Titivating my Mercedes 124
Discussion
H100S said:
Did you really pull over on the M1 to take a photo of the odometer?
Yeah. It was too difficult to take the picture while driving, especially with the flash on.
Also, I forgot to mention, it did need a new alternator. Cost about £125 for Bosch. But the great thing about these old diesels is you can get by without any electricity do long as you don't turn the engine off and confine yourself to daylight running.
A tedious update. I replaced the factory speakers in the rear doors with Rainbow DL-X4 speakers. I had thought the factory speakers sounded crap. But the Rainbow jobs don't sound much different, despite being beefier in construction. It sounded and still sounds rather weak in the rear. I'm sticking an amp in next week. That might improve things. But maybe I was just expecting too much.
No coincidence with the odo. It's up to 302,500 now. Half a million km is 310,685 miles so another landmark hopefully is not far off.
No coincidence with the odo. It's up to 302,500 now. Half a million km is 310,685 miles so another landmark hopefully is not far off.
crosseyedlion said:
slippery said:
Some of these failures of late have been potentially dangerous. Is it making you consider a more modern alternative and putting the 124 aside for less regularly use, or do you intend to have a very rigorous inspection and keep the faith?
Why would he?Theres been 1 failure due to age, the other due to shoddy workmanship by a dealer - springs are notorious for snapping even on e46 bmw's when fairly new for example.
Its not great, but its not a reason to use the 124 less.
I have asked MB Newcastle to go over it with a fine-tooth comb but that is a bit like asking a blindfolded three-year old to pin a tail on a donkey.
But... I have also expressed an interest in a new C or E with a straight six petrol (which apparently will be coming in the next 18 months or so). Even then, I don't think I could live with one. They are so hideously vulgar. The dealer principal offer me his S-Class hybrid to tool around in but I didn't have the heart to tell him I just couldn't bear the thought of being seen in it. It's like Elton John offering to lend you his wardrobe. Maybe a 5-series touring in SE or "luxury" spec, dark blue or brown or something with tan upholstery. Except the very word "luxury" make me want to puke.
So we'll be keeping the faith.
I think the Volvo 240- and 740-series probably do have the edge on the 124 for durability. I have always liked both, especially the 240-series. But... the 124 is in a different league for refinement, handling, performance, efficiency and ergonomics, all of which add up to greater pleasure of ownership. The Volvos are more than a bit agricultural in comparison. Their design, especially the interior design of the 740-series, is ought but homogeneous. The dashboard and controls on the 124 take some beating, I can't think of a better interior (although there is a lot of subjectivity in that assertion). Interestingly (well, not really), my first drive on the public road was in a w124 300 D; my first drive on 'L' plates was in a Volvo 740 turbo estate.
One of the problems for someone like me who wants to use an 80s/90s Merc as daily transport is the fall in the standards to which parts are manufactured. I don't mean aftermarket parts, I mean the stuff you buy from the dealer. As an example, I bought a replacement petrol cap for my w201 the other day and it is nowhere near the same quality as the original, although it looks the same from a distance. I suspect this may be the cause of trouble with my spring. That and bad luck.
One of the problems for someone like me who wants to use an 80s/90s Merc as daily transport is the fall in the standards to which parts are manufactured. I don't mean aftermarket parts, I mean the stuff you buy from the dealer. As an example, I bought a replacement petrol cap for my w201 the other day and it is nowhere near the same quality as the original, although it looks the same from a distance. I suspect this may be the cause of trouble with my spring. That and bad luck.
I put the car in last week to have the bashed up front and rear bumpers repaired and painted. The Man as he is enigmatically described in the 300 CE-24 thread noted with a somewhat aggrieved tone that 30,000miles had not been entirely kind to his 2014 paint job and suggested tackling the various chips and nicks that such use has inflicted. This seems to have turned into an almost full-on repaint although he insists otherwise. Goodness knows what the finally tab will be. The bumpers were only supposed to run me £300.
We also noticed that there is an oil leak from the oil cooler and oil level sender. The 'O' rings are being changed tonight. It was good of MB Newcastle to pick that up when they serviced it precisely 4 miles ago. What? you mean you're surprised they didn't notice? even though it is blindingly obvious and even though they charged to remove the engine under trays and even though I noticed without removing those trays and even though I have the mechanical ability of my four year old? Still, I had two "free" cappuccinos from the in-house espresso bar while waiting 20 minutes for any of their employees to make eye contact with me and acknowledge my presence in their day spa, sorry, retail experience, take my money and give me my car keys.
We also noticed that there is an oil leak from the oil cooler and oil level sender. The 'O' rings are being changed tonight. It was good of MB Newcastle to pick that up when they serviced it precisely 4 miles ago. What? you mean you're surprised they didn't notice? even though it is blindingly obvious and even though they charged to remove the engine under trays and even though I noticed without removing those trays and even though I have the mechanical ability of my four year old? Still, I had two "free" cappuccinos from the in-house espresso bar while waiting 20 minutes for any of their employees to make eye contact with me and acknowledge my presence in their day spa, sorry, retail experience, take my money and give me my car keys.
Edited by r129sl on Wednesday 25th March 15:18
There has been a bit more progress. Various bits are in primer. The Sacco panels are coming off and it will be painted tonight.
The bumpers are done:
However, in the meantime there are two little problems to tackle. It is up-a-height at the moment and I clocked the nearside rear wheel arch has a bit of rot in it; then I noticed a bit more rot under the nearside rear wing, just a above the vent.
The bumpers are done:
However, in the meantime there are two little problems to tackle. It is up-a-height at the moment and I clocked the nearside rear wheel arch has a bit of rot in it; then I noticed a bit more rot under the nearside rear wing, just a above the vent.
The wheels are just the crappy old ones I use in winter: they're in a terrible state, so I'm not in the least bothered about them. I've thought about getting them refurbished but I can't really see the point. It'll need new winter tyres next winter.
It has had a fairly minuscule amount of primer so far: just local repairs. I'll see what it is like later this morning when I pop over there. I'm happy with everything so far. It's a workhorse, remember.
It has had a fairly minuscule amount of primer so far: just local repairs. I'll see what it is like later this morning when I pop over there. I'm happy with everything so far. It's a workhorse, remember.
cheddar said:
Todzilla said:
Surely having the Trip Meter sitting on 124 can't be a coincidence… can it?????
Good point, not just 124124 point zero
CdeG, Paul is a good bodywork man. He cares about the job. It's never going to be concours or perfect or anything other than a compromise between price and quality, but I know what I am getting and I can live with the cost and the compromise. He has a London car in at the moment, an azurite blue E320 coupe. The only cars he does are Mercs of our vintage. His main line of work is other vehicle stuff.
Not O/T as far as I am concerned.
Interestingly, my quandary is the opposite. With two young boys, I find myself hardly ever using the SL. My eldest can ride in the back and the youngest can go on the front seat with an appropriate child seat, but we can't use it as a family of four, at least, not yet. I have been thinking of getting either a coupé or convertible 124... We miss the SEC which was ideal for family fun touring but was too costly to use and to maintain.
Were my children 15, I'd be looking for a lowly-engined 190 or 124 for them. When they're not driving it, they can be titivating it. I think it is important that they learn how cars (and everything else) work. Most people can't change a wheel.
Interestingly, my quandary is the opposite. With two young boys, I find myself hardly ever using the SL. My eldest can ride in the back and the youngest can go on the front seat with an appropriate child seat, but we can't use it as a family of four, at least, not yet. I have been thinking of getting either a coupé or convertible 124... We miss the SEC which was ideal for family fun touring but was too costly to use and to maintain.
Were my children 15, I'd be looking for a lowly-engined 190 or 124 for them. When they're not driving it, they can be titivating it. I think it is important that they learn how cars (and everything else) work. Most people can't change a wheel.
My dad was keen for me to start in a w123. I was not exactly unkeen on the idea, but my mother was. Oddly, they weren't that old then. It would be like putting a child in a w211. A 124 to today's youth must be like a stroke 8 would have been to me. I'm sure I would have regarded a stroke 8 as cool. We considered a beautiful 200 in signal red with something like 15,000miles on it. It had been put in at the local dealer by a sea captain who was always away on voyage, hence the low miles. Bit rich at £4,000. Anyway, we bought a BMW E30 316 for £750 without telling my mother and so my bargain barging began.
My sister used to kick about in my SEC when she was 17 or 18. She thought it was mega. So there is hope.
My sister used to kick about in my SEC when she was 17 or 18. She thought it was mega. So there is hope.
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