W124 Winter Barge
Discussion
After SOTW back in November and having harboured a secret love for W124's since I was about 10 years old and had a Matchbox 300E, I did an eBay splurge and bought this the other week:
Yes, it's the pinnacle of automotive performance, a seven seat 1995 Mercedes E220 estate!
I paid half Shed's budget on the understanding that it needs a few bits doing to it such as sorting the ABS, although it has an MOT and tax until mid 2012 and three new tyres. I took the photos today as I've given it a good clean, sorted a few suspension knocks and discovered a few more.
I think it's a pretty basic spec as it has twin airbags, remote locking, air-con and walnut trim but no fancy seats or leather wheel. Luckily the cabin warms up almost instantly, so I don't miss not having heated seats. I think the rusty front wings were a no-cost option.
I had an interesting issue last week when I thought the engine loom had disintegrated and was causing a misfire, but it was just that my over exuberant power-washing of the engine bay had filled the spark-plug valley with water. Rectified by me spending ten minutes outside with some kitchen paper and a hairdryer after helpful advice from the MB club!
It's quite nice to drive - very well planted and hustles along at a reasonable speed. It's not fast in any sense of the word, but it never feels as though you need to go faster. Jobs before the winter really sets in are fitting some decent winter rubber and getting all of the filters and oil changed. Should be good to go then!
In comparison to the V70 I also have, the Merc is much slower but rides smoother, feels less modern (interior trim design, stonking dash aside!) but better engineered and has the worst speaker system I think I've ever had the misfortune of hearing. It really is f
king dire, and I'd challenge anyone to willingly sit in the car with the radio on. I'm never going to get it up to the quality of the decent Dynaudio system in the Volvo, but I might try something over the next few weeks...
Yes, it's the pinnacle of automotive performance, a seven seat 1995 Mercedes E220 estate!
I paid half Shed's budget on the understanding that it needs a few bits doing to it such as sorting the ABS, although it has an MOT and tax until mid 2012 and three new tyres. I took the photos today as I've given it a good clean, sorted a few suspension knocks and discovered a few more.
I think it's a pretty basic spec as it has twin airbags, remote locking, air-con and walnut trim but no fancy seats or leather wheel. Luckily the cabin warms up almost instantly, so I don't miss not having heated seats. I think the rusty front wings were a no-cost option.
I had an interesting issue last week when I thought the engine loom had disintegrated and was causing a misfire, but it was just that my over exuberant power-washing of the engine bay had filled the spark-plug valley with water. Rectified by me spending ten minutes outside with some kitchen paper and a hairdryer after helpful advice from the MB club!
It's quite nice to drive - very well planted and hustles along at a reasonable speed. It's not fast in any sense of the word, but it never feels as though you need to go faster. Jobs before the winter really sets in are fitting some decent winter rubber and getting all of the filters and oil changed. Should be good to go then!
In comparison to the V70 I also have, the Merc is much slower but rides smoother, feels less modern (interior trim design, stonking dash aside!) but better engineered and has the worst speaker system I think I've ever had the misfortune of hearing. It really is f
king dire, and I'd challenge anyone to willingly sit in the car with the radio on. I'm never going to get it up to the quality of the decent Dynaudio system in the Volvo, but I might try something over the next few weeks... 
Love these, a 'proper' Mercedes!Looks wonderful. Its amazing how things have now moved on.
re the V70 I tested one against a 525i sport tourer E39 back in 2004 and went the BMW route as vastly better/smoother drive than the V70. I didn't like the later E class so Mercedes was ruled out but the one you have was a glorious looking car.
re the V70 I tested one against a 525i sport tourer E39 back in 2004 and went the BMW route as vastly better/smoother drive than the V70. I didn't like the later E class so Mercedes was ruled out but the one you have was a glorious looking car.
I have thought about throwing some alloys on it, although maybe that's a jaunt for the good weather times. I really like the standard 8-hole ones that they all seem to have (and the big AMG mono blocks), but also quite like the older CLK wheels.
Did a quick photoshop with the CLK ones...
Possibly a bit of a Marmite option!
Did a quick photoshop with the CLK ones...
Possibly a bit of a Marmite option!
Nice choice of hack.
I have a 500E and the previous owner uprated the speakers. You will probably find that the speaker cones have gone really soft over time, they are only about 4" in diameter and don't really have any guts.
My own one though is far and away the worst car to drive in winter though, no traction, auto gearbox meaning you need to pop it in neutral when coasting to a stop or the front wheels lock and the rears keep on pushing
The W124 and W126 are rather special cars, you may find it grows on you and you'll be lusting after a 300E before you know it.
Dave!
I have a 500E and the previous owner uprated the speakers. You will probably find that the speaker cones have gone really soft over time, they are only about 4" in diameter and don't really have any guts.
My own one though is far and away the worst car to drive in winter though, no traction, auto gearbox meaning you need to pop it in neutral when coasting to a stop or the front wheels lock and the rears keep on pushing
The W124 and W126 are rather special cars, you may find it grows on you and you'll be lusting after a 300E before you know it.
Dave!
I'd love a 500E, but I thought my first foray into Mercedes territory ought to be something that wasn't going to instantly bankrupt me 
This week I've bodged the rusty inner wings for the winter (I'm not stripping the front end down when it's snowing outside!) and fitted a new steering damper, successfully curing the slightly ponderous straight-line tracking.
I took it into central London yesterday to pick something up and apart from a lumpy idle and running warm when sat idle in traffic (up to about 105 degrees after 30 minutes) it seemed faultless. I'll probably change the coolant and have a look at the viscous engine fan and throttle body next week when it gets a proper service.
Taking it on a 500-mile round trip to Wales this weekend, so we'll see how far a bargain barge W124 can get you
This week I've bodged the rusty inner wings for the winter (I'm not stripping the front end down when it's snowing outside!) and fitted a new steering damper, successfully curing the slightly ponderous straight-line tracking.
I took it into central London yesterday to pick something up and apart from a lumpy idle and running warm when sat idle in traffic (up to about 105 degrees after 30 minutes) it seemed faultless. I'll probably change the coolant and have a look at the viscous engine fan and throttle body next week when it gets a proper service.
Taking it on a 500-mile round trip to Wales this weekend, so we'll see how far a bargain barge W124 can get you
Small update.
Used a clay bar on the barge the other weekend, and it looks about a million times better. I'll have to take some snaps and upload them.
No other reported problems either. Sorted the rear wash wipe, and added a few thousand more troublesome miles... I was going to flog it come the end of this month, but I've failed at bangernomic ethics and have fallen in love with it.
These old Mercs really are utterly awesome!
Used a clay bar on the barge the other weekend, and it looks about a million times better. I'll have to take some snaps and upload them.
No other reported problems either. Sorted the rear wash wipe, and added a few thousand more troublesome miles... I was going to flog it come the end of this month, but I've failed at bangernomic ethics and have fallen in love with it.
These old Mercs really are utterly awesome!
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