RE: Mercedes E200 Estate (W124) | Shed of the Week
Discussion
That's strong money for a 24 year old car with starship mileage, no?
I paid a bag of sand for my 2001 W210 Estate (7 seats, tow bar, V6) wafter with 100k on the clock (FSH).
Took it to Merc and jested "I will run it in to the ground". He quipped "good luck".
So with that in mind, this weeks shed could well be a bargain if you can get the vendor down a quid or ten...
I paid a bag of sand for my 2001 W210 Estate (7 seats, tow bar, V6) wafter with 100k on the clock (FSH).
Took it to Merc and jested "I will run it in to the ground". He quipped "good luck".
So with that in mind, this weeks shed could well be a bargain if you can get the vendor down a quid or ten...
I had a 230 CE briefly, it was languishing at my MOT place and I asked about it and the boss said, take it as not got time to do yours anyway, if you want to buy it can have it for £800.
Initially I loved it, big steering wheel, very wafty and that feeling of solidity made a compelling package, despite 230k and a few faults that would need attending to, I just loved the understated look and easy drive.
However, the novelty wore off when I went to overtake and realised it was utterly gutless, I dont think they are fast when new and 230,000 miles cant have helped but it sounded like a deeply offended cow and made no additional forward motion.
Needs a six cylinder engine really, the old chap three doors away had a 300E from new, H reg and I mentioned if he came to sell I would be interested, he died and his widow disposed of it, was like new,
Its a good shed but you need to be prepared for the lack of performance if you like to press on, just not that kind of car.
Initially I loved it, big steering wheel, very wafty and that feeling of solidity made a compelling package, despite 230k and a few faults that would need attending to, I just loved the understated look and easy drive.
However, the novelty wore off when I went to overtake and realised it was utterly gutless, I dont think they are fast when new and 230,000 miles cant have helped but it sounded like a deeply offended cow and made no additional forward motion.
Needs a six cylinder engine really, the old chap three doors away had a 300E from new, H reg and I mentioned if he came to sell I would be interested, he died and his widow disposed of it, was like new,
Its a good shed but you need to be prepared for the lack of performance if you like to press on, just not that kind of car.
had a W123 300 Saloon back in 98 - 99 on a J Plate. Even then it had over 200'000 miles on the clock when i got it yet i belted all over Europe in that, cruise control on at 120MPH everywhere in Germany. The thing never missed a beat, and even in its last moments when it went met a 3 Series BMW that was jumping a set of traffic lights it drove off fine, sadly insurance wrote off a then close to 300,000 mile RHD merc stuck in a breakers in Munich, still miss J1 TPL
Rumblestripe said:
AC43 said:
When I was having the wheels on my first C43 refurbed I had a W124 E200 loaner for a week. Loved wafting around in it.
My neighbour's father was a war correspondent and he called it the Beirut Taxi.
I think strictly speaking the W123 saloon was the "Beirut Taxi"?My neighbour's father was a war correspondent and he called it the Beirut Taxi.
Rumblestripe said:
Anyhow, great shed, chickened out on buying a coupe for next to nowt a few years ago. Still annoys me.
Lovely things, them.J4CKO said:
Its a good shed but you need to be prepared for the lack of performance if you like to press on, just not that kind of car.
It's funny, though, that the second time I drove one I stepped out of news-ish 4.3 V8 into the ancient 2.0 and found myself adapting to it's laid back approach to things. It didn't do "fast" but it smothered speedbumps & broken tarmac, felt like it was made from granite and made all the hassle happening in the outside world just fade away. In my book that last bit is the true essence of "Merc-ness".
Having said that it was just trundling round London and never had to actually overtake anything. I'd have a 280 or 300 please.
(The second rule of Merc-ness is to always get the largest engine possible. This is increases the sense of serenity. And actually means you can get a shift on, if you really have to. Before reverting to the default wafting mode).
Edited by AC43 on Friday 31st May 11:56
AC43 said:
J4CKO said:
Its a good shed but you need to be prepared for the lack of performance if you like to press on, just not that kind of car.
It's funny, though, that the second time I drove one I stepped out of news-ish 4.3 V8 into the ancient 2.0 and found myself adapting to it's laid back approach to things. It didn't do "fast" but it smothered speedbumps & broken tarmac, felt like it was made from granite and made all the hassle happening in the outside world just fade away. In my book that last bit is the true essence of "Merc-ness".
Having said that it was just trundling round London and never had to actually overtake anything. I'd have a 280 or 300 please.
(The second rule of Merc-ness is to always get the largest engine possible. This is increases the sense of serenity. And actually means you can get a shift on, if you really have to. Before reverting to the default wafting mode).
Edited by AC43 on Friday 31st May 11:56
Had a 190e 2.0 with manual gearbox many years ago. Terrible gear change and glacially slow around town albeit nice on the motorway, when hauled up to speed.
Ignition barrel broke, which was in the dash. It was an enormous arse ache to sort out. Never gelled with it, had it long enough to sell it. I would only have a six cylinder auto if I was in the market for a W124.
Ignition barrel broke, which was in the dash. It was an enormous arse ache to sort out. Never gelled with it, had it long enough to sell it. I would only have a six cylinder auto if I was in the market for a W124.
AC43 said:
Rumblestripe said:
AC43 said:
When I was having the wheels on my first C43 refurbed I had a W124 E200 loaner for a week. Loved wafting around in it.
My neighbour's father was a war correspondent and he called it the Beirut Taxi.
I think strictly speaking the W123 saloon was the "Beirut Taxi"?My neighbour's father was a war correspondent and he called it the Beirut Taxi.
Rumblestripe said:
Anyhow, great shed, chickened out on buying a coupe for next to nowt a few years ago. Still annoys me.
Lovely things, them.
The Beirut Taxi
Usually "powered" by the 2.4 Diesel lump my research tells me!
Shed said:
The vendor says this is the five-seat rather than the seven-seat estate. You can't tell just from looking at the double-flap setup in the back because the 5s and 7s look exactly the same
You can easily tell it's the 5 seater as the 7 seater has a set of seatbelts in the load area for the rear facing seats.
Also it doesn't have aircon (it would have the aircon buttons between the circular vent controls if it did). It's very sparsely equipped - the only options I can see are elec front windows and roof, and the storage box between the front seats. The ad claims the elec mirrors were options but they were standard. The ad also says the car originally came with steel wheels and plastic wheel trims which for proper pov spec authenticity, would be nice to put back on.
The problem with this is the manual gearbox, and long travel clutch - it's not awful but so out of character with the lazy nature of the car. You need to drive the same car with the brilliant Mercedes auto to see the difference.
As many have said, the sweet spot is the pre facelift 6cyl, but there is nothing wrong with a post facelift E280 or 320 with all the toys - sadly the market recognises this too so you get chancers like this pushing up prices.
https://www.seymourpope.com/used-vehicle-details/m...
Edited by Dapster on Friday 31st May 12:54
I’ve had my fair share of 124s.
First was a 300TE, resplendent in pearl blue. It was a slugger with the the 12-valve M103 unit, but beautifully built and a proper wafter.
I’ve had a 220 coupe facelift, which was surprisingly nice after the 6-cylinder car, and fabulously economical (40 on a run), and rather lovely in Bornite.
I’ve then run a couple of E280s, which were cruisers of the first order; an Almandine car with parchment leather, and an £800 low-spec Polar white with grey cloth car which was shabby.
Not the thing for the press-on motorist, but just the job to soothe away the pressures of the day.
Ps, hewn-from-granite, engineers-not-accountants b
ks. It’s not a 124 (123,129,126) post without these key words.
First was a 300TE, resplendent in pearl blue. It was a slugger with the the 12-valve M103 unit, but beautifully built and a proper wafter.
I’ve had a 220 coupe facelift, which was surprisingly nice after the 6-cylinder car, and fabulously economical (40 on a run), and rather lovely in Bornite.
I’ve then run a couple of E280s, which were cruisers of the first order; an Almandine car with parchment leather, and an £800 low-spec Polar white with grey cloth car which was shabby.
Not the thing for the press-on motorist, but just the job to soothe away the pressures of the day.
Ps, hewn-from-granite, engineers-not-accountants b
ks. It’s not a 124 (123,129,126) post without these key words. Venisonpie said:
Rumblestripe said:
As a supporting document, ladies and gentlemen, I give you...
The Beirut Taxi
Usually "powered" by the 2.4 Diesel lump my research tells me!
Looks a goodie that one, alloys as well no less.The Beirut Taxi
Usually "powered" by the 2.4 Diesel lump my research tells me!
Dapster said:
Shed said:
The vendor says this is the five-seat rather than the seven-seat estate. You can't tell just from looking at the double-flap setup in the back because the 5s and 7s look exactly the same
You can easily tell it's the 5 seater as the 7 seater has a set of seatbelts in the load area for the rear facing seats.Also it doesn't have aircon (it would have the aircon buttons between the circular vent controls if it did). It's very sparsely equipped - the only options I can see are elec front windows and roof, and the storage box between the front seats. The ad claims the elec mirrors were options but they were standard. The ad also says the car originally came with steel wheels and plastic wheel trims which for proper pov spec authenticity, would be nice to put back on.
The problem with this is the manual gearbox, and long travel clutch - it's not awful but so out of character with the lazy nature of the car. You need to drive the same car with the brilliant Mercedes auto to see the difference.
As many have said, the sweet spot is the pre facelift 6cyl, but there is nothing wrong with a post facelift E280 or 320 with all the toys - sadly the market recognises this too so you get chancers like this pushing up prices.
https://www.seymourpope.com/used-vehicle-details/m...
Edited by Dapster on Friday 31st May 12:54
sidewinder500 said:
I found that it still left an annoying unswept area - even with the 'extending action'
Really? I considered the wept space amazing, even at today's standard...
Yes, really!Really? I considered the wept space amazing, even at today's standard...
As a tall-ish chap, I found the top corner unswept bit very irritating
The W124 / S124 was not without its faults. Rusty jacking points, the estate's rear suspension and the infamous bio-degradable wiring harness can all spoil the party.
The post-93 facelift was (in my opinion) like forcing your granddad to wear some trendy clothes. The larger grille (as pictured above) looks much better!
bangerturner said:
Dapster said:
- sadly the market recognises this too so you get chancers like this pushing up prices.
https://www.seymourpope.com/used-vehicle-details/m...
Ah yes but they are "Becoming very desirbale" https://www.seymourpope.com/used-vehicle-details/m...
Edited by Dapster on Friday 31st May 12:54
kaduck - 10k and its got cloth interior and not even a 300 or a 4matic, and i am sure its missing a few switches on the center console for "fully loaded" it is tidy and lovely though ...
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