PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

Jeremy5848 · #5 05-18-2011, 12:53 AM

This car in good condition is a wonderful vehicle. In poor condition it can be a money pit. A professional inspection is recommended.

Climate Control
The climate control system can be expensive to repair. It is a complex system that is hard to judge when looking at a car for the first time, especially if you don't have a lot of time and haven't previously owned this model. Ask the seller what he means specifically by "needs work."
Like the W123 models, the W124s use vacuum pods to open and close the "doors" that direct air this way and that. The pods are not terribly expensive but replacement of some requires removal of the dash, which is a time consuming job. It is DIY-able but expensive to have done by a shop because of the time involved. The heater core and the A/C evaporator also require dash removal. One expensive item is the compressor, about $300-400. Use these items as bargaining chips with the seller.

Sunroof
Repair of the sunroof can be terribly expensive and few owners attempt it themselves. Even many mechanics no longer know how to repair this first version of the slide/tilt sunroof.

Engine Mounts
The front engine mounts are hydraulic and generally fail after 100,000 miles or so. They are not difficult to replace yourself and not terribly expensive to have replaced by a shop. Failure of the mounts causes the engine to sit too low, causes vibration and noise, and can damage other things.