Just picked up a W124 200E. A very special car to me... details to follow.
welcome to the w124 club
6pot
Active Member
pics please!!
Ok,
It was my German uncle who started me on the path to the love of 80's Mercs. He bought a 250D brand new in 1986, totally basic,in white with next to no extras.. He picked us up at the airport when it was just a few weeks old. sadly he died nearly 20 years ago and never really got to enjoy the car. I'm heading over to my Aunties at the end of the month in this W124 200E I've just bought.. not exactly the same,but very close!
No MOT, 4 Bald tyres, siezed ball joints, a broken front spring, rattling exhaust,some rust and an ABS light on..
On the upside, the underside is AS NEW! Interior is immaculate, all mechanically perfect and everything works. Got 2 weeks to make it perfect..
EDIT: Bald tyres and rattly exhaust FIXED.
It was my German uncle who started me on the path to the love of 80's Mercs. He bought a 250D brand new in 1986, totally basic,in white with next to no extras.. He picked us up at the airport when it was just a few weeks old. sadly he died nearly 20 years ago and never really got to enjoy the car. I'm heading over to my Aunties at the end of the month in this W124 200E I've just bought.. not exactly the same,but very close!
No MOT, 4 Bald tyres, siezed ball joints, a broken front spring, rattling exhaust,some rust and an ABS light on..
On the upside, the underside is AS NEW! Interior is immaculate, all mechanically perfect and everything works. Got 2 weeks to make it perfect..
EDIT: Bald tyres and rattly exhaust FIXED.
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trapperjohn
MB Enthusiast
So not too many years ago I bought a brand new basic Polo. I pulled up next to a buddy of mine in his Discovery (Dual carriageway at traffic lights, I was on his off side) He dropped his window with a smooth hiss to say "Mornin'" and I had to lean over and crank my pax window down. "Nay lad, tha' dosent 'ave to wind doesta' Was all he said, the lights changed and he sailed away. Ever since then I've had 'leccy windows.
You will be the Bell of the Ball in the Fatherland Tiff with a 124 like that.
Welcome to the world of 12fouria. Hope to see you in Scotland soon.
You will be the Bell of the Ball in the Fatherland Tiff with a 124 like that.
Welcome to the world of 12fouria. Hope to see you in Scotland soon.
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Frank O' Phile
Active Member
Good luck with the MOT, Tiff.
Looks like a tidy example you have there, what's the mileage on it?
Looks like a tidy example you have there, what's the mileage on it?
Its done 126000. Apparently off the road for a number of years. Don't know how the bloke before me drove it, the steering was stiff and horrible,wouldn't self centre at all..
The underside is as new, amazingly clean! I've been all over under and through it so hopefully the MOT will be a formality...
The underside is as new, amazingly clean! I've been all over under and through it so hopefully the MOT will be a formality...
Ed209
Active Member
apart from
Great buy though that. May I ask what you paid for it?
Sorry, by mechanically perfect I meant engine,gearbox and axle.
Any car you buy for under £1000 will need some work. I'd rather go in with my eyes open and know I'm gonna have to get the spanners out,rather than buy something thats "perfect" and have to get the spanners out anyway! At least now I'll have a very very tidy W124, with all the usual W124 bits sorted!
Springs,balljoints,tyres and all the wee niggly bits are all sorted now, Cleaned ABS sensors and hubs, but still either getting ABS light coming on over 5mph or ABS light goes out but getting ABS kicking in under 5 MPH when breaking.. more investigation needed.
Cost me £250.. with 3 months tax. Will be all sorted, MOT'd and ready for a run to Germany from Fife, via Dover at the end of the month for less than £500. Bangernomics!!
My 190D was the same.. after a years trouble free running, it still owes me less than £600... including parts,servicing,purchase etc. When I bought it it was very dull, had knackered rear shocks,wouldn't switch off, the aux belt tensioner was u/s and it also had an ABS problem.
Frank O' Phile
Active Member
Bargain. Makes mine look overpriced.
I seem to recall that the ABS is in some way dependant on the OVP relay. Check that out before replacing any expensive parts.
Ed209
Active Member
Oh you don't have to justify it, I totally agree, and have the same attitude.
Got a 2.5 190d myself and love it, absolute joy to work on.
I had a similar ABS problem last year with my W126 - I couldn't get the sensors out due to rusted bolts . I tried swapping the ECU and OVP over from other cars with working ABS so was 99% sure it was a sensor , but put car into a local Indy rather than start throwing expensive parts at the problem . Indy looked at waveforms from sensors and diagnosed BOTH front sensors faulty ! Cost me £350 all in but sensors accounted for £230 of that so still reasonable .
There was a comment that the wiring to the front sensors goes brittle with age , causing the signal to break up as the suspension moves relative to the body and flexes the wires . Could be the problem with your car .
There was a comment that the wiring to the front sensors goes brittle with age , causing the signal to break up as the suspension moves relative to the body and flexes the wires . Could be the problem with your car .
Ed209
Active Member
£350
It would be a relay out job for me if that were the case. Though I see you have a 500SEL, and not a £500 190 lol.
It would be a relay out job for me if that were the case. Though I see you have a 500SEL, and not a £500 190 lol.
MOT passed with no advisories!! :bannana:
The ABS actually behaved itself long enough to get the MOT, but when I got home,I got down to checking it. If the light goes off, then comes on when pulling away,this points to sensors/wiring. If it comes on with the ignition and stays on, this points to OVP/pump/ecu. Mine was coming on at about 5mph,most of the time,but if it stayed out,I'd get the ABS kicking in under 5mph, again pointing to sensors and/or toothed rings.
I jacked the wheels up and span them. Rear, no light. Offside front,no light. Nearside front-light on. Checked the resistance and its way off. This way of doing it also worked with my 190D
Anyone got a good Nearside front ABS sensor for an '89 W124??
The ABS actually behaved itself long enough to get the MOT, but when I got home,I got down to checking it. If the light goes off, then comes on when pulling away,this points to sensors/wiring. If it comes on with the ignition and stays on, this points to OVP/pump/ecu. Mine was coming on at about 5mph,most of the time,but if it stayed out,I'd get the ABS kicking in under 5mph, again pointing to sensors and/or toothed rings.
I jacked the wheels up and span them. Rear, no light. Offside front,no light. Nearside front-light on. Checked the resistance and its way off. This way of doing it also worked with my 190D
Anyone got a good Nearside front ABS sensor for an '89 W124??
trapperjohn
MB Enthusiast
Ian Walker is breaking a 280 124 Estate on a K. No idea if the one off that would fit. Certainly they would be a little newer!!
