w108/109 vs w123 vs w124 vs w116 vs w126 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

scargo70 · #1 05-18-2003, 12:07 AM

Although I might be comparing apples to oranges to grapes, I am trying to see which series are peoples'favorites and why?

w108/109- classic benz, very stately

w 123 surprisingly elegant if not overlooked series

w124 a future classic?

w116 advanced at its introduction

w126 the classic and the epitome of the S car? beautiful proportion

I guess my favorite would be the w108/109 although for daily us it would be a toss up between the w123 and w126

#2 05-18-2003, 04:34 AM

I prefer the 108 design. As it is easy to work with, and also has a very stylish exterior. it's also indistructable

Only bad thing about them is they rust badly if not treated well.

300SDog · #3 05-18-2003, 03:38 PM

Not just styling but restoration/maintenance capabilities is what defines "classic cars" as most vintage fans restore their own cars, learning as they go along.

Old world, hand built cars can easily be restored and serviced by their owners...... newer cars dont provide that option.

Am working with 123 diesels at this time.... would rather be working on 110's.... and cant imagine working with 124's and 126's - for the simple reason that fewer and fewer DIY capabilities exist on newer cars.

What role do all those millions of vacuum lines and tricky electronic devices serve in appreciation of vintage cars?

If something cant be easily identified or understood under the hood of my car - i dont want it.

Nightmare restoration items like "climate control" and "central locking" just dont have a place in restoration/appreciation of vintage automobiles. These are fun items to have (when working)...... but most people would rather discard them entirely, or upgrade to previous manual systems when the new-fangled devices fail.

Its not a money game - where collectors just dump dollars into finding someone else to repair/restore their classic cars..... its actually the pleasure of knowing and understanding everything about the machine itself..... doing the work...and spending thousands of hours on the car that draws the hobbyist.

psfred · #4 05-18-2003, 10:31 PM

My W108 gets the most use, the W126 (my brother's 300SDL) is probably the nicest all round, and the W124 is a blast, but somehow isn't as fun to drive as the W108.

Can't beat the 300D for a long trip -- set the cruise at 80 and point -- but the W108 is a whole lot more fun to drive. Power is about the same, but I like the W108 more.

Painted the hood yesterday -- color is off, but at least it's blue and not yellow now!

Peter

nachi11744 · #5 05-19-2003, 02:57 AM

Hello,
If I had a choice, it would have to be a W111 coupe or a W113 SL, with a W124 daily driver.
I have a question for the W108/109 owners (or any pre-1970s Benz for that matter, except114/115)on this forum.
Are you guys greasing the 26 grease points every 3000 miles?
The *older* cars maybe simpler, but they do require more maintainence.
Have a good week.

300SDog · #6 05-19-2003, 06:42 AM

I didnt mean to sound derogatory in my last post.... am now in the process of disarming leaky central locking system in my other 123.

Hell, I'd probably be ripping out all kinds of stuff in the newer models when they reach the 20 yr. age that I'm accustomed to owning as daily drivers, scavenger that I am.

This might sound pitiful.... but dream car for me would be pre-'65 190D - from the era when MB owned the taxi cab industry worldwide. That would be something that could be souped up with "S" class interior wood and leather seats. Have also been told the 240 engine will fit.

pj67coll · #7 05-19-2003, 02:54 PM

Up to the 140 that is. Not too fond of the 124 but pretty much any sedan before that is my thing. I'm unusual I guess in that I've never appreciated sports cars even though I know the SL's are great cars for their type. I like em big.

My 108 was still my favourite Mercedes. One of the things I liked most about it was the way I could use the kickdown feature (coupled with judicious observation of the traffic lights) to get the jump on the car's next to me at the light, and then let up on the gas slightly at just the right time to achieve an almost slingshot effect from 1st to 2nd which would propel me way in front of most other cars and I was usually still in front (even if only just) by the time the next set of lights came up.

It was always cool to see quizzical looks from other drivers wondering just what was under the hood of the old Benz. But it was never anything other than the stock standard 2.8 six with twin zeniths and an auto tranny.

Of course when several lights were green in a row my bluff was called, but usually stop and go was a lot of fun.

Truthfully though, ANY Mercedes is better than none. Trust me I'm speaking from bitter experience!

- Peter.

scargo70 · #8 05-19-2003, 07:04 PM

Hell, I'd probably be ripping out all kinds of stuff in the newer models when they reach the 20 yr. age that I'm accustomed to owning as daily drivers, scavenger that I am.

I agree with dieseldog..i feel sorry for the owner of the current S class when things like the airconditioned seats go bad..ouch

I like the w108 the most..

psfred · #9 05-19-2003, 07:38 PM

Yes, I grease every so often (not exactly 3000 miles, but then I'm using synthetic grease, too). Currently the zerk fittings on the lower control arms are winning -- can't seem to get enough grease in there, will try again tonight while I'm evacuating the AC again (bad shraeder valves last night).

Peter

engatwork · #10 05-19-2003, 09:00 PM

I like the 123's for right now. Anyway, I'm sitting here trying to imagine 25+ years from now ripping out all the non-working electronics from a 2000 model year S500 and trying to make it work

LOL - fat chance. The reason I say "non-working" is because of the "non-working" tachs and cruise controls that I see nowadays in the 123 diesels. As far as I am concerned one of the BEST MB's I have ever messed around with was a 1959 220S with a manual transmission on the column. I had a chance to purchase a good running, no rust example back around 1984 for $3500 and I didn't - I kinda regret it now.

Aaron · #11 05-19-2003, 11:31 PM

W108/109: Great fun and can be used daily if you're (a.) willing to put up with old car maintenance and (b.) live in a dry climate such as California or Arizona. Very safe automobiles but many require extensive work these days due to age and mileage. I have seen very few of these cars that don't need any front end work, for example.

W116: MB's greatest driving S-Class IMHO. Very well balanced. The W116 gives you a classic feelng coupled with modern driveability. Problems? RUST! RUST! RUST!

W123: Wonderful daily drivers. Built like a brick privy and stand up to years of daily "abuse" without making much of a fuss. Nice styling (very classic) but not one of my favorites to drive. I can't ever seem to get comfortable in one.

W124: Another great daily driver. Modern and sporty. A little boring in the styling department but hey, weren't most cars of the mid-to-late '80s boring?!?! You begin to get into complex repairs on these cars (especially the last of the 1990s models) but the 500E is affectionately referred to as the "Velvet Hammer" and is the grandchild of the M-100 powered Mercs (6.3 and 6.9).

W126: Can't be beat for 1980s luxury and roadworthiness. Very comfortable and the last of them (1991s) are wonderful. They don't suffer from rust like W116s do and the components are still made well. My '83 300SD has 253K on the ticker and is still going like a champ! Not many complex repairs here but climate control and central locking can bewilder some inexperienced mechanics.

What would my ideal daily driver be? Hands down it would be an M-100. If I lived in LA or somewhere with similar weather, my 6.3 and 6.9 would see daily action.

joshhol · #12 05-20-2003, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Are you guys greasing the 26 grease points every 3000 miles?

Actually the manual for the 220S says grease every 1,900 miles, but I do it about every oil change.

Limited Edition · #13 05-20-2003, 11:56 PM

I like the W124 becasue it is handsome, modern (abs, airbags, etc.) and reliable. I haven't driven any of the rest except for the W126 but like all Mercedes and I plan to drive the others when I get a chance.

Champa · #14 05-21-2003, 04:53 PM

i've had all but the w116 and I will have to stick with the w124 for its overall integrity, smooth driving, quite interior, good acceleration ('86 300E), nice selection of features, and styling.

The w126 is very nice but too heavy and sort of feels like a boat because of its size (300SDL). I consider them a class apart from the earlier models you chose. Both the w124/26 are just a leap forward in refinement towards what modern models are today. Don't get me wrong the earlier models do have their merits.

I love the w123, my first benz ('79 280E) beautiful car, simple yet had all the features modern cars are still missing (mine had PW, PDL, Sunroof, climate control, leather, etc.).

Then there is the w108 ('72 280E), which feels surprisingly similar to the w123, and that is why I say they are different from the w124/26. They are classy and ours has all the amenities also of modern cars (and all still work), plus all the wood and polished metal detail you cant find today. But it does feel old, is not as quiet as the newer models, nor fast and as solid.

my .02

scargo70 · #15 05-21-2003, 06:04 PM

I think the older models( w108/109) dont have the chasis siftness which the more modern cars have therefore they arent as quiet and rigid feeling.
My only gripe about the more modern cars are that they have become very complex especially the more optioned out ones.
Our 98 E320 has the right side mirror tilting down each time the car goes it reverse..a nice feature but is it truly necessary, one more thing to break and need fixing in the future.
The newer cars however are more environmentally sound.