Calling W124 Experts

ceverritt

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Really hoping for some expert advice from anyone who is a w124 expert ! I want to buy a 3 litre W124 saloon and originally wanted to buy an E320 -I have now located a 300e 24 valve which has covered only 39,000 and I am seriously interested ! does anyone have views on the 300 engine as apposed to 320.
 

jibcl500

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Head gasket failure on the 300-24 was common so be warned at that mileage the gasket could be the original.

Other than that great car and great engine, the earlier W124 are far better than the facelift w124's.

jib
 
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ceverritt

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thanks so much brian do you think that being non cat is an advantage ? and are later W124s any more refined as a model than the early versions.
 
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ceverritt

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thanks you very much jib for this advice on the head gasket issue - I am also very pleased to hear that you tihnk the non facelift verion of w124 is a better car .
 

jibcl500

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I had a 1988 230TE and with my eyes closed (not often) the drive could have been the CL500, she died a horrible death and was replaced by a 1995 220TE which is ****!!! could be a frod modneo.
For the best W124 it has to have the big grill.

jib
 

Alex Crow

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from the workshop side of things i would suggest you avoid the 300-24. the later 280 and 320 hfm variants were much better to work on and diagnose with many engine management refinements - the ke-jetronic on the 300-24 is an absolute swine to troubleshoot with one-off expensive parts and no meaningful self diagnosis to speak of. also dist cap and arm @ about £200! plus that head oil leak.

later 280 and 320 motors did suffer wiring decay, ignition coil trouble and occasional maf failure but are easier to work with and nicer to drive - the 280 would beat the 300 easy!

just my opinions, but i hate that ke-jetronic and DI ignition sooooo much.
 

type49

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280, 300-24 & 320 all basically the same engine (104), as AlexP says, different injection. All suffer the same headgasket leak. 300-24 revs freely & higher than the 280/320. Agreed, can be more difficult to diagnose but dont recall them suffering from loom problems like the later 280/320.
Basic engine figures..
300-24 220bhp 195 ft/lb torque
280 195bhp 199ft/lb
320 218bhp 229ft/lb
 

kth286

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In terms of driveability on these crowded UK roads, torque is important and the 320 is far better.
I went through same proceedure, when sourcing my one and only 124, and chose the 320 in the end, as it offered two air bags, better interior look with the biscuit leather, and that relaxing unstressed powerful feel when driving.

My late 95 model has the lower cladding in body colour, and total look of the car is modern.

Also, as previous poster, the diagnostics are a doddle for a DIY person, once the various books/info have been collected.

Mine is for the long haul and it's on 168000 miles and coming up to 7 years since buying the car with 119800 miles on the clock.

I am third owner and it had done 70000 miles in first 3 years as a company exec car.
 

Dogman

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:confused: "early 124's are better than late 124's" How so? I've read this a few times on the forum. Surley any 124 is a great car, and logically the last of the run cars should have evolved to be the best examples in terms of gadgets, and because they are younger their bodies should be in better shape?
I speak as the owner of a very late model E220;)
 

simon_wall69

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Apart from the looks, I can only tell the difference with the ride - I think the older ones have a better ride. Weight of engines perhaps? I don't really know what changed, though.
 

jibcl500

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I remember driving down a very dumpy road in the fens in my 88 TE and the drive was so relaxing that I missed the turn I want by about 3 miles, the same road in my 220TE 93 is not the same, I can only assume the bean counters got involved in the facelift W124.

The other thing I recall is the 88 TE did handle on the twisty stuff and very well too, the 93 220 TE doesnt, I can also recall a time when the 88 TE had 660kg in the boot and it took it rather well the 220TE doesnt like more than 300kg

jib
 
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Alex Crow

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i think those rose tinted spectacles are informing some of our member's opinions. :)
 

teddycatkin

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Really hoping for some expert advice from anyone who is a w124 expert ! I want to buy a 3 litre W124 saloon and originally wanted to buy an E320 -I have now located a 300e 24 valve which has covered only 39,000 and I am seriously interested ! does anyone have views on the 300 engine as apposed to 320.

Try looking on Ebay--124 Brabus 360TE previously owned by an ex racing driver?:lol::lol::lol:
 

robparker

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Now that is surely that "3.6" just a standard 103 / 300 engine with a painted rocker cover! it looks totally standard!
I dont know what the talk of the facelift 124's being worse made than the early ones is about, most componants are the same, the engines are all updated of course, the 16v 4-cylinder is a little harsher, but slightly better MPG and power, but the build quality of the rest is the same, some cars will have worn better than others depending on the life they have led
 
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