Must mention this.....
Discussion
Just had to share something with you chaps.
It never ceases to amaze me how well the W124'S are built. My particular model is a 300d, which is of 1989 vintage sporting 368,000 miles and having one former owner. No written service history other than merc stamped to 100k but thereafter the word of the only owner saying it had been serviced ever 7k without fail.
It was well specced new, leather, alloys, nice colour etc.
Well, blow me down with a feather, I decided to put it in for an mot as it's due next month. Local VW specialist laughed his head off when I said "it may be a trifle whiffy, am trialling 100% veg oil and the gearbox thumps like a b'stard in 4th but it's been doing that for 100k" so, off it went to the vauxhall main dealer for mot to a few chuckles as it does look a bit ropey.
Telephone call some 2 hours later. "The bloody thing has gone through without so much as an advisory" No one up there could believe it, and were all wetting themselves as some of the 3 year old cars fail or are at least advised.
So there we go. A jewish racing gold merc with lots of external ratty bits put to shame all the other cars there, and with 368000 miles to boot..
Don't make them like that any more thats for sure.
Cheers all.
Mike
It never ceases to amaze me how well the W124'S are built. My particular model is a 300d, which is of 1989 vintage sporting 368,000 miles and having one former owner. No written service history other than merc stamped to 100k but thereafter the word of the only owner saying it had been serviced ever 7k without fail.
It was well specced new, leather, alloys, nice colour etc.
Well, blow me down with a feather, I decided to put it in for an mot as it's due next month. Local VW specialist laughed his head off when I said "it may be a trifle whiffy, am trialling 100% veg oil and the gearbox thumps like a b'stard in 4th but it's been doing that for 100k" so, off it went to the vauxhall main dealer for mot to a few chuckles as it does look a bit ropey.
Telephone call some 2 hours later. "The bloody thing has gone through without so much as an advisory" No one up there could believe it, and were all wetting themselves as some of the 3 year old cars fail or are at least advised.
So there we go. A jewish racing gold merc with lots of external ratty bits put to shame all the other cars there, and with 368000 miles to boot..
Don't make them like that any more thats for sure.
Cheers all.
Mike
That's amazing Mike, but to a Nigerian it's just run in !
Would a fluid change ease that thumping gearbox ?
If your interested there's a chap who always advertises in the MBOC monthly mag. He is breaking various Mercs including a W124 300D with apparently "good engine and box"
PM me if you want his details - I can't find a contact you option on your profile !
Would a fluid change ease that thumping gearbox ?
If your interested there's a chap who always advertises in the MBOC monthly mag. He is breaking various Mercs including a W124 300D with apparently "good engine and box"
PM me if you want his details - I can't find a contact you option on your profile !
Edited by Egbert Nobacon on Friday 14th March 09:14
Egbert Nobacon said:
That's amazing Mike, but to a Nigerian it's just run in !
Would a fluid change ease that thumping gearbox ?
If your interested there's a chap who always advertises in the MBOC monthly mag. He is breaking various Mercs including a W124 300D with apparently "good engine and box"
PM me if you want his details - I can't find a contact you option on your profile !
Hi Nigel, the fluid is nice and red so has been changed recently. I'm kind of used to it now but it would be handy if I knew of a source of supplies.Would a fluid change ease that thumping gearbox ?
If your interested there's a chap who always advertises in the MBOC monthly mag. He is breaking various Mercs including a W124 300D with apparently "good engine and box"
PM me if you want his details - I can't find a contact you option on your profile !
Edited by Egbert Nobacon on Friday 14th March 09:14
I'll email you details.
Cheers,
Mike.
Small Car said:
Mike
Told you it wouldn't let you down !! Even more amazing is the fact that it had a fairly hard life from when I was 17 and the old man used to let me take it out ! Well maintained and well used lets say !
GUY
Hello Guy.Told you it wouldn't let you down !! Even more amazing is the fact that it had a fairly hard life from when I was 17 and the old man used to let me take it out ! Well maintained and well used lets say !
GUY
It's a good un but I knew that! I've so far covered over 4000 miles in it, with no problems at all. It was nice of your dad to send me a letter. I'll give it the full works and send off a picture and a reply to his email address.
It has a bit of a cult following in work
Cheers
Mike.
Mike, so has the SE gone, then?
I've been driving '124s since I passed my test in 2002. First was 1990 230E which took the usual "new driver" abuse in it's stride. Before it was written off in July 2005, it had near 200k on clock. It was a great car and the only times it was ever on a low loader was when the Merc dealer picked it up and delivered it home when it was serviced! (Anyone remember those days!)
Other than that it drove like a dream and I covered 55,000 miles in the 2 years I drove it, every mile a pleasure!
In March 2005, I purchased my E320 Coupe which now has near 100k miles. So my cars combined don't have the mileage yours does, but '124s just keep going and going not matter what you throw at them. Just as long as they get their servicing, they seem happy to plod along!
Let's hope your 300D has many more miles left in it
124s rule!
Darren
I've been driving '124s since I passed my test in 2002. First was 1990 230E which took the usual "new driver" abuse in it's stride. Before it was written off in July 2005, it had near 200k on clock. It was a great car and the only times it was ever on a low loader was when the Merc dealer picked it up and delivered it home when it was serviced! (Anyone remember those days!)
Other than that it drove like a dream and I covered 55,000 miles in the 2 years I drove it, every mile a pleasure!
In March 2005, I purchased my E320 Coupe which now has near 100k miles. So my cars combined don't have the mileage yours does, but '124s just keep going and going not matter what you throw at them. Just as long as they get their servicing, they seem happy to plod along!
Let's hope your 300D has many more miles left in it
124s rule! Darren
silverback mike said:
Egbert Nobacon said:
That's amazing Mike, but to a Nigerian it's just run in !
Would a fluid change ease that thumping gearbox ?
If your interested there's a chap who always advertises in the MBOC monthly mag. He is breaking various Mercs including a W124 300D with apparently "good engine and box"
PM me if you want his details - I can't find a contact you option on your profile !
Hi Nigel, the fluid is nice and red so has been changed recently. I'm kind of used to it now but it would be handy if I knew of a source of supplies.Would a fluid change ease that thumping gearbox ?
If your interested there's a chap who always advertises in the MBOC monthly mag. He is breaking various Mercs including a W124 300D with apparently "good engine and box"
PM me if you want his details - I can't find a contact you option on your profile !
Edited by Egbert Nobacon on Friday 14th March 09:14
I'll email you details.
Cheers,
Mike.
The only real issue he had had was with the gearbox change into fourth. After consultation with a club techy chap it was solved by a gearbox flush then new fluid and filter and he has had no problems since.
I know the feeling Mike,
I keep bringing my assorted sligtly vintage machinery into work for MOT's
This years reports so far
88 E28 Failed .... On a wiper blade!
94 E34 Pass No Advisors
94 W124 Pass .... Advisory On Chipped Windscreen
Think I will get the axle bushes done on the E30 just make sure she goes through ok though
As you say some of the reports on 3,4 5yr old cars make comedy reading, worn this, play in that etc
I keep bringing my assorted sligtly vintage machinery into work for MOT's
This years reports so far
88 E28 Failed .... On a wiper blade!
94 E34 Pass No Advisors
94 W124 Pass .... Advisory On Chipped Windscreen
Think I will get the axle bushes done on the E30 just make sure she goes through ok though
As you say some of the reports on 3,4 5yr old cars make comedy reading, worn this, play in that etc
Anyone interested in a 1990 300teI bought in January? It'll be going in the classifieds once the V5 comes (long story - the guy who sold it to an ebay trader had a private plate on it and for some reason it ended up getting registered in the traders name to sort that out) - I'm now officially the 3rd owner. Awaiting the V5 coming from the DVLA.
It's done 148k miles and just had some work done bring the car back up to very, very good condition (2 new motors for electric windows, 2 new rear door dampers, etc..)
Oh and it's a 7 seater. Only faults are:
Windscreen has gone funny colour in the corners (not an MOT failure, though)
Air-con seems a little temperamental
Wear on drivers bolster
Other than that it is a superb load-lugger.
SWMBO finds it a little wallowy to drive plus she has her eye on a rather nice S320. Yikes!
It's done 148k miles and just had some work done bring the car back up to very, very good condition (2 new motors for electric windows, 2 new rear door dampers, etc..)
Oh and it's a 7 seater. Only faults are:
Windscreen has gone funny colour in the corners (not an MOT failure, though)
Air-con seems a little temperamental
Wear on drivers bolster
Other than that it is a superb load-lugger.
SWMBO finds it a little wallowy to drive plus she has her eye on a rather nice S320. Yikes!
If it bangs just one shift then is likely to be the box
That said, check the prop doughnuts (it's normally the front one that fails) and the diff mount bushes. As the diff bushes wear it allows the diff to swivel (through torque reaction) and this ovalises the input bearing oil seal leading to a leaky diff
Engine & gearbox mounts wear out eventually as well
Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk
That said, check the prop doughnuts (it's normally the front one that fails) and the diff mount bushes. As the diff bushes wear it allows the diff to swivel (through torque reaction) and this ovalises the input bearing oil seal leading to a leaky diff
Engine & gearbox mounts wear out eventually as well
Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk
bolide said:
If it bangs just one shift then is likely to be the box
That said, check the prop doughnuts (it's normally the front one that fails) and the diff mount bushes. As the diff bushes wear it allows the diff to swivel (through torque reaction) and this ovalises the input bearing oil seal leading to a leaky diff
Engine & gearbox mounts wear out eventually as well
Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk
Cheers, I'll check those.That said, check the prop doughnuts (it's normally the front one that fails) and the diff mount bushes. As the diff bushes wear it allows the diff to swivel (through torque reaction) and this ovalises the input bearing oil seal leading to a leaky diff
Engine & gearbox mounts wear out eventually as well
Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk
Mike.
ps Excellent website Nick.
Edited by silverback mike on Friday 18th April 14:24
siwil1 said:
did you modify anything to run on veg oil or are you "just pouring it in"!
I'm really tempted to try this for my daily commute so any pointers would be greatfully recd.
Thanks
Just pop it in. As long as there is a small amount of diesel in there it will be fine. The seals sometimes leak but on my mileage it doesn't bother me.I'm really tempted to try this for my daily commute so any pointers would be greatfully recd.
Thanks
I've done 8000 miles in 2 and a half months, still running perfectly.
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