Thoughts pn this W124 wagon? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

rrgrassi · #16 01-06-2021, 03:40 AM

Why is it a deal breaker? Could be a simple fix. Can you have it checked by a good tranny shop? $700 is not a bad price...

speednjay · #17 01-06-2021, 05:23 PM

Ya price seems reasonable. W124 transmissions aren’t all that hard to get or swap out. Just drive it as is. Fix the easy stuff.

j-galap · #18 01-06-2021, 10:43 PM

Seems the general consensus is that I should buy it. Looks like I'll have to reconsider...

speednjay · #19 01-06-2021, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j-galap

Seems the general consensus is that I should buy it. Looks like I'll have to reconsider...

For the price, cheaper the better, it seems like fair wagon

j-galap · #20 01-06-2021, 11:50 PM

Seems like it also comes with two sets of wheels which is useful. Plus, I've found the correct colour fenders with another guy on the way home - pair for $100CAD. A plan seems to be hatching...

Edit: The guy with the fenders also has a whole car he's parting out so has window regulators.

j-galap · #21 01-09-2021, 12:12 AM

I decided to take the plunge and check out the wagon today. Bear in mind this was a 4:45am start, an hour transit ride to the ferry, another hour bicycle ride to a second ferry, before another hour and a half bike ride to where the car was located. It was hammering down with rain when I left the house, but by the time I got off the first ferry it was clearing up.

How did it go? I probably should have stuck to my initial decision to leave it be.

As well as the passenger's window not working, a door panel missing, questionable transmission and the mismatched front wings, there were a few other issues that the owner had neglected to mention, despite my quite thorough attempts to get "all" the details before taking a very long and arduous day out to potentially buy the car. Deep breath. Here we go:

- The sunroof was stuck shut
- It had a huge oil leak
- The front bumper was missing an entire chunk along the bottom edge
- The signals didn't work
- The clear coat on the roof was disintegrating
- The entire interior stank of damp and dog (and damp dog for that matter)
- The third row seat would barely open as the hinges were rusted solid
- The floor under the third row seat was soaking wet
- The good condition seats had holes in them
- The trunk rams didn't support the trunk so the car would come with a big length of wood thrown in with the deal
- The rear de-mister didn't work
- The stereo "that worked" didn't work
- The aerial didn't work
- The speaker grills in the door panels were rusty
- The driver's door would only open with a thoroughly brutal jerk of the door handle
- The rear lights were both fogged up
- The rear bumper was cracked in multiple places
- The rear hatch had a nasty dent in it
- The seller had actually sold the second set of wheels that were initially coming with the car
- The exhaust was rusty
- The strut tops needed replacing.

I've probably forgotten more. So just a few things buddy had neglected to mention when I'd asked then...

It was a bit sad really as it remains a beautiful car. I told the seller straight - politely - that there was absolutely no way I would pay him $900 for the car, given the chasm between description and reality. I offered $500 and he declined. I eventually countered with $600 and said that was my final offer. He countered with $700. Eventually, I decided I'd rather cycle back to the ferry than go home with a complete money pit.

Having looked up the seller I noticed that he had worked as a mechanic at a couple of shops local to him. I didn't call him out on it, but clearly he knew cars and was essentially trying to "flog a dead horse". Nope, sorry.

I don't regret going to see the car though. It was a joy to drive and I'd never driven a W124 before. It was also a beautiful day up in the PNW. Now I know that I will definitely be buying a W124 wagon as a daily. Just definitely not that one. I have no qualms in buying a car that needs some work. Hell, they're three decades old, but I want a car that needs minimal fuss, not $1500-2000 sinking into it immediately.

It took me all the restraint I possess to back out and leave. I'm a sucker for a diamond in the rough, especially one which I can spend a couple of days just detailing until I can detail no more. This car certainly fulfilled that. My W115 started out in that shape but it's good now. I don't need another project on that scale.

So that's that. It was a fun day out, I've had sunshine, ferry rides, apple-brie-chicken sandwiches and come to fully appreciate this remarkable wagon. Maybe next time I'll come home with one. One definitely more expensive but one with far fewer problems!

hanno · #22 01-09-2021, 11:28 AM

Screw the beater car, it's the journey!

David Hendy · #23 01-09-2021, 05:43 PM

I'm late to this party...

The speedo is probably from an early 90s car with the 3.07 or 3.27 rear axle. Hence the 20% off.

The turn signals and rear demist work off the same flasher relay.

Floor is wet under the 3rd row seat from the bad rear hatch seal.

The door check needs to be replaced.

The rear hatch shocks are relatively simple to replace.

The sunroof is stuck because its stuck. It needs to be properly lubricated on the rails.

Buy an early impact strip for the rear bumper and replace it. Go to a local wrecking yard and find a front bumper from ANY W124 and it will work.

The delayed shift could be down to bowden cable adjustment and or vacuum adjustment. How was the reverse delay? Reverse delay is a better indication of trans condition.

All of the stuff you listed could be fixed in a weekend. I have grey tex seat skins. I have grey tex door parts.

More importantly, was the head gasket leaking? Oil in the coolant? Did the a/c work? Was the wiring harness and throttle body original? Those are expensive things. The items you listed are small fry...

j-galap · #24 01-09-2021, 08:55 PM

David, I appreciate the reply and the thoughts. Indeed, some of these issues are small for sure - they just add up to lot.

My main concerns are the transmission, the sunroof, the oil leak and the wiring. I did check the wiring harness tag next to the ECU under the hood and it was dated 1994, so it must be the original one. I've heard that this can be an expensive issue and a big job to replace.

The sunroof - when I pressed the button I couldn't hear anything - no motor trying to turn, nothing. If it was stuck would it not at least make a noise? I'm far from an expert.

I didn't notice a particular delay in reverse engaging, although perhaps that would happen more once the car was hot? I wasn't able to do a long test drive as the car wasn't insured (lapsed last month) so it was local back lanes only (not public roads, honest officer

)

I'm still a little torn. It certainly had potential - and you're absolutely right that I could fix up a number of those issues over a weekend - and the price was decent. The seller deleted the ad almost immediately after I'd viewed it (I was also the only person to look at it - as you saw from my journey it's not exactly a convenient spot, it's winter and it's pandemic time) so not sure what his plans are, but I do still have his contact info.

I guess the fact that I'm still mulling it over says something about how satisfied I am with my current decision haha

David Hendy · #25 01-09-2021, 09:02 PM

Oil leaks on 104s are more often than not the valve cover gasket and the front timing cover seal.

Neither is expensive, just somewhat time consuming and intimidating for the novice.

If the oil is free of coolant and coolant free of oil it is relatively safe to assume that the head gasket is -currently- in decent shape.

David Hendy · #26 01-09-2021, 09:08 PM

On the W124 wagon the motor is behind the driver side trunk panel where the spare wheel resides. Using a 17mm socket and ratchet you can open the roof by turning counter clock wise on the motor.

Often a roof that has not been opened in a while will need assistance at the rear of the metal panel, carefully pushing down so the rear of the metal panel can lower and slide backwards.

If you do have to open the roof, I'd advise cleaning the sunroof drain tubes as soon as you can.

j-galap · #27 01-09-2021, 09:09 PM

Oh yes, it ran well with no misfires and there was no oil/coolant mixing.

j-galap · #28 01-09-2021, 09:17 PM

Regarding the transmission, the seller told me:

"I'm pretty sure the trans is factory but the rear diff was swapped"

David Hendy · #29 01-09-2021, 09:28 PM

On all the Merc diffs there will be a stamp with the diff ratio. The diffs in the 104 cars are very robust. Able to take 500hp or more. A little research will find the correct diff and cluster match.

Does the car have ASR traction control? Usually it was fitted to cars with the headlight wash wipe and heated seats, as part of the cold weather package. Making sure you have an ASR diff in an ASR car or a non ASR diff in a non ASR car is essential. Everything else is easily fixed...