Advice please on an E200

[mercedes328]

Hi from a newbie. We are thinking of buying an M reg E200, with 147k on it, and FMBSH, 12 months mot.

Priced privately at 1495 but would expect to get it for less.

Anything we should be aware/wary of/look out for?

Bodywork and interior are mint

Many thanks

Keith

 

[BlackC55]

Rust and rust

 

[verytalldave]

As its "mint" I would guess rust should not pose a problem. With a car of this age I would definately get it properly checked over by a qualified mechanic. The AA or RAC? And check that all bells and whistles work as they should. Even a faulty window or two can put you out of pocket by several hundred pounds. A dodgy gearbox even more - alot more. As its a private sale, you wont get ANY guarantee at all. Once you have driven it away, its your responsibility. Be VERY sure of what you are buying before handing over any hard earned. You dont want to be saddled with a stack of bills waiting to happen. And dont be distracted by a polished body or a well valeted interior - and dont let your heart rule your head - and fingers crossed, you might be lucky.

 

[alexspurs61]

The FMBSH is great, but I'd want detail, not just stamps in the book.
If you can see the actual invoices, superb. Apart from indicating useful and comforting 'anorak' behaviour in the previous owner(s) you can check that things like the transmission fluid has been changed, any suspension work carried out, etc. This all contributes to a good 'gut' feeling about the care taken.

My E200 (s210) is only a year younger; what swung it for me was the dirty great file of invoices at correct intervals.

Good luck

 

[joem]

An M Reg E200 will be a W124 won't it? One of these with no rust now has more than likely been well looked after and the FMBSH would back this up.

If it is as good as it looks, you will probably never need another car.

Look at www.w124.co.uk for more info on these great machines.

 

[mercedes328]

Update

Thanks for all your help people.

Sheaf of invoices covering everything seemingly possible, all in a ring binder, in date order! Plus all the original sales brochures!

Maximum MBSH service interval over the 147k travelled has been 9k!

They even went to the trouble of matching the "wood effect" of the hifi with the dash!

Paid £1400 for it today and can't find a blemish - presumably garaged for most of its life. Rust trap areas around wheel arches seem to have been fastidiously cleaned as there's little dirt in the wrap arounds.

It's got air con, power lumbar and power side adjust, heated, drivers seat, remote central locking, global closing, unused original med kit, 4 new eagles, 12 months mot, etc etc

Drives like a dream, unflickering oil pressure, spotless inside and out, and I intend to try and learn some of the cars history.

Maybe I should be doing the lottery tonight!

Interestingly, it's got no glove box, which seems strange, but presumably that's because it's got a passenger air bag (?)

The Merc replaces a much loved V40 which amazingly was written off by Insurers following a minor accident as being uneconomical to repair. I hadn't realised that a repair of as low as 60% of the cars value could end it's career.
Having said that the Insce Company offered us what we paid for it 7 months ago so we can't complain and we now have a 124 to play with instead!

Had a 126 some years ago and I confess I'd forgotten until today how nice it was to drive behind the star!

Thanks again guys for your advice

Keith

 

[Bolide]

On the face of it £1495 is too much money but a really decent W124 is worth that and more. There's a huge gulf between average/doggy cars and nice examples and this proves that decent examples are still out there

I had an email from someone today asking what you can replace a W124 estate with... a question with no real answer. What is there that's as good?

Just make sure you insure it with a company that values it properly. That may mean a classic policy. It may be cheaper as well

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[joem]

There's your answer above. Nick Froome IS w124.co.uk. I have found no better authority.

Interesting though Nick that you consider £1495 a bit too much money when you consider what you get for your estate 'finds'. But then as you say, a good one is worth that and more. An E200 saloon books at about £795 on this age and miles in good condition with no leather or auto but as I said earlier, you may never need another car. W124 rocks. Find a good one. Live forever.

Interestingly, I found a 2001 Y reg W124 here http://www.avantgardecars.co.uk/View.asp?ID=166

Must be the last reg'd. 45k and an E220 but £5950 as a manual with aircon.

Tempting.

 

[Bolide]

Don't misunderstand me - I think a good W124 is worth good money

The book figure may be £795 but you find some "Dr Who" W124s that appear to have come from another dimension and are worth more than most modern cars. Those cars are worth seeking out and worth cherishing because we won't see their like again

If "mercedes328" has found one of those then good on him - I trust he'll look after it well

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[joem]

Nick,

I agree with every word. What do you make of the 2001Y reg w124 in my link? Good value? at £5950.

I'm pleased for mercedes328, I think he may have found one of the time warp (Dr. Who) cars and I think I may be jealous.

 

[mercedes328]

Thanks guys.

Hopefully we do have a Dr Who time warp machine on our hands because it looks and drives as though straight out of the box.

In the space of 48 hrs this merc has become something of an enigma to us and we are looking to track down it's history. The inside and outside are genuinely mint, I've had grubbier brand new cars, and it doesn't seem possible that it's a 12/94 reg!

The previous owner "bought it as a run around" in April for £1800 when he lost his job and company car, and really loves (not) his new (company) Vectra!

It might have been over "book price" then and now but no doubt we'd pay £1400 in finance on a non-descript crxxp wagon in the space of a few months.

Keep going out looking for pools of oil on the drive, or seeing the body ripple in the moonlight, but instead it feels as though we have a new member of tha family (which is daft - it's only a car!)

Do Mercs have this affect???!!

Keith

 

[joem]

Good on you Mercedes328. Yes, Mercedes can have this effect. I have a W202 which I am passionate about and a Saab which everyone else thinks is the better car!! The Saab is great but have you seen that Toyota advert - that relaxation actually happens when you get in to a good Mercedes.

Sounds like you have got a great car at good money - forget book price, it does not apply with the W124. You know you are driving a Rolls quality car at Vauxhall Nova money. Find a good local service garage and look after it. You really may find you never need another car...