Why is the W124 so good?

[Ted]

I agree. Absolute rubbish.

 

[Apial]

In the same barge..

Early blisters appearing on mine - 3 years of constant use and abuse, 35k miles and parked outside. Amount of petrol consumed doesn't bear thinking about - its thirst is pretty much the only thing I don't like about the car, and maybe the dead steering which just makes it pointless to hustle (not necessarily a bad thing).

Interestingly the last two articles I've seen in classic rags have rated the 123 far higher than the 124 which is considered a bit too modern..

Looking back at mine this morning parked all shiney and clean on a pretty SE London street in beautiful morning sunlight, its just starting to look like a classic - must be the heritage grille.


Ade

I have to agree on the thirst. As the price of fuel has risen the households methods of transport has gradually become more and more frugal. Even the truck puts the W124s fuel consumption to shame. The good thing though is that the low useage has helped protect the paintwork, and even after almost 20 years there is still no need for a refurbishment yet.

In my household the W124 has achieved classic status meaning that it above all other cars has priority for garage storage and any activity that might even get the floor mats dirty is banned. At this rate I think the car will be almost as good in another 20 years, so long as it does not have a mishap on the road. Tell me of a car that does not rust and is as old as mine?

I suppose if the fuel consumption is the worst aspect then it is not so bad. The odd blasts of performance are well worth the expense and are someting that the more frugal cars are incapable of. Horses for courses.

 

[Niks]

W124 E220 Saloon Petrol, 98,000 miles...

London - Paris - Poitiers - Bordeaux - Madrid - Porto - Lisbon - Algarve - Valencia - Barcelona - Marseille - Rome - Venezia - Milan - Bern - Lausanne - Geneva - Vienna - Stuttgart - Frankfurt - Luxembourg - Belgium - Amsterdam - Dunkerque - London.

W124 E280 Saloon Petrol, 74,000 miles...

London - Exeter - Cardiff - Lake/Peak District - Edinburgh - John O Groats - London

The W124... Refinement, Reliability, Timeless, Comfort & A certain Homeliness

Thats why the W124 is so good.

 

[d w124]

You`ve forget to mention that your e220 was not even made in Germany

 

[Niks]

"Made in India" LOL!

 

[Pringles]

I've been the owner of a 'very' good condition w124 estate for just over 2 months and I'm struggling to figure out what it is that is so good about these cars.

Since owning the car I have discovered that the front wings rust, the jacking points rust, the rear windows leak and lead to rust of the rear wings, the internal structure of the car is prone to rust, the door trims promote rust and the subframe can also rust. The complicated electronic parts are either super expensive or almost impossible to fit and the chance of all or some of these occurrences is highly likely (in my case soon after ownership started).

I already own 2 classics, I thought the chance of this car inheriting classic issues was some years away. So please explain the reasons I should keep the said car and not trade it in for something more tedious and less corrosion prone?

They are comfortable , take huge mileages in their stride,with robust interiors etc... but I do agree that in normal Brit weather they rust very nicely.Most importantly my car makes me feel good (that probably makes me very shallow)
I treat mine like maintaining the Forth Suspension Bridge, I never really stop keeping it corrosion free and painted . A bit like liposuction and botox for cars really. Shame I am not in the same nick as the car.

 

[Ade B]

any activity that might even get the floor mats dirty is banned.

I've currently got the old overmats over my overmats

Ade

 

[Dave Lewis]

I've currently got the old overmats over my overmats

Ade

My overmats are in the loft. Rubber ones in the car

 

[bh13coupe]

My coupe is the DB's. I have owned it for the last 6 years of its 15 year life. I have replaced the front wings and I have a little bubbling on the rear arches which I will be sorting. I have changed the shocks and that is it. it always passes the MOT 1st time (apart from 1 set of rear tyres causing a re test 2 years ago). it is my daily driver and it lives in the garage at night. i have taken it over 140mph several times in germany without a single issue. the only rattle in the cabin is the cd left in the side pocket. I have matched a clk 320 in a traffic ligh drag race (he he). So i have the pleasure of driving a smooth waft of car with a sense of occasion everytime i get in it. its not slow and on a run not that bad on fuel. And I love the fact that hardly anyone else has one. And the compliments i get from passengers is always nice.

I just wish they made a e500 coupe.

The family car will change evry 3 years or so but the coupe is going nowhere.

 

[djwazza]

OK! I'm convinced, the car is staying! Just need to get it through the winter and a full refurb is on the cards for the late spring...

 

[mattc]

OK! I'm convinced, the car is staying! Just need to get it through the winter and a full refurb is on the cards for the late spring...

we all new you would see the light

 

[mekon]

glad you have seen the light, ive got a w124 as my first car, cant beat them for general niceness, just a lovely place to be

 

[James Rothwell]

I had a fairly rubbish E300D Auto Wagon done nearly 200k for a while and it was a fantastic car. It always worked nothing ever went wrong, obviously I didn't service it or do any kind repair work to it. It just kept going. It even like how it drove, it was very relaxed and majestically slow but would do 80mph on the motorway as quite as a new Passat even though it was 16 years old and diesel. I actually wouldn't mind having another one but a mint one, and ideally petrol.

 

[d w124]

I had a fairly rubbish E300D Auto Wagon done nearly 200k for a while and it was a fantastic car. It always worked nothing ever went wrong, obviously I didn't service it or do any kind repair work to it. It just kept going. It even like how it drove, it was very relaxed and majestically slow but would do 80mph on the motorway as quite as a new Passat even though it was 16 years old and diesel. I actually wouldn't mind having another one but a mint one, and ideally petrol.

Do you like to buy my red one than?