0a's Mercedes W124 E320
Discussion
Browsing the Barge 1-5 thread last Sunday, I couldn't help but click and look at this W124 which ended later that night. With apologies to poster Derin100 who was interested in the car (we communicated by email on it), I felt a bidding moment come over me. By 10pm the car was mine.
Going back a little, the first car I actually owned came in the form of a green 300E W124. I had worked in London for a few years since leaving uni, and while a car fan, living in central London owning and running a car was just not on the radar. I had the chance to move up to Edinburgh, so logged onto this Pistonheads site a friend had been going on about for a while.
After getting depressing insurance quotes for 1.1 fiestas, I happened on the barge thread. Ideas of an e38 7 series were quickly quashed with outrageous quotes, but I spotted the 300 on autotrader - and the insurance quotes were cheaper than the fiesta. I flew from Edinburgh to Exeter and have been buying barges ever since!
Back to last week - I had decided that I wanted to be back in a W124 at some point, and looking at this car on eBay the spec and condition just stood out.
71k miles, climate, electric seats for driver and passenger, the blow up lumbar support, heated seats and so on. The previous owner had also replaced the steering wheel with a nice half wood item, with the leather renewed by a specialist. It's in one of my favourite Mercedes colours of the era - so I felt I had to bid on it.
So I did so and won, and flew from Edinburgh to Stansted at a cost of £13. 50 minutes later and the seller picked me up from the station in his C140 - a late 500 in black. It turned out he owns 12 mercs from this era, including every body style of the W124 (and a 500e). Just what you want to hear.
From the first few metres it was obvious that it was a good example. I'm very pleased. More to follow! Images from the ad and my trip today to Wales.
Going back a little, the first car I actually owned came in the form of a green 300E W124. I had worked in London for a few years since leaving uni, and while a car fan, living in central London owning and running a car was just not on the radar. I had the chance to move up to Edinburgh, so logged onto this Pistonheads site a friend had been going on about for a while.
After getting depressing insurance quotes for 1.1 fiestas, I happened on the barge thread. Ideas of an e38 7 series were quickly quashed with outrageous quotes, but I spotted the 300 on autotrader - and the insurance quotes were cheaper than the fiesta. I flew from Edinburgh to Exeter and have been buying barges ever since!
Back to last week - I had decided that I wanted to be back in a W124 at some point, and looking at this car on eBay the spec and condition just stood out.
71k miles, climate, electric seats for driver and passenger, the blow up lumbar support, heated seats and so on. The previous owner had also replaced the steering wheel with a nice half wood item, with the leather renewed by a specialist. It's in one of my favourite Mercedes colours of the era - so I felt I had to bid on it.
So I did so and won, and flew from Edinburgh to Stansted at a cost of £13. 50 minutes later and the seller picked me up from the station in his C140 - a late 500 in black. It turned out he owns 12 mercs from this era, including every body style of the W124 (and a 500e). Just what you want to hear.
From the first few metres it was obvious that it was a good example. I'm very pleased. More to follow! Images from the ad and my trip today to Wales.
Absolutely gorgeous and many happy miles of driving to come.
I’d read your post on barges and thought you’d bought a winner.
There’s little else in the life as pleasant as a road trip through beautiful scenery. Got my SL55 out of the garage today for a jaunt with the roof down it was lovely.
The interior in your car is stunning really top quality and superb condition. Don’t make them like that these days.
Keep us posted.
I’d read your post on barges and thought you’d bought a winner.
There’s little else in the life as pleasant as a road trip through beautiful scenery. Got my SL55 out of the garage today for a jaunt with the roof down it was lovely.
The interior in your car is stunning really top quality and superb condition. Don’t make them like that these days.
Keep us posted.
Thanks everyone. I am very pleased - I had wanted to get back in another W124 as a daily driver but had assumed they were all too old, or too expensive.
No car is perfect, in my experience, so here's the plan with this one:
1. Wiper needs replacing. Halfords didn't have one this evening. One of those cheap but annoying things!
2. The ride quality is generally excellent, but it does 'patter' over low speed compressions and poor surfaces. I will replace the shocks and springs - and reading our oracle r129's thread (https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=47&t=1382664&i=1280) I might do the suspension mounts as well
3. The radio doesn't have bluetooth and the CD player doesn't work. I might put in my usual pioneer.
4. The idle is slightly uneven. Not by much, but it's not perfect
It's a really nice solid car - and it feels pretty quick as well. It would demolish my e39 528 on a spirited drive.
I will be treating this as a daily driver and doing some distance in it - expect that 71k rarity to disappear!
No car is perfect, in my experience, so here's the plan with this one:
1. Wiper needs replacing. Halfords didn't have one this evening. One of those cheap but annoying things!
2. The ride quality is generally excellent, but it does 'patter' over low speed compressions and poor surfaces. I will replace the shocks and springs - and reading our oracle r129's thread (https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=47&t=1382664&i=1280) I might do the suspension mounts as well
3. The radio doesn't have bluetooth and the CD player doesn't work. I might put in my usual pioneer.
4. The idle is slightly uneven. Not by much, but it's not perfect
It's a really nice solid car - and it feels pretty quick as well. It would demolish my e39 528 on a spirited drive.
I will be treating this as a daily driver and doing some distance in it - expect that 71k rarity to disappear!
The tyres date from 2012, so are not ancient, but would probably benefit from replacement.
The car briefly ran as a 5 cylinder (I think) today, which was a little worrying. Would this also be the throttle body? It sounds like this https://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/index.php?threa... I will have to take a detailed read later!
The car briefly ran as a 5 cylinder (I think) today, which was a little worrying. Would this also be the throttle body? It sounds like this https://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/index.php?threa... I will have to take a detailed read later!
I have now done a few thousand miles in the 320, and it seems to have settled down in terms of running. Putting these cars back into daily use definitely helps things here - I remember my 190 was also a little naughty when I first got it.
I have not been enjoying the 320 as much as I thought I would due to the firm ride and high tyre noise, as well as a general feeling that something wasn’t right This seems to have been down to ancient tyres - the rears were a decade old, despite having loads of tread! I believe that the car had wheels on it from new, so the owner I purchased it from probably sourced a set of wheels that had come from a car which had been stored for a while. The tyres were definitely not round!
Swapping them for Michelin cross climates has been a revelation. It’s like a different car. I have been driving it about for the last few days with the windows down and sunroof open, enjoying the weather.
I have also sourced a mirror cover (needs painting) and have started to build parts for a suspension refresh (why not?!). I will do the shocks and steering damper - but need to look into a list of other bushes and the like. Suggestions welcome for what would be of benefit on a non moon mileage car (73k).
It’s a lovely old thing and I am really enjoying being back in a w124.
I finally worked out how to work the orthopaedic seat and it’s very comfy. Makes an amusing hiss on deflation that can give passengers the impression of flatulence.
I have not been enjoying the 320 as much as I thought I would due to the firm ride and high tyre noise, as well as a general feeling that something wasn’t right This seems to have been down to ancient tyres - the rears were a decade old, despite having loads of tread! I believe that the car had wheels on it from new, so the owner I purchased it from probably sourced a set of wheels that had come from a car which had been stored for a while. The tyres were definitely not round!
Swapping them for Michelin cross climates has been a revelation. It’s like a different car. I have been driving it about for the last few days with the windows down and sunroof open, enjoying the weather.
I have also sourced a mirror cover (needs painting) and have started to build parts for a suspension refresh (why not?!). I will do the shocks and steering damper - but need to look into a list of other bushes and the like. Suggestions welcome for what would be of benefit on a non moon mileage car (73k).
It’s a lovely old thing and I am really enjoying being back in a w124.
I finally worked out how to work the orthopaedic seat and it’s very comfy. Makes an amusing hiss on deflation that can give passengers the impression of flatulence.
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