Mercedes Estate

[kallinl]

Hello,
I am looking for an estate, to replace my volvo that I have fallen out of love with. I am a little bit confused about which model to go for . Im buying on a budget so looking for something that will last well .

I did like the 230TE but have since been warned off them?Large boot space important, im an antique dealer. Any suggestions most welcome.

 

[Jonno]

What has put you off?
Am on second one and would recomend a W124 to anyone -space,grace and built like an outhouse.
Don't worry about rust - as long as it has a history

Loads on ebay

 

[kallinl]

Apparently they tend to have problems with their head gaskets and oil leaks?

 

[Ade]

I agree with Jonno.

I've Got 230TE and it beats a Volvo hands down. Nearly bought a 940 Estate. Really glad I didn't.

Go for a good 124 230TE and you'll never want another estate

 

[Spike]

Apparently they tend to have problems with their head gaskets and oil leaks?

Head gaskets are a bit of an achilles heel - but only every 150k or so. Just check the history to see if its been done yet.

Oil leeks tend to be caused by the very same head gasket. Often they seep slowly for years before any remedial work needs doing.

Dont be put off, W124's are amongst the very best of the best in terms of durability.

 

[Badshot1uk]

As above with bells on but maybee were biased!

I paid three grand four years ago and other than an alternator and a backbox its been faultless, go for it but buy one with a decent history and you wont get burnt.

good luck

Paul

 

[Ade]

Paul

Note you live in Orpington, not far from me in Dartford.

Can you recommend a good indy to me in the area?

Maybe we are biased but the 124 Estate is one of the best cars I've owned and you sound like yours is the same, relatively trouble free.

Ade

 

[AlanWT]

I would echo all the above. Spacious, comfortable car with brilliant ride and handling and a huge 'feelgood factor'. I've got a 230TE, and while it's no flying machine performance is quite adequate. And if you'd prefer something a bit quicker, the six cylinder cars are fantastic. Mine cost someone nearly twenty eight grand twelve years ago: I got it for less than a twentieth of that, and it still does everything just as well as when it was new.

I would suggest having an independent MB specialist (either local to you or local to where the car is for sale) carry out a pre-purchase inspection of a car you think you would like to buy. This will cost you in the order of £100, but would provide reassurance that potentially expensive things (self-levelling rear suspension and auto 'box for example) are OK.

 

[kallinl]

Thank you all for your suggestions. Going to look at a couple this weekend. Please keep the advice coming.

 

[Ade]

Good luck, the only advice I can offer is 'you gotta be quick'. I found that every time I responded to an ad they'd been sold. I only got mine (1991 230TE ) 'cos the previous owner had the courtesy to call me back (using 1471!) to say a potential purchaser (who sounded like they'd already made the deal!) wouldn't be viewing because of a horrendous traffic jam in the area on the day I phoned. Needless to say I sat in over 2 hours of this Jam on a journey that would normally take about 20 minutes. Suffice to say the time wasn't wasted and I was one Very Lucky Bunny. I took about .003 seconds to decide I was gonna buy it upon seeing it in the guy's driveway, subject to a bit of prodding and poking about, tyre kicking and a test drive. The guy had looked after her well and wasn't afraid to spend the dosh keeping her up to scratch. She's certainly a looker and generally performs as you'd expect for a car that cost around £30k (in today's money) for which I paid £3.5K for.

You'll know a good one when you see one. However it would be prudent to follow AlanWT's advice to reduce the chance of buying a lemon and I would definitely have it HPI checked.

 

[OlafMaxwell]

W124TE seems a great motor. Anyone i know with one speaks well of it, no troubles. Head gasket is an ok job, not the end of the world and anyway happens on most cars eventually. Just keep an eye out for it. If it looks good its worth going for. It willb e much mroe reliable than newer models and a good independent garage will keep you smiling.

 

[David McConnell]

I would agree with all the above. I bought my first Mercedes estate six weeks ago, a 1988 300TE, for under a grand (auto, 152,000 miles, lots of service history, 7 seater). Its 3.0 litre engine means its very quick when foot down, sedate and wafty when pushed gently. Fantastic to drive, looks beautiful, absolutely chuffed with the car (and so glad I didn't buy a Volvo, which I had occasionally considered!)

Definately would agree about moving quickly if you see an advert. Every time I rang the car would be gone, even down at my price range, until struck lucky one Saturday afternoon when on off-chance checked Auto Trader on-line and new ad had appeared, rang, car still there, bundled kids into car, saw it, drove it, bought it. Since had it checked over by very reputable indepedent garage who could find nothing wrong with it. Everything works, except air vents, which blow hot or cold regardless of setting but I understand this is easily fixed.

Touch wood, I think I was lucky. Reading this thread and others however I'm curious (and a little nervous!) about head gasket ("achilles heel", "goes every 150,000 miles"). Since mine has just done 150,000 and I've no bills to suggest it has been fixed/replaced, how do you tell if it is going, or about to go - are there signs? And what are likely repair bills (independent garage, obviously)? I've never owned a car with this high mileage (although pretty relaxed about it given W124 reputation), and on the technical / mechanical side of things I haven't a clue...

 

[squealinneil]

230TE - W123 or W124?

I'm looking at the idea of getting a 230TE, but a W123. I prefer the look & have had good luck with a couple of '83 230Es I've owned. Can anybody offer any thoughts on this model, maybe in comparison to the W124 230TE?

 

[oggers]

Re purchase of W123TE, I have the 280TE and owned a couple of saloon W123s previously. My current nail - for tis 20 years old and all cars regardless of badge succomb to the ravages of time - has very good bodywork and the interior is pretty straight. In retrospect I would go for a later W124. My 123's self levelling suspension is u/s and is no easy fix -a common problen brought on by rust and possible seizure of the valve. The automatic warm up devices are playing up - again no easy fix, and a few things such as radio/elec arial/noisy tappet need attention, but probably not much I can do with the latter. All this said. the engine does go well when warmed through, it is truly cavernous, and most other bits that tend to fall off are easily repairable - providing you can find spares.

I suspect you will be very lucky indeed to find a fully functional W123 estate which requires little or no attention. The old saying of buying the best you can afford basically holds true and I would recommend owners clubs and the like to find a suitable 123 if you insist. Plenty of 124s about and given the prices of second hand cars these are the better buy in the longer term. Well maintained car would be my main priority.

 

[andy_k]

I too would go for a W124, not as pretty as a W123 but in my opinion a much better car, they just feel so much more solid. Another bonus with the W124 engines is that they will almost all have a duplex timing chain (as opposed to the simplex onces fitted to the 230 W123s) so they are much less likely to self destruct

Head gaskets seem to be less of a problem on the 230 engines - it's the six cylinder ones that are known to fail (well as far as I know). If ours is anything to go by it's done 220k without a problem on the head

Things to watch out for on W124 estates are the aforementioned self levelling system, all electrics working and either a good history or an enthusuiast opwner who has done any maintainance work themselves

HTH

Andy

 

[squealinneil]

280TE - W123 vs W124

Thanks to everyone for their advice on the W123/124 question. I'm letting my heart rule my head at the mo & have found a W123 280TE which is in good general condition. It might be leaking from the pump for the self levelling suspension. The seals have just been replaced & the garage said to observe it for leaks for a couple of weeks. Does anyone know if this is a big/expensive problem to rectify? How much should I try to knock off the asking price? Is it the kind of thing that would make you walk away? Any views most welcome (apart from landrover's).

 

[AlanWT]

Personally I would look at it, admire it, sit in it, maybe even drive it. Then walk away. You may be made of sterner stuff and/or have a deeper wallet than I, but you are talking about a twenty-something year old car on which one of the most expensive systems may be on the brink of failure. I have driven W123 estates and currently own a W124 230TE, and the W124 is immeasurably superior. It feels like a contemporary car, rather than an old banger.

If you are looking for day-to-day reliable transport rather than a classic, my opinion would be to find a W124 and have an 'independent'give it the once over.

Alan

 

[Ade]

Squealin

I agree with Alan, the 124 is certainly more contemporary and still has a sharp, class look about it. My 124 has been a bitch of late but touch wood (ouch, just poked myself in the eye!) she's running great at the moment.

All the problems I've had have generally turned out to cost little (both in time, effort and cold hard cash to rectify) with great support from this forum and in the time I've had her have spent the least amount of money compared to other cars I've owned.

I Keep toying with the idea of getting a later E Class model but there's something about my 124 that keeps us together, mainly the build quality that, from what I can gather on this forum, the later models just don't have.

Let us know what you decide but whatever you'll get plenty of support on this forum.

Ade

 

[andy_k]

I'll just echo what I said earlier in the trhead, the 124 is a much much more refined car with better handling and levels of comfort (loads more gadgets too )

We were looking at upgrading our car this year but after looking around found nothing we really liked, the later 124s don't appeal with their plastic side panels, the later E classes with round headlights just aren't to our taste and we can't justify the cost of a brand new one so it looks like we'll be sticking with our old girl for a little longer yet - 220k miles and just run in nicely

Andy