Retro Barge: 0a's Gold Mercedes W124 300E With Brown Leather
Discussion
As a chap with 3 old cars, I decided it was time to cut down. So I purchased an MOT failure Jaguar XJ8, bringing the total to 4. The Jaguar and my 190E are both with my mechanic being fettled. So the logical next step was to buy another car. Another W124. Another 300E 4 door! That's 5 cars...
Wind back a bit to December 2012... https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... The barge thread was what got me into Pistonheads and old mercs. 5 years ago I was moving out of London as a chap in his 20s with zero no claims. Ford Fiestas were coming in at ridiculous premiums, so I ran a load of cars through moneysupermarket (other comparison sites available). The 3.0 litre straight 6 300E was cheaper than the fiesta, so with encouragement from the 1-5 thread, I flew from Edinburgh to Cornwall and drove it back. It has been a fantastic car, and the one I like driving the most. It feels like home.
5 years later I still have the green 300E, but also a 190 2.6, a 500SL, and the XJ8!
This gold 1988 300E was posted on the barge thread and I couldn't resist putting a bid in. I won it.
It's an early W124, so has the clean looks with no Sacco panels and no headlight washers. It's a bit of a strange specification, with a parsimonious dashboard lacking buttons, but with 2 stage heated seats and cruise control which still works. The brown leather interior is something I have been after for a long time, having missed out on an estate a couple of years ago. It's mint inside aside from some loose trim which will be easy enough to deal with.
The outside is really rather good. I stopped at a petrol station to take the required Barge1-5 thread acquisition picture below, and the chap serving me complimented me on a beautiful car. The front arches have been done, and despite my comment on the barge thread, they have been done really well. There's no sign of corrosion on the rear arches either.
The car drives really well. It feels 'young' compared to my 195k mile green 300E. That's aside from the exhaust going from perfect to blowing in 100 miles - I suspect it has been a while since this car saw the 'autobahn' as it did today. It is also hesitant pulling off and a little lumpy - I will get my mechanic to give it a service and will drop the gearbox fluid at the same time.
The owner was a great chap - a barge and W124 enthusiast. We were discussing our other cars, and I mentioned my 190 2.6 with green velour interior and it he knew the car and owner I purchased it from, and has driven it. A small world!
On the to do list:
- Clean it myself
- Fit a stereo: will be done tomorrow. Sorry but a modern Pioneer with bluetooth is going in (the same one I fit to all my cars, it looks fine and sounds good).
- Service and going over from my mechanic
- Autobox service and fluid change
- Underbonnet insulation needs replacing (well reintroducing!)
- Exhaust
- Central locking works fine from the driver's door but isn't keen on operating all locks from the passenger door
- Get new keys cut (I only have one at the moment)
- Tidy the interior trim
- Rainbow speakers
- A really good interior clean - it's in good condition, but has been sitting for a few years
- Edit to add: the bonnet is not quite perfectly aligned with the wing on one side - these are very adjustable so this shouldn't be an issue.
Wind back a bit to December 2012... https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... The barge thread was what got me into Pistonheads and old mercs. 5 years ago I was moving out of London as a chap in his 20s with zero no claims. Ford Fiestas were coming in at ridiculous premiums, so I ran a load of cars through moneysupermarket (other comparison sites available). The 3.0 litre straight 6 300E was cheaper than the fiesta, so with encouragement from the 1-5 thread, I flew from Edinburgh to Cornwall and drove it back. It has been a fantastic car, and the one I like driving the most. It feels like home.
5 years later I still have the green 300E, but also a 190 2.6, a 500SL, and the XJ8!
This gold 1988 300E was posted on the barge thread and I couldn't resist putting a bid in. I won it.
It's an early W124, so has the clean looks with no Sacco panels and no headlight washers. It's a bit of a strange specification, with a parsimonious dashboard lacking buttons, but with 2 stage heated seats and cruise control which still works. The brown leather interior is something I have been after for a long time, having missed out on an estate a couple of years ago. It's mint inside aside from some loose trim which will be easy enough to deal with.
The outside is really rather good. I stopped at a petrol station to take the required Barge1-5 thread acquisition picture below, and the chap serving me complimented me on a beautiful car. The front arches have been done, and despite my comment on the barge thread, they have been done really well. There's no sign of corrosion on the rear arches either.
The car drives really well. It feels 'young' compared to my 195k mile green 300E. That's aside from the exhaust going from perfect to blowing in 100 miles - I suspect it has been a while since this car saw the 'autobahn' as it did today. It is also hesitant pulling off and a little lumpy - I will get my mechanic to give it a service and will drop the gearbox fluid at the same time.
The owner was a great chap - a barge and W124 enthusiast. We were discussing our other cars, and I mentioned my 190 2.6 with green velour interior and it he knew the car and owner I purchased it from, and has driven it. A small world!
On the to do list:
- Clean it myself
- Fit a stereo: will be done tomorrow. Sorry but a modern Pioneer with bluetooth is going in (the same one I fit to all my cars, it looks fine and sounds good).
- Service and going over from my mechanic
- Autobox service and fluid change
- Underbonnet insulation needs replacing (well reintroducing!)
- Exhaust
- Central locking works fine from the driver's door but isn't keen on operating all locks from the passenger door
- Get new keys cut (I only have one at the moment)
- Tidy the interior trim
- Rainbow speakers
- A really good interior clean - it's in good condition, but has been sitting for a few years
- Edit to add: the bonnet is not quite perfectly aligned with the wing on one side - these are very adjustable so this shouldn't be an issue.
Edited by 0a on Saturday 8th April 00:54
Nothing more to say top work, congratulations.
|https://thumbsnap.com/uUqKKiVe[/
I think I may need to do the distributer and leads as it's running a bit rough and is hesitant when pulling away. Not a surprise given it has been almost unused for 2 years. I have been cleaning the interior this afternoon and it's in excellent condition. Loads of BROWN everywhere. So naff surely it is kind of cool again?
The only issue is some of the plastic trim is a little loose - particular around the rear door handles. Will have to work out what to do with that.
The only issue is some of the plastic trim is a little loose - particular around the rear door handles. Will have to work out what to do with that.
callahan said:
Looks lovely and a great write up.
Wrong thing to be asking when it comes to barges, but which Pioneer head unit is it? I'm in need of one myself for a bit of poverty Pork.....
Apologies I missed this earlier. It's just a £100 one from Halfords. Nothing special. See below. Wrong thing to be asking when it comes to barges, but which Pioneer head unit is it? I'm in need of one myself for a bit of poverty Pork.....
You can change the colour of the dash in the settings to match your car, and it does Bluetooth etc. Of all the modern value radios it looks very dull when turned off.
Halfords get a lot of stick here but they will fit it for £30 and have done all the cars I sent to them (well the lady who fits for them in Edinburgh has!).
I rate it - but am no car audio expert in any way!
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