Mercedes-Benz 300TE-24
Discussion
Wow - can't believe it's taken over a year and we're still not quite finished...
After I bought the car, I sent it up to the man.
As I mentioned earlier, the car had a few bits of rust, and we spent some time finding all of the rust - I'd expected two new wings but there were a few other areas too:
Both front wings needed replacing:
One of the jacking points was bad:
Some of the rear 3/4 around the windows needed doing:
And there were a few other minor holes, and areas of tidying up needed:
Once I'd understood the extent of the problem, it was obvious that a couple of wings wasn't going to do it, so we decided that there'd be a change of plan, and a full body restoration and respray.
New metal applied, some patching, and then the whole thing was rubbed down and ready for painting:
And after painting, it's looking so much better:
I'm really pleased with the results!
Now that the bodywork is back to how it should be, the car has gone in for a minor bit of mechanical fettling. Thankfully this wasn't so expensive, and plenty of remedial work over the years, plus some good upgrades in the last few years meant it's only really needed a full service, and some minor fettling.
The car is almost ready now - there's one last cold starting issue which is proving a bit tricky to fix, and then I'll be using it!
I'm not sure that the wheels are 100% correct - but it apparently needs those larger wheels to clear the brake upgrades that have been fitted at some stage. (sounds intriguing)
I'll post a few more pics once i've got it back and start using it properly!
rejn
After I bought the car, I sent it up to the man.
As I mentioned earlier, the car had a few bits of rust, and we spent some time finding all of the rust - I'd expected two new wings but there were a few other areas too:
Both front wings needed replacing:
One of the jacking points was bad:
Some of the rear 3/4 around the windows needed doing:
And there were a few other minor holes, and areas of tidying up needed:
Once I'd understood the extent of the problem, it was obvious that a couple of wings wasn't going to do it, so we decided that there'd be a change of plan, and a full body restoration and respray.
New metal applied, some patching, and then the whole thing was rubbed down and ready for painting:
And after painting, it's looking so much better:
I'm really pleased with the results!
Now that the bodywork is back to how it should be, the car has gone in for a minor bit of mechanical fettling. Thankfully this wasn't so expensive, and plenty of remedial work over the years, plus some good upgrades in the last few years meant it's only really needed a full service, and some minor fettling.
The car is almost ready now - there's one last cold starting issue which is proving a bit tricky to fix, and then I'll be using it!
I'm not sure that the wheels are 100% correct - but it apparently needs those larger wheels to clear the brake upgrades that have been fitted at some stage. (sounds intriguing)
I'll post a few more pics once i've got it back and start using it properly!
rejn
I see this car most days at Baister's. It really is a superb example and the bodywork has been done to a very high standard.
This car is sporting the 8 x 16 15 hole wheels from the 129. Not quite correct but looks very purposeful on them.
harrykul said:
They were indeed. Up from a 6.5x15 to a 7x15. 16" was only on V8 models iirc.
There was a dealer fit 7.5 x 16 8 hole wheel available for late 124s, it takes 215/55 R 16 tyres from memory. The 300 -24 and 320 models have big brakes which will not accommodate steels or the earlier forged 15 hole wheel. They must be fitted with either the cast 15 hole wheel or the 8 hole wheel in either width. The 500 E/E500 has 8 x 16 8 hole wheels from the r129 running 225/55 R 16 tyres (the 500 E is essentially a 124 body on a 129 suspension). This car is sporting the 8 x 16 15 hole wheels from the 129. Not quite correct but looks very purposeful on them.
Edited by r129sl on Tuesday 1st May 20:21
Having had 2 300 TEs (including 1 4-Matic) and 1 280 TE, at least one of which I should really have kept, I'm very jealous of this beast - well done for putting in the effort to bring it up to standard.
Out of interest, what sort of MPG do you get on your diesel S124? I've a potential requirement for something moderately economical for longish runs, and I find myself hankering after another of these...
Out of interest, what sort of MPG do you get on your diesel S124? I've a potential requirement for something moderately economical for longish runs, and I find myself hankering after another of these...
skwdenyer said:
Out of interest, what sort of MPG do you get on your diesel S124? I've a potential requirement for something moderately economical for longish runs, and I find myself hankering after another of these...
I get 30mpg but that's a mixture of driving too fast and very heavy traffic. My wife gets 35 out of it.Thanks for all of the comments everybody. Yes I’m delighted with it!
And thanks for the detailed knowledge on the wheels! I’m planning to leave them as they are for now - I did at one stage think about getting an AMG body kit and wheels but decided to keep it standard looking but I’ll live with slightly incorrect wheels.
And thanks for the detailed knowledge on the wheels! I’m planning to leave them as they are for now - I did at one stage think about getting an AMG body kit and wheels but decided to keep it standard looking but I’ll live with slightly incorrect wheels.
I’m so excited!!! I’ve had the car back for a week or so and used it a fair bit already so thought I’d write a quick update.
First of all, I love the car. It’s so well engineered and feels so solid. The orthopaedic seats are very comfy and the dark brown leather really suits the interior (to me at least). So all in all it’s a lovely place to sit and drive! It’s just as good as I’d hoped!
The engine feels so strong. It’s a 24v so loves to rev and it keeps up with modern traffic no problem at all. It must have been awesome when new in 1989!!
There’s a long list of small niggles which I’m getting around:
The instrument lights weren’t working but a good wiggle of the rheostat seems to have fixed them.
Only 1 speaker was working: I’ve had a fiddle and got both sides on the back working but it turns out it needs more than playing with the wiring in the front:
Yep - the speakers are missing!!! I’m finding some new ones now.
The sunroof wasn’t working properly but with a bit of gentle persuasion it seems to be fine now. I wonder if it was just a bit stuck after not being used for so long. Today on the way home from work I had the roof fully open and all 4 windows fully open - the closest this car will come to being a convertible!!
The aircon isn’t cold. I’ve done some research and some guys in the US have upgraded the gas in their systems and can ge them to be icy cold - which I fancy doing at some stage.
Oh and the indicators are a bit intermittent - I’ve done a bit of google research and found what I think the issue is - it sounds like it’s nothing magnifying glass and soldering iron can’t fix... not sure if that’s within my capabilities!!
Mechanically it seems in excellent fettle - itsbhad a brake upgrade at some point and the brakes feel extremely strong. The suspension feels good - maybe the Ilodd squeak that needs sorting - and there’s a few interior squeaks that need sorting too.
And lastly, my wife and kids love it too (especially the kids sitting in the rear facing seats in the boot!). I’m going to use it as a bit of a daily driver and if it’s reliable for a while we might even go on holiday in it next year!
Apologies for the rubbish phone photo below - I haven’t taken any proper photos yet - just the one below:
First of all, I love the car. It’s so well engineered and feels so solid. The orthopaedic seats are very comfy and the dark brown leather really suits the interior (to me at least). So all in all it’s a lovely place to sit and drive! It’s just as good as I’d hoped!
The engine feels so strong. It’s a 24v so loves to rev and it keeps up with modern traffic no problem at all. It must have been awesome when new in 1989!!
There’s a long list of small niggles which I’m getting around:
The instrument lights weren’t working but a good wiggle of the rheostat seems to have fixed them.
Only 1 speaker was working: I’ve had a fiddle and got both sides on the back working but it turns out it needs more than playing with the wiring in the front:
Yep - the speakers are missing!!! I’m finding some new ones now.
The sunroof wasn’t working properly but with a bit of gentle persuasion it seems to be fine now. I wonder if it was just a bit stuck after not being used for so long. Today on the way home from work I had the roof fully open and all 4 windows fully open - the closest this car will come to being a convertible!!
The aircon isn’t cold. I’ve done some research and some guys in the US have upgraded the gas in their systems and can ge them to be icy cold - which I fancy doing at some stage.
Oh and the indicators are a bit intermittent - I’ve done a bit of google research and found what I think the issue is - it sounds like it’s nothing magnifying glass and soldering iron can’t fix... not sure if that’s within my capabilities!!
Mechanically it seems in excellent fettle - itsbhad a brake upgrade at some point and the brakes feel extremely strong. The suspension feels good - maybe the Ilodd squeak that needs sorting - and there’s a few interior squeaks that need sorting too.
And lastly, my wife and kids love it too (especially the kids sitting in the rear facing seats in the boot!). I’m going to use it as a bit of a daily driver and if it’s reliable for a while we might even go on holiday in it next year!
Apologies for the rubbish phone photo below - I haven’t taken any proper photos yet - just the one below:
My Intel is probably a bit out of date... but beards are supposed to be long and unkempt. The original dash speakers were available from mb, but not that great. Rainbow did some slot in replacements and there was a guy in Scotland on eBay knocking them out for not that much. There were versions which would plug in which were a bit more expensive, but if you can solder as your post suggests, or if the wiring has already been butchered anyway, the same size was available cheaper without the plugs.
Edited by idiotgap on Thursday 7th June 15:19
That is amazing. I’ve owned two of the saloon version with the same engine. One 89 and one 90.
You’re right about them keeping up with modern stuff. I just wafted about in them and loved every second. Parts were sometimes expensive, I remember one needed a full exhaust replacement and eurocar parts were useful.
The odd smaller part was supplied by local merc dealer, whenever I gave them the reg for the 89 it showed up as an amg and as I went through the car when things went wrong lots of parts were badged amg. It looked standard though so was probably just added to over the years I guess.
Well done with the car, I’m not green with envy at all!
You’re right about them keeping up with modern stuff. I just wafted about in them and loved every second. Parts were sometimes expensive, I remember one needed a full exhaust replacement and eurocar parts were useful.
The odd smaller part was supplied by local merc dealer, whenever I gave them the reg for the 89 it showed up as an amg and as I went through the car when things went wrong lots of parts were badged amg. It looked standard though so was probably just added to over the years I guess.
Well done with the car, I’m not green with envy at all!
harrykul said:
Congratulations Richard, it looks excellent. Have you still got the diesel too?
Hi Harry. Yep still have the diesel which we keep in Northern Ireland. It’s MoT has expired and it’s a bit unloved but still keeps on working... well at least I hope it will do when I get it MoT’d again!!Hi Richard, car looks great on your driveway.
Speakers are 12cm, an unusual size. The Rainbows are very good but really need strong amplification to make them good. There are some alternatives. Pioneer did a bespoke fit item which crops up now and again, TS-124 is the model number.
Indicators likely will be the relay, as you have identified. It's probably cheaper and easier just to get a replacement off eBay.
Sunroof is likely lack of use. If not, then the relay in the boot. Mine has just gone. It would tilt up but did nothing else.
Yours is a phenomenal spec, enjoy it.
Speakers are 12cm, an unusual size. The Rainbows are very good but really need strong amplification to make them good. There are some alternatives. Pioneer did a bespoke fit item which crops up now and again, TS-124 is the model number.
Indicators likely will be the relay, as you have identified. It's probably cheaper and easier just to get a replacement off eBay.
Sunroof is likely lack of use. If not, then the relay in the boot. Mine has just gone. It would tilt up but did nothing else.
Yours is a phenomenal spec, enjoy it.
r129sl said:
Hi Richard, car looks great on your driveway
Thanks! I love it. It makes me smile whenever I use it. (Which is most of the time!)r129sl said:
Indicators likely will be the relay, as you have identified. It's probably cheaper and easier just to get a replacement off eBay.
Good idea - I took your advice - it’s arrived and I fitted it inside 10 minutes and happy to report all working perfectly now. Much easier than the soldering iron idea. I’ve kept the old one in case I’m ever bored and fancy fixing it for funGassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff