Mercedes C124 - please discuss/advise
Discussion
I'm pretty certain I'm going to get me a c124... I'm moving up from my Peugeot 405 Glx which is starting to get boring. I've got no concerns about reliability when it comes to the c124 ce because of the over engineering that was put into the w124.
I will be able to put away about 500ish a month so i reckon 2500 in total will get me a ce that hasn't been round the worlds too many times.
Here is what I want to know-
1. Which engine?
I'm considering the 300 12valve because of the power and low insurance (I'm 19)
2. I do want a spoiler if possible
Was it an optional extra from factory or one a certain spec?
3. Hard tops only really- any comments?
4. Manual vs. Auto. Always driven manuals... I'm aware its a merc- are the autos any good? I'm looking that way at the moment
5. Age variance, old/new? Was there a good year for them? J and g look the most abundant
6. What am I looking out for? What its "high mileage" when it comes to these CEs
I've got a while before I buy one so there's no topic too small or big really. Depth and contrasting opinions would be ideal! Thanks in advance
I will be able to put away about 500ish a month so i reckon 2500 in total will get me a ce that hasn't been round the worlds too many times.
Here is what I want to know-
1. Which engine?
I'm considering the 300 12valve because of the power and low insurance (I'm 19)
2. I do want a spoiler if possible
Was it an optional extra from factory or one a certain spec?
3. Hard tops only really- any comments?
4. Manual vs. Auto. Always driven manuals... I'm aware its a merc- are the autos any good? I'm looking that way at the moment
5. Age variance, old/new? Was there a good year for them? J and g look the most abundant
6. What am I looking out for? What its "high mileage" when it comes to these CEs
I've got a while before I buy one so there's no topic too small or big really. Depth and contrasting opinions would be ideal! Thanks in advance
I've owned my C124 for 6 years this month. For the first 4 years it was my daily driver, covering ~50k miles in that time.
I went for the E320, which has a period Carat Duchatelet bodykit and AMG wheels, and I managed to get insurance for this - I was 19 when I purchased it.
I have had some ups and downs with this car: I've had to replace a drive shaft, gearbox, wiring harness, ECU, head gasket and a few other more minor things, but I am a bit of perfectionist
But I still love it to bits!
You're looking at the 300CE, which is pre-faclift. I would recommend going for a post-89 car, as it has a much nicer interior, and chrome strips around the "waist line" of the car.
Mechanical
The M103 engine, while very reliable, suffers from the usual M103/M104 engine issues. That is namely head gasket, which you'll notice an oil leak around the head.
Also check the condition of the wiring harness, as these can deteriorate with age.
When driving, ensure the gearbox shifts are positive and smooth, with no clunking. Ensure all the gears work correctly, with no clunking between Reverse, Neutral and Drive.
Also, ensure there are no whines or shudder through the drive train - this could point towards different or prop/drift shaft issue.
Manual gearboxes in RHD cars are VERY rare, so you'll be hard pressed to find a decent example with one. While the manuals are good, the autos are great - beautifully smooth and they have a 2nd and 3rd gear over-ride (4th gear, too on the 5-speeders).
the 300CE-24 and E320 Coupe had an option of a 5-speed electronic gearbox, but it is widely regarded that the 4-speed pneumatic system is more reliable. (That's not to say the 5-speeder isn't reliable, though.)
With the 300CE, it's 4-speed only, I believe.
Exterior
Check for rust in the usual places - front wings is the main point, but with age some cars have started to go on the doors, rear wings and my inner wings need repairing last year, so check the engine bay.
You've asked about hardtops. I'm afraid that given £2,500, you'll be looking at Coupes only. Cabriolets always fetch ALOT more money, given their rariety over the Coupe.
However, that shouldn't matter. When you have the pillarless side windows and sunroof open, you're 95% the way to a convertible, anyway
Interior
You should expect a degree of wear on the driver seat's outer bolster. Both fabric and leather will be showing signs of ware, bt how much depends on mileage, care and the size of previous owners!
Interior options worth looking for are leather and air con, while electric seats are a welcome extra.
But no matter how many electrics, make sure everything works smoothly and correctly.
If it has electric windows and sunroof (most do), make sure there is no clonking, as this could require a new motor (Big £££) if done correctly with genuine new parts.
You should expect the windows and sunroof to operate slow-ish, but not a snails pace - remember everything will be nearly 20 years old now
Make sure the seat belt butler works properly.
The 300CE never came with a Mercedes alarm system as standard, but an aftermarket or optional Mercedes system should help towards your insurance. On that note, make sure the vacuum control central locking works fully and correctly.
Misc.
Ensure any car has a full service history, and see if things like gearbox oil and filters have been replaced (approx. every 36,000 miles).
If a car has been well cared for, it should be fine.
Also, find yourself a good Mercedes Independant Garage to look after your car.
Remember that parts are still expensive!
A rarer option worth considering is a Sportline model, which offers slightly lower, stiffer suspension with thicker front anti roll bar, a quick steering box and 0.5" wider alloys with 205 width tyres (as opposed to 195s on the standard wheels). A "Sportline" branded leather gearknob and smaller leather steering wheel were also offered with the Sportline spec for extra cost. Don't worry about this too much, but it's a nice option to have.
Relating specifically to the car you're after and your budget, I would say £2,500 should buy you a good example of a 300CE which could be used every day. Unfortunately, for that price you'll be hard pressed to find a concourse example.
People are now catching on to these cars, and supply of good examples is relatively low. having said that, there are plenty of serviceable examples, which will give many, many more miles of happy , reliable motoring.
Mileage-wise, if that car has been properly looked after, then it can manage well over 200,000 miles.
I wouldn't hesitate to look at anything up to 150,000 miles, for definate!
Just remember that lower mileage doesn't necessarily mean a better car.
Don't forget to look at alternative models. While the 300CE 12 valve is a good car, personally I would rather buy a better example of a 230CE or 220CE/E220 Coupe, rather than a shabbier 300CE.
I personally prefer the 12v 3.0 to the M103 24v unit, used in the 300CE-24. The 12v tends to be more reliable.
If it's 24v you want, the 320CE/E320 Coupe is the one to go for.
Finally, I would steer clear of any chavv'ed up examples. A fair few of these have been subjected to Max Power modifications. If it is modified, make sure it is by a recognised tuner.
Personally I think it looks a little silly if a car is completely standard with just a spoiler stuck on the boot. However, there are various manufacturers out there who offer spoilers. W124 spoilers occasionally pop up on Ebay UK and Germany, and this is the best place to look. Mercedes-Benz never offered a spoiler themselves. MB Lancaster in Ipswich were the only authorised dealer for Carat Duchatelet - most examples I've seen with boot spoilers have had the Duchatelet item.
That's all I can think of at the moment. Hope this helps.
Good luck with your search. They are terrific cars to own. A real privilage and a joy!
Darren
I went for the E320, which has a period Carat Duchatelet bodykit and AMG wheels, and I managed to get insurance for this - I was 19 when I purchased it.
I have had some ups and downs with this car: I've had to replace a drive shaft, gearbox, wiring harness, ECU, head gasket and a few other more minor things, but I am a bit of perfectionist
But I still love it to bits!
You're looking at the 300CE, which is pre-faclift. I would recommend going for a post-89 car, as it has a much nicer interior, and chrome strips around the "waist line" of the car.
Mechanical
The M103 engine, while very reliable, suffers from the usual M103/M104 engine issues. That is namely head gasket, which you'll notice an oil leak around the head.
Also check the condition of the wiring harness, as these can deteriorate with age.
When driving, ensure the gearbox shifts are positive and smooth, with no clunking. Ensure all the gears work correctly, with no clunking between Reverse, Neutral and Drive.
Also, ensure there are no whines or shudder through the drive train - this could point towards different or prop/drift shaft issue.
Manual gearboxes in RHD cars are VERY rare, so you'll be hard pressed to find a decent example with one. While the manuals are good, the autos are great - beautifully smooth and they have a 2nd and 3rd gear over-ride (4th gear, too on the 5-speeders).
the 300CE-24 and E320 Coupe had an option of a 5-speed electronic gearbox, but it is widely regarded that the 4-speed pneumatic system is more reliable. (That's not to say the 5-speeder isn't reliable, though.)
With the 300CE, it's 4-speed only, I believe.
Exterior
Check for rust in the usual places - front wings is the main point, but with age some cars have started to go on the doors, rear wings and my inner wings need repairing last year, so check the engine bay.
You've asked about hardtops. I'm afraid that given £2,500, you'll be looking at Coupes only. Cabriolets always fetch ALOT more money, given their rariety over the Coupe.
However, that shouldn't matter. When you have the pillarless side windows and sunroof open, you're 95% the way to a convertible, anyway
Interior
You should expect a degree of wear on the driver seat's outer bolster. Both fabric and leather will be showing signs of ware, bt how much depends on mileage, care and the size of previous owners!
Interior options worth looking for are leather and air con, while electric seats are a welcome extra.
But no matter how many electrics, make sure everything works smoothly and correctly.
If it has electric windows and sunroof (most do), make sure there is no clonking, as this could require a new motor (Big £££) if done correctly with genuine new parts.
You should expect the windows and sunroof to operate slow-ish, but not a snails pace - remember everything will be nearly 20 years old now
Make sure the seat belt butler works properly.
The 300CE never came with a Mercedes alarm system as standard, but an aftermarket or optional Mercedes system should help towards your insurance. On that note, make sure the vacuum control central locking works fully and correctly.
Misc.
Ensure any car has a full service history, and see if things like gearbox oil and filters have been replaced (approx. every 36,000 miles).
If a car has been well cared for, it should be fine.
Also, find yourself a good Mercedes Independant Garage to look after your car.
Remember that parts are still expensive!
A rarer option worth considering is a Sportline model, which offers slightly lower, stiffer suspension with thicker front anti roll bar, a quick steering box and 0.5" wider alloys with 205 width tyres (as opposed to 195s on the standard wheels). A "Sportline" branded leather gearknob and smaller leather steering wheel were also offered with the Sportline spec for extra cost. Don't worry about this too much, but it's a nice option to have.
Relating specifically to the car you're after and your budget, I would say £2,500 should buy you a good example of a 300CE which could be used every day. Unfortunately, for that price you'll be hard pressed to find a concourse example.
People are now catching on to these cars, and supply of good examples is relatively low. having said that, there are plenty of serviceable examples, which will give many, many more miles of happy , reliable motoring.
Mileage-wise, if that car has been properly looked after, then it can manage well over 200,000 miles.
I wouldn't hesitate to look at anything up to 150,000 miles, for definate!
Just remember that lower mileage doesn't necessarily mean a better car.
Don't forget to look at alternative models. While the 300CE 12 valve is a good car, personally I would rather buy a better example of a 230CE or 220CE/E220 Coupe, rather than a shabbier 300CE.
I personally prefer the 12v 3.0 to the M103 24v unit, used in the 300CE-24. The 12v tends to be more reliable.
If it's 24v you want, the 320CE/E320 Coupe is the one to go for.
Finally, I would steer clear of any chavv'ed up examples. A fair few of these have been subjected to Max Power modifications. If it is modified, make sure it is by a recognised tuner.
Personally I think it looks a little silly if a car is completely standard with just a spoiler stuck on the boot. However, there are various manufacturers out there who offer spoilers. W124 spoilers occasionally pop up on Ebay UK and Germany, and this is the best place to look. Mercedes-Benz never offered a spoiler themselves. MB Lancaster in Ipswich were the only authorised dealer for Carat Duchatelet - most examples I've seen with boot spoilers have had the Duchatelet item.
That's all I can think of at the moment. Hope this helps.
Good luck with your search. They are terrific cars to own. A real privilage and a joy!
Darren
Edited by iluvmercs on Monday 21st March 20:15
What sort of budget ?PH classifieds '89 300CE £1400 seems to good to be true
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2536457.htm
Run for a year or so whilst looking for really good one.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2536457.htm
Run for a year or so whilst looking for really good one.
Thanks for the detailed reply there mate -really appreciate it- exactly what i was hoping for !
and good shout there pal- didn't really think of doing that- would somewhat take the excitement out of getting a gem though- I was thinking of getting a daily diesel for the meantime. 205/306 or something similar- just because I know peugeots REALLY well and I've got a specialist who I can count on for free labor locally (we fitted a new gearbox, clutch, alternator and other bits to my 405 recently)!!
going to sort the 405 out for sale soon me thinks, just same old really- not even huge on fuel economy for a 1.8 8valve
!and good shout there pal- didn't really think of doing that- would somewhat take the excitement out of getting a gem though- I was thinking of getting a daily diesel for the meantime. 205/306 or something similar- just because I know peugeots REALLY well and I've got a specialist who I can count on for free labor locally (we fitted a new gearbox, clutch, alternator and other bits to my 405 recently)!!
going to sort the 405 out for sale soon me thinks, just same old really- not even huge on fuel economy for a 1.8 8valve
Hangar 18 said:
Thanks for the detailed reply there mate -really appreciate it- exactly what i was hoping for !
No problem; happy to help. Apologies for some of the poor spelling and mis-typing !
If there's anything else you would like to know, just ask
I do request one thing in return for my long post, though - please let us know when you've bought one
Happy hunting!
Darren
iluvmercs said:
No problem; happy to help. Apologies for some of the poor spelling and mis-typing
If there's anything else you would like to know, just ask
I do request one thing in return for my long post, though - please let us know when you've bought one
Happy hunting!
Darren
Haha don't be silly mate! If there's anything else you would like to know, just ask
I do request one thing in return for my long post, though - please let us know when you've bought one
Happy hunting!
Darren
And that's not a problem- I'll probably end up spending a little under budget and "get to grips" with the car by putting time in- doing odd jobs on it and such- I'll make sure to notify you on this post- but I reckon I'll be starting a build thread if I end up having the time to actually work on it... the bugger is- I work over 45 hours a week on a rota- so I either start at 2 in the afternoon- or get up at 4am and finish at 2pm- makes life difficult to plan... lets put it that way!!!
If I spot me a good audi/vw in the meanwhile- I could well end up stepping a stone on one like that and getting a little mark-up too
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