Are 124's any good?

[Brian Crump]

Mr Crump, I know exactly what a 123 is!! My point was that it has to be much better than a "Klein Wunder"!!

Sir,
I did not understand your point. Take pity on us poor Australians. We are a leetle slow since the Earth revolves at a more relaxed pace here, despite being at latitude 33 degrees 55 minutes South, which is, incidentally, the same as Capetown. Of course, the longitude here is more advanced so it is already cocktail hour and we can enjoy ourselves while you slave over wills and probate, litigation and counter claims...
Perhaps your 124 to be will be Das Mittle Wunder? Would not you lovely Gregette prefer Das Grosser Wunder?
Yes?
Regards,
BC

[gregdeklerk]

We are not allowed to speak of "Gregette". I got "shat on" when S Class called her "Gregette". We must speak only of "Jo-anne".

Jo-anne has fallen in love with a '95 E220 with auto box. The "Little Old Lady" who owned the car before had a few "parking incedents" that require the attentions of a body artist. 

[s class]

 

[johnnyw116]

W124 are good cars i buyed last week a 300E W124 perfect car drives smooth and fast i buyed it to disable it i want the 300E engine maybe in my 280SE but the 300E drives so verry well i think i dont gonna disable it annymore !

[gregdeklerk]

Don't worry - not your fault!

[Andrew280SEL]

I got "shat on" when S Class called her "Gregette".

Ewww...how graphic....wheres the spew smiley!? 
Kidding, I know what you mean.

Anyway, so i don't steer this off-topic, we all know that our w116 can go hundreds of thousands of miles, but the w124?

I'd be thinking it would, at least mechanically don't know about the body being more plastic. After all, the mechanicals are fairly similar, yes?

[johnnyw116]

the 300E i bought has 345.000 km on it but for the 300E engines are excelent engines they can drive 400.000 km with no problems at all thats verry common and the diesels are verry good too W124 is a verry good car i prefer the 6 cilinders and the diesels  .       

[Grant V]

I started my apprenticeship 6 months after the W124 was introduced and I was very impressed with the car then. There were a few teething problems that were sorted within the first year and after that I cannot recall any major flaw in the car. The only consistant problem was the strecthed timing chains on the 4 cylinder M102 motors, but this was eventually sorted with a double row timing chain. The cars were robust, well designed and well engineered and I think that they have stood the test of time. The W124 is nothing more than a scaled up 190E, and that has proven to be an excellent car. My choice: an E500, but failing that, a late model E320, or 280.

[gregdeklerk]

I would have liked an E320, but the boss rightly decided that an E220 would not spend as much time at the filling station. The multi valve is a little more "clattery" than I am used to.

[bahnstormer109]

dont forget that plastic doesnt rust!

also the M103 motor in 300Es and 300SEs are supposed to be very economical. much more so than the M110 280 it replaced.

the M103 economy is on a par with if not better than the OM617 300D motor.

W124s are strong cars, with strong mechanicals. the only area they tend to show problems in is the electrics. theyre also very smooth and refined. i learnt to drive in a 300E and it felt like cream was being whipped under the bonnet rather than petrol exploding.

[OzBenzHead]

[...] it felt like cream was being whipped under the bonnet rather than petrol exploding.

How poetic!   

[Andrew280SEL]

also the M103 motor in 300Es and 300SEs are supposed to be very economical. much more so than the M110 280 it replaced.

I would hope so being a four cylinder 

Still, after a fair bit of driving the 280 isnt to bad on fuel....ahem, but that would be going off topic....

[bahnstormer109]

Hi Andrew,

no, the 300Es are the 6 cylinder. the 230Es are the 4 cyls, thats an M102 motor.

the M103 motor is a 3 litre 6cyl while having a SOHC put out only a couple more HP than the old 280 but more torque and with a new gearbox and better diff ratio actually revved low on the highway like a normal car, rather than the 280 screamers.

the M103 was the direct replacement for the old M110 280.

personally, i love the old 280 for being a characterful tough classic motor, however the 300 motor that replaced it can easily match it for high mileage and longevity while being faster, quieter and much more economical. (and a little boring)

[Andrew280SEL]

Hi Andrew,

no, the 300Es are the 6 cylinder. the 230Es are the 4 cyls, thats an M102 motor.

the M103 motor is a 3 litre 6cyl while having a SOHC put out only a couple more HP than the old 280 but more torque and with a new gearbox and better diff ratio actually revved low on the highway like a normal car, rather than the 280 screamers.

the M103 was the direct replacement for the old M110 280.

personally, i love the old 280 for being a characterful tough classic motor, however the 300 motor that replaced it can easily match it for high mileage and longevity while being faster, quieter and much more economical. (and a little boring)

Oh...

Nah, that's good. 

Thanks for that

[Tomi]

My daily is a -95 E220 autobox.
the w124 is a very good car, I would say that the handling is better than in the 116.

The rear suspension is more complicated and once the linkage bushings wear out, it becomes unstable. There are 4 linkages per side in the rear plus 4 rear subframe mountings, so its a big bagful of bushings, but these are relatively inexpensive. The rear wheels have to be aligned as well (which is not the case for 116 or 123). The front suspension is different too but that is simpler.
Once these bushings are intact and the 4-wheel alignment done properly, the car is wonderful, equally good (or even better ) than newer MB's.
And the price, these cars are now very affordable. I would think it would be a good investment to purchase a coupe at the moment, if a good one is found (and I am keeping my eyes open).

cheers, the summer finally arrived to the north