Titivating my Mercedes 124
Discussion
r129sl said:
Correctamundo. Yesterday was Pt St Bernard. Both Cols closed malheureusement, but still fun going up one side.
Fantastic! Hopefully you were there skiing and the snow was as good as it was when I was there earlier in the year!Pt St. Bernard is interesting. Not the best pass...but quite strange little roads, buildings and market at the top (we went through one August, repatriating the 500 to its spiritual home of Lingotto).
I have plotted routes to go back and do as many passes in a week as possible (as well as visiting C'unter in Switzerland for photographic purposes...well, taking a photo of my car with the sign). Very keen to do the Col D'Iseran which goes straight up the La Fornet Valley of Val D'Isere, as well.
Edited by EJH on Friday 8th April 22:32
Setting out this morning:
Presently having a picnic at the Aire du Jura on autoroute A39. We've done 215 miles in less than three hours, not bad when the first 50 were on slow routes nationales. Had a great run over the autoroute Blanche (A40). Fantastic, dream-like motoring.
Presently having a picnic at the Aire du Jura on autoroute A39. We've done 215 miles in less than three hours, not bad when the first 50 were on slow routes nationales. Had a great run over the autoroute Blanche (A40). Fantastic, dream-like motoring.
Edited by r129sl on Saturday 9th April 10:56
I am a very recent convert to these old Mercs, although mine is slightly newer (a 2000 W210). Probably the worlds ugliest car...certainly no oil painting.
I sold my W209 CLK cab before X Mas, as I needed some cash for a house purchase.
For 2 months I borrowed my brothers car (An Alfa GT diesel, which surprisingly was also quite good), but then he needed it back.
So I had about £1500 to spend on a shed. Of course I was tempted by all sorts of petrol V8s, but I was trying to be sensible, 60 mile a day commute etc.
In the end I saw a W210 E320 CDI Estate. 175k miles. It was 200 miles away, so I just bought it unseen.
When I arrived I was surprised at the lack of rust (the odd spot on the door, but everywhere else was rust free).
Anyway, drove home, no issues. 40 mpg. Nice and smooth gear box.Bit wavey on the M way from the rear. Daily use it averages 43 mpg since purchase.
Long story short, changed the rear front sub frame bushes, changed the oil, re attached an intercooler pipe that had popped off and just drove it.
I had a 2000 mile return trip to the Alps coming up and we usually go in the Jeep (5.7, 15 mpg). I was so far impressed with the W210, so though F it, lets take a risk and take that.
Result: 2000 miles, mostly at 95-100 mph to the alps, up and down mountains, hairpins etc and the damn thing averaged 41 mpg.
Got into a friendly "chase" on one M way with a fast BMW over 85 miles and I was doing between 110 and 140 mph (didnt know they went that fast!), absolutely driving the W210 as hard as is possible (like I stole it). Still averaged 40mpg lol. I was fully expecting it to blow up during that 85 miles, or at least all the doors fall off and drop to the floor when I got home.
But no!!! Next morning, fired up as good as ever and drove to work.
I now get 44 mpg on the work commute.
I am amazed to be honest. £1400 and it drives like a new car.
I sold my W209 CLK cab before X Mas, as I needed some cash for a house purchase.
For 2 months I borrowed my brothers car (An Alfa GT diesel, which surprisingly was also quite good), but then he needed it back.
So I had about £1500 to spend on a shed. Of course I was tempted by all sorts of petrol V8s, but I was trying to be sensible, 60 mile a day commute etc.
In the end I saw a W210 E320 CDI Estate. 175k miles. It was 200 miles away, so I just bought it unseen.
When I arrived I was surprised at the lack of rust (the odd spot on the door, but everywhere else was rust free).
Anyway, drove home, no issues. 40 mpg. Nice and smooth gear box.Bit wavey on the M way from the rear. Daily use it averages 43 mpg since purchase.
Long story short, changed the rear front sub frame bushes, changed the oil, re attached an intercooler pipe that had popped off and just drove it.
I had a 2000 mile return trip to the Alps coming up and we usually go in the Jeep (5.7, 15 mpg). I was so far impressed with the W210, so though F it, lets take a risk and take that.
Result: 2000 miles, mostly at 95-100 mph to the alps, up and down mountains, hairpins etc and the damn thing averaged 41 mpg.
Got into a friendly "chase" on one M way with a fast BMW over 85 miles and I was doing between 110 and 140 mph (didnt know they went that fast!), absolutely driving the W210 as hard as is possible (like I stole it). Still averaged 40mpg lol. I was fully expecting it to blow up during that 85 miles, or at least all the doors fall off and drop to the floor when I got home.
But no!!! Next morning, fired up as good as ever and drove to work.
I now get 44 mpg on the work commute.
I am amazed to be honest. £1400 and it drives like a new car.
I still miss my W124 estate. They are such fantastic cars to do a long journey in...the seats are comfortable, the suspension is floaty and the steering is light and insulated from bumps but still reassuring. My modern Merc with its big wheels and sporty suspension set-up is ridiculously uncomfortable in comparison (but gets you there a hell of a lot faster!).
r129sl said:
Ah, they are family to me. Just covered 285 miles in 3hrs 15mins. This was my view for almost all of that time. Presently between Reims and Calais and minded to ditch the overnight stay and just get home tonight. Lowest ever mpg: 23.5. At least the stuff only costs 90p a litre here.
Ahh, I miss that view......though mine never had that 190 sticker in it. What's that all about?
EJH said:
I have plotted routes to go back and do as many passes in a week as possible (as well as visiting C'unter in Switzerland for photographic purposes...well, taking a photo of my car with the sign). Very keen to do the Col D'Iseran which goes straight up the La Fornet Valley of Val D'Isere, as well.
You could do a lot worse than simple following the Route des Grands Alpes: it takes in the Col D'Iseran. There is also a good book called Curves: Frankreich: Route des Grandes Alpes. It's in German but it has good maps and inspirational pictures.Steviesam said:
Stuff about his s210
The 210 is seriously under-rated and the six cylinder diesels are both superb. The om606 turbo diesel probably offers greater longevity, the om613 CDI much greater performance. For me, the 210 chassis still has plenty of trad Mercedes-ness. It's just the rust that stops it being an ultra-modern-classic. I keep thinking about one, either a diseasel or a 430 or even a 55. And as you have found out, some modest expenditure on the rear axle can really sort these cars out.freshkid said:
I still miss my W124 estate. They are such fantastic cars to do a long journey in...the seats are comfortable, the suspension is floaty and the steering is light and insulated from bumps but still reassuring. My modern Merc with its big wheels and sporty suspension set-up is ridiculously uncomfortable in comparison (but gets you there a hell of a lot faster!).
996miles today. Left at 8am, home at 11.30pm (-1hr), stopped three times for an hour each, plus the channel tunnel crossing (about 1h40), plus two night-time diversions. I doubt anyone could do it much faster (or any faster) without taking serious risks with his licence or safety: the stops are essential to avoid fatigue. Plus, it's not a race.fluffnik said:
...though mine never had that 190 sticker in it. What's that all about?
A reminder of the maximum speed permitted on my winter tyres. See earlier in this thread: a pukka MB part and a very useful purchase given the only way this car will exceed 190kmh is if you drop it from a plane. Unfortunately, I can't get the sticker off: that's MB quality glue for you.Anyway, the point is, I drove it all the way home in one stint, all but a thousand miles and it was superb.
fluffnik said:
r129sl said:
Ah, they are family to me. Just covered 285 miles in 3hrs 15mins. This was my view for almost all of that time. Presently between Reims and Calais and minded to ditch the overnight stay and just get home tonight. Lowest ever mpg: 23.5. At least the stuff only costs 90p a litre here.
Ahh, I miss that view......though mine never had that 190 sticker in it. What's that all about?
I really want to experience the diesel w124 thing. Which car are you bringing to the barge meet?
r129sl said:
996miles today. Left at 8am, home at 11.30pm (-1hr), stopped three times for an hour each, plus the channel tunnel crossing (about 1h40), plus two night-time diversions. I doubt anyone could do it much faster (or any faster) without taking serious risks with his licence or safety: the stops are essential to avoid fatigue. Plus, it's not a race.
That's good progress!I don't think I've ever put more than 800miles into a day, and that with a car that will do warp speed on the A-bahnen...
r129sl said:
fluffnik said:
...though mine never had that 190 sticker in it. What's that all about?
A reminder of the maximum speed permitted on my winter tyres. See earlier in this thread: a pukka MB part and a very useful purchase given the only way this car will exceed 190kmh is if you drop it from a plane. Unfortunately, I can't get the sticker off: that's MB quality glue for you.
r129sl said:
Anyway, the point is, I drove it all the way home in one stint, all but a thousand miles and it was superb.
Oa, I think I'll bring the 124. You can have a go in it if you like. If I can persuade L, I'll bring one of the other cars, too, but it is hard to decide which.
These are the little winter tyre stickers. It was in the Spartan thread that I mentioned them, not this one. They're not obligatory. It was just an excuse to use yet another pointless accessory on which I was unable to stop myself wasting—sorry, investing—money, albeit not very much in this case. A bit like the ski racks...
These are the little winter tyre stickers. It was in the Spartan thread that I mentioned them, not this one. They're not obligatory. It was just an excuse to use yet another pointless accessory on which I was unable to stop myself wasting—sorry, investing—money, albeit not very much in this case. A bit like the ski racks...
r129sl said:
996miles today. Left at 8am, home at 11.30pm (-1hr), stopped three times for an hour each, plus the channel tunnel crossing (about 1h40), plus two night-time diversions. I doubt anyone could do it much faster .
Serious speed, minus the stops/diversions it must be an AVERAGE of around 90mph!!!!How didn't you get pulled?????
cheddar said:
Serious speed, minus the stops/diversions it must be an AVERAGE of around 90mph!!!!
How didn't you get pulled?????
High praise indeed. I'm blushing. How didn't you get pulled?????
First, I subscribed for a Télépéage bleeper which allows you to use the Liber-T lane at all toll gates, resulting in a massive time saving. This is the best thing I have ever bought. We did not have to queue at all. I reckon this cuts up to 20 minutes from a long journey. At the toll gate just keep left and follow that fast-moving DSK-style Frog saloon. Get one here: https://www.saneftolling.co.uk
Second, there were no gendarmes on patrol. The only GD unit I saw was in the usual place, between junctions 6.1 and 6 on the westbound autoroute A26 around Béthune. And I saw him before he saw me (because he was busy texting or playing pocket billiards or something).
Third, I just wasn't going that fast. I set my cruise at an indicated 100mph, which equates to maybe a true 150kmh. That is not fast enough to excite the interest of Les Flics on a 130kmh speed limit. But I was able to cruise at this speed endlessly, at one time for 20minutes without interruption. And the interruptions were usually very short, maybe 20 seconds while some dunderhead Brit or Belgian remembered to move back to lane one after his overtake. JF I find drives very well on his autoroutes, not that he seems to venture on them much at all.
Fourth, back in the land of s
t roads and even stter driving, aka Blighty, it was Saturday evening, best time to make progress. Again, a steady 90 to 95 indicated isn't going to cause anyone to hit the lights and besides, they're just not looking for 25 year old Mercedes estates. They want new Audis. I saw three cop cars Oop North, but two of them were just Bobbies heading from A to B and while everyone else panic brakes to 68, the invisible Mercedes is able to wheel past at 80, get ahead of the next bunch of automaton and then resume ramming speed.So door-to-door average was 60mph and on-the-road average was about 83.
This morning I switched to the summer wheels and tyres, dropped the oil and changed the filter. The summer tyres feel a bit lumpy for some reason.
Edited by r129sl on Sunday 10th April 21:49
r129sl said:
High praise indeed. I'm blushing.
I just wasn't going that fast. I set my cruise at an indicated 100mph, which equates to maybe a true 150kmh. That is not fast enough to excite the interest of Les Flics on a 130kmh speed limit.
So door-to-door average was 60mph and on-the-road average was about 83.
From other threads I've read I thought the French police were all over British speeders, reports of being marched to cashpoints and cars being confiscated but you've managed to stay on the right side of a fine line.I just wasn't going that fast. I set my cruise at an indicated 100mph, which equates to maybe a true 150kmh. That is not fast enough to excite the interest of Les Flics on a 130kmh speed limit.
So door-to-door average was 60mph and on-the-road average was about 83.
Edited by r129sl on Sunday 10th April 21:49
There's something perversely satisfying about fast point to point times and I've indulged heavily in the distant past with journey times and average speeds that I'm too afraid to post here, nice to read that, with a little diligence, it's still possible to make good progress on a long journey
r129sl said:
Oa, I think I'll bring the 124. You can have a go in it if you like.
Fantastic. Of all your cars I am most interested in the W124 - for the engine and the restoration you have done on it. I would be very interested to see what you think of the 190 so you can have a go in that. It feels remarkably tight in some ways, but I am sure it would benefit from mild refreshment (hence the boxes arriving soon!)... see my thread!I'm really looking forward to the sad-loser gathering (all welcome of course, barge or no barge: https://doodle.com/poll/ca8kvfwu3ieka4hg )
Your holiday snaps all look like mine. Full of W124 and the Mercedes star. They are remarkably satisfying cars, and people don't understand why I like my rusty old W124 more than my SL or the pretty 190, or why I have spent a lot underneath and will sort out the bodywork soon!
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff