Why?

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89 300E "Benzer1" 15.924 Uncorrected
93 400E "Benzer3" 14.200 U.C.
95 E420 "Benzer4"
92 300E "Benzer5" 16.299 U.C. Future turbo CNG
87 300D "Benzer7"
87 300D "Benzer8"
87 300D "Benzer9"
87 300D/70 AMC Javelin "Sidewinder-Benzer"
87 300TD "Benzer11"
06 E320 CDI "Benzer12"
05 E320 CDI "Benzer12A"
71 AMC Javelin AMX 401 "Sidewinder"
74 AMC Hornet 401 "C.K.10" 13.63 U.C.
74 Bricklin SV1 "Presto" AMC 360 pwrd.

Mostly its the electrical problems that can a problem, Example the fuel pump relay's and OVP in 124 ,.126 cars that can leave the car UN-dependable.
Utter reliability was mostly with the 60;s and 70's models from my experience and ownership of those models.
mak

i have a "run" bag in my car... actually all cars.

spare ovp, spare fuel pump relay, spare klima relay, assorted bulbs and fuses.

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1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


[/SIGPIC]

Personally, as a comparison: Year for year, a Mercedes model feels nicer to drive than a Honda/Toyota. What I mean is that it feels nicer driving a 1987 mercedes than a 1987 toyota/Honda/gm etc. In fact it feels nicer to drive a 1987 mercedes than a 1997 or even 2000 model Toyota/Honda/Gm. That alone says much about the retention of class, value of one car compare to another. But I would have to agree that a rusty distintegrating 1987 Toyota/Honda can fetch several thousand $ more than a similar benz on the used car lot. By way, I rarely see a 1987 Toyota/Honda/GM on the road anymore, but I see plenty of Mercedes.

I have own 10 MB's over the years, some bought as new, some leased, mostly used. I've always liked them but many have been problematic.

86 300E bought new for my wife's birthday. Great driving car, smooth, tracked the road so much better than the 84 Porsche 911 I had at the time. By the time I sold it 6 years and 86K miles later, the head gasket and front seal were leaking like crazy and the front suspension needed an overhaul.

98 C230 leased. Never had a problem but the car was boring.

99 ML320 leased. Had to go to the dealer every month for repairs, rear window, driver's window, sun roof, climate control, wipers wouldn't work, heated seats stopped working. Then the POS drank a quart of oil every 1000 miles at 18K and the POS dealer said it was within spec. Finally at 29K the POS drank a quart every 300 miles and MB warrantied a ring job and gave me a POS Corolla as a loaner. I swore of new MB's after this one.

84 300D, my first diesel w 117K mmiles and drove it to 170K miles. Found out that the PO had rigger the odometer so it had more miles than it showed. Leaked water, rusting everywhere. I must have spent $4500 on the POS over 4 years. Got me thinking that I would like the 300D if I found a better conditioned one.

85 300SD, big and slow, leaked water when it rained, fogged defroster. Bought w 115K for $4200 and sold it w 155K for $5700 three years later at the height of the bio-conversion craze. Water pump, radiator neck broken. Preferred the 300D, kids hated diesel and hated the SD even more, back to gas.

94 E320 w 72K miles. I figured with low mileage I was good to go but the tranny failed a month later for $2500 for a rebuilt. I love the way the W124 drove. Left my son stranded, needed a new starter. Outside Temp gauged failed. Ran rough and I changed the spark plug connectors. Changed engine coils. Water pump, radiator. Sold with 120K. Head gasket always leaked.

95 E320 Wagon w 125K miles. Loved this wagon but head gasket always leaked. Then the dreaded evaporator went so the car had to go.

97 E420 w 122K, now has 170K after 3 years. Damn tranny went after 9 months. Rebuilt cost me freakin' $4000 as it has an electronic controlled tranny. The new one would mess up twice a year and I had my indy drain the tranny oil from control module every 4-5 months. Finally changed the updated part to stop this nonsense. So far changed ignition tumbler, brake stop which affected the ABS and ASR. Front suspension work. Driver's sde and rear view mirrors had to be replaces as the dimmer liquid leaked and made them splotchy.

88 300CE w 115K miles. Loved the Coupe design but this car was flawed so it had to go.

83 300D back to diesel with a one owner car w 111K miles. Great car. This is the diesel I had been looking for and is a marvel. Cruises beautifully at 80mph on the highway and 33mpg on summer diesel. Now has 130k miles after 15 months and I have only changed the oil and the front disc pads. No leaks! But alas, the a/c went after 10 months.

I still like Mercedes but you have to be lucky and look hard to find one in good condition that has been taken care of. I love the W124 but I would never subject myself to their failed head gasket and evaporator. I never had a harness problem but who wants to mess with that? It is probably better to get a W124 8 cylinder. Too many tranny problems and potential for expensive repairs. My 83 300D has brought me make into the fold but it is hard to find a good one at a reasonable price. If I go gas again, I think I would go for a BMW E34. I never had a problem with the 93 525i I had from 132k TO 195K, only had to change the middle muffler and the a/c was ice cold. I just can't think of an E-Class gas model that didn't have a plethora of known defaults.

Peace out.

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85 300CD Signal Red/Tan sold
83 300D Manganese Brown 109K
97 E420 Midnight Blue 197K sold
98 BMW 328i Vert White 100K, sold
95 BMW 525i White 125K, sold
93 BMW 525iT Red 193K, sold
95 E320 Green Wagon 125K, sold
94 E320 White 127K, sold
85 300SD 156K Grey (Annie), sold
84 300D Lapis Blue 170K (Judy), sold
99 ML 320 Black (lease), 1998 C230 White (lease)
00 Honda S2000 Red (lease)
86 Mercedes 300E (sold)
84 Porsche 911 Red (sold), 1965 Porsche 911 White (sold)

So one big problem and you threw each of the cars away?
You would have saved so much money in the long run if you just fixed the issue. Most of your cars were W124's....They have their issues, but once they are resolved, that is about it. There is a reason that you go to the junkyard and 80% of the cars there have easily over 200k on them. I've seen a couple at almost 300k!!

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2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k

Yeah but 80% of the 300D Class diesels have 300-500K on them. They last longer and are easier to fix. The W124's drive great but the potential landmine of cost to repair the known defaults of wire harness $400-600, head gasket $1100-1500 and evaporator $3500-4500 is too much a burden for anyone to bear. Are you kidding me? Even you know that head gasket repair jobs don't hold. I've heard many that the head gasket repairs don't last. Tranny cost also are not cheap, so it not a matter of simply fixing it, you have to ask yourself what else is going to cost me big? I don't think it ever pays to do the evaporator job. You are paying 85-100% of the value of the car for that one repair.

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85 300CD Signal Red/Tan sold
83 300D Manganese Brown 109K
97 E420 Midnight Blue 197K sold
98 BMW 328i Vert White 100K, sold
95 BMW 525i White 125K, sold
93 BMW 525iT Red 193K, sold
95 E320 Green Wagon 125K, sold
94 E320 White 127K, sold
85 300SD 156K Grey (Annie), sold
84 300D Lapis Blue 170K (Judy), sold
99 ML 320 Black (lease), 1998 C230 White (lease)
00 Honda S2000 Red (lease)
86 Mercedes 300E (sold)
84 Porsche 911 Red (sold), 1965 Porsche 911 White (sold)

Got an e-mail stating there is a new post on this thread, but now that I'm here I can't see it. Good opportunity to say the old MeL just about has 220,000 miles on it. Still runs and drives like the day we got it, if it looks just a little worse for the wear. Well what do you expect for me driving it, and four kids riding around in it? Really in good shape, though the radio is acting up. Will install a new Pioneer headunit with an XM tuner and a subwoofer this weekend if I get to it.

Just got a 2004 545i to replace the (troublesome, rusty, old, noisy, yet still fun 221,000 mile) VW. The posts on the E60 forums are similar to the posts here--some people have problems, others do not, quite a few people want to modify theirs, as if they can improve upon such a well engineered car. I'm absolutely fascinated with this car! Perfect balance between sportiness and comfort, and wonderfully complex in certain ways. I wonder if this isn't the spiritual successor the W124, even if it isn't a Mercedes. Quietest car I'd even been in; quickest car I'd ever owned. Absolutely superb on snow and ice, except when the snow gets deep. Best of all, still available with a 6-speed manual transmission!

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Lenny

There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games. --Ernest Hemingway

'10 GL550/'04 BMW 545/'99 BMW 323/'98 ML320/'87 VW GTI (race)

Has the quality improved somewhat on the newer models ?

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Whether you think you can or cannot, Either way you're right!. by Henry Ford.