I have just bought a e320 cabriolet - 1996 5 speed auto. The mileage I am getting is quite low - about 17 miles per gallon whereas my old e320 coupe did around 24 - I am not a heavy driver and I dont have city driving to do.
The car has been serviced by a MB mechanic - the old plugs came out the right color and the car runs real smooth hot and cold. The mechanic is a bit puzzled why the mileage is not better - any ideas to go on?

Mileage runs about 18 mpg city to 24 mpg highway, so 17 is on the low side, but not too bad for mostly city driving, even with a nod to UK petrol prices which are quite high.

Even if the O2 sensor hasn't tripped the CEL light, if it is no good mileage will decrease if it is a bad one.

A perished catalytic converter will hurt the mpg also.

Hopefully the plug wires, vacuum lines, fuel filter and OVP are all right.

High gasoline mileage was not the first concern of buyers of these cars.
The cabrio is a lovely, covetable, and realtively rare car. You are lucky to own one.

I assume you have a W124; 1995 was the last year they made them in the states. You mentioned yours was a 1996.


The convertible top (or "hood" in your parlance), is sometimes problematic and needs to be looked after, and is expensive to mend if there are problems with it)

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

The A124 (Cabrio 124) was still produced in 1996 for most world markets.

Mileage between an A124 and a C124 would definitely be worse on the cabrio, considering the heavier weight and higher wind resistance (especially with the top down).

Another matter is that cabrios are usually fully optioned and coupes aren't, making them heavier besides the obvious chassis reinforcement and top mechanical issues.

I would change all fluids (including the transmission) and filters (air-oil-fuel). Check the O2 sensor as recommended above and expect to consume at least 15 to 20% more than your coupe.

And enjoy it! Along with the W140, the A124 is one of the best cars ever manufactured by M-B. They don't make them like that anymore.

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A. Rosich
CL 500, 1998
S 500 L, 1998
E 320 T, 1995 [Sadly sold ]

That mileage sounds about right for us too...yes, they are much heavier than a coupe or sedan...darn thing has lead weights in it for solidity ! On my new title it say the car is close to 3900 lbs, more than my 500E...but I have conflicting info on their actual weight. Bottom line....they're heavy. I think the only way to get close to good gas mileage is to put the cruise on at 55 mph.

Mine is a very late 1995...was built in December and apparently delivered here in the states in 1996 but it sold as a 1995 model.

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Jim

1992 500E
2007 CLK63
2003 Audi RS6
2001 Audi allroad

Thanks guys - yes it is a E320 cabriolet W124 model - it is one of the very last that was built - it was sold in the UK as late as spring 1997.

Just to clarify the 17mpg is based on highway driving - not city driving so it is low. The car has been serviced and all fluids changed including the auto box fluid. The spark plugs have been changed and the old ones were a nice light brown color - seemed to be just right.

The thing that is puzzling me is if the o2 sensor is faulty then the plugs would be black?

Barney, just to clarify, your 17 mpg is in Imperial gallons? Or did you already convert that to U.S. gallons?

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-- Paul W. (The Benzadmiral)
('03 Buick Park Avenue, charcoal/cream)
Formerly:
'97 C230, smoke silver/parchment; '86 420SEL, anthracite/light grey; '84 280CE (W123), dark blue/palomino

I converted it to US gallons already. But this is highway driving - not city.

For 1995 E320, the coupe is about 440 pounds lighter than the cabriolet ...

coupe: 3,550 lb
cabriolet: 3,990 lb

http://www.mbusa.com/overview/1988/E300CAB.do?modelCode=E300CAB&preModelCode=E350W&preClassCode=06_E&preAccClassCode=E&overviewMenu=e-class

On my 1995 E320 wagon I have been getting 25 MPG. This is all sorts of driving, some in town, some highway. Using regular.