Tell me about W123, W124 Mercs
Discussion
Keep on seeing these cheap on Ebay. The W123 appeals the most. Preferably one with a tasteless 70's interior. Apart from rusty arches what are the common faults with these? I know they are considered to be pretty much indestructible in terms of mechanics but there must be some common faults to look out for? When was the turbo diseasel introduced into the line up?
No Turbo diesel for the UK in either
My recently aquired knowledge is limited to 124 Estates
1. Petrol tanks can rust
2. Self Leveling suspension can fail
3. Boot self close can fail
4. front single wiper mechanism can seize (flicks into the corners)
5. Head gaskets are very common circa 100k miles on 3.0 petrols
6. Engine wiring loom self destructs on late E280 /E320 models
Silverbackmike runs a 360k mile 300D on chip fat thats still piling on the miles.
My 'low' mileage E220 (a mere 119k) with impecable MB history has just been given a virtually clean bill of health ...wipers slightly smearing and one brake hose rubber slightly perishing was the best MB of Worcester could come up with!
My recently aquired knowledge is limited to 124 Estates
1. Petrol tanks can rust
2. Self Leveling suspension can fail
3. Boot self close can fail
4. front single wiper mechanism can seize (flicks into the corners)
5. Head gaskets are very common circa 100k miles on 3.0 petrols
6. Engine wiring loom self destructs on late E280 /E320 models
Silverbackmike runs a 360k mile 300D on chip fat thats still piling on the miles.
My 'low' mileage E220 (a mere 119k) with impecable MB history has just been given a virtually clean bill of health ...wipers slightly smearing and one brake hose rubber slightly perishing was the best MB of Worcester could come up with!
I had a W123 280TE and it was mostly great.
My self-leveling pump did fail and the engine oil cooler got holed due to chaffing following the failure of its mounting bracket.
Servicing is frequent but cheap.
Otherwise it JustWorked(tm).
The gearbox is entirely dumb but reasonably responsive - use 3 not D if it's hilly or twisty - and they are much more adhesive than the oceanic roll would suggest.
Huuuuuuge loadspace and the seats fold fully flat.
No turbo diseasels with RHD, 280 injected I6 gave me mid to high 20s to the gallon.
Great cars, very usable, but they will feel old-fashioned in many ways.
My self-leveling pump did fail and the engine oil cooler got holed due to chaffing following the failure of its mounting bracket.
Servicing is frequent but cheap.
Otherwise it JustWorked(tm).
The gearbox is entirely dumb but reasonably responsive - use 3 not D if it's hilly or twisty - and they are much more adhesive than the oceanic roll would suggest.
Huuuuuuge loadspace and the seats fold fully flat.
No turbo diseasels with RHD, 280 injected I6 gave me mid to high 20s to the gallon.
Great cars, very usable, but they will feel old-fashioned in many ways.
There's a bit more info in this thread here:
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...
I love the things. After looking at plenty the W123 280CE was my firm favourite but don't believe that rust is restricted to the front wings.
Check the bottom of the doors, under the plastic sill covers, in the sunroof drainage channels, and the boot floor too, these areas were very common. Also check for corrosion under the battery - I saw a few that had eaten right through to daylight but you wouldn't have known without removing the battery.
Aftermarket panels generally aren't nice, the fit/finish/quality just doesn't seem right.
If you're looking at copues check the window seals (they're not cheap), the state of the floor (particularly in the rear passenger well, water sits under the carpets due to leaks then rots through so pull the carpets up), and the operation of the rear electric windows (often broken, not too expensive to fix). Also check the state of the rear bumper on the coupes as they're a 3 piece item different to other models i.e. very expensive.
Mechanically they do seem to live up to their reputation although I've heard of head gaskets going occasionally on the 2.8s so check for symptoms. Other than that, I'd just look at the quality if parts used particularly ignition parts as they don't respond well to inferior bits.
If this one:
http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...
Is still for sale and as good as it sounds it's a bargain. I'm still hoping to get one but after spontaneously buying a Porsche I'm saving up again - otherwise I'd be looking at that one ASAP.
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...
I love the things. After looking at plenty the W123 280CE was my firm favourite but don't believe that rust is restricted to the front wings.
Check the bottom of the doors, under the plastic sill covers, in the sunroof drainage channels, and the boot floor too, these areas were very common. Also check for corrosion under the battery - I saw a few that had eaten right through to daylight but you wouldn't have known without removing the battery.
Aftermarket panels generally aren't nice, the fit/finish/quality just doesn't seem right.
If you're looking at copues check the window seals (they're not cheap), the state of the floor (particularly in the rear passenger well, water sits under the carpets due to leaks then rots through so pull the carpets up), and the operation of the rear electric windows (often broken, not too expensive to fix). Also check the state of the rear bumper on the coupes as they're a 3 piece item different to other models i.e. very expensive.
Mechanically they do seem to live up to their reputation although I've heard of head gaskets going occasionally on the 2.8s so check for symptoms. Other than that, I'd just look at the quality if parts used particularly ignition parts as they don't respond well to inferior bits.
If this one:
http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...
Is still for sale and as good as it sounds it's a bargain. I'm still hoping to get one but after spontaneously buying a Porsche I'm saving up again - otherwise I'd be looking at that one ASAP.
as said they are great cars. I bought mine in march as I had a shoulder op which meant I couldn’t drive my everyday car. The car proved to be just as comfortable and capable as I recall my fathers being, he had a E200 back in the mid 90’s.
My car is up for sale, in the classified section at the mo. I’m not going to post a link as I don’t want to blatantly plug it but if anyone wants the link just PM/email me.
My car is up for sale, in the classified section at the mo. I’m not going to post a link as I don’t want to blatantly plug it but if anyone wants the link just PM/email me.
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