Is a W124 300E a money pit or a worthwhile vehicle to own? - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

unesl · #31 11-03-2008, 07:13 PM

You cannot go wrong with a 124. I bought my first one in June 2007 so as not to drive my 560sl in winter. The 95 E320 only had 51,000 miles on it with one lady owner. Today the car has 74,000 miles and is just perfect. I have done regular maintenance and a couple of cosmetics issues. My wife decided to get away from leasing after her 2005 BMW X5 so I found her a 1994 E320 sportline. With 139,000 miles on it, I did have to sort a few things out like head gasket and water pump. The harness had already been done. During the first 2 months, I changed the blower motor and all 4 sportline springs with new ones. 2 were broken. I also did the rear brakes and a complete maintenance. All this work done by myself.
From the looks of it, you do work on your own cars so it is a win win situation.
As far as reliability, I trust these cars. I commute every Monday from Birmingham MI to Grand haven to my office for 3-4 days. I cannot afford to drive a crappy car

babymog · #32 11-03-2008, 07:24 PM

... but it's $1600 more than the C260 here in Holland.

pawoSD · #33 11-03-2008, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babymog

... but it's $1600 more than the C260 here in Holland.

But those are much more maintenance needy...and more expensive to repair. I am looking for easy and cheap.

johng99 · #34 01-22-2009, 05:09 PM

I have owned one 124 for the last 5 years, have owned a 126 for about a year, and have just bought another 124.
For the longer term 124, it is averaging about $1,000/year in repairs and maintenance. I consider this a bargain considering (a) it is paid for (b) I only carry liability insurance and (c) in my state where you pay property tax on vehicles I save an additional $200 or so a year in taxes.
The 126 seems to be a little more expensive, but is a real pleasure to drive. I have put about $1000 in it since purchases, but know I have another expensive fix coming (rear main seal). I estimate it will cost me around $1500/year to keep going. Again, a bargain considering purchase price, taxes, insurance, etc.

I think a lot of it depends upon how much you like to be involved in the upkeep of your cars. If you don't like it, drive a Toyota. If you want to be a participant then MB's are great cars to own.

(When I purchased my first two I did a cash flow comparison between a new camry and my '93 and '88 and considering cost of fuel, maintenance, taxes, etc. the Mercedes was then and has been less expensive to own. But they were old cars.

pawoSD · #35 01-22-2009, 05:12 PM

The W126 isn't cheaper if its the fully loaded-with-everything 560....a diesel W124 vs a top end W126....the W124 will be cheaper. A diesel W126 vs a gasser W124....the W126 will be cheaper.....

I'm not complaining......but the gassers are a bit more needy...

johng99 · #36 01-22-2009, 06:22 PM

You are probably right, and I am noticing that the 560SEC is a bit more expensive than my 300d 124. But not by a great amount, and when you take in to account how little you can by a good 560 for these days, I don't complain. Mine was actually owned by mechanic, so I knew everything good and bad about the car. Yes, there have been things to fix (accumulators, OVP, etc.) but to me so far, it hasn't killed me. I do have mine looked after by both myself and a very competent retired independent that just loves the cars.

Texholdem · #37 01-22-2009, 10:21 PM

I'd spend another $2K more and look for an early W210 1996/1997 E320, which has been regularly serviced.

deanyel · #38 01-22-2009, 10:58 PM

You shouldn't have to spend more to get a 210, probably less, they just don't have a following.

JordaanDMC-12 · #39 01-22-2009, 11:20 PM

I had a 1986 300E and I loved it. I just ended up wanting Diesel and a more mechanical than electrical car, hence my w123. The w124 did scar me for life though when the transmission went out. It stranded me on a 2 lane road getting hit by a sand storm. After that, the paint was all faded, which was cool cause it ended up getting keyed at my local community college

It was a very reliable car and other than the trani, it never let me down. It's just stupid little stuff that tends to go out, like for example: window switches, lights, little noises here and there but the motor is very strong. I would go for it, or even shoot for the w124 Diesel

Which is actually what i'm now selling my w123 to get. I remember in the Diesel forums there was a thread with a picture of a 300E in a junkyard. The odo read 500,000 miles, which is DAMN good for a gasser engine.

Like most people say, it depends on how well the car was taken care of. I'm sure you can get an amazing condition, low mile w124 for around 7-8 grand. Good luck and I hope you enjoy what you get!!!

A Picture of my old 300E, just looking at it makes me kind of miss it

This was before it was keyed and the sandstorm. It really was a damn good car.

pawoSD · #40 01-22-2009, 11:50 PM

If I found one in great shape at the right price....I'd love a 560SEC.

That would be awesome.

Texholdem · #41 01-23-2009, 01:15 AM

What I am saying is, if you have a W124 then it's worth keeping but a W210 is a better choice for buying. For little more money you get much more. While the engine and tranny between latest W124 (1995 E320) and early W210 (1996/97 E320) are not a big difference in term of easy maitenance, the body design is more comtemporary, more elegant. It is the first in Bruno Sacco's line which extends to the beautiful C and S-Classes (not the newest ones though).

deanyel · #42 01-23-2009, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texholdem

What I am saying is, if you have a W124 then it's worth keeping but a W210 is a better choice for buying. For little more money you get much more. While the engine and tranny between latest W124 (1995 E320) and early W210 (1996/97 E320) are not a big difference in term of easy maitenance, the body design is more comtemporary, more elegant. It is the first in Bruno Sacco's line which extends to the beautiful C and S-Classes (not the newest ones though).

This just has to be a matter of personal opinion. I have never found 210 styling to be anything but unattractive, to say nothing of the problems with spring perches, build quality, rust, etc. I've always seen it as the model that signifies the death of the old company and all that it stood for - but to each his own.

hanno · #43 01-23-2009, 08:00 AM

Bruno's first was a long time ago, but keep them coming. Anyway its a matter of preferences. I'm mired in W124 because the lines appeal to me, especially lowered and raked a bit. I didn't like the lines of the W210. Nothing mechanical, just don't like the way they look. Others do, but its a matter of choice. My daughter will start driving late this year, she gets the 87, I get to start my quest for another pristine W124, 5 spd. or auto (I can change that

), just condition, condition, condition.

pifcat2 · #44 01-23-2009, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

I ask this because I am soon going to try to get rid of my wife's Toyota Rav4 death trap that burns lots of oil and is a pain the posterior to work on.....and replace it with something MB, which I am (willing) and (able) to work on.

She's not a huge fan of the W123/W126 "too big and ugly"

She likes W201's and W124's, and essentially anything after that. Budget for the vehicle will be about 3-4k.....and gas or diesel does not matter.

I am thinking 190d of any flavor if I can find one at a reasonable price....but that seems unlikely....or a 190e....or a 300E W124. 300E's are the most plentiful so I could be more picky and haggle better.....

Is the 300E a pain to keep going? Or is it at least semi-reliable? I've read other opinion threads on this, but I am still at an impasse....

I've driven a 300TE before, and thought it was AWESOME.....so that might help.

If I go 300E, I will try to find a 93 or newer model with the M104 motor....

I stick with W124 because
1) I have useful experience and familiarity with them
2) I can share most of the spare parts
3) I like the styling and ergonomics (who else has Car Styling #50?)
4) I like working on them and learning the MB engineering brilliance
5) Great overall performance and reliability
6) I like restoring the experience of a high end automobile

For you, one more W124 would be good for #1) and 2)
Your wife already likes #3)
You are already an MB enthusiast #4) and 6)
These forums show all the potential issues with the car so most W124 owners are just motoring on trouble free #5)

Will_w202 · #45 01-23-2009, 11:56 AM

My 93 400E is definitely the most solid MB I've owned, far better built and balanced - somehow - than the 06 C350 I briefly had. Even with the V8, it's not as quick as the newer electronic trans V6 cars, but on the highway it feels like an abrams tank - without the noise and vibration. My car had been indie-maintained, regular service by 2 owners, but even after I bought it, when the PO had done the wiring harness and the throttle actuator ($2kish), I"ve still managed t spend about $3k on it in the first 6 months. These cars are old, and need attention. Things just wear out at some point. Even with the repairs it still needs, it's a solid, confidence-inspiring ride. Not a whole lot more to maintain than my former 97 C230, which was a great car, but the 400E is a lot more car for similar maintenence $