1995 S124 E280 shed
Discussion
So for some time I've wanted a second car. My M3 has had a lot of time and money spent on it and I feel it's too nice to use it for short trips etc so I wanted something cheap to buy and run, whilst not being incredibly dull.
Enter the S124 E280. I paid £1200 for it from a PHer who I've known for some time. It's tatty round the edges and the interior is worn, the driver's seat bolster well beyond saving (save a retrim). This doesn't really bother me because I'm less likely to be so precious about it.
It's done over 262k miles, and has zero service history. It drives well, the engine is silky smooth, gearbox also smooth, suspension is very, very soft and a bit wallowy (so the opposite of the M3!).
I plan to give the car a VERY thorough service (all fluids and filters and a check over) soon. I will service the car as it should be serviced but in terms of "titivating".... No. It'll get what's needed and not more.
The drive back was 280 miles, it didn't miss a beat. It has a few foibles but nothing major. I haven't taken any decent photos yet, or washed it or anything so I've only got a couple of photos.
I have tried cleaning the interior up and it's certainly WAY better than it was but ultimately it's beyond general detailing with various stains etc.
I'll update more when I get the chance to wash it and once it's been serviced. Overall I'm dead chuffed with it. For £1200 it's absolutely mega!
Enter the S124 E280. I paid £1200 for it from a PHer who I've known for some time. It's tatty round the edges and the interior is worn, the driver's seat bolster well beyond saving (save a retrim). This doesn't really bother me because I'm less likely to be so precious about it.
It's done over 262k miles, and has zero service history. It drives well, the engine is silky smooth, gearbox also smooth, suspension is very, very soft and a bit wallowy (so the opposite of the M3!).
I plan to give the car a VERY thorough service (all fluids and filters and a check over) soon. I will service the car as it should be serviced but in terms of "titivating".... No. It'll get what's needed and not more.
The drive back was 280 miles, it didn't miss a beat. It has a few foibles but nothing major. I haven't taken any decent photos yet, or washed it or anything so I've only got a couple of photos.
I have tried cleaning the interior up and it's certainly WAY better than it was but ultimately it's beyond general detailing with various stains etc.
I'll update more when I get the chance to wash it and once it's been serviced. Overall I'm dead chuffed with it. For £1200 it's absolutely mega!
I'm getting more confident with the car, I did another 2x20 mile trips today and it seems faultless. I have had a chat with a friend who works at the garage who do my servicing and I said I could wait until September but they said nah just get it in no worries. I'm seeing them next Thursday (8th) so they will collect it then.
The car has a very distinctive feeling to it, and I'm already quite fond of it.
The car has a very distinctive feeling to it, and I'm already quite fond of it.
MercedesClassic said:
Congratulations, they are a great car, a bit of TLC will reward you with many happy miles.
It's actually going in next Friday and it's having a lot done, effectively the 60k mile big service.Engine, diff, gearbox, PAS, brake and suspension fluid (as well as gearbox, PAS and suspension fluid, fuel, air and cabin filters), plugs, check all hoses/pipes for leaks, check various things like flex discs, B belts, brakes and give the suspension a check for severely worn/dangerous parts (I doubt there's anything dangerous as MOT was fine not many miles ago).
With my garage we've got a deal going on, so labour will be FOC and parts at trade price so it won't cost me. A great deal.
The rear tyres are mismatched so I will likely get 2 new rear tyres as well. You can get decent midrange tyres, such as. Falken, for £60. May seem daft spending this on a cheap car, but I want to be able to rely on it and by doing this I know where I stand.
I always service my cars properly, but unlike the M3 I won't be spending anything unnecessarily or just to make it better. It's too rough round the edges for that.
That looks a belter that Ross. Hell of a work horse / shed for not a lot of money...
A couple of subtle front seat covers and no one would nnow the difference
You'll soon be asked into helping pals and family out with shifting stuff due to the capacity I reckon haha
Re tyres, look at Uniroyals, Kumho, Nexen and Vredesteins too. All superb tyres in that price range. The Uniroyals suit the UK climate very well indeed
A couple of subtle front seat covers and no one would nnow the difference
You'll soon be asked into helping pals and family out with shifting stuff due to the capacity I reckon haha
Re tyres, look at Uniroyals, Kumho, Nexen and Vredesteins too. All superb tyres in that price range. The Uniroyals suit the UK climate very well indeed
d_a_n1979 said:
That looks a belter that Ross. Hell of a work horse / shed for not a lot of money...
A couple of subtle front seat covers and no one would nnow the difference
You'll soon be asked into helping pals and family out with shifting stuff due to the capacity I reckon haha
Re tyres, look at Uniroyals, Kumho, Nexen and Vredesteins too. All superb tyres in that price range. The Uniroyals suit the UK climate very well indeed
Cheers Dan. I was driving back yesterday and thinking "£1200 for this!" it's ridiculous. A perfect foil for the M3.A couple of subtle front seat covers and no one would nnow the difference
You'll soon be asked into helping pals and family out with shifting stuff due to the capacity I reckon haha
Re tyres, look at Uniroyals, Kumho, Nexen and Vredesteins too. All superb tyres in that price range. The Uniroyals suit the UK climate very well indeed
The M3 is a car you take out to have some fun, it feels sporty and the engine just screams "come on, you can go faster" and the chassis is fantastic. This is just the opposite, it's like "hey, let's just chill". It has a real vibe about it, it feels special.
For a car that effectively came out almost 40 years ago it's remarkably competent. Perfectly quiet, it'll happily cruise at 90 without fuss. It doesn't corner as well as the M3 though
E90_M3Ross said:
d_a_n1979 said:
That looks a belter that Ross. Hell of a work horse / shed for not a lot of money...
A couple of subtle front seat covers and no one would nnow the difference
You'll soon be asked into helping pals and family out with shifting stuff due to the capacity I reckon haha
Re tyres, look at Uniroyals, Kumho, Nexen and Vredesteins too. All superb tyres in that price range. The Uniroyals suit the UK climate very well indeed
Cheers Dan. I was driving back yesterday and thinking "£1200 for this!" it's ridiculous. A perfect foil for the M3.A couple of subtle front seat covers and no one would nnow the difference
You'll soon be asked into helping pals and family out with shifting stuff due to the capacity I reckon haha
Re tyres, look at Uniroyals, Kumho, Nexen and Vredesteins too. All superb tyres in that price range. The Uniroyals suit the UK climate very well indeed
The M3 is a car you take out to have some fun, it feels sporty and the engine just screams "come on, you can go faster" and the chassis is fantastic. This is just the opposite, it's like "hey, let's just chill". It has a real vibe about it, it feels special.
For a car that effectively came out almost 40 years ago it's remarkably competent. Perfectly quiet, it'll happily cruise at 90 without fuss. It doesn't corner as well as the M3 though
TBH the E39 Touring was like that in a sense. Fettled enough to ride superbly and take the windy roads really well etc... But all in it was a 3.0 straight 6 designed to waft you to wherever you were going in comfort & style and get you there relaxed etc
As you said. The M3s there for when you need to release your inner 8 year old mentality
JakeT said:
Sweet. If the AC works your quids in, too!
24v is a yes, and you won’t be precious about it. I reckon fuel economy will be a little sad, but for low mileage who cares?
Unfortunately the AC doesn't work! I suspect it'll cost £££ to get sorted, garage are going to have a look but I've said if it isn't just a regas then leave it. I drove yesterday in 28 degree heat and it wasn't bad. I cope fairly well in hot weather anyway.24v is a yes, and you won’t be precious about it. I reckon fuel economy will be a little sad, but for low mileage who cares?
Fuel economy will be better than the other car
Cambs_Stuart said:
That is a fantastic shed. How is it underneath? Any plans for rust proofing?
Underneath is solid, it has a remarkably clean MOT history really.I haven't decided on rust proofing yet. The trouble is I bought this with a view to cheap motoring as a second car alongside the M3, if I start chucking lots of money at it it defeats the point.... And I'd have been better off with a more expensive, better example initially. I'll see how I feel in 6 months or so.
E90_M3Ross said:
Unfortunately the AC doesn't work! I suspect it'll cost £££ to get sorted, garage are going to have a look but I've said if it isn't just a regas then leave it. I drove yesterday in 28 degree heat and it wasn't bad. I cope fairly well in hot weather anyway.
Fuel economy will be better than the other car
Fingers crossed, hopefully it needs just a condenser or something and some gas. I agree though, my old car has no AC and I have no issues in the warmth with it. Fuel economy will be better than the other car
It would be hard to be worse. It’s got much less power too!
JakeT said:
E90_M3Ross said:
Unfortunately the AC doesn't work! I suspect it'll cost £££ to get sorted, garage are going to have a look but I've said if it isn't just a regas then leave it. I drove yesterday in 28 degree heat and it wasn't bad. I cope fairly well in hot weather anyway.
Fuel economy will be better than the other car
Fingers crossed, hopefully it needs just a condenser or something and some gas. I agree though, my old car has no AC and I have no issues in the warmth with it. Fuel economy will be better than the other car
It would be hard to be worse. It’s got much less power too!
I suspect a full service and some injector cleaner will help.
E90_M3Ross said:
MercedesClassic said:
Congratulations, they are a great car, a bit of TLC will reward you with many happy miles.
It's actually going in next Friday and it's having a lot done, effectively the 60k mile big service.Engine, diff, gearbox, PAS, brake and suspension fluid (as well as gearbox, PAS and suspension fluid, fuel, air and cabin filters), plugs, check all hoses/pipes for leaks, check various things like flex discs, B belts, brakes and give the suspension a check for severely worn/dangerous parts (I doubt there's anything dangerous as MOT was fine not many miles ago).
With my garage we've got a deal going on, so labour will be FOC and parts at trade price so it won't cost me. A great deal.
The rear tyres are mismatched so I will likely get 2 new rear tyres as well. You can get decent midrange tyres, such as. Falken, for £60. May seem daft spending this on a cheap car, but I want to be able to rely on it and by doing this I know where I stand.
I always service my cars properly, but unlike the M3 I won't be spending anything unnecessarily or just to make it better. It's too rough round the edges for that.
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