Noticing a shift to w124's - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ytmtnman · #1 11-02-2012, 07:16 AM

Is it just me? But I feel like there increase in w124 posts and a decrease in w123. I would guess that the economy of the 124 is coming close to where the 123's in the past and more of us are driving them. What are your thoughts?

shertex · #2 11-02-2012, 07:39 AM

A forum member made the same point to me a few weeks ago. He said, "Although it's true that many people who collect ("accumulate?") M-Bs will have one or more 116/123/126s including a 617 diesel, I think the days of the nicely-kept 123 as a daily driver are over. Today there are too many fair-to-good 124s in either gasoline or diesel available for less than $5K."

As I write this, I'm about to acquire a 123!

vstech · #3 11-02-2012, 07:41 AM

are you missing yours?

Silber Adler · #4 11-02-2012, 08:41 AM

I have had mine for two weeks. Wanted one that old school, not dependent on the computers.

barry12345 · #5 11-02-2012, 09:27 AM

Innevitable that as time moves forward things change. One isue is I wonder if the replacement for the 123s sold in high enough numbers to meet the percieved needs for them.

I suspect sales of the 124 where less than the 123s and surviving 124s may be much harder to deal with. At some point the 123s have to enter collector car status even if they are not worth large dollars. Scarcity of good examples at some point tends to drive prices.

vstech · #6 11-02-2012, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry12345

Innevitable that as time moves forward things change. One isue is I wonder if the replacement for the 123s sold in high enough numbers to meet the percieved needs for them.

I suspect sales of the 124 where less than the 123s and surviving 124s may be much harder to deal with. At some point the 123s have to enter collector car status even if they are not worth large dollars. Scarcity of good examples at some point tends to drive prices.

in other words...
buy yourself a parts car...

Zacharias · #7 11-02-2012, 10:50 AM

Quote:

I think the days of the nicely-kept 123 as a daily driver are over. Today there are too many fair-to-good 124s in either gasoline or diesel available for less than $5K."

Not in mid to eastern Canada. I'd say the chances of finding a decent w123 or w124 are about equal these days -- and that's to say, not great.

The cars never held their value here. A decent w123 that would be a $3,500-$5,500 in the US is worth $1,500-$2,500 (maybe) in my area. IF you can move it at all. W126s have pretty much left the room due to lack of audience interest. (The old diesels have a bit more demand in the Toronto/Southern Ontario area.)

The US is of course a much larger market, population-wise, and includes a large amount of territory where the cars don't rot and generally deteriorate from the harsh climate we endure here.

But that being said, it seems to me Mercedes sold a LOT more cars in the US in those years, even adjusted for population. That's different now. The current models just fly off the lots around here. You see the C-class (or whatever they now call it) everywhere, and a fair number of B-Class as well.

DieselPaul · #8 11-02-2012, 12:01 PM

Mercedes sedans have never held their value ever.

Look at Ponton and Finbody sedans. $5k will buy a nice ponton. Then look at ponton cabriolets or coupes. Pontons were everywhere, now they are nowhere, and the sedans still aren't of any extreme value.

The exceptions being cars with special provenance or certain body styles like a 112 300SE(l) or something. I mention that because I'm sure someone will try to prove me wrong with a 600.

Its more a function of 124s are getting dirt cheap, and they are better more modern cars. That and 123s are rusting off the face of the earth. In 6-10 years this forum will be packed with W210 questions. The only difference in as the years went on they imported significantly less and less diesels. A few years ago and even still to some extent 123s litter the streets, junkyards, and craigslist. 124s and 210s are much less scarce but as their values plummet more DIY'ers will pick them up and start talking about them.

Pauls top tip of the day, if you've got a clean 123 CE or CD, throw that in the back of the garage for 10 years. It probably won't ever approach finback or ponton 2 door values because of total production numbers, but they'll for sure be worth more than sedans.

ytmtnman · #9 11-02-2012, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

are you missing yours?

At this point I think you have owned it longer than I did.... I never felt like it was my car. I do miss it though. Once I can convince my wife that we don't really need a wagon I will start looking for a 124 or a non rod bending 126.

TheDon · #10 11-02-2012, 12:12 PM

I miss my w123. Especially the 240d 4 speed

Biodiesel300TD · #11 11-02-2012, 12:37 PM

I think it's just how things progress. I too have noticed the drop off of 123s on craigslist in my area. They are pretty scarce these days. I also don't see them running around town like I used too. In my area it was rare that I wouldn't see one or more everyday. But now only see a few a week. Even the newest 123 is 27 years old, and the oldest 35. I also think the biodiesel and veg oil craze has disapated and so people aren't as hungery for diesels as they were a few years ago. 5 or 6 years ago you could get $10-12k for a nice wagon pretty easily. Now a nice wagon goes for $5-6k. Part are also getting harder to find and more expensive.

On a side note, I still drive my 78 240 everyday. I was dropping off a work truck with a co-worker at the Chevy dealer. I pulled up in my 240, and of course the saleman comes out. He was quite enamered with my 240. He asked if I'd had it repainted!

I said nope all original paint. Made my week. That's the 2nd time someone has asked me that. Makes me happy. And goes to show that if these old cars are taken care of they can last a loooong time and still look good and drive well.

pwogaman · #12 11-02-2012, 01:12 PM

I've made my transition from 126s and 107s to 124s. I pretty much go by what is available in the pick and pull yards and cheap parts cars.

sleepstar · #13 11-02-2012, 02:27 PM

no shortage of 123s around here. i rarely see 124s.. at least diesel 124s. w123s are crawling around like cockroaches...

derburger · #14 11-02-2012, 04:06 PM

I'll probably find myself in a W124 e420 sooner or later. Same gas mileage as W123 but 275hp/300ft lbs, dirt cheap to buy and plenty of junkyard spares. I imagine its HVAC would cool marginally better too.

ElmoOxygen · #15 11-02-2012, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepstar

no shortage of 123s around here. i rarely see 124s.. at least diesel 124s. w123s are crawling around like cockroaches...

Agreed, there are a lot of w123s in the SFBay Area. I want to acquire a backup car and am having a very hard time deciding on what.

W123: They are cheap and easy to find.
W124: Newer, more modern look, faster, no parts compatibility with my existing car.
W126: I want this because it would have better parts compatibility with my existing 85 SD. The fact that my current car has california intake/exhaust and it may be hard to find another, makes this slightly less important.

And the real reason I didn't go look at a W124 a couple weeks ago for $1900...Kinda broke !