RE: SOTW: Mercedes 300 CE-24

[derin100]

Jw Vw said:

Beauty of a car - it's funny this ones going for £750 with 200,000 and another is £4,995 with 112,000! £4,995 is a joke price £795 is a bargain!

Erm...unfortunately, £4995 isn't a joke price IMHO if you want a nice one that's properly sorted out "off-the-shelf". That £4K difference could very quickly be consumed making it into a nice one.

In my experience (and I do have some) turning any circa 20 year old German car into something really nice takes about £4-5Kish of cash plus a whole lot of work .

Depends what your aspirations are.........?

[soad]

So, who thinks Mr Garlick should have acquired this little beauty then? So he could fuss over it, making improvements and such he he

[Jw Vw]

derin100 said:

Erm...unfortunately, £4995 isn't a joke price IMHO if you want a nice one that's properly sorted out "off-the-shelf". That £4K difference could very quickly be consumed making it into a nice one.

In my experience (and I do have some) turning any circa 20 year old German car into something really nice takes about £4-5Kish of cash plus a whole lot of work .

Depends what your aspirations are.........?

I don't deny that an old German car does cost a lot of money to make special! Its just I couldn't justify spending that much on one that's all. The only 20 year old car I would spend a lot of cash on would be a E30 M3! I just had a look at you're website you've got a few lovely motors that you've sold, particularly that 8-Series and the 190E

[SammyW]

Very nice, I could be tempted into one of these, especially at that price.

[r129sl]

What great cars. I have just driven my 185,000mile 320 TE home from a rare night out with my wife and, I confess, I had forgotten how good it is. To think I was about to foresake its charms for a brand new s212!

[dbdb]

urquattro said:

I have run a 1985 W126 500 SEL for 10 years or so, did the bodywork up/paint etc to make it look nice, paid £1200 and its now at 200k, still kraut perfection, good mpg if sensible and goes like stinky comfort on kickdown.
Dont think I could bear to part with it, also have a S500 W140 in case of problems or a change, classic car insurance is marvellous.;)

Wigeon Incognito said:

Snap, ish. I just bought a W126 560 SEL although I'm still waiting for some work to be finished on it (I had the cams checked which are spot on but thought a new chain might as well go in, it's taking longer than expected to arrive from Germany though):-

Much as I like the CE, I would rather have either of these!

[derin100]

Jw Vw said:

I don't deny that an old German car does cost a lot of money to make special! Its just I couldn't justify spending that much on one that's all. The only 20 year old car I would spend a lot of cash on would be a E30 M3! I just had a look at you're website you've got a few lovely motors that you've sold, particularly that 8-Series and the 190E

You mean like this one?

http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/e30_m3/index.html

Trouble is they all cost a fair whack to bring up to scratch whether they be E30 M3s or anything else of that era.... they're all made essentially of the same 'metal' and they all 'cost' to 'do'!

Your point is correct though in that there are certain cars (e.g the E30 M3) which will show you a better return for the same expenditure....but that's not why I do what I 'do'.

I 'do' and have done it as an alternative to mindlessly watching Cheryl Cole, Simon Cowell, Big Brother and all the other mindless "Celebrity Strictly Come Sheete" etc over the years. Even if I don't show a 'profit' at the end of the day I have 'something' to show for it? And if someone buys it and is happy...so much the better!

Anyway..watch my 'space' and I'll do the same with this W124 Coupe



Best regards

Edited by derin100 on Friday 28th January 23:40

Edited by derin100 on Friday 28th January 23:41

[dbdb]

derin100 said:

Jw Vw said:

I don't deny that an old German car does cost a lot of money to make special! Its just I couldn't justify spending that much on one that's all. The only 20 year old car I would spend a lot of cash on would be a E30 M3! I just had a look at you're website you've got a few lovely motors that you've sold, particularly that 8-Series and the 190E

You mean like this one?

http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/e30_m3/index.html

Trouble is they all cost a fair whack to bring up to scratch whether they be E30 M3s or anything else of that era.... they're all made essentially of the same 'metal' and they all 'cost' to 'do'!

Your point is correct though in that there are certain cars (e.g the E30 M3) which will show you a better return for the same expenditure....but that's not why I do what I 'do'.

I 'do' and have done it as an alternative to mindlessly watching Cheryl Cole, Simon Cowell, Big Brother and all the other mindless "Celebrity Strictly Come Sheete" etc over the years. Even if I don't show a 'profit' at the end of the day I have 'something' to show for it? And if someone buys it and is happy...so much the better!

Anyway..watch my 'space' and I'll do the same with this W124 Coupe

Best regards

Very few old cars will offer a good financial return from improving their condition and the ones which will are selected by their broad appeal to lots of people. Often they're sporty and small and can be far cheaper to 'do up' than bigger cars like a Merc or a Jag which will cost a fortune and still be difficult to sell for decent money. That said, there is always someone who will spend for an excellent car, I guess you have to wait for them.

I don't quite 'get' the E30; it doesn't appeal to me, though I see the appeal to others. Either of the E28s are more my thing. My dad had a similar one in the early/mid 'eighties and seeing the 'timewarp' condition of the white one gave me a feeling of nostalgia.
My own car is an old XJ40, a car few others seem to want right now and they are very cheap. To make that right will consume a lot of money and it will only ever be worth anything to me, but that is the nature of an enthusiast.

[carinaman]

I saw a 300E_24 almandine red saloon at an auction a few years ago, but it was an Auto and had rust bubbling under the paint on the bootlid.

Don't these also rot in front of the front wheel arch? Pattern wings are £90 ish each? Then you've got to get them sprayed to match. I asked at a bodyshop near me for a price a couple of years ago and they said 'Yeah, we had a W124 in for that last month'.

Someone on a Merc. forum said the 24V heads can be troublesome, where as Mercs. normal 3 litre straight 6 was a lot less problematic and longer lasting.

I mentioned a W124 in the works car park and colleague that's ridden it said it often broke down. Perhaps it wasn't breaking down and it was just convenient for the car to fail in the middle of nowhere now and again?

[derin100]

Don't these also rot in front of the front wheel arch? Pattern wings are £90 ish each? Then you've got to get them sprayed to match. I asked at a bodyshop near me for a price a couple of years ago and they said 'Yeah, we had a W124 in for that last month'.

Yes, that has been my experience so far. And the wings rot from the inside out. So, I think if you can see rust bubbling on the lower aspect of the wing/wheelarch it'll be shot right through. So, by the time you've put new wings on, had the two sides of the car repainted to get a good match, then possibly had the bonnet done to match and get rid of any stone-chips etc.... One can see how the costs are already suddenly start to mount up?

[B'stard Child]

That's top shedding - great choice

[gumsie]

dbdb said:

urquattro said:

I have run a 1985 W126 500 SEL for 10 years or so, did the bodywork up/paint etc to make it look nice, paid £1200 and its now at 200k, still kraut perfection, good mpg if sensible and goes like stinky comfort on kickdown.
Dont think I could bear to part with it, also have a S500 W140 in case of problems or a change, classic car insurance is marvellous.;)

Wigeon Incognito said:

Snap, ish. I just bought a W126 560 SEL although I'm still waiting for some work to be finished on it (I had the cams checked which are spot on but thought a new chain might as well go in, it's taking longer than expected to arrive from Germany though):-

Much as I like the CE, I would rather have either of these!

Agree. As much as I hankered after one of these back in the day, the only thing that stopped me splashing cash on it was the lack of a V8. (I know about the 500E but that had two doors too many). Got a 420SEC instead, almost the nicest car I've ever owned.

[John D.]

derin100 said:

Erm...unfortunately, £4995 isn't a joke price IMHO if you want a nice one that's properly sorted out "off-the-shelf". That £4K difference could very quickly be consumed making it into a nice one.

In my experience (and I do have some) turning any circa 20 year old German car into something really nice takes about £4-5Kish of cash plus a whole lot of work .

Depends what your aspirations are.........?

Spot on The expensive ones may look a joke but there is a big difference in condition and I can see the appeal (and value) in having a really nice one.

I've said it before but I would have bought that SOTW if it had been around when I was in the market. Loving mine though. Great motorway cruiser.

[John D.]

gumsie said:

dbdb said:

urquattro said:

I have run a 1985 W126 500 SEL for 10 years or so, did the bodywork up/paint etc to make it look nice, paid £1200 and its now at 200k, still kraut perfection, good mpg if sensible and goes like stinky comfort on kickdown.
Dont think I could bear to part with it, also have a S500 W140 in case of problems or a change, classic car insurance is marvellous.;)

Wigeon Incognito said:

Snap, ish. I just bought a W126 560 SEL although I'm still waiting for some work to be finished on it (I had the cams checked which are spot on but thought a new chain might as well go in, it's taking longer than expected to arrive from Germany though):-

Much as I like the CE, I would rather have either of these!

Agree. As much as I hankered after one of these back in the day, the only thing that stopped me splashing cash on it was the lack of a V8. (I know about the 500E but that had two doors too many). Got a 420SEC instead, almost the nicest car I've ever owned.

Only thing stopping me getting one of these sometime is the worry I won't get away with really taking the piss on the company fuelcard I may consult HR at some point

[Strawman]

derin100 said:

Anyway..watch my 'space' and I'll do the same with this W124 Coupe

You've bought this actual car ?

[derin100]

Strawman said:

You've bought this actual car ?

No, no, not this actual car but The red 230 CE that I posted a pic of a bit further up the thread.

I bought it a few weeks ago and I'm currently working my way through getting it into top condition. It's away at a Merc specialist at the moment having some work done and I've already collected together about £500 pounds worth of parts for jobs I want to do myself once I get it back. Then it'll be off to the body/paintshop.

[ess]

Dangerous place this Pistonheads.

I'm now scouring the classifieds for big old Merc estates.
May even prompt me to find a missus, have kids and buy the black Lab I've always promised myself.
Most likely in reverse order though.

[soad]

ess said:

Dangerous place this Pistonheads.

I'm now scouring the classifieds for big old Merc estates.
May even prompt me to find a missus, have kids and buy the black Lab I've always promised myself.
Most likely in reverse order though.

[Jw Vw]

derin100 said:

Jw Vw said:

I don't deny that an old German car does cost a lot of money to make special! Its just I couldn't justify spending that much on one that's all. The only 20 year old car I would spend a lot of cash on would be a E30 M3! I just had a look at you're website you've got a few lovely motors that you've sold, particularly that 8-Series and the 190E

You mean like this one?

http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/e30_m3/index.html

Trouble is they all cost a fair whack to bring up to scratch whether they be E30 M3s or anything else of that era.... they're all made essentially of the same 'metal' and they all 'cost' to 'do'!

Your point is correct though in that there are certain cars (e.g the E30 M3) which will show you a better return for the same expenditure....but that's not why I do what I 'do'.

I 'do' and have done it as an alternative to mindlessly watching Cheryl Cole, Simon Cowell, Big Brother and all the other mindless "Celebrity Strictly Come Sheete" etc over the years. Even if I don't show a 'profit' at the end of the day I have 'something' to show for it? And if someone buys it and is happy...so much the better!

Anyway..watch my 'space' and I'll do the same with this W124 Coupe



Best regards

Edited by derin100 on Friday 28th January 23:40

Edited by derin100 on Friday 28th January 23:41

I love what you have made that M3 into, absolutely stunning. It's fantastic that people like yourself spend money on these cars to make them concourse. And you're comment about mindless shows such as Big Brother etc is spot on! Good luck with the W124 Coupe

[urquattro]

Re White 126 earlier picture.
Interesting development re time spent gawking at rubbish t.v. and productive garage hobbies, that is why my W126 is perfectly presentable due to work and some external help, even though it maybe relatively low value in the grand scheme of vehicle economics and resale.
The return on the time and money is excellent reliability and comfort, plus when I am the filling station I see huge sums of depreciation on wheels, something I do not face. Hence the old/older cars.;)