RE: SOTW: Mercedes 300 CE-24
Discussion
Lovely cars, beautifully built and reminiscent of a time when Mercedes were at th top of their game. Watch for headgaskets on the 24v lump but apart from that they are bulletproof.
If anyone buys that and sticks a set of 18" AMG Monoblock reps on it then will be at your house with a trolley jack and an assortment of bricks to remedy the situation!!
If anyone buys that and sticks a set of 18" AMG Monoblock reps on it then will be at your house with a trolley jack and an assortment of bricks to remedy the situation!!
The Donster said:
A '94, 125k, 320 coupe-owning mate of mine this week just discovered a burnt out exhaust valve on his, so that involved a new set of valves, head re-skim and new head gasket - 1,200 notes in all. Gulp. Still hasn't fallen out of love with his, though.
£1200 for a top end rebuild including new valves is pretty damn cheap - can't think of many 24 valve engines where you'd get off so lightlysigh
I owned one of these from 65K to 105K.
Twas a delight to drive; pure luxury. Stunning build quality. Felt like Mr Toad of Toad Hall.
Then I got stage fright.
1. The HT cable assembly gets gently cooked between the DOHC. I should've had the replacement hand made because the Merc replacement part was very very expensive.
2. Then the autobox started misbehaving and required a rebuild. Guess the earlier owner hadnt changed the oil & filter.
It went onto eBay . I got £2k, the price of the g/box rebuild, and the man flew over from Ireland to collect.
He drove it back very happy.
Now it's a 1999 300T diesel estate with rust and a dog.
Still miss it - the convertible Golf's just not the same even if the dog loves catching flies in her teeth.
Sad story no ?
I owned one of these from 65K to 105K.
Twas a delight to drive; pure luxury. Stunning build quality. Felt like Mr Toad of Toad Hall.
Then I got stage fright.
1. The HT cable assembly gets gently cooked between the DOHC. I should've had the replacement hand made because the Merc replacement part was very very expensive.
2. Then the autobox started misbehaving and required a rebuild. Guess the earlier owner hadnt changed the oil & filter.
It went onto eBay . I got £2k, the price of the g/box rebuild, and the man flew over from Ireland to collect.
He drove it back very happy.
Now it's a 1999 300T diesel estate with rust and a dog.
Still miss it - the convertible Golf's just not the same even if the dog loves catching flies in her teeth.
Sad story no ?
Mt Brother is a Merc fan and has had many W123 Series models. He did own a W124 a few years ago and it was a lovely car. Although his was the 12V version it was still potent enough for most. Handled pretty well too and returned around low 20s MPG. My fav feature was the way the seatbelt is electrically bought forward so it's easier to grab.
This is the only pic I have of it parked with a Stag I had at the time. His came with factory fitted AMG boot spoiler and genuine 16" AMG wheels (He's still got the wheels as fitted larger 18s as in the pic)
Amazing how cheap you can get one now although the convertibles have held their value extremely well..
This is the only pic I have of it parked with a Stag I had at the time. His came with factory fitted AMG boot spoiler and genuine 16" AMG wheels (He's still got the wheels as fitted larger 18s as in the pic)
Amazing how cheap you can get one now although the convertibles have held their value extremely well..
Edited by V8 TEJ on Friday 28th January 11:16
What a lovely car, price must be right at that, and having the same owner since '98 and 28k, it's virtually 1 owner rather than 3.
One thing puzzles in the Shed write-up, does the car really weigh in at 1490Kg, that sounds light for such a big chunk of Merc, my Bora tdi comes in at 1380Kg.
One thing puzzles in the Shed write-up, does the car really weigh in at 1490Kg, that sounds light for such a big chunk of Merc, my Bora tdi comes in at 1380Kg.
CampDavid said:
Liquid Knight said:
CampDavid said:
Pretty sure they did. Mercedes always used to offer everything in a manual even though no one in their right mind would buy one
That'd be me then. 
Just googled, apparently the manual is a rare 5 speed geartrag effort and much sort after.
Perhaps it's time for me to sober up. It's a great deal, but if something, anything (what with all this chat of gearbox rebuilds, overdue cambelt changes and heads being skimmed), were to go wrong...it would just sit outside my house looking handsome until someone off ebay decided to relieve me of my failed dream.
icepop said:
What a lovely car, price must be right at that, and having the same owner since '98 and 28k, it's virtually 1 owner rather than 3.
One thing puzzles in the Shed write-up, does the car really weigh in at 1490Kg, that sounds light for such a big chunk of Merc, my Bora tdi comes in at 1380Kg.
It's what the internetweb suggests : http://www.carfolio.com/specifications/models/car/...One thing puzzles in the Shed write-up, does the car really weigh in at 1490Kg, that sounds light for such a big chunk of Merc, my Bora tdi comes in at 1380Kg.
@ Mr Carfolio: are you out there to verify?
Riggers said:
It's what the internetweb suggests : http://www.carfolio.com/specifications/models/car/...
@ Mr Carfolio: are you out there to verify?
From what I remember when my Brother had the car, just under 1500kg is the correct weight.@ Mr Carfolio: are you out there to verify?
I like the Mercedes W124 CE, though not quite as much as the W126 - they're lovely big cars. Still, for the money there would have to be something seriously wrong with it for it to be anything other than a bargain. I guess I am less shocked by the low price though since I love old Jags - you can't give them away despite being fine cars.
Good Shed of the week, I approve!!
Good Shed of the week, I approve!!
Couple of things to watch out for on the W124
The pre '92 Facelift cars fortuantely didnt have the wiring loom problems (coating was made of bio-degradable material '92 onwards and causes electrical havoc if it rots).
Check rear windscreen for milky edges - window delaminates and hints at rot underneath
Ignition control modules can fail on 24v but can be reconditioned by a specialist for £300
5spd auto is an option but the best (4spd auto was standard). Manual was rare for a good reason (autos are far better on these)
The pre '92 Facelift cars fortuantely didnt have the wiring loom problems (coating was made of bio-degradable material '92 onwards and causes electrical havoc if it rots).
Check rear windscreen for milky edges - window delaminates and hints at rot underneath
Ignition control modules can fail on 24v but can be reconditioned by a specialist for £300
5spd auto is an option but the best (4spd auto was standard). Manual was rare for a good reason (autos are far better on these)
Jaz300CE said:
Couple of things to watch out for on the W124
The pre '92 Facelift cars fortuantely didnt have the wiring loom problems (coating was made of bio-degradable material '92 onwards and causes electrical havoc if it rots).
Check rear windscreen for milky edges - window delaminates and hints at rot underneath
Ignition control modules can fail on 24v but can be reconditioned by a specialist for £300
5spd auto is an option but the best (4spd auto was standard). Manual was rare for a good reason (autos are far better on these)
but they're fantastic cars what ever the condition!!The pre '92 Facelift cars fortuantely didnt have the wiring loom problems (coating was made of bio-degradable material '92 onwards and causes electrical havoc if it rots).
Check rear windscreen for milky edges - window delaminates and hints at rot underneath
Ignition control modules can fail on 24v but can be reconditioned by a specialist for £300
5spd auto is an option but the best (4spd auto was standard). Manual was rare for a good reason (autos are far better on these)
V8 TEJ said:
Mt Brother is a Merc fan and has had many W123 Series models. He did own a W124 a few years ago and it was a lovely car. Although his was the 12V version it was still potent enough for most. Handled pretty well too and returned around low 20s MPG. My fav feature was the way the seatbelt is electrically bought forward so it's easier to grab.
This is the only pic I have of it parked with a Stag I had at the time. His came with factory fitted AMG boot spoiler and genuine 16" AMG wheels (He's still got the wheels as fitted larger 18s as in the pic)
Amazing how cheap you can get one now although the convertibles have held their value extremely well..
Off topic, but now this Merc's sold.......lovely wheels on the Stag, mate. This is the only pic I have of it parked with a Stag I had at the time. His came with factory fitted AMG boot spoiler and genuine 16" AMG wheels (He's still got the wheels as fitted larger 18s as in the pic)
Amazing how cheap you can get one now although the convertibles have held their value extremely well..
Edited by V8 TEJ on Friday 28th January 11:16
Possibly best shed ever?
I'm always quite amazed how much car you get for your money with a C124. Most are absolute peanuts, and yet they are possibly the best-engineered, best-built cars ever to hit the face of the earth. Even at that price, while there may be a few 'issues', I bet none will be truly catastrophic.
I mean, what other car offers pillarless style, that kind of interior and wafting ability? Forget price here - we're talking Bentley T2 Coupe, Rolls-Royce Corniche, Jaguar XJC, BMW 3.0CS, Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz, Buick Riviera - note how all those cars cost an arm and a leg to buy and run.
The good ones are bound to escalate in value. Look at how much people are asking for the stack-headlight predecessors? £5k minimum, and even the W123s are inching up out of banger territory - and they rust far worse than 124s and never came with that 24-valve 'six' either.
Problem is, I suppose, that so many end up badly modified, but this one isn't.
£750 and a bit of TLC and it can only go up in value whilst providing many years of wafting. If I had the space and spare cash, I would.
I'm always quite amazed how much car you get for your money with a C124. Most are absolute peanuts, and yet they are possibly the best-engineered, best-built cars ever to hit the face of the earth. Even at that price, while there may be a few 'issues', I bet none will be truly catastrophic.
I mean, what other car offers pillarless style, that kind of interior and wafting ability? Forget price here - we're talking Bentley T2 Coupe, Rolls-Royce Corniche, Jaguar XJC, BMW 3.0CS, Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz, Buick Riviera - note how all those cars cost an arm and a leg to buy and run.
The good ones are bound to escalate in value. Look at how much people are asking for the stack-headlight predecessors? £5k minimum, and even the W123s are inching up out of banger territory - and they rust far worse than 124s and never came with that 24-valve 'six' either.
Problem is, I suppose, that so many end up badly modified, but this one isn't.
£750 and a bit of TLC and it can only go up in value whilst providing many years of wafting. If I had the space and spare cash, I would.
Kaelic said:
It's sold
Am pretty glad too as I was seriously getting tempted
What a lovely piece of metal!
Good. I was getting into insurance quotes.Am pretty glad too as I was seriously getting tempted
What a lovely piece of metal!
I kind of feel we should have a bargain older Mercs thread.
I'll kick off with this bad boy
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/2432983.htm
34k miles from new, in the ideal spec for a saloon (aside from the MB Tex - though this has it's fans and won't hurt your suit) and currently for sale at a sum vastly less than the options probably cost form new.
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