I have learned a couple of interesting things here about the differences between the two markets, most of which appear to be down to Madison Ave marketing types rather than any cultural / environmental / engineering reasons.

So I thought it would be interesting to post some pics of my last (1986 Mk1 E300D W124) and current (1991 Mk1 E300D W124) both of which are naturally aspirated, but the earlier car was fully loaded with every factory option going, and the current later one is the base model, and for my money all the better for it.

Due to the megapixel size (3200 x 2400) of these images I have stuck them on a domain/server space of a non paying customer, so don't be alarmed by the URL, there is nothing there but merc and computer images.

I chose to do it this way because cutting down resolution means cutting out details, which I did not want to do. Around the end of 2011 when the hosting for this domain expires, all these images will disappear, so if you want any of them for your records grab copies.

What I will do in the next week or two is take some high quality video and audio of my current W124, and add that.

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You'll note the earlier one has the vacuum pump on the end of the camshaft for the SLS etc, it also has the heated leather seats, the later one has the harder wearing, more comfortable and more practical MBtex.

Earlier one has cruise and A/C, later one doesn't.

Earlier one has non standard 16" wheels from an S class, later one has standard 8 holes.

Both had factory towbars as standard, both had around 125k / 175k miles on the clock when I got them, and engine and transmissions were perfect.

Both had shagged flexi disks and serp belt dampers when I got them, the early one also had worn rear suspension rubbers, and sadly a bad case of tin rot underneath spreading along underneath the underseal/paint and coming out in huge patches.

The early one cost me 500 quid (about 750 bucks) and I sold it for the same money when I was through with it to a guy who intended to do the welding underneath.

The later one cost me 700 quid (about 1100 bucks) and it is a keeper, it just sailed through the MOT test.

Here in the UK, we have places like GSF car parts, plus locally there are three MB breakers, plus the main dealer... from GSF a complete set of Brembo disks all round and a complete set of pads is just a shade over 100 quid, or around 150 bucks.

A full set of filters (air, oil, steering is around 20 quid, 30 bucks) so routine maintenance is both easy and cheap.

Even the basic spec one I have now has all the usual MB spec, heated mirrors, heated screen wash, independent driver / passenger thermostatically controlled cabin, tilt/slide sunroof, excellent driving lights (with wipers), electric windows all round, tinted thermal glass, ABS etc etc.

As you can see from the later/current one, the engine bay is a sheer joy to work on, not only was everything designed and built to be worked on, you can get at anything / everything either from above or below or both.

The later one without AC/SLS/Cruise etc is however less cluttered than the earlier one, which isn't quite so good.

Both these cars have had to contend with salted roads, and no attempt of any kind has been made to clean anything, or hide anything, or make anything look good. These are 500 and 700 quid cars, as bought.

If anyone wants any other photos of the current one, anything specific like headlights from inside the hood/bonnet etc, just ask.

The images are here

Enjoy

Thanks for sharing. I like the manual controls for the A/C system.

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92 300D 2.5L OM602 OBK #59

I never agreed with MBUSA's choices, but know that it had more to do with the marque's image than anything. It wasn't worth trying to draw in Chevy buyers, municipal fleet buyers, or taxi operators with an E250D n/a with cloth or tex, manual seats, manual transmission, steel wheels, etc. because that would hurt the exclusivity and image and thus the margins at the top, a business decision.

However, many of us drool over your manual climate control, stickshift cars, larger selection of diesel models, availability of aimable headlamps and SLS, ... and can only read about your option lists in our favorite car magazines. Whole car lines are available in Europe that aren't here (Fiat, Lancia, Lotus (until recently), MG, Peugeot et al.

And, you have Jeremy.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Clarkson?

A very astute man, who does not believe even one word of what he utters, on video or in print, but knows exactly how to make the maximum amount of money from a franchised idea.

A man who is actually quite clueless about cars, once you get past the autistic recitation of facts and figures, he can't drive worth a damn and he can't do his own spanner work.

Frankly you're welcome to him, and Piers Morgan.

Mike Brewer is worth ten of Clarkson, which aint saying much, Wheeler Dealers on the W123

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZt-LvuohUw&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9a8wGQh1z0&feature=BF&list=UL0L57BBdBR2A&index=16

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1a3IdscK_c&feature=BF&list=UL0L57BBdBR2A&index=17

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-VDF_FQxhA&feature=BF&list=UL0L57BBdBR2A&index=18

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmyhjoVYtYo&feature=BF&list=UL0L57BBdBR2A&index=19

have fun

I have enjoyed Mike's show also, but find Jeremy to be far more entertaining, especially his ability to flaunt somewhat his automotive incompetence (real or feigned).

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

I've owned a US w124 and now UK w124's. The main differences are as Babymog said Mercedes are or were seen as a luxury European (i.e. quite exotic) brand in the US, and at that price band have every comfort and luxury as standard. Almost all US-bound cars are fully loaded, as that's what the US market expects. You can't have a luxury car in the US with a manual gearbox and no air con, no-one's going to buy it.

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1993 320TE M104
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past:

1983 230E W123 M102
1994 E300D S124 OM606 (x2)
1967 250SE W108 M129
1972 280se 3.5 W108 M116
1980 280SE W116 M110
1980 350SE W116 M116
1992 300E W124 M103
1994 E280 W124 M104
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"music and women I cannot but give way to, whatever my business" -Pepys

Just uploading a bunch of high res engine bay pix of the new one. Done in 10/12 mins.