Well I have owned for 7 years a 300ce which I like but im at 150000 and it needs a head gasket and some small work done but what I want to know from other owners of the coupe are they worth hanging on too?

Will I get nickled and dime like I did with the my 190. What else is likely to go wrong at that mileage? The ind says valve job, but another ind says if your not burning oil just do the gasket.

I like the styling and the fact that there werent many imported here so you dont see em often ( but that could be a downfall, mean less parts as it gets older).

Let me know what you think, thanks

we turned 143k in ours this weekend...

plan on keeping it forever...

i need to do the valve stem seals and i am pretty much good to go..

although i have a garage full of goodies that includes motor mounts, front rotors, rotor, rear shocks, fan bearing bracket, and a few other things...

i just sort of buy parts here and there and put them on when i get some time in between real projects.

i just put on some s class 16 wheels and got some michelin harmony's this week.

i try to keep my budget at about 100 dollars a month for repairs and maintenance.. when i am under budget or anticipate being under budget...i buy the extra parts. the tires and alignment set me back 570 dollars, but these are 80k tires..that i hopefully can get 60k out of.

that's my take on the CE.... i would like to have a 123 coupe someday... would kill to have an SEC...but i don't have the time, space, or money for much more right now.

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1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


[/SIGPIC]

Irrespective of what model you have I think the rule is this: if you are a capable and/or enthusiastic DIYer you will be OK, if not you probably won't be OK.

if there is one to keep it would be the two door.

i have an 84 500sec and an 82 300cd. it is no accident that they are the only two old benzes i have kept. oh i forgot about my 84 euro 280e ex ralley car. but it is a rarity too.

it sounds like a keeper to me.

i get butterflys every time i see a coupe, kindof like i used to when i saw a girl i liked. the 124s are just lovely.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Any older car is going to nickel and dime you. It comes with the territory. Its much better than being nicked and dimed on depreciation, insurance and interest on a loan. You pay one way or another.

Im not a big 124 fan but I think it looks great in a coupe. The late production convertibles will probably have some collectable value in the future and the 124 coupes will probably benefit from this as well. If you notice throught Mercedes production history 4 seater convertibles tend to have ultra high resale values (some in the 100K range and higher in some cases than the same year SL) and the coupe's tend to have high value because they share the same body form.

You will probably notice a lot of the people who run older cars have more than one. Its a sanity thing. When one breaks and you loose patience you walk away and deal with it on your terms while you drive another car. It also takes the stress out of DIY work. If you don't finish you can put the tools away and still be able to get to work the next day in your other car.

If your looking for cheap to drive basic transportation a Honda might suit your needs better than a Mercedes.

A lot of sage advice here!

Your tolerance for a lifetime of tinkering is the determining factor. Most of us can handle the occasional "major repair", but what drives most people to rid themselves of older vehicles is the multitude of tiny things that, while they don't cripple the vehicle, are ever present reminders of the fact that you have an old car.

And yeah, there are three MBs in my sig for that very reason. If one of them suddenly fails, I can hop in one of the others until I feel the urge to attack the problem(s) on the ailing vehicle.

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

I bought one for my wife last year and as I am ready to put it away for the winter it has 156K on it. It burns no oil, runs like a dream and is stunning to look at. These are classic cars and they deserve to be pampered and kept. I say if you love it, hold onto it...they do not make them like this any longer and if you get rid of it as I did a '66 I once owned, you will regret it...it took me 9 years to replace the one I got rid of. Glad to have this beauty in my garage. I must admit that I do most of the repairs on my cars, I also own a '78 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce that is in show condition, as such, I save doing my own work and love tinkering and fixing and pampering them.

Antonino

I "only" have four cars now, but the CE is one that I won't sell, because of its style and value and great road running capability. I have fixed or am fixing some really minor items to keep it in tiptop shape, but otherwise it runs like a new car.

I also would not sell my Corvette or ML, but will sell the 420SEL (a real beauty in Diamond Blue), because I just don't really need it with the other three cars --- but it is a keeper too. Mercedes are just hard to get rid of, when the owner likes them and they are in good condition; hard to let go of a good one.

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Ben Harrison Carter
1999 Mercedes ML320 87K
1992 Mercedes 300CE 89K
1995 Corvette 29K -- Sold Dec 09
1989 Mercedes 420SEL 99K -- (Sold 4/08)
1968 Mercedes 230S (106K) (Sold 9/06))
1976 Mercedes 450SEL 130K (Just sold - 06)
1961 Mercedes 220Sb (sold years ago)

These cars can nickle and dime you, that's where the terms "enthusiast" and "hobby" come into play. I know the Benz will cost more than the Toyota, but I don't want a Toyota. If you do, then I say sell the CE; if you like the MBs for what they are, get out your wallet and prepared to spend a little to enjoy it.

My w124 has cost me about $1000 a year - I just had the wiring harness done and I fixed a couple of the w124 fuel leaks, so the $1000 was primarly one item. Expensive? Sure. Worth it? To me it sure is - I love that w124.

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- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

That really does sum it up. So it depends on your tolerance for this sort of thing. If you want a car that will never give you trouble and won't cost you a thing when it does, go get a new/newer japanese car that is still under warranty. You're gonna have to pay higher insurance, take a hit with depreciation, and pay interest if you don't buy it outright. But you won't be inconvenienced or annoyed by any problems.

An older w124 is the opposite... So take your pick! It all depends on your preferences.

I'm useless as a mechanic, but hopeful as an enthusiast! Keep the coupe, expect some fix-it challenges but remember they just don't make 'em like they used to! Especially, the 300CE. Notice my existing fleet. I'm out of space but not out of wheels when something goes wrong. Good luck in your decision.

1994 E420, 1994 E320CE, 1991 300SE