What to look out for on w124 E320 Coupe?

[Evil_Stewie]

Hi Guys,

I took the plunge and got myself a w124 E320 1994 coupe, It is a gamble mind as it does not come with any paperwork in terms of history etc. but I got it at fairly decent price and the previous owner was from new hence the lowish 80,000 miles (un-warranted though!). But I've been obsessing over this car for a while now and it was a bit of an impulsive purchase online. I go to inspect and collect it tomorrow so is there anything in particular I need to be wary / look out for in this model, considering the absence of history?? I does have MOT and TAX till next year but that hardly counts for its reliability...Cheers

 

[d w124]

Is a bit to late as you`ve already bought it but check all arches and jacking poins for rust
The other thing to check is the wiring loom and also oil leak from the front of the engine

 

[Evil_Stewie]

Yep I know, but I had trigger fingers sorry. How do I know if the wiring loom is on the way out? Also its a 1994 so can I confirm that the wiring loom will need looking at some point? Cheers

 

[d w124]

Take it for a drive and see how it drives and idles.Is not much to tell if it`s going,it might be ok for many years to come,but it might also go next week.My saloon with the same engine has 157k and still on the original loom (touch wood)

 

[bh13coupe]

Dash has covered the main areas, also have a look at the drainage grooves under the rear windscrean, whater can get trapped and cause rust. similar issue on w126 SEC's.

 

[manalishi]

Coupe, so add possible seat-belt presenters acting up, and rear window delamination.

If it's a high spec one with electric seats, then test that they work in all directions. Middle-aged MB engine means you should also check for head gasket issues (oil in water or vice versa) and oil leaks from the head.

Good luck

 

[mattc]

Check the sunroof mechamism slides and tilts smoothly and without any noise from behind your left ear (winder mechanism is in the rear).

If it has heated seats do they work?

Check the function of all the windows. Should be smooth and without noise from the mechanisms. Check the closure of the doors and the fit/seal is good. I understand these can be a bugger to adjust (EDIT I mean the actual glass which can shift/drop in its holder).

Check the fit of the doors too. the weight of them means the door pin hinge can wear and they drop slightly which looks unsightly when you look down the lines of the vehicles.

check boot - does it smell damp. Seal on the rear screen can leak. check under the carpets in the boot as they lift easy.

Check wiper function - any pauses on the intermittent probably needs the N10 relay re-soldering.

With regard to the issue of the loom or the headgasket if that had been done the owner would be pointing it out as these are well know weaknesses on the 124 and could affect the sale. If there is no evidence best assume it has not been done. The loom WILL fail on a 94 model. replacement is £580 give or take. HG is £800ish if you cannot do it yourself.

Do the headlight washers work when the lights are on...probably not or only partially.

and the list goes on....but you probably have enough to be going on with.

Hope its a good one; they are class cars (but then I would say that)

 

[Evil_Stewie]

Many thanks to you all for the vital info, going to take my iPhone to refer this info, I know I've purchased it but not paid for so I can walk away if anything is fishy, only problem is, I'm not mechanically minded so I really will relying on all you're inputs heavily! I do hope all is well as I've been drooling over these modern classics for years but too sensible and boring to go the distance and then uncharacteristically I went for this without history! That's what I do when I have free time like being on leave from work...I end up doing stupid things like this!! I doubt I can even aford to run a 3.2 from c180 (lol) but thanks again guys, I do hope to join the club with a smile and not a late scream if all is well tomorrow / Thursday! Cheers

 

[bh13coupe]

looking forward to some pics mate.

 

[Smiley]

sorry to be the doom monger but one owner (or two even) and no paperwork? Someone has kept that car for a long time - and more often than not this is the sort of owner who keeps receipts and service history.

Something not quite right I am afraid. It is probably clocked.

 

[jke11y]

Using the mot.gov.info website and the document ref number from the V5 you will be able to check back the old MOTs online.

You can then check the mileages at each of the last MOTs and see if you can verify the mileage that way.

I agree with the above that its odd there is zero paperwork. Let us know how you get on.

 

[Evil_Stewie]

Guys,

I went to view the car yesterday and the bloke was nice enough as was the condition of the car for that age, usual rust bible on the wing and couple near the sunroof and above the windscreen. I did come across a few issues that I need to clarify before I return to complete,

1. Passanger footweel was wet under the carpet, not too much but the foam probably soaked most of it, to a lesser extent the driver footwell too.

2. After a short test drive, and with the car off Noticed a small drip of warm clear water from behind the centre of the engine bay and just before the cabin?

3. Only online test history was a failed MOR in 2006 which did back up the mileage but it failed on the following;

Reason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp does not illuminate (3.4.1b)

Front Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated (8.2.2)

Offside Front Drivers seat cannot be secured in the upright position. (6.2.4)

Nearside Front Drivers seat cannot be secured in the upright position. (6.2.4)

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (3.7.A.10)

However the trader managed to get a full years MOT from his local yet the drivers seat still did stay fixed up when I checked i.e I could move the back rest that allows rear passangers in back and forth without me needing to push the button?? He seems to think his MOT man failed to check that but will get it sorted.

Lastly the car does start and idle fine, no cream in oil cap, no pressure from the header tank, and all the electrics seemed to have worked, apart from the sunroof but after some grease that wad sorted. The car did seem to pull slightly to left on the test drive but he seems to think it's the balancing due to the aftermarket allot wheels with new wider tyres??

He also said he'll try and get any previous paperwork from family where he got the car from next week as at the time he got it they were in the middle of a move and the daughter of the owner could not find it (Owner passed away and car has been sat under a drive port for years. Log book shows no previous owners. The trader said he initially got the car to keep two months ago but hardly gets time to drive and feels a it a shame to have it sat there? Latsly he said he did spend quite a bit when he first got it by replacing a cracked windsreen, a couple of fuel filters as the car was sat for so long it had to be towed away? and a big service including breaks thereafter.

Therefore considering all of the above in particular the lack of MOTs online, the discrepancy between the last fail in 06 and now newly issued yet drivers sear still not fixed, what is the best thing to do? To put it simply, it does sound like an old boys no prevous owners low mileage car, so with all the potential issues in mind, what's it worth? Shall I go ahead a take a chance, if it does start cause issues which I can't rectify, how hard would it be for me to sell on without history?? But again, I'd like to know from all you experienced heads, the value that would be placed on the car given the background info. Please try and address all the issues chronologically that I've listed as that will help me alot. I'm due to pop back over the weekend to complete if I'm happy!

Cheers

 

[Apial]

Guys,

However the trader managed to get a full years MOT from his local yet the drivers seat still did stay fixed up when I checked i.e I could move the back rest that allows rear passangers in back and forth without me needing to push the button?? He seems to think his MOT man failed to check that but will get it sorted.


Cheers

NO! Thats not how it works.

The seat backs ONLY lock in place when the doors are shut AND the engine is running. The release button only functions to allow rear seat passengers to "escape" when the driver has cleared off and left the engine running, shutting the door behind him/her as he/she left.

 

[kth286]

It's impossible to be objective unless we know the cost of car.

 

[Evil_Stewie]

Hi sorry, £2,600? Is it worth it, also with the potential listed issues, any idea how much it would cost to get each one rectified, thanks to Apial, I'll accept the seat is okay then as I was testing it with the door open both with the engine on and I think off too but cant be sure, but I guess I needed to have checked it with the door closed. I'm just wondering about what the small drops were, to be fair it did stop with the engine on but I guess the fan was probably pushing it dry however after the second check with the engine off I did not notice the dropps again? So I dont think its a big problem. Lastly I forgot to add the windscreen wippers were working fine (one of the fail issues of the last and only recorded history in 06)? So it likes like things have been sorted, but as he does not know the full details of what his mechanic did (he said he wen't to town on it) I'm not sure if the ABS lamp issue was rectified and thats something that did put me off as it is a safety issue? Thus to assume the ABS lamp / ABS system does need fixing along with the other issues is £2600 a fair price for low mileage, no history car of this kind?? Cheers

 

[del320]

Hi sorry, £2,600? Is it worth it, also with the potential listed issues, any idea how much it would cost to get each one rectified, thanks to Apial, I'll accept the seat is okay then as I was testing it with the door open both with the engine on and I think off too but cant be sure, but I guess I needed to have checked it with the door closed. I'm just wondering about what the small drops were, to be fair it did stop with the engine on but I guess the fan was probably pushing it dry however after the second check with the engine off I did not notice the dropps again? So I dont think its a big problem. Lastly I forgot to add the windscreen wippers were working fine (one of the fail issues of the last and only recorded history in 06)? So it likes like things have been sorted, but as he does not know the full details of what his mechanic did (he said he wen't to town on it) I'm not sure if the ABS lamp issue was rectified and thats something that did put me off as it is a safety issue? Thus to assume the ABS lamp / ABS system does need fixing along with the other issues is £2600 a fair price for low mileage, no history car of this kind?? Cheers

Sounds at least 1k too much

 

[d w124]

I`d say that`s a bit to much

 

[Evil_Stewie]

Thats what I though after the inspection, but I'm not an expert or a mechanic but as I said before, he did come across as a decent open minded chap and I guess open to a haggle if I was to be armed with the some solid info (where you guys come in) of what it would cost to rectify, so what should I attempt to offer that would seem reasonable, also what would the estimated cost of repair be for the issues mentioned? But again more importantly what would be an ideal price to go back with? Cheers

 

[bh13coupe]

mm a few things need doing
seat not fixing is a vacum line leak or issue with the pump (I had the same issue) listen for a high pitch hiss or whine which will aso signify the vacume leake
idling not too well, poss wiring loom replacement needed
Rust will need sorting.
will be quite a project IMHO

 

[Evil_Stewie]

Hi, the idle was fine, oil pressure did not move from 3, it is the water in footwell, ABS and the possible minor water leak behind the engine thats concerning me. If its something which I can do gradually then thats fine if its not major issues, but the ABS I would want sorting if I could confirm them being gone?? He was certain there is paperwork and said he contact the family again on Monday to see if they got hold of it but as it stands no history other than the MOT failure online in 06. So again, I'm struggling to establish a good price I should go back with that would mean a good buy for me?? Any ideas? Cheers