124 Coupe 300 (C124)

[Smith124]

Hello MB Owners

I've recently upgraded my 124 220Coupe (eight years of happy motoring) to a 300 Coupe (1989). Early model, big grille, 12-valve straight six.

I've sold the "sensible car" and I'm going to give the Merc a year or so as my daily driver (not commuting but regularly doing up to 1k miles a month, which in the past my C124 220 could handle with no trouble).

And I have upgraded online discussion to here

My 300 runs very nicely but of course when a car has been doing 2k miles a year or less, when you start using it regularly "things happen" (headlamp wash-wiper motor blew on a friend's driveway, terrorising his dog and his suede shoes with a constant squirt...interior electrics need going through... indicator cover came loose...).

My own experience with a 124 coupe has been great: nothing matches it for quality of ride, assured handling on cross country drives, comfort and confidence for passengers. The car's looks hit the sweet spot where style is undeniable but cannot be accused of being Flash (Bruno Sacco, we salute you!).

I can find lots of positive things online about these cars, but nothing about the big bills that might be lurking.

Does anyone have tips for pre-emptive checks, or problems that I should plan and prepare myself for?

 

[Blobcat]

Hello and welcome,

Cars are much better off being used than sitting around, they get lonely so bits stop working to get some attention...

 

[Srdl]

Welcome. I can't help with your questions but would love to see some photos!

 

[00slk]

Hello and welcome

 

[A.J.]

Hi and welcome to the forum

 

[Smith124]

Thankyou guys

Pics will be arranged - better clean her and put on the new indicator lens first...

 

[Smith124]

Hello and welcome,

Cars are much better off being used than sitting around, they get lonely so bits stop working to get some attention...

Indeed - attention seeking

 

[Srdl]

Indeed - attention seeking

Cars aren’t called “She” for no reason

 

[Smith124]

At vendor's house.... It all seems to be as it was originally...

 

[Smith124]

At vendor's house.... It all seems to be as it was originally...

Sorry, SHE seems to be as SHE was ...

 

[A.J.]

At vendor's house.... It all seems to be as it was originally...

Is that an H & H Classic Car Action key ring I can see in the fourth pic from the left ?

 

[Smith124]

Not that I know of! TBH the pics were taken by the vendor (I’d like you to know that my house is more charming
I think the car was bought privately by the guy who sold to me, and old-boy owned prior to that.

 

[A.J.]

How long had he had the car ?

 

[Smith124]

How long had he had the car ?

Hi again Andy. Well... your eye is correct - I've located the other key and the fob is just as you say (you knew that...). Presumably it isn't a BAD sign if the car has at one time gone through them? (And I suppose one of the five previous owners may just have put the key on an H&H fob rather than buying from them).

The guy I bought from got the car late last year and sold it on v quickly. He told me why he needed to offload the Merc. I don't know if it's the whole story, but there was a Porsche standing as sculpture in his driveway as corroboration of some of it... From your facial expression above, you probably see the rapid sale as a bit of a warning sign - certainly I did. But there's a huge amount of documentation (which I will examine for evidence of H&H). And mechanical checks seemed to find no problems. I insisted on delivery (100 miles) and she arrived purring, with water and oil exemplary. The proof will be in the driving, I suppose.

 

[A.J.]

Hi again Andy. Well... your eye is correct - I've located the other key and the fob is just as you say (you knew that...). Presumably it isn't a BAD sign if the car has at one time gone through them? (And I suppose one of the five previous owners may just have put the key on an H&H fob rather than buying from them).

The guy I bought from got the car late last year and sold it on v quickly. He told me why he needed to offload the Merc. I don't know if it's the whole story, but there was a Porsche standing as sculpture in his driveway as corroboration of some of it... From your facial expression above, you probably see the rapid sale as a bit of a warning sign - certainly I did. But there's a huge amount of documentation (which I will examine for evidence of H&H). And mechanical checks seemed to find no problems. I insisted on delivery (100 miles) and she arrived purring, with water and oil exemplary. The proof will be in the driving, I suppose.

It is not a derogatory thing that the car has been presented and sold by H.& H., They certainly don't make a habit of putting junk under the hammer. I have seen them sell some magnificent and very expensive cars. The 124 is right up there street so to speak. Just because it has been under the hammer does NOT mean there is something wrong with it. H.& H. also have a reputation to maintain.

I think you have made a great choice, they have always been one of my favorites. Just enjoy

 

[John Laidlaw]

Welcome

 

[sonic]

Welcome nice car.

 

[WDB124066]

I'd imagine rust would be the biggest threat to her in the UK, check front & rear guards around the lips, and the jacking points. Underbody at the rear subframe especially, including the mount locations, and up front at the spring perch.
Maybe change the trans fluid and coolant if there is no evidence of this having been done.
Have a new key barrel standing by for the ignition and at the first sign of a problem GET IT CHANGED.

There are many things that go wrong with 124's, but this looks like a nice one, so I'd be inclined to wait till something shows up and take it from there.

 

[Smith124]

It is not a derogatory thing that the car has been presented and sold by H.& H., They certainly don't make a habit of putting junk under the hammer. I have seen them sell some magnificent and very expensive cars. The 124 is right up there street so to speak. Just because it has been under the hammer does NOT mean there is something wrong with it. H.& H. also have a reputation to maintain.

I think you have made a great choice, they have always been one of my favorites. Just enjoy

Thanks.

I'd imagine rust would be the biggest threat to her in the UK, check front & rear guards around the lips, and the jacking points. Underbody at the rear subframe especially, including the mount locations, and up front at the spring perch.
Maybe change the trans fluid and coolant if there is no evidence of this having been done.
Have a new key barrel standing by for the ignition and at the first sign of a problem GET IT CHANGED.

There are many things that go wrong with 124's, but this looks like a nice one, so I'd be inclined to wait till something shows up and take it from there.

This is clearly sound advice, thankyou. I'll get her up on a ramp at a specialist to go further with rust inspection than I could do crawling about with a torch before purchase! And the ignition barrel. Albert Lock and his astounding elephants graveyard of Mercs must surely have one. Voltage regulator has been ordered. Daughter doesn't like the smell of the velour, which I'm working on with bicarb, etc. (Bicarb goes on the seats as shake-n-vac, not on the daughter, you understand). She christened it by spilling a takeaway hot chocolate (Freudian slop, you might say), but it cleaned out to be spotless so that's almost a good thing.

 

[WDB124066]

Daimler will still have your ignition barrel new, you'll need to show a Dealer that you actually own the car before they will sell you one matched to your current key. Regulator: buy only Genuine otherwise you run the risk of a burnt car, DON'T let anybody tell you otherwise.

For underbody paint use what is used on a steel house roof, start with a100% zinc primer, then a intermediate paint that does not react badly to zinc salts and finally a roof paint. It is far better protection that any powder coating as powder coating cracks, lets in water, rust, swell, cracks. Zinc on steel gives galvanic protection so that a crack [which you will not get but maybe a small stone chip] will not result in rust for some time, sometimes 15 plus years and even then it is muted rust. Roof paint is now like chewing gum it does not chip easily if at all, and it sticks like you wouldn't believe. Get a hold of a commercial roof paint maker that makes paint for steel house roofs and use their system of ALL THREE PAINTS. Acrylic is best except for the zinc primer, as you can water it down until you do not get any brush marks.

Velour was top end of the range of interior materials for the124, it is very hard wearing, yours looks to be in great condition. Get some covers on it again.

I can't think of other stuff on the 124s, but the sunroof needs a lube and keep all drains clean, there should be a drains Daimler sheet on here posted by TV.