want to buy a W124 - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

hocky1 · #16 03-27-2003, 03:58 AM

Thanks to all you W124 owners for your great advice on what to look out for in this car. I feel a lot better now after reading all the notes on the car's possible failures at that age and mileage driven. I guess if I do go ahead and buy one, I will have to expect quite a lot of dollars to be spent on fixing those faulty and failed parts in the car unless I get a Benz expert to fully check the car and report to me before I sign the contract and cheque.

I have not decided against the car yet and may go further and look for one which has a complete history or belongs to relatives or close friends who will tell me the complete truth about it.

I just like the looks of the W124 of that age although the later update with the inset radiator grille looks better and the side mouldings also give it a more luxurious look. The next model with the 4 seperate round headlamps don't look so nice.

I am in Australia and we have right hand drive cars here, but some Corvettes have been imported and switched to RHD over here due to the good demand for them.

Thanks guys and keep this news coming as I will need more advice from you guys, cheers!

#17 03-28-2003, 12:27 AM

Whatever happened to your '97 W202?Finally got sick of it?

Azhari
Babybenz 1991 190e 1.8

#18 03-28-2003, 03:10 AM

It is/was a '94 wasn't it?

Do you still have it?

Azhari
Babybenz 1991 190e 1.8

hocky1 · #19 03-28-2003, 04:31 AM

Azhari...

Yes I'm still driving my 1994 C180 W202 even though it has drained my "wallet" inside out! Why I love this car so much I myself don't know. But however, every car I have owned, I fell in loved with. Its like having a mistress in the garage. You work it, massage it with expensive car polishes, wash it, pet it and drive it hard!!! Sorry, I'm just being affected by the war in the Middle East and need some outlet.

The W124 is just a diversion at the moment. I reckon I need something bigger and more powerful(300E) as I do run uphill and downhill quite a lot around here. With 2 or 3 passengers, sometimes 4, the C180 can only crawl uphill to the dismay of everyone following behind us. I need POWER!

The E200 onwards(facelifted model) looks better, but very few here and no one wants to sell them(used as 2nd car). The 230, 260 and 300E are getting a bit old and cheaper, about A$18,000. The newer model is about A$30,000 and the completely facelifted are A$40,000 and more.

I'm a bit short of ringgits, so if you can send me a few thousands, I will get myself one. Cheers and how is your 190E mistress????

PaulG · #20 03-28-2003, 04:38 AM

Hocky1,

Those prices for an early E300 are staggering........

85-90 six cylinder E series go for between 600 and 2500 quid here. They're obviously RHD too...............maybe you could buy one here and drive it home!

GregS · #21 03-28-2003, 09:12 AM

Why has the w202 been so much trouble? I assume this series refers to the mid-90s C-class, and there isn't much talk about them on this web page. I've often wondered whether they are good cars, especially since I see them for sale at very reasonable prices. In the U.S. they were sold in c230, c230 kompressor, and c280 models. I would like to hear your opinion of these models. A simple 4 cylinder Benz sounds like a good option to me (since I normally just putter along in city traffic), but if they are maintanence nightmares for some reason, I'd like to be warned.

Thanks,

GregS

blackmercedes · #22 03-28-2003, 11:12 AM

The W202 C-Class is one of the most reliable MB products sold in North America. Especially 1996- models, and the four cylinder C220 and C230 models and the C280 V-6 cars.

The M111 four cylinder engine is tough and seems to be pretty much bullet-proof in 2.2, 2.3, and 2.3 supercharged versions.

I would avoid 1994-1995 cars, as they have wiring harness issues (like W124's as well) and other difficulties. Except for 2.8L head gasket problems that persisted through 1997, the 1996+ cars are pretty much sorted out.

I have a 1998 C230, as does my dad. My cousin has a 1997 C230. All of the cars have been very reliable, and except for a few minor problems, have been completely reliable. (Blower motor and belt tensioner)

I know some folks with C220 models that have very high odo readings, and the cars are holding up very well.

I do all my own maintenance work on my C230, and love it. The engine bay has lots of room to work. Parts are reasonable (not like the AMG specific bits I bought on occasion for the C36) and most items are not too tough.

hocky1 · #23 03-28-2003, 06:12 PM

Well, I happen to have a 1799cc 4 cyl engined C180 which apparently was not well looked after when I accidentally bought it being an impulsive buyer. I had to spend $$$ to fix up all the parts which were not apparently wrong or faulty when I test drove it. Being the nerd I am, I was bloody swindled upside down!
If I meet the previous owner now, I would put him in the middle of Baghdad for a "shock and awe" show and blast him with one of the MOAB thingies. The harness is looking to go sometime soon, hope I sell it first. The part which is exposed near the engine head right side has wire insulation cracking and getting brittle. Since it was 188,000kms when I took over, I should have expected it wouldn't be like new. I have replaced the whole exhaust system, the fuel pump and filter, the water pump, belt, tensioner, complete service done, vacuum leaks fixed, auto adjusted for jerk in 2 to 3 changes, kickdown switch replaced, battery changed, sunroof serviced and greased, front spring pads changed to level the front....... Won't go through this again ever! Next car will be a brand new C class, but I will have to raid the bank first!

blackmercedes · #24 03-28-2003, 08:47 PM

hocky1,

Truth be told, aside from the exhaust and wiring harness, your list of repairs isn't long for ANY nine year old used car with 188K on it. The exhaust failure, rare for an MB, is due to short hop driving, not allowing the system to get hot and evaporate all the moisture.

The wiring harness failure is MB's fault, and they should be covering this stuff. However, their "new attitude" is to deny-deny-deny. Given the outrageous warranty costs the ML has wracked up, it's no wonder.

The belt and tensioner usually fail long before that mileage.

The fuel pump is a little early. the fuel filter, I hope, had been changed a few times before you did it.

I wonder about the water pump. Perhaps lack of coolant service did it in.

Many of the items on your list are routine service.

That said, let's hope you're in for some smooth sailing for some time...

hocky1 · #25 03-29-2003, 07:13 AM

Blackmercedes.....

Other items are as follows:-
Driver's door inside panel is still dented like a big dimple(6inches radius) caused by accident or heavy elbow as well as the top plastic panel dropped 10mm. The centre airflow roller was glued open, now won't move at all. The boot door locking mechanism's plastic housing is broken at the bottom right hand side and the metal latch is bent and exposed(still works). The left front door's rv mirror housing damaged slightly on outside, but worse inside and the mirror was replaced with a non-tinted mirror. This has been replaced completely. The front bonnet had 5 golfball sized dents and lots of stonechips all round the bumper and front edges. The whole front has been repainted. The aerial popped out one day and this has been replaced with a new rod and white plastic tracer. All four plastic wheel caps had to be replaced. The front bushes had to be replaced. The next work will be the 4 shock absorbers now leaking, the rotors and pads a bit worn out.

The techie fooled me into changing the fuel pump and filter as he thought the vacuum pump noise I was complaining about came from a failing fuel pump. What crap! The vacc pump was making noises due to the leaks in 2 actuators under the dash(rear headrests wouldn't drop). He also found one bush failing and changed both front ones which I reckon was also a big swindle.

blackmercedes · #26 03-29-2003, 09:08 AM

Sounds like your car led quite a hard life prior to coming home with you. That's the problem with buying a used car. Otoh, you probably paid a fraction of the price of a new car, even with your repairs...

Good luck, and hope that your car is sorted out now.