FS: Mercedes-Benz W124 300E - £645

[dollywobbler]

With the arrival of another 2CV, I need a bit of a fleet review. Unsurprisingly, it's the Merc that's going to have to go.

 

Just passed an MOT with a few, minor advisories. Some surface corrosion to the underside and fuel lines has been dealt with. Headlamp switch is still faulty (tends to come off when putting the fog light on) and the nearside front wheel bearing has minor play but isn't noisy.

 

It's very solid. Some bubbling on the offside rear arch, but the nearside is pretty much bob-on. No chrome arches thank goodness. There is some corrosion behind the offside headlamp. Otherwise, it's pretty much faultless and there are no leaks.

 

Inside is near immaculate, with some minor cracking to some of the wood. That really is it though. Hard to believe it's done 174,000 miles. The sunroof doesn't really want to play ball - it goes back a bit but won't tilt at all. The windows and passenger electric mirror (driver's side is manual in typical Merc fashion) work fine.

 

The engine sounds lovely and has had new plugs, dizzy cap and leads. It's also had a coolant refresh but I haven't had chance to change the oil and filter yet. I do think the engine temperature sensor might be duff, as it seems to struggle with cold starts unless that is unplugged. Once warm, it's delightful.

 

The automatic gearbox is lovely. Kicks down properly, but not so sensitive that it does so at every opportunity. No bangs or slippy changes. The wheels need re-lacquering, but the tyres all have plenty of tread. Headlamp wipers have new blades!

 

Tax is up end of April, MOT March '14. I'm getting 24mpg with my leaden boot and Welsh hills to contend with. Not desperate to sell as I do like it and it'll be a while before I can crack on with the 2CV resto, but I certainly won't cry if someone swaps it for a handful of the folding stuff.

 

[Spiny Norman]

That's way too cheap!

If I didn't already have a 3 litre E class Mercedes I'd be all over that like a bad suit.

[dollywobbler]

I'm not sure it is too cheap (check out my salesman skills!). If I had full service history, then perhaps, but it runs out at 96,000. Previous owner claims he did oil and filter (including auto box) every 3000 miles, but for all the proof I've got, he might as well have told me he impersonates Cheryl Cole at weekends. To be fair, the transmission fluid looks really clean and smells spot on, the oil isn't filthy and the filter looks pretty fresh.

 

It is a fine ol' motor though. Went out for a drive in it this afternoon just because I could. Split heater means your other half can be as toasty as she/he likes while you can play it cool behind the wheel. Did I mention that there's a button to make the rear head restraints flop down? I keep putting the head restraints back up just so I can press the button.

[Spiny Norman]

Did I mention that there's a button to make the rear head restraints flop down? I keep putting the head restraints back up just so I can press the button.

 

Mine does that too, I'd be far more impressed if the button could make them go back up again. Having to crawl into the back is such a PITA.

[warren t claim]

The wheel bearing on these isn't a nasty job, a couple of blocks of wood and a 27mm socket to drift it out. IIRC the bearing is about £25 and is the same as a Sprinter van so Greedy Stealing Fuckwits should have one one the shelf.

[dollywobbler]

Bump. Looks like there may be further fleet changes on the horizon (yet another BX...) so I really need to get this shifted. A great car, just not really very me.

[dollywobbler]

Not so much as a sniff of interest in this. Pressure will be reduced with the silver BX heading to pastures new, but I still feel I've got rather too many motors.

[Ben_L]

Give it 21 days and I'll make a decision on this if nobody else does. My redundancy pay + pay from new job will mean I've freed up some free cash. Really like it!

 

Is there any chance of changing the CTS to get it running straight?

[Spiny Norman]

I'm sooo tempted by this but like I said I've already got one big Merc and really should resist.

Always wanted a half decent W124 though.....

[dollywobbler]

Ben - I can't promise 'owt as I'm hellishly busy (and now also ill) at the moment. I could do with getting it running properly though.

[gdhaydock]

Really like this and want to buy it, but have no justifiable reason I need it. I keep coming up with reasons in my head why I shouldn't buy it.

 

Arm twisting required either way.

 

Still miss the W123 I had years ago, which had to be sold as I could only afford to run 1 car car at the time.

[Station]

These are ace - I disliked my grey interior though, it felt like I was sitting inside a featureless, grey void. Seats have their own suspension, you can't feel a bump in the road.

[Pete-M]

I had a 260E for a good few months. It had a startlingly brightly beige leather interior.

 

The cloth trim in these is normally utterly wrecked, the WobblerWagon appears rather tidy inside.

[dollywobbler]

The interior is astonishingly tidy. I can only assume that the previous owner was actually lighter than air and so never actually sat on the seats.

 

This week, I've mostly been lying around feeling sorry for myself (man flu) while my four vehicles sit outside doing nothing. Therefore I've done nothing to try and cure the Merc's cold starting issue. It's either the temp sensor or the idle control valve, but I'm not sure which. Still runs beautifully once it has started to warm up!

[FredTransit]

I know somebody whos interested but he hasnt yet been approved for the forum. Hrs asked me to post his number

 

Dan 01869346990

[dollywobbler]

I know somebody whos interested but he hasnt yet been approved for the forum. Hrs asked me to post his number

 

Dan REMOVED

 

Thanks Fred. I'll drop you a PM. You might want to delete that number.

[FredTransit]

he said it was OK to post it, wouldnt have done it otherwise! pm replied