Hi again,
I think I'm reading some uncalled for complaining! In general, you get what you pay for, and cars are no exception. My Mercedes was free in payment for work done, and wasn't running when I acquired it. I had to put a different engine in it, but the body is in general extremely solid and reliable. To be sure, there are small things that seem to repetitively cause problems, like the tach amplifier, but overall I'm very happy with the car, and it's a comfortable vehicle to use on trips. If a person buys a used car, they need to realize that it may have been grossly abused in any number of ways. Overrevved engines, jackrabbit starts and tire burning stops, driven into curbs, too fast over bumpy roads, etc all can cause major damage that won't be immediately visible. In addition, the previous owner(s) might have been going for the world record for mileage between oil changes, etc... Or they might just not have had a clue! So if you need to spend some dough to put things right, don't complain! Once you have it in good shape, it should perform in an as-new manner for many happy miles.
Some car owners (and I'd like to think the readers of this board are in this group!) actually care about their vehicles, and if something gets loose, or doesn't sound right, or if there's a little vibration, etc. they will go all out to find and fix the problem. Other owners have a much higher threshold of auto pain, and don't worry about their cars until something major, like a wheel falling off or something of that nature occurs. If you have the misfortune to be a follow-on owner of one of their vehicles, I'm sorry for you, but you probably should have checked a bit more carefully before you laid down your hard-earned cash.

Regards,
Richard Wooldridge
1982 300D/4.3V6
Etc...

When you pay book value for a vehicle, sink another $5'500 in parts and countless hours of research and hands on work, and get less than 40,000 miles out of it, end up with a car that's only good for salvage, then that's a kappy kar. It doesn't matter if it is a Mercedes. They leak the same color oil everything else does. The anti freeze may be orange, but it will eventially leak out too.:p The old diesels may be a different story, but as far as the 300e, I'm not convinced it was ever worth $45.000.

Richard,

Very well said!



Cap'n Courageous,

I too feel very bad that you have had such an experience.

Best of luck with your next car, whatever it may be.

You may see a post here one day where I exclaim the greatness and forward thinking of Mercedes Benz. Granted, it won't be today, but maybe soon. I'm very disappointed right now. I don't think there's anyone here that takes any better care his vehicles or has a more rigorous maintenance schedule than me. I too have been twisting bolts since I was a child and have done maintenance and repair on heavy equipment for 12 years. You're not dealing with a rookie here. I know good machinery from bad. I'll figure out my problems or bury them. Heck I've already named my dang dog BenzE!! Ther's no turning back now!!:p

Cap't - you need a W123

__________________
Jim

Cap'n Courageous and Larry,

Cap'n - thank you for your support. We appear to be the only ones with lemons. Others have not experienced problems and that is great. I hope they never do.

As for Toyotas - YES they are more dependable than the MBs (excluding the 115, 123 and 126). I have an 88 Camry that I bought new and have spent approx. $1,200 on major maintenance upkeep . That is the car I will be driving to Vegas in Sept, not the 124. It does not have the ride, but it will get me there w/o worrying about what will go wrong.

Now if I really wanted to condemn the 124, I would compare the quality of materials in the 115 VS the 124.

Larry - you said that your 123 went over 500,00 miles. That was a 123, and if built before 83, was hand built. Even after 83 they were still one of, it not the best automobiles made.

At any rate, we can all agree to disagree. That is what makes these chat rooms good. You will hear both the good and the bad.

Ron

Has anyone ever heard of keep-it-kool or clip light?? These products seem to be effective.

Ron,

My 240D is an '84 Euro car. My 124 by all indication will last just as long. It's still very solid, although not in the cosmetic condition that I wish for.

Cap'n,

What, specifically, is wrong with your 124 car to make it salvage material?

BTW, even if my 124 were in the same condition as yours, it would be a reliability king compared to my '88 Corvette. What a POS! The only reason I keep it is that it is such kick in the ? to drive. It's a love/hate relationship, I love driving it and hate working on it, and I get way too many chances to work on it. There is no doubt that I have done more repairs and re-repairs per mile,by at least two to one, than any car I've ever owned.

My wife has a '98 4Runner. It has indeed proven reliable, however I hate the fact that it has the POS timing belt that you have to mess with.

Have a great day,

Jim, don't you have an EXTRA one I could drive??

Larry, I feel the same way about this car that you feel about the Vette! Nothing (with the exception of anything involving Christina Applegate) would make me happier than to get some quality service out of this car. I work on it constantly and drive it seldom. Were it not an MB it would have been gone long ago. Sadly the glimmers of sunlight off the tristar are losing their appeal.

Stephen, with that haircut, BenzE is looking more and more like a Poodle!:p

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Yeah: That's my wife's doing. She has me take him to the groomer monthly. She says it "makes him feel better". What can you do?? I should have known that with a BenzE for a name , he would be expensive to keep up! In addition, he has allergies and has to take cortizone tablets, shots and antibiotics. But he's my buddy!!

Larry - just kind of an fyi - I have just scanned the archives and there are those with problems with the ac evaps and radiator. Some are rather scathing about MBUSA and their denial of the fact that there is a problem. Cap'n and I are not the only ones experiencing challenges with the 124. I know that on other lists there are many listings for the cruise control and ac/heater control units.

You are very fortunate to have one that has not given you problems. It is odd how some vehicles go on while others, even with good maintenance, will fail. If the part is not up to standards, then it will fail regardless of maintenance.

At any rate, I hope your 124 keeps giving you as good a service as your 123. There is nothing that I know of that beats an MB ride. That I will give to both old and new MBs.

Ron

It is odd how some people have good luck with their 124's, even with parts that regularly fail on other's cars.

I'm reminded of Hi-Power's and JCE's 86 and 87 300E's. The early model 124's had particularly high failure rates with leaking evaporators, yet Hi-Power and JCE still have their original a/c with no leaks, repairs, or even re-charging needed.

Go figure...

Even with all of the money I have poured into my 93 300E, I still love it more than any car I have ever owned. And I'm keeping it.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

A lifelong friend of mine bought an 89 300TE the same time I bought my 300 in 02/98. All he's done to it is replace the center muffler. It's still an R12 AC at that.!! When I tell him my troubles he just says, "mine ain't never done that".

Yeah, no kidding, Stephen, the same thing happens to me.

What's more, I have the unusual luck that the only parts that go out on my car are the ones that cost over $1,000.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".