SOLD: 1990 W124 300E - new owner's adventures

[dollywobbler]

So, yet another fleet readjustment is needed. Having failed to sell this once, and been very glad of it as other cars failed, I do need something a little more suitable. Suitable is entirely undefined and probably entirely unsuitable, so swaps are a definite possibility.

The run down. MOT until Feb 2014, tax until October. 3-litre, six-cylinder, 4-speed auto. Generally very solid, no chrome arches. Some rot in the rear arches but not bad. Front wings have been replaced, underside is very tidy. Interior is cloth and pretty much immaculate. 4 working electric windows, cruise control does not work but the switch that makes the rear head restraints fold down does. This gimmick still amuses me.

Engine has had a new dizzy cap (horribly expensive), rotor arm, plugs and leads. I have cleaned the idle control valve out which has improved cold starting, but it still seems a little grumpy if left for a few days. Pulls well though and delivers 27mpg on a run. There is a small split in the radiator but it only leaks when NOT being driven. Barely lost any coolant on the 600 mile trip to Kent and back.

Gearbox is smooth, kick-down works and first gear will engage for rocket-ship launches if you fancy. Handbrake does actually work, steering is tight and free of play. The headlamp wipers work, but the alloys are a bit scruffy. Good tyres but one looks a bit old and is probably the spare.

[forddeliveryboy]

Good description. Here's a useless comment - it would be worth more in Russia or the old Soviet states where diesel freezes in winter! For anyone who is planning a trip East, it could make sense... Seems ridiculous that it may not find a buyer at that price in the UK, the quality of build and engineering is beyond a Swiss nuclear bunker. Find a diesel lump to replace the petrol one and it would make sense on 30ppl veg. Lovely car, from when MB were still using good steel and good paint.

[fiatdaft]

I like this.

[trigger]

I got chatting to a salesman during last week at the Ford garage who I know is into old cars, he was telling me how a mint 1 owner 1991 Merc 260E with 100k got traded in recently and how he bought it for £350, It even had full leather, alloys, air con and a loads of spares, I was deeply jealous.

[cort16]

They are ridiculous value for money I can't hink of a better car for sale for 500 quid.

[dollywobbler]

They don't have a following yet, that's for sure. Absolute minters (which this isn't) seem to attract good money, but anything less than perfect is peanuts. It's a great old barge for wafting about in, and is absolutely superb for distance work - 80mph, 30mpg (as long as you don't keep trying to get to 80mph as quickly as you can) and blissful serenity. If I did more of that sort of driving, I'd keep it. Sadly, most of my driving is on tiny, twisty roads.

[Skizzer]

Bump for a bargain.

 

I think I would rather enjoy rolling this for the summer, but until the Rover moves on and the work we're having done on the house is finished I don't have anywhere to put it, so best count me out. Soz.

[forddeliveryboy]

Cheaper and far better made than any conventional coffin if bought with an undertaker's mark-up. I wonder what would be left apart from the glass in 2000 years? Would def make future archaelogists have a good discussion.

[dollywobbler]

Offers will be carefully considered. I've got a major lusting for green ovalness.

[Tetleysmooth]

Really cracking cars these.

Had one myself for a while. The previous owner - a work colleague - made me promise to sell it back to him when I moved it on, which I did.

Shouldn't have done really.

It seemed like no matter how far I drove it, I'd get out as fresh as I got in.

Excellent power too.

If I were in the market for a saloon, I'd be knocking on your door Mr Wobbler.

[Charlie Croker]

That looks lovely. i prefer the cloth interior on this era of Merc........i think the leather looks way too garish.

 

It's a shame you have no need for a old Vectra in your life as im that skint i couldnt afford it without selling the Veccy..........i need to get my budget in order.lol

[dollywobbler]

I went out for a cruise in the ol' beast last night. It is a fine way to travel.

 

[Tetleysmooth]

I'm having serious underwear twitching thoughts about this.

 

Can someone buy it before I make a mess of myself please

 

Chain driven engine too.

[dollywobbler]

Still for sale.

[Charlie Croker]

I really cant believe you have not sold this yet bud. If i had known it would have hung around i would have Gumtree'd the Veccy.

[Negative Creep]

C'mon peeps this is a bargain. I admit to being WEL GELOUS of the bigger engine, but slightly less so of the bodyshape

[dollywobbler]

They don't seem popular. Ridiculous. For a limited time, I can even off very cheap delivery to The Midlands, especially Northants. Open to offers also!

[Charlie Croker]

I'm going to put the Vectra on Gumtree....sod it. You never know someone might even turn up.....unusual for Gumtrre i know.lol.

[dollywobbler]

Getting to the stage that even traumatic offers may be considered (note considered, not necessarily accepted!). I was wondering about chucking it into an auction, but I can't see it doing well. Ebay is another possibility but I'm not feeling the Ebay love after the last time.

[Lukas]

The W124 is a very popular car, it´s one of the most sought after "Youngtimer" (That´s how we call car´s between 20 and 30 years of age.) in the german speaking countries. I bet it would be worth about 2000 Euro if it were LHD.

 

A few examples: http://suchen.mobile.de/auto/mercedes-b ... itCountry=

 

Lukas

[Ian Nexus]

They are not an unnoticed modern classic, http://www.w124.co.uk/ Nick Froome has a wealth of knowledge on these.

[Negative Creep]

To jump in with an unrelated and stupid question - do the centre air vents always blow cold? Not that it really matters at the moment, but I can't figure out how to get hot air from them

[dollywobbler]

To jump in with an unrelated and stupid question - do the centre air vents always blow cold? Not that it really matters at the moment, but I can't figure out how to get hot air from them

 

Yes. They're one of the best features. I absolutely HATE it when you can't have heat and fresh air feed at the same time. The Discovery allows me to do this. The Mercedes allows me to do this. The 1991 Honda Civic I had allowed me to do this. From about the 1980s onwards, manufacturers stopped you being able to do it, which means that when you need to demist the windscreen - during rain for instance - you must be uncomfortably warm, or open a window and get wet.

 

You can't make the centre vents pump out hot, but you can shut them off.

[Negative Creep]

To jump in with an unrelated and stupid question - do the centre air vents always blow cold? Not that it really matters at the moment, but I can't figure out how to get hot air from them

 

Yes. They're one of the best features. I absolutely HATE it when you can't have heat and fresh air feed at the same time. The Discovery allows me to do this. The Mercedes allows me to do this. The 1991 Honda Civic I had allowed me to do this. From about the 1980s onwards, manufacturers stopped you being able to do it, which means that when you need to demist the windscreen - during rain for instance - you must be uncomfortably warm, or open a window and get wet.

 

You can't make the centre vents pump out hot, but you can shut them off.

 

 

I hate it since one hand gets warmar than the other! Great car but I must admit that this and the asymmetrical mirrors really bug me

[dollywobbler]

You mean you're not wearing your driving gloves? You'll be telling me you don't wear a cravat next!

[Negative Creep]

You mean you're not wearing your driving gloves? You'll be telling me you don't wear a cravat next!

 

 

No, but I do have a pipe

[forddeliveryboy]

Sad that it still hasn't sold - the alloys and h/lamp wipers as extras would have been more than the asking price. Those are the two finest non-pro pics I've seen of a 124, good angle, lovely light angles and the car looks a peach. Trouble is you've been too honest - many wouldn't have mentioned the less than perfect starting and leaky radiator on something which is worth less than a monkey or donkey, whatever the trade term for 500notes is.

 

Seems that only perfect Tourings make all the money and that diesels will always find a buyer before a petrol, owing to their lard-ingesting abilities. At banger level, the the fuel bills and the road tax are enough to put most off. There's a good reason nobody makes cars to last a lifetime anymore.

 

Crazy that a totally rotten 2cv van will sell for almost as much as you're asking for this autobahn-muncher. Little sense in the world - and I use both 2cvs and 124s as everyday transport. Would you like a DS 23Efi (rotten, but with good bonnet, front wings and mechanicals) as swaps? They're selling for squillions when rebuilt, the glass alone is worth a couple of hundred, I'm told.

[Tetleysmooth]

WTF

 

 

 

 

[dollywobbler]

Ugh. Fifth Gear and their tiresome desire to be just like Top Gear.

 

I probably have been too honest. This is why I could never be a car dealer. I still feel guilty about the stripey BX throttle scenario - if you feel guilty about a £250 car breaking down, there's surely no hope.

[Tetleysmooth]

Ugh. Fifth Gear and their tiresome desire to be just like Top Gear.

 

I probably have been too honest. This is why I could never be a car dealer. I still feel guilty about the stripey BX throttle scenario - if you feel guilty about a £250 car breaking down, there's surely no hope.

 

It did seem a bit Clarkson-ish.

I still like your 300e DW, but massive opposition from Mrs Tetley because she really likes my Grand Voyager.