Where do I find a W124 multivalve

[Dogger]

Hi All
Having only recently joined the forum I have spent hours looking through the various threads to learn what I can about the car that I'm looking for.
Initially I thought it was a W210 but the horror stories regarding tin worm has dampened my enthusiam a wee bit.
But the W124 300D multivalve, that seems to be a different story and it has the classic Merc look that I have admired for years. From numerous comments on this forum it seems rock solid, reasonably quick and reasonably economical.
The easy bit was making that decision, the hard bit is finding one. Bearing in mind I live on the Isle of Skye (off the west coast of Scotland for the geographically challenged) the search is going to be long and expensive.
On the principle of 'if you don't ask you don't get' is there anyone on this forum looking to re-home their cherished example? Yeh, stupid question I know...
Is it worth trying a few dealers for a trade-in, or do they tend to get picked off by traders? I've tried the usual sources, eBay, Auto Trader and Freeads etc. Any suggestions welcome.

Cheers
Pete

 

[bolide]

The good ones tend to get picked off by traders. Worth seeking out, though

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[velocette]

I found mine after several years of searching through the ads and rejecting a number of leggy, low spec or otherwise unattractive vehicles. I bought a 10 year old, one owner, mutivalve diesel with fsh, auto, leather, air con and 78k on the clock. It was pretty grubby when I got it but a little elbow grease and it looks very good now. I eventually found it on autotrader at a dealer only 12 miles from where I live as luck would have it. I have now added 25k miles with very few problems and an average of 35/36 to the gallon, more on a long run. It has just been MOTed and needed a new rear box and the horn didnt work. Dirty contacts? Oh no, a new indicator/control stalk at a cost of £93! My excellent local garage had already ordered it and I couldnt be bothered with finding one through the scrappers so swallowed hard. Personally I think you might be pushing your luck to find a good one living where you do. However my brother bought a 93 diesel on ebay for only £900 with 170k on the clock and it runs like a dream, manual with cloth and no air con, so if you are a little flexible that will widen your choice.

Good luck, Velocette.

 

[Vlad]

Whatever you do, do not get put off by mileage....these are capable of huge mileages, as evidenced by the 498,000 miler serviced by my local indi.

Just make sure the car has service history, although this can sometimes be missing on these diesels as they are easy for the home mechanic to service.

In some ways I would be more worried about the bodywork starting to go than the mechanicals as they are so strong.

Good luck with the hunt.

 

[Dave Lewis]

Dogger, I have sent you a Private Message.

 

[mioba]

purchase the specialist mercedes magazine

such as mercedes enthusiast, lots of ads and dealers in there, even companies that will search your car out for you