W…sorry S124 230TE

[jmsguzzi]

Didn’t do a live collection thread due to needing to preserve phone battery and also because I couldn’t be arsed.

Always promised myself a W124/W201 so when @HMC stuck one up for a megabarg price it was a no brainer despite being at the opposite end of the country.

First point of call, flight from Newcastle to Exeter, took no time at all:

 

Here I am looking small on the transporter bridge circa 2005 with my Dads base spec 190E. Left a big impression.

HMC was ace, picked me up from the airport and fitted a new aux belt as a precaution, top shiter, would deffo buy more ruinous auld mercs from him.

Car acquired, tank brimmed, pleasantly surprised/relived that it wasn’t a complete nail. 

 

Car decided to have a little coolant wee at my first service stop to scare me, luckily it had just been overfilled a tad.

As lovely* as it would’ve been to drive 7 hours home, I decided to stop overnight in the midlands so I could visit the British Motor Museum.

Museum was brilliant, managed to spend all day there, so much to see:

SD1 Estate

Pretty little Mini based MG sports car

Merc was good on the motorway, better than my “modern” CLK. Bit of play in the steering which is something I’ll take a look at but other than that very solid indeed. Headrests like pillows.

Not sure what kind of new life form is developing here, think I’ve got some cream carpet off-cuts at home if this is beyond saving.

Reserve light came on just as I arrived in Sunderland, decided to fill it up at my local which just so happened to have this gorgeous 450SEL hogging the E5.

All in all very happy with it, needs a good clean but think it’ll come up well, exterior and interior are both in good nick under the grime, need to source a couple of wings though. 

Mechanically there’s a few bits and pieces that could do with a refresh, just the usual high mileage stuff though, it drives a lot better than I was expecting for the price.

I’ll try and keep this thread updated if I remember!

[RichardK]

That carpet's easy to clean, unless the lifeforms are holding onto the console underneath...

[Broadsword]

Wonderful looking Merc. Well bought!!

[warren t claim]

Very impressed! Same colour combo as my much missed W124.

[GrumpiusMaximus]

Nice - envious of the big Merc estate.

You also found the SD1 Estate.  I think there were three made and one of them ended up at the Hayne's Motor Museum but maybe it's migrated.  One of my favourite failed designs...

[Back_For_More]

It does look bargainous.....  clocked up the miles no trouble too. Gotta be happy. 

I noticed the Cottage.... That's Boldon way isn't it? I'm ex Roker/Seaburn myself. 

[jmsguzzi]

39 minutes ago, Back_For_More said:

It does look bargainous.....  clocked up the miles no trouble too. Gotta be happy. 

I noticed the Cottage.... That's Boldon way isn't it? I'm ex Roker/Seaburn myself. 

Aye Cleadon, so not far from Boldon, I’m in Seaburn Dene.

[jmsguzzi]

Gave it a quick going over with some car shampoo and a mit, think it’s come up well, couple of wings and a wheel refurb should have it looking a million dollars…. atleast two and a half grand.

I’ve a question for any Merc lickers on here, may post in ask a shiter, managed to track down a couple of wings locally but they’re from an early W124 without the Sacco panels, is it easy to attach the Sacco panels to these early wings or does it take some modification?

 

[B4lljoints]

As far as I know the holes for the clips on the sacco/non sacco wings are the same. Just check to see if they have side repeater holes though. I think some really early cars had no repeaters.

Epic collection thread! 😎 

[HMC]

Looks fantastic, great to see it’s getting some love. love the colour combo and the mb tex to my eyes is a big plus as some cloth interiors on these can age badly. Light coloured facelift cloth upholstery can end up pretty hanging.

[Macscrooge]

Well bought and extra marks for the bonus 450!  Crumbly front wings seem to be pretty standard on these - as indeed does some carpet mould. My ‘95 E200 wagon suffered both and it’s been away nearly 10 years now.  I have a load of spare beige carpet that’s going in a skip next week unless you want me to keep a bit. 

[jmsguzzi]

On 8/5/2022 at 5:24 PM, Macscrooge said:

Well bought and extra marks for the bonus 450!  Crumbly front wings seem to be pretty standard on these - as indeed does some carpet mould. My ‘95 E200 wagon suffered both and it’s been away nearly 10 years now.  I have a load of spare beige carpet that’s going in a skip next week unless you want me to keep a bit. 

I think we also have some cream off cut if needs be, thanks anyway though! 

[jmsguzzi]

Thought I’d check the tyre pressures today….

offside front 68psi WTF!

offside rear 22…

Nearsides were ok but still not right.

I drove 400 miles home like that, needless to say it drives a lot better now.

[jmsguzzi]

Interior has come up amazingly well on this auld bus, nowt dodgy found under the seats, just a crudely drawn pikachu, very 90s.

what better way to celebrate than to go dogging/kidnap some blokes/give free rides around the pub car park.

 

[Ghosty]

Looks great that. We almost ended up with a light blue S124 when my dad was in management roles in the early 2000s, but instead we ended up with a weirdly specced 190E - 1.8 but with the eight hole wheels and Smoke Silver paint - and the ultra rare brown interior. I loved it, but I don't remember how it drove.  
I ponder getting a Merc of my own sometimes, but I've had a ride in a W124 and it really didn't bother me. 

They also remind me strangely of Volvo 740s in terms of dynamics and build, as well as interior styling. 

[jmsguzzi]

31 minutes ago, Ghosty said:

Looks great that. We almost ended up with a light blue S124 when my dad was in management roles in the early 2000s, but instead we ended up with a weirdly specced 190E - 1.8 but with the eight hole wheels and Smoke Silver paint - and the ultra rare brown interior. I loved it, but I don't remember how it drove.  
I ponder getting a Merc of my own sometimes, but I've had a ride in a W124 and it really didn't bother me. 

They also remind me strangely of Volvo 740s in terms of dynamics and build, as well as interior styling. 

Our 1.8 190E lit had no options on it whatsoever, the alloys were a later addition. Mercedes had decided to give everyone a drivers airbag and a manual slide sunroof by this point atleast. Even on one that basic you could still tell it was quality.

Judgements still out on whether I’m going to bond with this S124, definitely has some niggles that need sorting before I can really enjoy driving it.

[Ghosty]

7 minutes ago, jmsguzzi said:

Our 1.8 190E lit had no options on it whatsoever, the alloys were a later addition. Mercedes had decided to give everyone a drivers airbag and a manual slide sunroof by this point atleast. Even on one that basic you could still tell it was quality.

Oh yes, it was a solid thing. Ours had an autobox, electric mirrors, front windows, and electric sunroof, as well as the spendy 15" wheels. It was a J plate and just managed to dodge the airbag wheel. 

Dad had it for five years then it started showing signs of early onset HGF so PXd it for a Prelude. It knocked about for a couple of years and got run into the ground. 

[Nullzwei]

If it is just the usual Mercedes front wing leading edge rust bleb/ hole then repairing the wing is also an option, especially if they are the original panels made of thick metal.  Bumper off, take the arch liner out, metal patch behind hole, weld it in slowly to avoid distortion , skim of filler etc etc.

Lovely car.

[fatharris]

What a lovely, lovely car. In good hands too, thankfully!

[LoftyvRS]

Front wings are still readily available from Mercedes at about £190 per side, if you wanted to go down the complete replacement route. It's worth having a good dig about under there to see how the front bumper brackets are, as well as the inner wing under the screenwasher bottle, also common 124 areas.

Arch liners are also available from Mercedes, collected two for mine just this week.

[jmsguzzi]

41 minutes ago, Nullzwei said:

If it is just the usual Mercedes front wing leading edge rust bleb/ hole then repairing the wing is also an option, especially if they are the original panels made of thick metal.  Bumper off, take the arch liner out, metal patch behind hole, weld it in slowly to avoid distortion , skim of filler etc etc.

Lovely car.

I've got a couple of wings for it, in the wrong colour with a few shallow dents but they're a lot more solid. Will take it to my bodywork blokey and see which option he thinks is best.

[jmsguzzi]

Still looking for a set of these 15” alloys if anyone can assist. There’s loads for sale online but typically they’re all miles away.

[jmsguzzi]

Managed to pick up a few bits off a local breaker today, including those wheels I was looking for, don’t mind the 8 holes that are on it atm but in my mind an 80s designed Merc should always have these 15 holes.

 

Had a quick photo shoot with it the other day, really like this one….

[Six-cylinder]

I still like 8 holes better than 15 hole, but not the wheels on our 200TE. I believe they were from a C class? 

[jmsguzzi]

13 minutes ago, Six-cylinder said:

I still like 8 holes better than 15 hole, but not the wheels on our 200TE. I believe they were from a C class? 

I think those looks quite smart, could be wrong but think they’re from the next gen E Class, the one with the horrible circular headlights.

[MJK 24]

Are your 15 hole wheels definitely from a 124 and not a 190?

The faces are identical but the offset is different.  Ask me how I know….

[jmsguzzi]

11 minutes ago, MJK 24 said:

Are your 15 hole wheels definitely from a 124 and not a 190?

The faces are identical but the offset is different.  Ask me how I know….

Came off a 124 Coupe so hopefully! 

[Turbowomble]

3 hours ago, jmsguzzi said:

Dat’s real purdy

Funny you mention the wheels, these 8-hole ‘phone dial’ wheels are some of my favourite Mercedes alloy designs; they’d be my ideal wheel for a R129, if ever one manages to grace my garage.