RE: SOTW: Mercedes 230TE
Discussion
I'm gutted I sold my 95 e300d w124 with ac now a month ago or so for 850 
Lovely car, and pulled the race car and kit slowly but always faithfully. I got lured to the w210 side with a e430 to have a bit more pep, but god is it thirsty!
Veg oil is 19 quid for 20ltr in costco, and i was going to use that in the old bus.
Lovely car, and pulled the race car and kit slowly but always faithfully. I got lured to the w210 side with a e430 to have a bit more pep, but god is it thirsty!
Veg oil is 19 quid for 20ltr in costco, and i was going to use that in the old bus.
thegoose said:
SOLD
A chap viewed the car at the start of the week with his mechanic friend, agreed to buy it on the basis of paying the balance and collecting within 14 days, but failed to come up with the £200 deposit. I put other people off coming as he kept promising to drop it round (he's only 2 miles away), but I decided yesterday to make it available for viewing (becoming SOTW did raise interest although I'd already had people wanting to see it). I wasn't around yesterday for anyone to see it but a local chap came at 9 this morning, viewed it, took it for a 25 minute test drive (coming back with his son squashed in the boot - to test the rear suspension apparently) and agreed to buy it. He paid in full and collected it within a few hours, meanwhile I've had calls from as far afield as Ireland about it, and another local guy wanting to trade in 2 Tag Heur watches for it. The first chap was gutted to miss the car, but then I fell I wasted my time showing it to him when he wasn't in a position to even leave a deposit. It's so much easier to sell £10,000 cars than £1,000 ones!
The full story of the car (which I've told to the buyer) was that I used it for the "Home 2 Rome" banger rally in 2008.
Having entered I required a car costing no more than £100 (but no limit to spending on making it safe & roadworthy) - I put the message out in the trade and a contact said he had something that had been stood for 2 years and would need a radiator and an MOT, but I could have it for £100 if I sent him pictures of it on the trip - this Mercedes. I wasn't sure about something stood and not MOT'd but nevertheless travelled the near-400 mile round trip and trailered it back. After fitting a radiator it passed the MOT, I serviced it and drove it around for a few weeks to see how it was - this lead to the replacement of lots of parts (about £500-600 worth from memory). I found a set of wheel trims kicking around on a car that was going to be scrapped locally, which smartened it up a bit too.
I also fitted red neon strips across the front and rear underside, green ones to the sides, a full-fat air-horn with 6 trumpets that played Dixie, a siren that played 5 different emergency noises or animal noises, wired a fridge into the boot, a scrolling red LED sign to the rear window, a 240V inverter, a phone kit and so on. I spent 3 days wiring everything in carefully, with proper fuseholders etc and making it all neat & tidy. It was then valeted, event decals were applied, safety vests put in the glovebox and off we went - in the tidiest genuinely-qualifying car on the event by far (most are lucky if they make it to the end, and that's where they die if they do), but with no breakdown insurance and the very real risk that if it broke down it wouldn't be worth fixing or re-patriating.
You will see it in the 2008 picture gallery of the event - click here and there's a clickable thumbnail on the first page (bottom right), which was the "Cowboy & Indian" fancy dress day after the Menton/Monaco night, and a few others if you can be bothered to scroll through the pages. The rest of the trip and story is basically covered in the advert, so you already know the jist of it.
When we arrived in Rome, Amex Platinum's Concierge service had sorted us out a room in the lovely Hotel Accademia, on Via Della Stamperia, about 80 metres from the Trevi fountain and right opposite an armed-guarded government building - the Residenza del Consiglio de Ministri (literally "residence of the council of ministers"). I'm not sure a be-neoned stickered-up old Merc playing Dixie is what they normally expect to turn up, unload and then take advantage of their valet parking service but that's what they got
There was something amusing about 40 Euros a night parking on a £100 car too...
Anyway, my brother got it MOT'd and gave it back in June, I carefully removed all the paraphenalia recently, had it valeted and put it up for sale last week. It's now gone to a Mercedes enthusiast to be used regularly and soldier on for many days to come no doubt. It'll be nice if I do see it knocking around locally too.
So, am I a true petrolhead or a robbing b@stard car dealer who just sold a car for ten times what he paid? You decide!
Great SOTW and a great story,makes you a true car dealer or a ...............A chap viewed the car at the start of the week with his mechanic friend, agreed to buy it on the basis of paying the balance and collecting within 14 days, but failed to come up with the £200 deposit. I put other people off coming as he kept promising to drop it round (he's only 2 miles away), but I decided yesterday to make it available for viewing (becoming SOTW did raise interest although I'd already had people wanting to see it). I wasn't around yesterday for anyone to see it but a local chap came at 9 this morning, viewed it, took it for a 25 minute test drive (coming back with his son squashed in the boot - to test the rear suspension apparently) and agreed to buy it. He paid in full and collected it within a few hours, meanwhile I've had calls from as far afield as Ireland about it, and another local guy wanting to trade in 2 Tag Heur watches for it. The first chap was gutted to miss the car, but then I fell I wasted my time showing it to him when he wasn't in a position to even leave a deposit. It's so much easier to sell £10,000 cars than £1,000 ones!
The full story of the car (which I've told to the buyer) was that I used it for the "Home 2 Rome" banger rally in 2008.
Having entered I required a car costing no more than £100 (but no limit to spending on making it safe & roadworthy) - I put the message out in the trade and a contact said he had something that had been stood for 2 years and would need a radiator and an MOT, but I could have it for £100 if I sent him pictures of it on the trip - this Mercedes. I wasn't sure about something stood and not MOT'd but nevertheless travelled the near-400 mile round trip and trailered it back. After fitting a radiator it passed the MOT, I serviced it and drove it around for a few weeks to see how it was - this lead to the replacement of lots of parts (about £500-600 worth from memory). I found a set of wheel trims kicking around on a car that was going to be scrapped locally, which smartened it up a bit too.I also fitted red neon strips across the front and rear underside, green ones to the sides, a full-fat air-horn with 6 trumpets that played Dixie, a siren that played 5 different emergency noises or animal noises, wired a fridge into the boot, a scrolling red LED sign to the rear window, a 240V inverter, a phone kit and so on. I spent 3 days wiring everything in carefully, with proper fuseholders etc and making it all neat & tidy. It was then valeted, event decals were applied, safety vests put in the glovebox and off we went - in the tidiest genuinely-qualifying car on the event by far (most are lucky if they make it to the end, and that's where they die if they do), but with no breakdown insurance and the very real risk that if it broke down it wouldn't be worth fixing or re-patriating.
You will see it in the 2008 picture gallery of the event - click here and there's a clickable thumbnail on the first page (bottom right), which was the "Cowboy & Indian" fancy dress day after the Menton/Monaco night, and a few others if you can be bothered to scroll through the pages. The rest of the trip and story is basically covered in the advert, so you already know the jist of it.
When we arrived in Rome, Amex Platinum's Concierge service had sorted us out a room in the lovely Hotel Accademia, on Via Della Stamperia, about 80 metres from the Trevi fountain and right opposite an armed-guarded government building - the Residenza del Consiglio de Ministri (literally "residence of the council of ministers"). I'm not sure a be-neoned stickered-up old Merc playing Dixie is what they normally expect to turn up, unload and then take advantage of their valet parking service but that's what they got
There was something amusing about 40 Euros a night parking on a £100 car too...Anyway, my brother got it MOT'd and gave it back in June, I carefully removed all the paraphenalia recently, had it valeted and put it up for sale last week. It's now gone to a Mercedes enthusiast to be used regularly and soldier on for many days to come no doubt. It'll be nice if I do see it knocking around locally too.
So, am I a true petrolhead or a robbing b@stard car dealer who just sold a car for ten times what he paid? You decide!
I realise it is not an estate so I apologise for the side track, bought this 10 years ago, true spent good money on making it nice, could not bare to sell it yet for a grand, fantastic 1985 W126500 sel V8, no depreciation etc, almost only fuel costs it so good, just under 200k and goes like a dream even put alpine sat nav/sound system in, its so I dont get lost in this quick hifi chair 
Edited by urquattro on Sunday 27th November 15:30
fluffnik said:
Backrests
Whilst that might sound clever - clearly the designer never parked at the side of a road to load his car. - Doors open -> Backrest unlocked
- Doors closed -> Backrest locked
Opening the doors just to tip the seats = getting doors ripped-off by passing cars!?
Also - tipping seats when in your garage?!??!??
johnpeat said:
Whilst that might sound clever - clearly the designer never parked at the side of a road to load his car.
Opening the doors just to tip the seats = getting doors ripped-off by passing cars!?
Also - tipping seats when in your garage?!??!??
Do you have to open the doors fully or will leaving them very slightly ajar do? Opening the doors just to tip the seats = getting doors ripped-off by passing cars!?
Also - tipping seats when in your garage?!??!??
I remember "What Car?" of the early 90s- their sister magazine Auto Motor Und Sport crash testing 9 cars.
The results were quite shocking
Here is a video link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQH6MLTSDZ4
The BMW E34 5 series and Mercdes W124 came top. The Honda Legend and Nissan Maxima and Fiat Croma were at the bottom of the pile. The Volvo 700 series only did mediocrely.
It goes to show- alot of the perceived safety of Volvo is only that- just perceived and doesnt really live up to the hype. It also goes to show Yanks (who invariably worship anything from the land of the rising sun over American or German
) that Jap scrap of the time really were terribly weak tin boxes and much overhyped.
No one really expected the Fiat to do well but at least it had charisma
Second hand the Volvos main benefit is that they're usually cheaper. I don't even know if they have cheaper parts, the engines aren't robust compared to the Mercedes, the fuel economy is s
te, and the V6 Renault engine well....best not go there...
The results were quite shocking
Here is a video link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQH6MLTSDZ4
The BMW E34 5 series and Mercdes W124 came top. The Honda Legend and Nissan Maxima and Fiat Croma were at the bottom of the pile. The Volvo 700 series only did mediocrely.
It goes to show- alot of the perceived safety of Volvo is only that- just perceived and doesnt really live up to the hype. It also goes to show Yanks (who invariably worship anything from the land of the rising sun over American or German
) that Jap scrap of the time really were terribly weak tin boxes and much overhyped.No one really expected the Fiat to do well but at least it had charisma
Second hand the Volvos main benefit is that they're usually cheaper. I don't even know if they have cheaper parts, the engines aren't robust compared to the Mercedes, the fuel economy is s
te, and the V6 Renault engine well....best not go there...I have to say the seat mechanism was one of the easiest ever to use - one pull of the tab on the 6th/7th seat base and it lifted up and folded away, then the backrest dropped in to the floor. 10 seconds if you do it really slowly at a guess.
I used to use a previous model 230TE (5 seater) when working at a furniture shop and we were forever dropping the rear seats, removing the bases, putting them back again - all dead easy and I think the W124 was pretty much the same set-up. I didn't drop the back (3/4/5) seat often but it was easier whenever I needed to - didn't even think about it.
Sounds like someone either had a bad example where things didn't work properly, or they never learnt the way it works.
I used to use a previous model 230TE (5 seater) when working at a furniture shop and we were forever dropping the rear seats, removing the bases, putting them back again - all dead easy and I think the W124 was pretty much the same set-up. I didn't drop the back (3/4/5) seat often but it was easier whenever I needed to - didn't even think about it.
Sounds like someone either had a bad example where things didn't work properly, or they never learnt the way it works.
johnpeat said:
fluffnik said:
Backrests
Whilst that might sound clever - clearly the designer never parked at the side of a road to load his car. - Doors open -> Backrest unlocked
- Doors closed -> Backrest locked
Opening the doors just to tip the seats = getting doors ripped-off by passing cars!?
Also - tipping seats when in your garage?!??!??
I always found the S124's loadspace less compromised than any other estate car I've owned or used.
fluffnik said:
I always found the S124's loadspace less compromised than any other estate car I've owned or used.
I couldn't agree more - I used this car last week to collect a Touraeg/Cayenne hard plastic moulded boot liner - it fitted easily between the Merc's wheelarches and there was about a foot to spare in the length of the boot floor!thegoose said:
fluffnik said:
I always found the S124's loadspace less compromised than any other estate car I've owned or used.
I couldn't agree more - I used this car last week to collect a Touraeg/Cayenne hard plastic moulded boot liner - it fitted easily between the Merc's wheelarches and there was about a foot to spare in the length of the boot floor!I fully intend to have another some day.
E32/E36 5-speed with climate next time!
fluffnik said:
A vertical rear window a la Volvo, perhaps opening, or a split tailgate are the only potential improvements I can envision.
ALL estate cars need the split or 'window opening' tailgate IMO - the standard Estate 'up and over' is a pain in the arse when you're taller, I have to stoop to do anything in most estates...Few cars have this tho - aside from Range Rovers/Sports and 5 Series Tourings?
johnpeat said:
ALL estate cars need the split or 'window opening' tailgate IMO - the standard Estate 'up and over' is a pain in the arse when you're taller, I have to stoop to do anything in most estates...
Few cars have this tho - aside from Range Rovers/Sports and 5 Series Tourings?
The E46 Tourings also have the split tail gate.Few cars have this tho - aside from Range Rovers/Sports and 5 Series Tourings?
Agree - such a useful feature to have!
You have got to try one of these on a long trip!
My grandfather owned a couple , the last was in white , an estate 300te automatic with orthopedic seats.
He ran it for a good while racking up only 16 thousand miles , it now resides with my uncle , the mileage circa 49 thousand , its a j plate on a private number and as new as the day it came out the factory.
My grandfather owned a couple , the last was in white , an estate 300te automatic with orthopedic seats.
He ran it for a good while racking up only 16 thousand miles , it now resides with my uncle , the mileage circa 49 thousand , its a j plate on a private number and as new as the day it came out the factory.
pSyCoSiS said:
johnpeat said:
ALL estate cars need the split or 'window opening' tailgate IMO - the standard Estate 'up and over' is a pain in the arse when you're taller, I have to stoop to do anything in most estates...
Few cars have this tho - aside from Range Rovers/Sports and 5 Series Tourings?
The E46 Tourings also have the split tail gate.Few cars have this tho - aside from Range Rovers/Sports and 5 Series Tourings?
Agree - such a useful feature to have!
Nice shed. W124s are (with the exception of the E200 - just far too little engine) generally great cars. Although not without their issues (especially electrics) they just don't make cars with this sort of rock solid quality anymore.
My dad ran a '89 model 300E for about 16 years. He sold it with less than 150,000 miles for less than a grand. He regrets doing so.
For anybody wanting a practical, comfortable, family classic this would be a sensible choice. But as others here have said already, with the 4 pot the performance will be unexciting.
My dad ran a '89 model 300E for about 16 years. He sold it with less than 150,000 miles for less than a grand. He regrets doing so.
For anybody wanting a practical, comfortable, family classic this would be a sensible choice. But as others here have said already, with the 4 pot the performance will be unexciting.
I've followed Shed of the week for ages, but until now, never felt the need to post. My current shed is also a w124, an E280 and what a car! I'm a sucker for german barges, just look at my garage. They don't get any better these, if bought correctly that is
Mine's close to 200k and still going strong.
Mine's close to 200k and still going strong.
ShedDriver said:
I've followed Shed of the week for ages, but until now, never felt the need to post. My current shed is also a w124, an E280 and what a car! I'm a sucker for german barges, just look at my garage. They don't get any better these, if bought correctly that is
Mine's close to 200k and still going strong.
Your garage is almost as impressive as your de-lurk. Mine's close to 200k and still going strong.
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