Peter C Posted May 21, 2018 Share Posted May 21, 2018 Woke up this morning, had a little time before I had to leave the house for work, had a quick look at what’s new for sale on Retro Rides and saw an ad for a W124 200E manual, located 15 miles from home. I had no intention of buying a car today but I had to have it! I called the seller and arranged a viewing. Faults: 2 x rusty front wings (TADTS) 1 x rusty rear arch Needs a polish Tracking is out because new track rod end was fitted for MoT Engine has oil leak/s Good points: It’s a W124 200E! 5 speed manual transmission New clutch Brand new MoT Superb MoT history 4 x as new Continental tyres Last owner for 15 years, her husband before that for 4 years Very tidy MB-Tex interior Drives well All electrics work The dealer kindly delivered the car to my house but I managed a pez station shot on route: Plans: Remove front wings, cut away rust and apply plenty of wob. In-situ similar repair for rear arch Clean and polish Service engine Adjust tracking Leave patina and enjoy the car as it is I will update this thread once progress is made. Hopefully these two will become good friends. flogids, SierraMikeHotel, Faker and 43 others 46 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig the Princess Posted May 21, 2018 Share Posted May 21, 2018 That interior looks awesome. Great buy. mercrocker, flogids and Aston Martin 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavcraft Posted May 21, 2018 Share Posted May 21, 2018 Ooh, it's in 'Horrible White' too, well bought. Aston Martin, Junkman and RoadworkUK 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
worldofceri Posted May 21, 2018 Share Posted May 21, 2018 Winning. tooSavvy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supernaut Posted May 21, 2018 Share Posted May 21, 2018 mk2_craig and Nyphur 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted May 21, 2018 Share Posted May 21, 2018 Ace. From personal experience, check the rear subframe mountings. If rot is creeping into the wings, it's probably creeping into other bits. Not that you can grumble at that price! chaseracer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Bell Posted May 21, 2018 Share Posted May 21, 2018 Nice manuel! Blue850 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter C Posted May 21, 2018 Author Share Posted May 21, 2018 Ace. From personal experience, check the rear subframe mountings. If rot is creeping into the wings, it's probably creeping into other bits. Not that you can grumble at that price!I’ve had a look underneath and it’s all solid down there. Oh and I got it for a lot less than the asking price! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayts450 Posted May 21, 2018 Share Posted May 21, 2018 That looks awesome - well bought, sir. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jams Posted May 22, 2018 Share Posted May 22, 2018 Fffffwwwwwaaaarrrrrrr! What a peach! Look at that interior! cpjitservices 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anonymous user Posted May 22, 2018 Share Posted May 22, 2018 That is a really BLUE interior Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bezzabsa Posted May 22, 2018 Share Posted May 22, 2018 Ace. From personal experience, check the rear subframe mountings. If rot is creeping into the wings, it's probably creeping into other bits. Not that you can grumble at that price!I didn't see a price?? am I missing summat??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter C Posted May 22, 2018 Author Share Posted May 22, 2018 I didn't see a price?? am I missing summat???It was up for £1,250 but I got it for less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junkman Posted May 22, 2018 Share Posted May 22, 2018 Plans: Lose every drag race there is to be lost. EFA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aston Martin Posted May 22, 2018 Share Posted May 22, 2018 That interior looks immaculate. cpjitservices and oldcars 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs6C Posted May 22, 2018 Share Posted May 22, 2018 Well bought! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter C Posted May 23, 2018 Author Share Posted May 23, 2018 Whilst I fully intend to professionally* repair the rusty front wings in the near future, in the short term I didn’t want to drive around with a gaping hole in the nearside front arch. Before: 45 seconds later: Instant results, perfect colour match. Do that with your silver car! The tracking was well out, both front wheels were toeing out by a mile. New steering link and track rod end must have been fitted to enable MoT pass but no attempt was made to set up the geometry. I am going to have a fiddle with this after work this afternoon. cpjitservices, oldcars, Supernaut and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lesapandre Posted May 23, 2018 Share Posted May 23, 2018 Rare care in such a basic spec for an import Mercedes. And all the better for it. Looks a lovely old car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter C Posted May 23, 2018 Author Share Posted May 23, 2018 Rare care in such a basic spec for an import Mercedes. And all the better for it. Looks a lovely old car.Import Mercedes? First registered in the UK and certainly appears to be UK spec. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lesapandre Posted May 23, 2018 Share Posted May 23, 2018 Even rarer then. Most 124's seem to be specced up. Great buy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldcars Posted May 23, 2018 Share Posted May 23, 2018 Nice, wing repair is class. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cpjitservices Posted May 23, 2018 Share Posted May 23, 2018 Don't see many of these at all nowadays. Well bought! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter C Posted May 23, 2018 Author Share Posted May 23, 2018 Geometry adjusted, steering wheel is straight, car drives straight and feels stable. That said I will have the geometry properly done when I get a chance. I noticed large amounts of dry mud within the rear wheel arches. With some of the mud removed the offside arch was found to be solid, as was the section that abuts the sill. The same could not be said about the nearside. Two rubber grommets fell into the box section with just a small prod of a screwdriver. Further poking revealed this. I can’t weld but on the basis that the holes are well away from anything structural, it was time to use whatever materials I had to hand. I dismantled a pair of my son’s Pokemon tin boxes and screw fixed the repair panels* in place. Application of copious amounts of waxoil later and we have this. I will coat the rest of both arches once I’ve had a chance to wash off the rest of the mud, ensuring that the repair patches get a few extra coats. Add a few months worth of Buckinghamshire mud and come May 2019 the MoT tester will be none the wiser. theshadow, chodweaver, Uncle Jimmy and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaseracer Posted May 23, 2018 Share Posted May 23, 2018 If rot is creeping into the wings, it's probably creeping into other bits. It certainly was!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richardmorris Posted May 23, 2018 Share Posted May 23, 2018 Happily the main dealers today said mine was solid, suspension bushes deteriorating but metal ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorfolkNWeigh Posted May 23, 2018 Share Posted May 23, 2018 I've always thought 124's work better in low spec, but the fact they were so feckin expensive means someone chose this hair shirt, plastic seated, manual, non aircon beauty over something like a fully loaded 2.9 Granada or 2.7 Rover. Discerning man or lady, or least one not in a hurry. Lacquer Peel 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter C Posted May 23, 2018 Author Share Posted May 23, 2018 I've always thought 124's work better in low spec, but the fact they were so feckin expensive means someone chose this hair shirt, plastic seated, manual, non aircon beauty over something like a fully loaded 2.9 Granada or 2.7 Rover. Discerning man or lady, or least one not in a hurry.The spec is low but not complete poverty. It has: Electric front windows.Electric sunroof.MB-Tex upholstery. Actually, that’s about it. Keep fit rear windows, no rear headrests, boggo spec engine and transmission.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayts450 Posted May 23, 2018 Share Posted May 23, 2018 Geometry adjusted, steering wheel is straight, car drives straight and feels stable. That said I will have the geometry properly done when I get a chance. I noticed large amounts of dry mud within the rear wheel arches. With some of the mud removed the offside arch was found to be solid, as was the section that abuts the sill. B0E7991F-EE4F-4140-B35C-BDF498844983.jpeg The same could not be said about the nearside. Two rubber grommets fell into the box section with just a small prod of a screwdriver. Further poking revealed this. EF80CC17-B186-48EB-8F21-C74F7A8A1BBA.jpeg I can’t weld but on the basis that the holes are well away from anything structural, it was time to use whatever materials I had to hand. I dismantled a pair of my son’s Pokemon tin boxes and screw fixed the repair panels* in place. 1A1305D6-7CB0-4034-BB14-3FDDCED87563.jpeg Application of copious amounts of waxoil later and we have this. AD869FB0-7761-4AB7-9232-5F5F17AE57D9.jpeg I will coat the rest of both arches once I’ve had a chance to wash off the rest of the mud, ensuring that the repair patches get a few extra coats. Add a few months worth of Buckinghamshire mud and come May 2019 the MoT tester will be none the wiser. Top bodge on the wheel arch, well impressed with that binhoker668 and flogids 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter C Posted May 23, 2018 Author Share Posted May 23, 2018 It certainly was!! Aside from this grot that was concealed by an inch of mud, from what I’ve seen of the underside it’s actually not bad at all. I guess more prodding will tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter C Posted May 23, 2018 Author Share Posted May 23, 2018 According to a copy of Autocar magazine dating back to 1991, a pre-options W124 200E retailed at £19,020 whilst Ford wanted £19,435 for a Granada 2.9i Ghia. Take your pick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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