Merc 300TD Estate

[biper]

I have never owned a Merc and have the chance of buying a T reg 300TD estate. It has 120,000 mile on the clock and has two owners, the second one I know personaly, my boss's wife.
What should I be looking for whilst inspecting the car and as I have a 110 mile round journey to work each day of mixed M/way and A roads what would I expect to see in MPG. It looks a great car with no rust on the front wings and well looked after. I think it is a basic version, no leather.
Thanks for any advice.
Barrie

[niva441]

I'm not a W124 specialist, but that sounds nicely run in, if you don't want it...

No rust on the wings is even better.

[Fun Bus]

I'm sure Garlick will be along soon to impart some useful advice.

[Vixpy1]

T reg will be W210, not 124.

Look for rust, um.. everywhere, especially the lower front suspension cups because they can fall off due to corrosion.

Engines are fairly bullet proof, Transmissions can fail.

Oh and lots have been used as minicabs.

[Garlick]

Charlie is right, you're looking at an early bug eye.

Decent engines, but rust buckets. That said, a mate has just paid a grand for an E240, loaded, fsh too but tatty. Unusually it has NO rust at all and is a great car.

Not worth that much sadly, if it was a W124 at that mileage it would be worth a fortune. Still worth a punt though, but check for rust, then check again.

[Fun Bus]

Hasn't it been said that these were over-engineered in some areas?

[Mound Dawg]

Not by Merc specialists no...

[Garlick]

Hmm, maybe but not that I've heard.

I was selling these new and they were fairly low quality early on. Rattly trim, doors that shut with a clang instead of a clunk and warranty claims were a regular occurrence.

They did get better though. A few years later.....

[jamiebae]

Fun Bus said:

Hasn't it been said that these were over-engineered in some areas?

Only in areas not made from steel, which are under-engineered in a way which makes the toys found inside a Kinder egg look like intercontinental ballistic missiles.

[BarnatosGhost]

Nice car I suppose, but not a proper merc of the old school. These were cars that eroded the reputation, not built it.

Better-off with an e39 touring, I'd suggest.

[Garlick]

Tell him I'll give him £500 for it. Can collect tomorrow evening.

[Fun Bus]

I'm probably thinking of a different car entirely. Wouldn't surprise me if I was.

[Hell27]

Garlick, given the W124 had unbreakable build quality but some reasonably low power engines (especially the diesel options), but the W210 had the opposite, do you know of any people who have transplanted W210 engines to W124 cars, and did they work well?

[skeggysteve]

Fun Bus said:

I'm sure Garlick will be along soon to impart some useful advice.

I read that and thought, no Garlick will be along soon to offer to buy it!




Then I read more on the thread and:

Garlick said:

Tell him I'll give him £500 for it. Can collect tomorrow evening.

[Petrol Eddie]

RUST, I passed a W210 Estate today where the rear tailgate had so many rust holes it was only the mud holding it together.

[Garlick]

Well, you have to put in the cheeky bid

As for the 210 into 124? I've never heard of it being done, but that's not to say it hasn't happened. Seems to be quite a lot of effort as they are very different and probably not that easy to do. That said, i'd like to drop a 4.3 into mine

[LHD]

Garlick said:

Well, you have to put in the cheeky bid

As for the 210 into 124? I've never heard of it being done, but that's not to say it hasn't happened. Seems to be quite a lot of effort as they are very different and probably not that easy to do. That said, i'd like to drop a 4.3 into mine

Has Pete still got the E36 W124 Tourer?

[Liquid Knight]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhxsN7HGo2Y



As featured in this months Practical Performance Car magazine.

[BarnatosGhost]

LHD said:

Garlick said:

Well, you have to put in the cheeky bid

As for the 210 into 124? I've never heard of it being done, but that's not to say it hasn't happened. Seems to be quite a lot of effort as they are very different and probably not that easy to do. That said, i'd like to drop a 4.3 into mine

Has Pete still got the E36 W124 Tourer?

Please tell/show us more. That sounds like a great piece of kit.

[Garlick]

He sold it, don't see too many AMG estates either. I regret not buying it.