300TE-24 Sportline
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Discussion

HAB

Original Poster:

3,632 posts

256 months

Saturday 30th March 2013
quotequote all
Finally got round to giving my recently purchased 124 a good clean. Here's a few pics for a PH perusal:

300TE-24 Sportline


















Very very comfy, goes well, pretty thirsty, and actually quite fun to punt. Ignore the scabby wheels. Considering a set of Pentas that I've spied for sale...


Edited by HAB on Saturday 30th March 23:16

PistonSmegs

156 posts

168 months

Saturday 30th March 2013
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Looks in amazingly clean condition! Very nice, I like that!

MrBrightSi

2,926 posts

199 months

Saturday 30th March 2013
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Sleek and purposeful looking. Great car.

HAB

Original Poster:

3,632 posts

256 months

Saturday 30th March 2013
quotequote all
Cheers for the comments.

It's in great condition for 123k. Interior is virtually unmarked. No rust and the only thing that lets down the exterior is the wheels. Loaded with options - 5 spd auto, Sportline chassis, orthopaedic seats etc etc, and it all works!

White/grey wouldn't have been my first choice, but history/condition trumps appearance everytime on old barges like these.


bmthnick1981

5,320 posts

245 months

Saturday 30th March 2013
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Looks to be in great condition.

cst

410 posts

213 months

Saturday 30th March 2013
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That's in incredibly good nick, looking forward to seeing updates, anything planned apart from the wheels?

0a

24,133 posts

223 months

Saturday 30th March 2013
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Looks in great condition, I'd like to try a 24 5 speed one day.

HAB

Original Poster:

3,632 posts

256 months

Sunday 31st March 2013
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0a said:
Looks in great condition, I'd like to try a 24 5 speed one day.
Different driving experience to the 4 speed. 5 speed ratios stacked quite close,so decently quick midrange especially if you leave it 4 speed mode.

Great old things 124's, we won't see their like again from MB

HAB

Original Poster:

3,632 posts

256 months

Sunday 31st March 2013
quotequote all
cst said:
That's in incredibly good nick, looking forward to seeing updates, anything planned apart from the wheels?

Not much to do tbh, passengers door grab/armrest is loose. Need to change the diff oil, and the plugs. Done oil/filter/air filter & changed the coolant & ATF.

Not sure what to do with the wheels tbh, not a fan of the originals, so was thinking of going back to the earlier W124 wheels which I much prefer, or more likely Ronal Penta's which is a great period wheel for these old Benz.

Edited by HAB on Sunday 31st March 00:40

celger7

86 posts

162 months

Sunday 31st March 2013
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That looks really neat OP! Congrats

richard300

1,086 posts

238 months

Sunday 31st March 2013
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Really nice TE....
I'm a big fan of the W124.
What are the controls for (built into the side of the thigh support section) I never knew W124's were available with any kind of massage or ventilation?

ClaphamGT3

12,223 posts

272 months

Sunday 31st March 2013
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A prince amongst barges - well done OP; years of wafting there!

GALLARDOGUY

8,160 posts

248 months

Sunday 31st March 2013
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Nice clean example but lose the sticker on the boot ASAP!

HAB

Original Poster:

3,632 posts

256 months

Sunday 31st March 2013
quotequote all
richard300 said:
Really nice TE....
I'm a big fan of the W124.
What are the controls for (built into the side of the thigh support section) I never knew W124's were available with any kind of massage or ventilation?
Orthopaedic seats, which were quite a rare option back in the day. Effectively air bladders in the seat that can be set at different heights and pressures for lumbar support. Works really well, best seats I've ever sat in!

You can see the controls better here:




richard300

1,086 posts

238 months

Monday 1st April 2013
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HAB said:
richard300 said:
Really nice TE....
I'm a big fan of the W124.
What are the controls for (built into the side of the thigh support section) I never knew W124's were available with any kind of massage or ventilation?
Orthopaedic seats, which were quite a rare option back in the day. Effectively air bladders in the seat that can be set at different heights and pressures for lumbar support. Works really well, best seats I've ever sat in!

You can see the controls better here:

Good stuff..... I imagine they are really comfortable, i have had a couple of W124's before including a really well specified 300 Carat Duchatelet, and i remember both of them being comfortable. I am temporarily driving an E39 BMW with sport seats at the moment and they are way to narrow/bolstered to be comfortable.

As you mention, the orthopaedic option must have been incredibly rare - Even my friends W124 500e, which was specified by the Goldsmith family and used in various press shots did not have this option fitted - Very nice touch!!

Funnily enough – viewing your pictures yesterday got me searching for W124’s and I have found a 300CE (again a Duchatelet car) which I am now trying to find out some more information on with a view to putting in an offer (I really shouldn’t as it would be utterly surplus to requirments).

HAB

Original Poster:

3,632 posts

256 months

Monday 1st April 2013
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I love the 124 coupe, Carat Duchatalet oozes 80's period charm!


I had a series of Porsches before the TE, (last one was a 964C2) but with a family now on the way, needed something with space. Modern stuff leaves me pretty cold and always fancied a 124, and have to say that I absolutely love it, though obviously in a completely different way to the 911!

Even though they're from totally opposite ends of the spectrum they do share a lot of similarities, not least late 80/ early 90's German build quality/engineering integrity. Great to work on and the quality of individual components on the 124 is pretty impressive, even better than Porsche of the same era imho.

If you told me five years ago that I'd be this smitten with an old Merc estate, I'd have thought you were nuts, but hey ho...

Edited by HAB on Monday 1st April 13:26

JimmyJam

2,448 posts

248 months

Monday 1st April 2013
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Very nice and rare in sportline version, enjoy! Looks like its sitting a bit high though, sportline was lower, has suspension been changed? They really are great cars, mine was a keeper until gearbox died a few months ago, still on my drive pondering its future

0a

24,133 posts

223 months

Monday 1st April 2013
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HAB said:
Different driving experience to the 4 speed. 5 speed ratios stacked quite close,so decently quick midrange especially if you leave it 4 speed mode.

Great old things 124's, we won't see their like again from MB
Sounds like it would correct my few bugbears with my 300e - poor economy, needing a bit more power, gaps in the gears and high cruising RPM.

As you say white/grey isn't the ideal combination, but what a lovely car. It's also likely to cost you a fraction of the cost of a nearly new 2.0d VAG car as these things are now going up in value.

I like the seats!

cheddar

4,637 posts

203 months

Monday 1st April 2013
quotequote all
0a said:
Sounds like it would correct my few bugbears with my 300e - poor economy, needing a bit more power, gaps in the gears and high cruising RPM.

As you say white/grey isn't the ideal combination, but what a lovely car. It's also likely to cost you a fraction of the cost of a nearly new 2.0d VAG car as these things are now going up in value.

I like the seats!
A 320E would be the answer, less power than the 24v 300 but more torque and the extra ratio.

0a

24,133 posts

223 months

Monday 1st April 2013
quotequote all
cheddar said:
A 320E would be the answer, less power than the 24v 300 but more torque and the extra ratio.
The later cars don't look the same to me though frown, I believe there are a few pre facelift ambered 320s though?