Titivating my Mercedes 124

[0a]

Good to hear the car will be getting put back on the road. The brief drive I had in it at the barge meet showed it to be a remarkable machine. This will just be another part of its history. In any case it's a good excuse for you to go through the front of the car and re-life it!

Good to hear the link was useful - we use rentalcars at work and they have always been fine and seem to get pretty low prices.

[MJK 24]

r129sl said:

Edited by r129sl on Sunday 21st August 18:35

I was here only yesterday! The last time I stopped by, July 2014, I could have sworn that the control tower still had a roof on it?

It looks like work has been done to some of the buildings to the rear. Also, the grandstands are now secured to prevent access. I used to enjoy a sandwich and a drink sat on the other side so to speak.

[alec.e]

Sorry to hear about the accident Johnathan, hope you get sorted in good time.

[MJK 24]

Oh dear, very sad to see the damage done in the Highlands. A secondhand bonnet, repaired slam panel and new everything else via your cost effective sources will soon see it back on the road. It's very repairable and very worthy of a repair too.

Good luck.

[cheddar]

r129sl said:

I picked up a Mondeo from Inverness

the handling is inferior.

Really?

[crosseyedlion]

cheddar said:

r129sl said:

I picked up a Mondeo from Inverness

the handling is inferior.

Really?

I can believe that, apart from the heavy motorway-focussed steering the w124 actually handles very well. Mine is well controlled and great on the limit, not the boat you'd expect it to be. Albeit the limits of grip likely being lower

[Rensko]

Such a shame! Glad to see that everyone is OK!

Realistically, it's probably early days, but is the damage purely cosmetic? If so - onwards and upwards. This car deserves more life - one of my PH favourites!

[r129sl]

crosseyedlion said:

cheddar said:

r129sl said:

I picked up a Mondeo from Inverness

the handling is inferior.

Really?

I can believe that, apart from the heavy motorway-focussed steering the w124 actually handles very well. Mine is well controlled and great on the limit, not the boat you'd expect it to be. Albeit the limits of grip likely being lower

If I drove the Mondeo for the next ten years, I'd get used to it, come to like it and think an alternative wasn't as good. But...

The steering is very rubbery. It has little feel and inconsistent weight.

It is very difficult to sense the position of the wheels. The car is wide, its extremities are invisible, the view out to the rear is extremely limited (parking is done by sensor and mirror) and while the view to the front is panoramic in a straight line, on twisting roads the view through 70mph right hand bends is restricted by the 'A' pillar.

My Mondeo has little wheels so the secondary ride is good. But the primary ride is very different to what I'm used to. It has a lot less spring travel than my Mercs, so on these roads suffers bad roll-rock.

I'm surprised by the handling because often when I drive the 124 on interesting roads, I find myself thinks my, "What would a BMW or a modern be like through here?"

[r129sl]

Bit more of the damage. The slam panel and offside headlamp surround are displaced but otherwise cosmetic.

[Chris x]

fk sake!

Glad to see you are fixing it! Another chapter in the cars story!

[dbdb]

I am glad you are fixing it - the car deserves it.

[dbdb]

r129sl said:

crosseyedlion said:

cheddar said:

r129sl said:

I picked up a Mondeo from Inverness

the handling is inferior.

Really?

I can believe that, apart from the heavy motorway-focussed steering the w124 actually handles very well. Mine is well controlled and great on the limit, not the boat you'd expect it to be. Albeit the limits of grip likely being lower

If I drove the Mondeo for the next ten years, I'd get used to it, come to like it and think an alternative wasn't as good. But...

The steering is very rubbery. It has little feel and inconsistent weight.

It is very difficult to sense the position of the wheels. The car is wide, its extremities are invisible, the view out to the rear is extremely limited (parking is done by sensor and mirror) and while the view to the front is panoramic in a straight line, on twisting roads the view through 70mph right hand bends is restricted by the 'A' pillar.

My Mondeo has little wheels so the secondary ride is good. But the primary ride is very different to what I'm used to. It has a lot less spring travel than my Mercs, so on these roads suffers bad roll-rock.

I'm surprised by the handling because often when I drive the 124 on interesting roads, I find myself thinks my, "What would a BMW or a modern be like through here?"

Handling is much more subjective than road holding - there is a lot more to it than just grip. I far prefer the handling of my Jaguar to that of the BMW E91 we also have. The BMW has more grip though, especially on smooth roads. Broken surfaces upset the BMW much more than they do the Jaguar. I find it easy to believe you prefer the Mercedes - the W124 does drive well.

[r129sl]

I'm getting the hang of the Ford. The engine is pretty strong compared to the 124's!

I've started acquiring parts: headlamp surround and slam panel from NOS merchants for a total of £100 against over £300 from the dealer.

[NomduJour]

r129sl said:

The insurance company won't be getting a view.

And yet, I suspect your policy wording may expect you to disclose it to them...

Look forward to seeing it fixed.

[r129sl]

Don't worry, I'll disclose it but I shan't be making a claim.

[crosseyedlion]

NomduJour said:

r129sl said:

The insurance company won't be getting a view.

And yet, I suspect your policy wording may expect you to disclose it to them...

Look forward to seeing it fixed.

What a bizzare world we live in. Theres no freedom, youll still get calls for months from claims management companies.

[r129sl]

I've had some luck acquiring parts:

Slam panel, NOS, £40
Headlamp surround, NOS, £30
Bonnet, used, £95
Headlamp, used, £50
Grille, used, £45

I'm also replacing the bumper with an open version to improve engine cooling. A used one is £90.

I have found a Behr condenser for £88.

I need to find a radiator and fan clutch at sensible prices. I'm going to fit better sound deadening to the bonnet, Dynamat Extreme topped with Dynamat Hoodliner.

Meanwhile, I find my wife telling me off for driving the Ford too fast. There's no doubt it's quicker over a twisting road than the 124. Which somewhat undermines my handling thesis. But it's still too wide, too complicated and any feel is far too filtered, inconsistent and overlaid with electrical and rubbery interference.

[Geekman]

r129sl said:

Don't worry, I'll disclose it but I shan't be making a claim.

If you disclose it they'll increase your premium regardless. There's really no reason to tell them, unless one of their staff was in the back of the car with you at the time

[Lowtimer]

r129sl said:

Meanwhile, I find my wife telling me off for driving the Ford too fast. There's no doubt it's quicker over a twisting road than the 124. Which somewhat undermines my handling thesis.

That's probably just sheer mechanical grip rather than handling, unless you're cornering it with your feet as well as your hands. Which in that thing I doubt.

My Mark 1 Mondeo 24V handled well but that was old school Parry-Jones with proper steering and only on 195/65 15 tyres, so the limits of grip were not unapproachable

[r129sl]

LT: there's no finesse, it's the untidy bludgeon approach to fast driving.