This is the correct item for your car. That is the correct dipstick for your W124. You have a car that was designed in the "Engineered like no other car" generation. i.e. before the marketing department too control.

For later models , M.B. and the marketing department decided that removing the transmission and oil checking dipsticks would confuse the average owner and cause them to attend the MB stealership to get their fluid levels checked. A marketing coup. The stealership can then charge "M.B. pricing levels" for servicing - e.g. fluid changes etc.

The M.B. stealerships in my area charge a minimum for either an "A" or "B" service. e.g. for my W209 CLK240 the "A" service charge is a set amount - i.e. $ 960.00 plus consumables. A "B" service set charge is more than that again.

In my area market. For regular M.B. customers who change out their cars every few years I can tell you that they pay way under the RRP for their new car. The Stealerships make up for this discount with the routine service charges.

Removing the dipsticks has made it a little bit harder for DIY-selfers and Indie specialists.