I have owned my 1995 E320 W124 for a little more than 12 years. I have had all kinds of things wrong for a few years now that I thought would have to be addressed, but the car just keeps on going. My head gasket leaks oil, front timing cover leaks oil, wiring harness is cracked and exposed in areas, the transmission has a shift flair, and there is a leak at the AC compressor, but the car just keeps on going.

Although I do lose a bit of oil over time, a fresh oil change and I am OK again. I also adjusted the vacuum modulator and Bowden cable to reduce the shift flair. I figure I will do the wiring harness when I finally have to do the head gasket and timing cover. The AC seems to work OK with a fresh charge each summer. My friend drove his 190E with oil in his coolant for 60 or 70K miles without incident. I don’t intend to do the same, but it really was remarkable.

It really does seem to be true that the cars can go and go, even when they do have some or even many issues. That is one very big reason to be careful if you buy a used W124. For me it may not be so bad to pay the money to fix so many expensive things, after 12 years of ownership. Can you imagine, however, how bad it would feel to buy a beautiful looking car like mine and then have to pay as much or more than you just paid for the car to fix everything. Buyers beware!

Doesn't look or feel broken, but it is.

__________________
I just couldn't give up on my 1995 E320.

I think it might be like always going back to that same bad relationship with an ex girlfriend.
You feel you love them too much, or you are just too stupid to know any better.



Flickr slideshow of my 1995 E320
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24145497@N06/sets/72157616572140057/