124 estates

[benzburner]

can anyone explain to me what it is about the 124 estate that drives everyone bananas?
i have first refusal on my workmate's even though it's a total basket case. i just can't figure out why i want it so much??? it's as if it's chosen me:???:

 

[Hibbo]

Wish I could mate, I've just bought one...

 

[Hanz]

I have spent a bit on repairing mine, but I wouldn't sell her.

I wasn't keen on an estate at first, but it suits my job and I wouldn't have it any other way now! The mondeo estate was bad enough! Sold it as soon as it started problems with the clutch! I think it either needed a new gearbox, or clutch something or other and it was underneath the engine I was told so would be a big job?

Anyway back onto the Merc, there's something about them I do agree.

 

[stumpy]

For me personally, when I was growing up I was lusting after these. I badly wanted my dad to get one, but he got an R129 instead (no bad thing). I think it is the best looking estate car ever produced and comes from an era within Mercedes when cars were made properly. It is relaxing to drive and is image free. By that, I mean, I feel just as happy pulling up outside the Dorchester in it, than the local caff.

Add to that the practical reasons Hanz mentioned. I can fit my drumkit in with room for a couple of groupies, not to mention the tons of rubble it has carried for me this year.

But the thing I like most is beating the system. The whole car cost me less to buy than a service costs on my TVR.

Buy it I tell you.

 

[benzburner]

i too want it to throw my amps and guitars in. though if i were telling the truth, any excuse would do!!

 

[Slaphead]

Ours was bought with big dogs in mind (we have 2 German Shepards) but it's also saved us money on skips by carrying loads to the dump, hauled furniture that no other estate could ever manage, lugged vast qualtities of wine from France (as well as luggage for 4) and has been a much loved and often neglected member of the family. It's a great car and utterly class proof.

 

[turnipsock]

I have one.

So does Brian May from Queen.

 

[Hibbo]

Add to that the practical reasons Hanz mentioned. I can fit my drumkit in with room for a couple of groupies,



Buy it I tell you.

i too want it to throw my amps and guitars in. though if i were telling the truth, any excuse would do!!

So does Brian May from Queen.

Splendid, one of my reasons for getting one was to haul my stuff to gigs, there seems to be a theme with these...

(we just need to get some gigs now) (and learn some songs) (and find a decent bass player) (and guitarist) (and singer) (and drummer)

 

[Hanz]

I'm going to add to my praise.

She's hardly got any rust either, I think it's round the rear arches and the front bumper join they start to go a bit. I've got a few bubbles, but nothing serious.

The fuel economy isn't so bad, I've got the 280, as long as it's driven sensible you get a few miles out. But for when you need the power, it's definatly there. I didn't expect it being an estate, but I can still get those annoying sods in 4x4s and saxos at the lights

Not to mention the 7 seats! Fantastic for taking you friends away, or just travelling as a group (although put the smallest in the rear boot!)

The space as already mentioned is great, it fits so much in!

The ride is comfortable and I think they definatly stand well on the road.

Another reason I brought mine is because of the well known praise, I knew I wanted a Merc, and it seemed right.

If those points aren't enough, you can decorate them well too in tinsel for next Christmas!

 

[benzburner]

She's hardly got any rust either, I think it's round the rear arches and the front bumper join they start to go a bit. I've got a few bubbles, but nothing serious

i don't mean to gloat because with all the ****** taxes and charges, the emerald isle, from the point of view of motoring, can be a cathedral of despair. most decent cars are used uk imports because no one can afford high spec new mercs/ lux brands.
but i must say, i was underneath my trusty '90 200e the other day and being an irish car from new it's nice to see it has absolutely no rust or corrosion whatsoever. it looks like ****** new underneath .
i didn't know how much cars had to deal with over there til i went looking for a new engine and realised most spares in the uk are coming from rusty cars.

 

[turnipsock]

i don't mean to gloat because with all the ****** taxes and charges, the emerald isle, from the point of view of motoring, can be a cathedral of despair. most decent cars are used uk imports because no one can afford high spec new mercs/ lux brands.
but i must say, i was underneath my trusty '90 200e the other day and being an irish car from new it's nice to see it has absolutely no rust or corrosion whatsoever. it looks like ****** new underneath .
i didn't know how much cars had to deal with over there til i went looking for a new engine and realised most spares in the uk are coming from rusty cars.

My 230TE is a lot better underneath than on top. That has reminded me that it's MOT is due on the 10th Jan. The car will be 20 years old. I'll take it in the week sometime, I wonder if it will fail for having to much moss on the non sunny side.

 

[Marco Polo]

The W124 was my first MB - a 1991 300 24 valve estate with top spec. I bought it for £9000 with 132K on the clock in 1998 and sold it with 172K on it. It was terrific and went like stink. Performance was spectacular.
No rust or any bodywork problems but it started to become a little bit unreliable mechanically.
I changed it for the W210 E240, 3 years ago with 63K on the clock, now up to 91K. The E240 doesn't compare - under-powered and a lot less character although still a comfortable motorway cruiser. I easily average 30mpg with a mixture of town and m-way driving but it doesn't have the same character and rust is starting to appear on the rear wing just above the petrol filler door.
Both had 7 seats and bags of room for my 2 Golden Retrievers, and all the other furniture and FMCG's that get carted around - Lovejoy can keep his Volvo.
I am waiting for the W211 to come down to a price that I can afford - thought I'd go for a 320CDI but on the other hand still prefer a large V6 petrol.
My first posting - been reading through all the old threads over Christmas/New Year.
Have a happy one

Clive

 

[angus falconer]

George Fraser the independant specialist once lent me a bog standard 200 that had been to the moon and back. The interrior was falling to bits, the paint was matt white (!), the gearbox has seen better days......but it was still a great drive. It felt so solid and I was so well isolated from the outside world. I loved it.

Hmmm....maybe I can persuade my wife to swap her Clio for one - now we have two kids she says she wants a larger car....

 

[telletubby]

And they go on......and....... on..............and......... on .........and on. Use, abuse whatever...............................;

 

[television]

And they go on......and....... on..............and......... on .........and on. Use, abuse whatever...............................;

Also in your memory once you have had one.

Malcolm

 

[Hibbo]

Also in your memory once you have had one.

Malcolm

Maybe I have done the right thing after all...

 

[mattsurf]

Bought one, sold it after 2 years, bought a passat estate sold it and went back to the mercedes 124 estate. Once you have had one of these cars you will never want to drive an estate by any other manufacturer.

I have owned A nissan primera, 2 VW passats, Volvo 144, Citroen BX, Alfa 156, Rover 75, MGC GT and Porsche 911 carrera - I can honestly say that I rate the Mercedes E280 Estate alongside the 911 as cars everyone should own at least once.

 

[Bigalshakespeare]

I absolutely adore them. The space, the feel, the prestige. I have only replaced parts have have lasted 16 years, cant complain. I have added tons of chrome accessories. Mine certainly gets looks, and my specialist said it has the quitest diesel engine he has ever heard....thats with 202 000 on it!
It will be with me till I or it passes on......so thats me then :-D

 

[lakeside]

I've had my 16-valve 200TE for 4 years now, and it's quite simply the best car I have owned in 37 years of driving. Total comfort, reliability, no rust, easy to service at home, very practical, great long-distance capability, looks great, classy yet class-less. It's also a genuine vehicle in it's own right, (load-bearing roof, self-levelling, vast flat load area etc), not just a saloon car with a shed on the back.
The 200 is often dismissed as underpowered, but that's not the case with the M111 engine. It has the same on-road performance as the much-lauded 300D with the OM606 engine, and is cheaper to buy and insure. I get 32mpg overall. Also, with less weight ahead of the front axle line, it's more agile, with sharper turn-in.
I too use it for gigging, and many of my musician friends also have them. And for the price you can get a good one for nowadays, they are the bargain of all bargains, if chosen carefully.
The only problem is, what do I replace it with when it finally expires?

 

[orbitalegg]

simply because they just keep going i have a 200te with 190,000 on the clock and the engine is still sound i want to get a w210 next but still want to hang on to the 124 . and they look good.