Is a W124 Coupe Hard to Find? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

jake12tech · #1 06-13-2017, 01:09 AM

Like a 300CE 86-93? I've pondered the though of getting one and can't find many. Are they a rare breed?

Jorn · #2 06-13-2017, 01:17 AM

Not in Los Angeles, the cabriolet is the rare one.

duxthe1 · #3 06-13-2017, 01:39 AM

The US sales numbers were surprisingly low. Every year they were made, less and less were sold. My 1991 was one of 1929. It's going to be parted. I don't remember the numbers for my 1990 coupe but I think it was just over 2K. By the last year of its run less than 900 were sold. It's dumbfounding how poor the blue book is for them given the relative rarity, but people with nice examples command a premium for them.

ccrelan · #4 06-13-2017, 11:35 AM

They are extremely hard to find in decent shape.

remotemark · #5 06-13-2017, 12:22 PM

I've been looking for an 88-89 with black paint for a year now and they are all crap or astronomically priced.

jake12tech · #6 06-13-2017, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jorn

Not in Los Angeles, the cabriolet is the rare one.

I looked earlier and it seems they're a dime a dozen.. I might come down there and get one eventually just because they're so affordable and rust-free.

Quote:

Originally Posted by duxthe1

The US sales numbers were surprisingly low. Every year they were made, less and less were sold. My 1991 was one of 1929. It's going to be parted. I don't remember the numbers for my 1990 coupe but I think it was just over 2K. By the last year of its run less than 900 were sold. It's dumbfounding how poor the blue book is for them given the relative rarity, but people with nice examples command a premium for them.

Wow that's crazy!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ccrelan

They are extremely hard to find in decent shape.

I buy mechanical jalopies quite frequently and turn them into nice cars, so I wouldn't mind. I'd rather find a POS with a good body and work on it myself and have it done in my order.

dynalow · #7 06-13-2017, 02:22 PM

Cabriolet history with global production figures.
Mercedes-Benz History: The Mercedes-Benz 124 Series Cabriolets | eMercedesBenz

dynalow · #8 06-13-2017, 02:54 PM

I recall reading on MBUSA years ago that the 88CE (first year 124 coupe were sold in US) had a list MSRP of about $52-54,000 as best I can remember. That was about 4,000 more than the 300E sedan. 1988 US sales were about 2500-2600 units and declined from there.

Mine was sold by MB of Manhattan to a guy in Roslyn (L.I.) NY
He must have used it as a FL winter car. I bought it in Tampa in 2001. I've put 102k on it in since 2001. Now at 143,600 miles total.

Clear coat on hood is turning milky in a few spots. But it still looks sharp & turns heads and get's compliments, all of which this old guy enjoys.

I'd rather have a hard top CE than a Cab any day of the week and twice on Sunday. You drop all 4 windows and open the roof and you get all the open air and sun you need, without stopping or worrying about multiple parts needing to synchronize to close the soft top.

https://www.hemmings.com/magazine/hsx/2015/05/Efficient-Elegance---1988-95-Mercedes-Benz-300CE-E320/3748531.html

gatorblue92 · #9 06-13-2017, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dynalow

I recall reading on MBUSA years ago that the 88CE (first year 124 coupe were sold in US) had a list MSRP of about $52-54,000 as best I can remember. That was about 4,000 more than the 300E sedan. 1988 US sales were about 2500-2600 units and declined from there.

Mine was sold by MB of Manhattan to a guy in Roslyn (L.I.) NY
He must have used it as a FL winter car. I bought it in Tampa in 2001. I've put 102k on it in since 2001. Now at 143,600 miles total.

Clear coat on hood is turning milky in a few spots. But it still looks sharp & turns heads and get's compliments, all of which this old guy enjoys.

I'd rather have a hard top CE than a Cab any day of the week and twice on Sunday. You drop all 4 windows and open the roof and you get all the open air and sun you need, without stopping or worrying about multiple parts needing to synchronize to close the soft top.

https://www.hemmings.com/magazine/hsx/2015/05/Efficient-Elegance---1988-95-Mercedes-Benz-300CE-E320/3748531.html

Yours is one of the nicest C124's I have seen in years.

There have been a few on the local CL in the past year but they were either the 3.0 M104 or otherwise in poor condition and asking top dollar.

dynalow · #10 06-13-2017, 10:27 PM

^^^ Thanks Gator. But then, you haven't seen it in a few years either.

Truth be known, I'd like it less if it was all red. The silver-tone (?) cladding and bone interior make it a standout. The chrome wheel well eyebrows? Eh.

They probably were original to the car. I'm not going to bother removing them.The M103 motor is one long-legged, low maintenance piece of machinery,

To the OP: There have been a few threads over the years discussing the 300ce/E300/320..
Here's one with a link to another one going back in 2002. Some actual cost & production numbers in the thread linked.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/open-discussion/331156-88-300ce.html?nojs=1#usercptools

sixto · #11 06-13-2017, 10:20 PM

This bad boy tempts me everyday - https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/6146885987.html

I'm not crazy about coupes or black but I like Sportline, the separate grill look and anything but CIS.

Sixto
83 300SD can be yours
98 E320 wagon

sixto · #12 06-14-2017, 12:55 AM

CIS 1, Sixto 0. I had a '91 300SE with a turbine smooth M103. Then the idle was less than smooth and economy gauge was close to middle when idling. Full valve job and replacing everything short of the fuel distributor didn't fix it. I wasn't about to buy a new fuel distributor so I sold it and never looked back. While I'm bashing, it got 16/21 mpg. The '95 S420 that replaced it got 15/22. Good engine in its day but not a good fit and maddening gear ratios in a 126.

Sixto
83 300SD can be yours
98 E320 wagon

ROLLGUY · #13 06-15-2017, 02:15 PM

I have a '90 with the M104, black with grey cladding and interior. Only a few rust spots on the hood, but no rust anywhere else that I can find. If I find a good black hood in a wrecking yard one day, it will be coming home with me. I got the car with a wrecked 300D (W124), and was going to swap over the 2.5 Diesel into the coupe (now that is rare!). The gas engine runs, but not clean enough to pass smog. Other than that, the car is pretty good. I have many projects, so I would entertain selling the entire project. The wire harness and cluster need to be pulled from the 300D, and that is about all that is keeping the wreck from going to the scrapper. I am in CA, so it might be hard for you being so far away. However, the coupes are more plentiful here as others have said, and usually with no rust issues. I would love to see the W124 300CD project on the road one day, even if it is not me that completes it........Rich

jake12tech · #14 06-15-2017, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROLLGUY

I have a '90 with the M104, black with grey cladding and interior. Only a few rust spots on the hood, but no rust anywhere else that I can find. If I find a good black hood in a wrecking yard one day, it will be coming home with me. I got the car with a wrecked 300D (W124), and was going to swap over the 2.5 Diesel into the coupe (now that is rare!). The gas engine runs, but not clean enough to pass smog. Other than that, the car is pretty good. I have many projects, so I would entertain selling the entire project. The wire harness and cluster need to be pulled from the 300D, and that is about all that is keeping the wreck from going to the scrapper. I am in CA, so it might be hard for you being so far away. However, the coupes are more plentiful here as others have said, and usually with no rust issues. I would love to see the W124 300CD project on the road one day, even if it is not me that completes it........Rich

Rich, I sent you a PM.

Skippy · #15 06-15-2017, 07:48 PM

In my area 124s in general are a relative rarity. I don't think I've ever seen a 124 coupe around here.