RE: The W124 Mercedes guru | PH Fleet
Discussion
Zonergem said:
The art of buying old Mercs is to find one the previous owner spent all his money on before a) his wife left him in despair b) bankruptcy or a combination of same.
The problem with piecemeal suspension replacement is that it throws the spotlight on to the next-weakest component in the chain. You do the ARB bushes and the top mounts, but what of the engine and transmission mounts, subframe bushes, diff mounts and the five-arm multilink suspension?
Every component replaced is a financial commitment to getting it right and makes it more necessary to do the next item in the list.
Eventually you end up here, poor but happy.
Ah, the list. Mine should be getting done next week hopefully. Best to do one big bang rather than keep taking it apart and putting it back together again!The problem with piecemeal suspension replacement is that it throws the spotlight on to the next-weakest component in the chain. You do the ARB bushes and the top mounts, but what of the engine and transmission mounts, subframe bushes, diff mounts and the five-arm multilink suspension?
Every component replaced is a financial commitment to getting it right and makes it more necessary to do the next item in the list.
Eventually you end up here, poor but happy.
ian316 said:
J4CKO said:
I often think that the W124 has such a good rep as the W210 was such a rusty thing.
W211's seem to be faring pretty well, I had a CLS which was the same underneath and never really had any issues, replaced some engine cam blanking plates, a ball joint and the airmatic pump, it had done over 100k.
So rule out W210s, is the W124 really better than a W211 in reality ? Is it worth putting up with a 30 year old car for whatever benefits ?
I do fancy a cls which engine did you have, although after driving the truck all week the 300d feels nippy unbelievably
W211's seem to be faring pretty well, I had a CLS which was the same underneath and never really had any issues, replaced some engine cam blanking plates, a ball joint and the airmatic pump, it had done over 100k.
So rule out W210s, is the W124 really better than a W211 in reality ? Is it worth putting up with a 30 year old car for whatever benefits ?
I do fancy a cls which engine did you have, although after driving the truck all week the 300d feels nippy unbelievably
Don’t pay much, I sold mine for five grand two years ago, most prices are cloud cuckoo land, very limited market, maybe the diesels sell better ?
Can’t imagine paying more for a older w124 with an engine with half as much power and less cylinders.
0a said:
I am on my third w124. I keep going away to better and more modern cars, and then really miss them and find myself buying one again. Strangely I love a good long journey in them, they have a great rhythm!
Snap I'm on my 3rd too, this one a 300d replaced a XJ8 so much slower but so much more relaxing to drive SidewaysSi said:
0a said:
I am on my third w124. I keep going away to better and more modern cars, and then really miss them and find myself buying one again. Strangely I love a good long journey in them, they have a great rhythm!
Is your garage up to date? What a collection...enjoy!
0a said:
I am on my third w124. I keep going away to better and more modern cars, and then really miss them and find myself buying one again. Strangely I love a good long journey in them, they have a great rhythm!
First time I drove one in the early 90's I was into to my hot hatches. I had drive a 200 from London to Birmangham and back with two passengers.At first I was incredulous at the lack of grunt and the long throttle travel. By the end I was amazed at how it just loped along so effortlessly.
It created a Mercedes itch which I had to scratch a few years later and still am 17 years on.
Had a tired 320E estate for about 18 months, paid £1500, lived up to the hype!
Boot area damp, due to water leaking through rusty rear window frames, repaired and sealed up.
The 4 speed reverse gear died, sourced a second hand box and replaced that.
Always had an oil leak, that got worse over time, hunted it down to rear of engine, suspected head gasket. Bought new head gasket, planed to do, replacement gear box started to show signs of going wrong!
Listed with current issues on eBay sold for £950.
It served it purpose, cheepish estate, that's not boring. Enjoyed owning and driving it!
Boot area damp, due to water leaking through rusty rear window frames, repaired and sealed up.
The 4 speed reverse gear died, sourced a second hand box and replaced that.
Always had an oil leak, that got worse over time, hunted it down to rear of engine, suspected head gasket. Bought new head gasket, planed to do, replacement gear box started to show signs of going wrong!
Listed with current issues on eBay sold for £950.
It served it purpose, cheepish estate, that's not boring. Enjoyed owning and driving it!
My old W124. Wonderful in every way. Quite nimble too, being a modest four cylinder model. Far superior in every way to the 190 that I now own. Don’t listen to anyone who says a 190 is better. They’re easier to park and the front wings are more rust resistant but there’s where the positives end. The 124 is way ahead at absolutely everything else.
MJK 24 said:
My old W124. Wonderful in every way. Quite nimble too, being a modest four cylinder model. Far superior in every way to the 190 that I now own. Don’t listen to anyone who says a 190 is better. They’re easier to park and the front wings are more rust resistant but there’s where the positives end. The 124 is way ahead at absolutely everything else.
Remember when you had this up for sale. I spent many hours ummmming an erring but I couldn't justify it unfortunately.MJK 24 said:
My old W124. Wonderful in every way. Quite nimble too, being a modest four cylinder model. Far superior in every way to the 190 that I now own. Don’t listen to anyone who says a 190 is better. They’re easier to park and the front wings are more rust resistant but there’s where the positives end. The 124 is way ahead at absolutely everything else.
Really love that colour. I've driven a few 124's but never driven a 190, so can't comment.
I can, though, compare the next gen 210 (E55) to the next 202 (C43) where the difference in wheelbase, rear axle location and general demeanour was very noticeable.
The E felt like the "proper" Merc whereas the C felt like the cut down and compromised version.
No idea if that still holds but it was noticeable then.
Another nice little job done on my 124. The notorious nylon shifter bush.
A £2.20 part which took over2.5 hrs to change whilst simultaneously holding a torch in my mouth and much muffled swearing.
In the end I just pulled the whole shifter assembly out from the console inside the car and job done. The result is now a gear selector which is as smooth as butter.
I've decided I'm going to keep the car now and sort out all the bushes/springs as the next job...
A £2.20 part which took over2.5 hrs to change whilst simultaneously holding a torch in my mouth and much muffled swearing.
In the end I just pulled the whole shifter assembly out from the console inside the car and job done. The result is now a gear selector which is as smooth as butter.
I've decided I'm going to keep the car now and sort out all the bushes/springs as the next job...
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff