W124 Euro vs USA/Can version - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Tassie · #1 09-06-2010, 05:53 PM

Still looking for car for my daughter and found a couple of Euro W124's. One is 1989 260E and other is 1990CE. Both look sharp and have low mileage (150,000 km and 120,000 km, respectively). Still waiting for the owners to email me more info.

My question is: "What are the fundamental differences between the Euro and USA/Canadian versions?" Do they have the same body structure? Same safety performance? I would expect differences in engine tuning, pollution control devices, headlights, and generally more basic interior options (cloth instead of leather, manual HVAC).

Is there anything else that I should be aware of? Are they a PITA to service or get parts? I would expect that most maintenance parts would be the same.

Thanks,
Paul

macdrone · #2 09-06-2010, 05:59 PM

Dont know of any W124's having cloth seats. Leather or MB Tex available everywhere as far as I know.

Bodies are the same except overseas they had RH drive. Same body though, same safety. Overseas they ran hotter plugs so I have heard.

Maintenance parts should be the same Im sure.

compu_85 · #3 09-06-2010, 06:42 PM

US cars have more powerful airbags, different bumpers and lights, and different emissions tuning. There are some other subtle difference too but those are the big ones.

In general a euro spec car will have more power then a US spec one.

-J

Ivanerrol · #4 09-06-2010, 07:51 PM

So many options. Euro versions were opted with cloth (Velour) seats. They were more expensive than leather or MB Tex. Also non climate control was more common than cars with climate control.

My 300e 2.6 has velour interior and simple non climate control settings. - It's a world spec car. (non U.S.)

punkinfair · #5 09-06-2010, 09:12 PM

i have an '88 230TE, this is a european delivery car and it is very different from anything available in north america.

it has a 4-cylinder (m102) engine, cloth seats, windup windows, manual seats, manual climate control. the only electric thing on it is the sunroof. in a way these are all pluses in an old car, much less to go wrong. on our '87 300TD i have had to repair the electric windows, the climate control is never quite 100% perfect, one of the seat headrests doesn't work. the cloth seats are not a plus when compared to mbtex.

there are some other small differences. the euro headlights are nice, they have the level control. the brakes are slightly different from the '87 300TD, probably because it's a bit lighter. all the structural things are identical as far as i know.

Tassie · #6 09-06-2010, 09:27 PM

Thanks for the comments. IIRC, I read that some Euro models did not have the side guard door beams so I was curious if there were other unseen items left off the models not destined for USA/Can.

I actually prefer the simpler interiors especially manual a/c controls, manual seat adjusters, etc make for long term reliability.

One of the cars has velour upholstery but no pictures yet of the dashboards.

Thanks,
Paul