiley]

There should be no need to even think about changing a timing chain at 100k if the car has been serviced properly.

Not sure if the 230 has a single or duplex chain - but a duplex chain in a properly serviced car should do 300k without any problems.

 

[Sorry Pete]

There should be no need to even think about changing a timing chain at 100k if the car has been serviced properly.

Not sure if the 230 has a single or duplex chain - but a duplex chain in a properly serviced car should do 300k without any problems.

I thought that was the service schedule for 230's with a single chain. Ah well, live and learn. I'm pretty sure single chains were phased-out by the '90's.

 

[blondebier]

Are you still looking?

This looks like a quite a nice early car...

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/spotted-ebay/86695-clean-230te.html