Just about to buy a W124 coupe...
Discussion
Hi folks, this is my first post on the Merc section and I was hoping to get a wee bit of feedback from those with some knowledge of these coupes...
I am about to buy a 1990 230CE with 130 k miles. The current owner (who has had it for the last 9 years and seems very genuine.. he is a retired judge!) is having it serviced and re-MOT'd this week, and is also having the rear suspension looked at as he thinks 'it might need new bushes'?! The rear ride height does look a wee bit low! Its got FMBSH up to 90 k and has been with one local garage for the remainder.
Some of the electrics don't work (sunroof won't lower from being tilted, and one of the elec windows doesnt work) but I hoping these will be fairly cheap fixes ??! Is that a
bit daft to assume ?
Its cheap..c. GBP 1500 to buy the car 'as is'. Plan is to take the car, get any mechanical bits sorted, get it all spruced up / some trim fixed, and then give it to my Dad use it as classy wagon to gently cruise around in.
Any thoughts / pointers greatly appreciated, Dave
I am about to buy a 1990 230CE with 130 k miles. The current owner (who has had it for the last 9 years and seems very genuine.. he is a retired judge!) is having it serviced and re-MOT'd this week, and is also having the rear suspension looked at as he thinks 'it might need new bushes'?! The rear ride height does look a wee bit low! Its got FMBSH up to 90 k and has been with one local garage for the remainder.
Some of the electrics don't work (sunroof won't lower from being tilted, and one of the elec windows doesnt work) but I hoping these will be fairly cheap fixes ??! Is that a
bit daft to assume ?
Its cheap..c. GBP 1500 to buy the car 'as is'. Plan is to take the car, get any mechanical bits sorted, get it all spruced up / some trim fixed, and then give it to my Dad use it as classy wagon to gently cruise around in.
Any thoughts / pointers greatly appreciated, Dave
Ah! THe W124 Coupe! I love these....Just look at my current car 
I ran a 230E before this, so (hopefully) can pass on some useful info here.
The BIG thing to look for on the bodywork is rust. Look around the wheel arches, and get your fingers around each arch's lip to check.
The 2.3 litre, 8 valve, 4 cylinder engine is very good. 136bhp and 151 lb/ft. 0-60 in 10.4 secs, 126mph top speed. It'll cruise nicely all day at 100 with no complaints, although if you rev it too hard, it will sound very coarse. The 4 speed gerabox is very good, but look for harsh changes, or clunky changes. That could mean it need a new gearbox (~£2,500). Oil leaking from the back of the engine block could mean the head gasket has gone. (~£1,500). Make sure the electrics all work as they should. You've mentioned to problems, one with the sunroof and another with a window. Both of these problems could be down to the switches. If not, it could the regualtor for the window (~£200). Not sure about other potential problems with the sunroof, though.
Just for the record, my 230E needed a new gearbox after 151,000 miles; the head gasket was replaced and cylinder head was skimmed at 181,000 miles; injectors and engine mounts were replaced at 185,000 miles.
And for a bit of shameless plugging.....I'm a member of a W124 Coupe & Cabriolet site, so for futher information, may be join and ask. (It's free to join, by the way.) And the site....W124CC.COM
I hope you enjoy your new purchase
Darren
ETA: The link didn't work, but should now
I ran a 230E before this, so (hopefully) can pass on some useful info here.
The BIG thing to look for on the bodywork is rust. Look around the wheel arches, and get your fingers around each arch's lip to check.
The 2.3 litre, 8 valve, 4 cylinder engine is very good. 136bhp and 151 lb/ft. 0-60 in 10.4 secs, 126mph top speed. It'll cruise nicely all day at 100 with no complaints, although if you rev it too hard, it will sound very coarse. The 4 speed gerabox is very good, but look for harsh changes, or clunky changes. That could mean it need a new gearbox (~£2,500). Oil leaking from the back of the engine block could mean the head gasket has gone. (~£1,500). Make sure the electrics all work as they should. You've mentioned to problems, one with the sunroof and another with a window. Both of these problems could be down to the switches. If not, it could the regualtor for the window (~£200). Not sure about other potential problems with the sunroof, though.
Just for the record, my 230E needed a new gearbox after 151,000 miles; the head gasket was replaced and cylinder head was skimmed at 181,000 miles; injectors and engine mounts were replaced at 185,000 miles.
And for a bit of shameless plugging.....I'm a member of a W124 Coupe & Cabriolet site, so for futher information, may be join and ask. (It's free to join, by the way.) And the site....W124CC.COM
I hope you enjoy your new purchase
Darren
ETA: The link didn't work, but should now
Edited by iluvmercs on Wednesday 16th May 14:06
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