Titivating my Mercedes 124

[slippery]

I'm enjoying the irrational spunking of cash r129, well done!

[Wills2]

r129sl said:

Wills2 said:

I loved my R129, you've now made me want to buy another one.

The R129 is a beautiful car. And so well made.

I had issues with the electrics the dashboard went and the controller unit for the hood, expensive to replace the car was a 1997, I had it from 2001-2003.

But I still loved it, did 70k in it.

[Pentoman]

The dry humour is what does it for me here.

Just selling my 190E 2.5-16 after 60,000 happy miles, and some particularly heavy usage recently. If I could keep it I would.

[EJH]

r129sl said:

Thanks for all the positive comments. For some reason I was feeling a little low about it all. I suspect because I am seeing it part way through the painting process.

I failed to mention that it received six coats of base paint and three coats of clear.

This feeling is, I take it, well and truly over? This is wonderful...and it's just going to get better as it's built up.

I like the US front indicators as they look great...but being a little (okay, a lot) OCD myself, the amber on the sides ties into the repeaters and the rear lights.

I have always fancied a W124...and this isn't helping!

[mccrackenj]

As others have said, a great and inspiring thread. The car looks so good already, imagine what it'll be like all flatted back and polished up.

You've seem to have got an amazing lot of good quality work for your £2500 or so. Even if the eventual cost rises a fair bit it's still great VFM!

I know the car (including all the previous mechanical work) has cost you what most people would consider a crazy level of expenditure for any W124, but what have you ended up with? A mechanically excellent, rust-free, cosmetically lovely example of one of the most sought after S124s - and a car that is perfect for your specific requirements.

You could almost wind the odometer back to zero and start again - that car will serve you magnificently over the next several years, and the whole time you will be driving something you actually want to drive every single day. That's surely worth every single penny? Life really is too short to worry about cost sometimes.

ETA: F*CKING WELL DONE!

Edited by mccrackenj on Wednesday 26th March 22:01

Edited by mccrackenj on Thursday 27th March 16:29

[E65Ross]

r129sl said:

E65Ross said:

Have you ever driven an R230? Would be interested to hear the main differences. Now I'm sure the R129 feels much more solid but I'm guessing a fair bit less refined. Is the SL more refined than the W124?

My brother is on his second R230 SL500. I've driven a short way in both. I also had a ride just the other day in a SL55 AMG. They're nice, they really are. The cockpit is a nice place to be. The difference isn't massive, that's what struck me. In the R230, you sit even lower and even further back (or so it seems) and the cowl seems quite high. The R230 is definitely more refined: much less NVH although I also felt more insulated, perhaps unsurprisingly. The perceived quality is very high. I think they're underrated by the market. Of course, people are scared by the ABC suspension, the SBC brakes and that roof, but it's not like they're made of chocolate and you certainly don't see rusty ones. I'm not completely sold on the shape but even I would concede it is the best-looking tin top roadster (with the possible exception of the first generation R170 SLK). The SL55 AMG was immense.

interesting thoughts, does it have the "character" of the R129?

Not sold on the shape? I think it's absolutely spectacular. I mean, check out this (a PHers)



I'd absolutely love one but not sure whether I'd rather an SL or a CL...

[dbdb]

Anyone who uses a 20+ year old car as a daily driver needs to do work like this. Even really good cars will most likely have considerable lurking rust - it's just invisible right now, waiting to develop further.

When I had my Jaguar's visible rust problems repaired I was amazed by the rust that was found which could only be seen when the car had been taken apart. Used every day in the British climate, it will soon show itself. I suspect this is why many 'minters' deteriorate rapidly in use.

Done this way - seeking out the rust then dealing with it, the car will last a good few years before more work is needed on the body. All polished up it will be a lovely way to get about.

[dbdb]

E65Ross said:

interesting thoughts, does it have the "character" of the R129?

Not sold on the shape? I think it's absolutely spectacular. I mean, check out this (a PHers)



I'd absolutely love one but not sure whether I'd rather an SL or a CL...

They're lovely looking cars, but are they any more reliable than the W220 S Class saloon? They're pretty dire in my experience.

[0a]

E65Ross said:

interesting thoughts, does it have the "character" of the R129?

Not sold on the shape? I think it's absolutely spectacular. I mean, check out this (a PHers)



I'd absolutely love one but not sure whether I'd rather an SL or a CL...

I like the 55 amgs, but they are a very different type of car.

Regarding the above - the R129 has deep and enduring old fashioned quality and character, like an old manor house. The merc above is like a top end modern house - high quality, none of the annoying drafts or that stupid aga, noise-proofed - vastly better by any objective measure. Like the E65 vs old merc saloons

I would have the manor house though!

[r129sl]

Well you've all cheered me up mightily: thank you.

Glad you all understand the rationale of the US-spec indicators, too. It's all about the repeaters and the tail lamps. I am not alone.

Now, what do you think I'd get for it in part-ex against a SL55 AMG? I jest, I jest.

[E65Ross]

0a said:

E65Ross said:

interesting thoughts, does it have the "character" of the R129?

Not sold on the shape? I think it's absolutely spectacular. I mean, check out this (a PHers)



I'd absolutely love one but not sure whether I'd rather an SL or a CL...

I like the 55 amgs, but they are a very different type of car.

Regarding the above - the R129 has deep and enduring old fashioned quality and character, like an old manor house. The merc above is like a top end modern house - high quality, none of the annoying drafts or that stupid aga, noise-proofed - vastly better by any objective measure. Like the E65 vs old merc saloons

I would have the manor house though!

I like your analogy and it's rather true. I must see what the fuss is about with these W124s. I think CharlesdeGaulle said he'd take me out as he's not toooooo far away from me, about an hours drive.

I've been in an E65 730d and whilst a good car I do feel the 4.4 V8 really adds to the experience. The only old Merc I've been in is a 190e and whilst very nice I wasn't totally bowled over by it.

Failing that, R129sl did you say you'd come to Mercedes-Benz world Sunday service? Where do you live
If up North that's one long drive for a morning out! Though we could always go out for a drive and a drink somewhere and make a day of it.

[r129sl]

E65Ross said:

I like your analogy and it's rather true. I must see what the fuss is about with these W124s. I think CharlesdeGaulle said he'd take me out as he's not toooooo far away from me, about an hours drive.

I've been in an E65 730d and whilst a good car I do feel the 4.4 V8 really adds to the experience. The only old Merc I've been in is a 190e and whilst very nice I wasn't totally bowled over by it.

Failing that, R129sl did you say you'd come to Mercedes-Benz world Sunday service? Where do you live
If up North that's one long drive for a morning out! Though we could always go out for a drive and a drink somewhere and make a day of it.

The 4.4 V8 really adds to the experience: understatement of the week.

We're coming down to the MB World Sunday Service with the 124. Watch this space... We live in Northumberland so we're making a weekend of it.

The qualities of all these old Mercs are somewhat mystical and only become apparent with time and use. On first acquaintance, it is hard to see what the fuss is about. But when you've had one for a while, you won't want to be without one for long.

[Hooli]

r129sl said:

The qualities of all these old Mercs are somewhat mystical and only become apparent with time and use. On first acquaintance, it is hard to see what the fuss is about. But when you've had one for a while, you won't want to be without one for long.

This is true, I had a sheddy 260e for a few years. I got it as a cheap run about for a month & it stayed over two years, only getting sold when a long fast run without a rad cap resulted in horrible noises after overheating stuck in traffic near the end of the run.
It was probably the best everyday car I've had, except the Jag I've got now & that only wins because to me the Englishness out weighs the lower reliability.

[0a]

When I purchased my w124, for the first 50 miles I thought "what on earth have I purchased this old thing for". Then I completed the rest of the trip from Devon to Edinburgh and was convinced. Now look at me... I had never even sat in one before I flew down to get mine!

[neilbauer]

Very nice, bookmarked

[CharlesdeGaulle]

E65Ross said:

I think CharlesdeGaulle said he'd take me out as he's not toooooo far away from me, about an hours drive.

Failing that, R129sl did you say you'd come to Mercedes-Benz world Sunday service?

The offer stands Ross.

As r129sl says, there are rumours (facts yet?) that there will be a SS on 27 Apr at MB World, and there appears to be some interest on the 1-5 thread to send a posse, so that could be a great chance to be really boring over each others cars!

[dbdb]

Hooli said:

This is true, I had a sheddy 260e for a few years. I got it as a cheap run about for a month & it stayed over two years, only getting sold when a long fast run without a rad cap resulted in horrible noises after overheating stuck in traffic near the end of the run.
It was probably the best everyday car I've had, except the Jag I've got now & that only wins because to me the Englishness out weighs the lower reliability.

I like the W124, particularly the estate - but also prefer the Jag. There isn't much interest in them on Piston Heads though, nothing like the interest in older Mercedes. My Jag has been incredibly reliable, but also really rusty! More than R129's Merc on a much lower mileage. I like to see these old Mercs being saved. They remind me of a better time for cars; I found them so much more interesting then.

[Rollcage]

I have to say, that is an impressive amount of decent quality work for £2500. I have a feeling the bodyshop concerned won't be doing themselves any harm with this thread either!

[dbdb]

Rollcage said:

I have to say, that is an impressive amount of decent quality work for £2500. I have a feeling the bodyshop concerned won't be doing themselves any harm with this thread either!

It really is.

[Rollcage]

dbdb said:

Rollcage said:

I have to say, that is an impressive amount of decent quality work for £2500. I have a feeling the bodyshop concerned won't be doing themselves any harm with this thread either!

It really is.

I know a fair few bodyshops/sprayers and the chances of getting that quality of work for that amount of money are precisely nil!