RE: Shed Of The Week: Mercedes 300CE

[Whiters]

BGarside said:

...Remember reading a road test on the 300CE in Autocar as a kid (met grey, 15-hole alloys and black leather) and lusting after it

Was that the test with the then new Honda Legend Coupe (where are they now, not that there were ever many in the first place) and Jag XJS 3.6? I drooled at the Jag and the Merc for weeks. Not so much the Honda.

W124 is a must in my bucket car list. That said, so is a W123.

[J4CKO]

Still a few Legend Coupes about, I know it isn't quite on a par with the Merc but whilst we are on old saloon derived coupes, there was also the Rover 800 Coupe, which I think was a really handsome thing.

[TWPC]

Phil303 said:

This is going well so far isn't it? How long before someone with a horror story about one of these comes along.

Lovely car, I hope it goes to a good home.

My mum had a 230TE manual. The front seats were the wrong shape for my back and after a long drive I could hardly move. While this was a horror story for me, I now know that this was a reflection more of the state of my back than the car...

She had it for 7 years from 1989 and did 195K miles. Apart from those effing seats I loved it - the most rational car my family ever had, apart perhaps from a 2CV.

[TWPC]

J4CKO said:

...whilst we are on old saloon derived coupes...

You must not forget the Peugeot 405 coupe. As a famous turkey farmer kept saying, 'bootiful'.

[Dynamic Turtle]

LotusEspritTurbo said:

When I was a kid in the late 70s & early 80s, Mercs where something special. The SL, S Class (W126) and SEC where pure class, always to be seen at the right places and driven by the rich and famous. And the 300CE was the last of the understated, well designed cars. Then something went horribly wrong, maybe it was the introduction of the A class, but the brand just went down hill.

Ain't that the truth...

[chazola]

I'll be the first (I think) pedant to point out it's got the 'wrong' (w210) alloys on it..!
Apart from that Pearl Blue is one of the nicest Merc colours of the period. I have a 124 estate but I'd like a coupe too, even though I have absolutely no need for it

[derin100]

Granted it's took me two years of effort and grief plus literally circa 10 times £££££ SOTW's price to get it into this condition but here's my 300CE:

http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/gallery/index.php?spg...

[urquattro]

pSyCoSiS said:

Pure class - will still look good in 20 years time...

The best car in it's league, back in the day.

Solid, smooth and the ultimate wafter.

This (and the W140) are definitely the last of the proper Mercedes.

Excellent SOTW.

I have a 1985 W126 500sel it is total reliablity after years of owning it, however the W140 (had an S500) is too big, too heavy and fraught with electronic issues, p.s. they rust badly as well so take the W140 off the wish list if you wish to remain solvent.
However, the ride in the W140 was probably as good as an RR - it was spectacular and equipped like a gentleman's lounge. It still had to go though, as quickly as possible whilst it still worked ok.

[Triumph Man]

Dynamic Turtle said:

LotusEspritTurbo said:

When I was a kid in the late 70s & early 80s, Mercs where something special. The SL, S Class (W126) and SEC where pure class, always to be seen at the right places and driven by the rich and famous. And the 300CE was the last of the understated, well designed cars. Then something went horribly wrong, maybe it was the introduction of the A class, but the brand just went down hill.

Ain't that the truth...

Agreed.

For me it's something about the late 90s/early 2000s interiors. They just seem a bit tacky. An 80s Mercedes interior to me is a lovely place to be.

[SidewaysSi]

I needed more practicality so recently bought a 1995 w124 E220 saloon to replace a Honda Integra R and it is fabulous!! It is just so well made and has a lovely ride. It is no sportscar but has character and style way above its price point. Hugely recommended...

[pavka007]

derin100 said:

Granted it's took me two years of effort and grief plus literally circa 10 times £££££ SOTW's price to get it into this condition but here's my 300CE:

http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/gallery/index.php?spg...

Oh boy.....this is just superb.
If you selling I am buying
I am serious about it.

[ES335]

Excellent shed. I ran two of these, both the later models 220 and 320. Given the experience of 320 wiring loom, I think I'd be happy with twelve valves where the loom does not run across the head. It's not just the wiring loom itself but the fact that shorts in the loom can take out both coils and the ECU. Another joy of the later cars is the five speed auto which has multiple problems, some of which seem to be nigh on insoluble. Mine would miss fourth gear and a friend had two different ECUs - one would fail to select fifth while the other would miss fourth same as mine! As for the issue with squeaky interiors, I suspect this has more to do with the fact that 124s of all types are a clocker's delight given their capacity to take punishment and still soldier on. Lovely cars though and certainly far preferable to their successors - at least for the decade from 2006 on.

[Oddball RS]

pavka007 said:

derin100 said:

Granted it's took me two years of effort and grief plus literally circa 10 times £££££ SOTW's price to get it into this condition but here's my 300CE:

http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/gallery/index.php?spg...

Oh boy.....this is just superb.
If you selling I am buying
I am serious about it.

Indeed credit where it is well and truly due!

[GreenArrow]

Great shed, I love W124s, comes from a time when Mercs didn't try hard to be wannabe BMWs like they do these days and were driven by gentlemen!

[anonymous-user]

Ex Boy Racer said:

That mileometer reading looks very dodgy - number position is all over the place

And that leather looks like it's been sat on for possibly more than 121,000 miles.

[Fattyfat]

My old boss has one of these, owned it from near enough new. Proper car and reassuringly solid.

[0a]

pavka007 said:

derin100 said:

Granted it's took me two years of effort and grief plus literally circa 10 times £££££ SOTW's price to get it into this condition but here's my 300CE:

http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/gallery/index.php?spg...

Oh boy.....this is just superb.
If you selling I am buying
I am serious about it.

Every time Derin posts that I can help but spend far too long looking through the photos!

[daveco]

Dynamic Turtle said:

LotusEspritTurbo said:

When I was a kid in the late 70s & early 80s, Mercs where something special. The SL, S Class (W126) and SEC where pure class, always to be seen at the right places and driven by the rich and famous. And the 300CE was the last of the understated, well designed cars. Then something went horribly wrong, maybe it was the introduction of the A class, but the brand just went down hill.

Ain't that the truth...

Here here.

I think the point which Mercedes went slightly incline at the very least has to be the C-class. It just didn't seem solid in picture or in the flesh.

Was the 320 the biggest engine the coupe came in in the CE? I know the saloon had the hammer but would be interesting to know if the 420 or indeed any other V8 or large V6 made it under the bonnet.

[OldandGrumpy]

Heres mine.Twenty years old and flawless. Beautiful beautiful drive.

[TomEP]

dme123 said:

I remember Garry Glitters having one in red and it being on the news a lot the first time they caught him for being a nonce.

Haha, nonce, quality phrase. not heard anyone use the nonce phrase enough in the modern context of ex bbc presenters.

On the subject of the merc, bit old man for me but a good sotw compared with some of the recent tripe