You have noted that the spec for tires was downgraded to H-rated tires, which many consider appropriate with a maximum sustained speed rating of 126mph IIRC. This change was made possible largely by the new engines' ability to have a speed limit built in and had nothing to do with quality. Speed limits were being pushed hard in Germany as well as here to limit speeds on the autobahn (to prevent the government mandating it, the manufacturers were doing it, a political move). In the mid-'90s I found it annoying that Tire Rack made me sign a waiver to buy H-rated tires for my TE (because they were below the spec. speed rating). Most of us never see any sustained speed above 126mph.

You have also mentioned that the new series V-8 was changed. However, is there any other part of the 124 that was "downgraded"? The seats were better, the lights were MUCH better, the M104 a better version of the dependable M103, brakes upgraded from single-puck floating calipers to 4-piston units, minor hood and trunk changes, added the power-adjustable driver's mirror, body color bumper strips, new 8-hole wheels for the sedan and wagon, new OM606 engine for the diesels, same transmissions, re-designed R-134a A/C system, ... I'm trying hard to find something that wasn't UPGRADED in '94 but downgraded. Oh, they did make the headlamp wipers optional in '95 instead of standard, so you can add that to the tires and new V-8, but quality changes? None. Sorry, I was a supplier to that and other chassis through the '90s and later, no changes for us in Engineering nor content on existing models.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff