Help me decide W202 or W124?

[cjcor]

Having just sold a 2001, C240 Avantgarde W203 (decided that the depreciation was too much of a price to pay), I am thinking of downgrading to a W202 or a W124.

I don't do too many miles, so fuel consumption is not really an issue. I like my cars to shift, so the 4 cylinders are out.

I am thinking of going for a 100k+ car produced between 93-96. A couple of questions:

1. I thought of settling for the 2800 engine. Is this engine good for 200k if looked after? Are there any known issues? Are there any particular sounds and like that one should listen for?

2. How is the gearbox? I have read on a couple of cars, gearboxes pack up between 130-150k. Is this widespread?

3. Are the two cars really comparable for driving pleasure? My background I am not that hung up on comfort.

4. Is it realistic to budget for £2000 for the kind of car I am looking for?

Thanks in advance

 

[willoughbybrown]

W124 vs W202

I have just sold my 173k E200 (facelifted '93 L plate). The engine and gearbox were fine and I regularly got 32 - 35 mpg on a long run despite its size. The bumpers were a little fragile (I discovered this when a careless b*****d clipped my car and drove off). Everything else was built to last, especially the interior which looked quite fresh.

I then bought a 125k C200 esprit ('97 R plate). The interior is looking worse than the E200 (the steering wheel especially). The bumpers are more resilient and have staved off the worst of London drivers. However the gearbox has just developed a problem (stuck in reverse) and has been rebuilt as a result (£700 inc clutch). The dashboard does not look as much of a quality item as in the W124.

One last point. The W124 has a security weak spot - the rear quarter glass in the rear passenger doors. An alarm and flashing LED to prove it are essential. Also these cars are specifically targeted by Nigerian and Eastern European gangs who ship them back there (the Met sent a warning letter to all owners of W124s in London).

£2k will get you a lowish mileage M plate E280 (70 - 100K) with air con, leather etc and FSH from a private sale. (Ebay almost always has one on at reasonable prices). Conversely a C280 sport will be a little more (£2.5k - £3k)on a M plate and probably will not have as much kit (and may now have been given the CHAV treatment)

I enjoyed the E class but was a little too big for me (no kids yet!) but the same engine in the C class was quite impressive due to the smaller weight. I would be tempted back to a W124 as the replacement E class (W210) rusts like nothing else I know, possibly a coupe though.

I am not an expert as I have only been a MB owner for a year (having owned an old Porsche and a couple of BMW's) but have been relatively impressed so far.

 

[willoughbybrown]

E280

Check out this car on Ebay - well within your budget.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4568809869&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

 

[squealinneil]

Consider a late W201 190E 2.6.

Great cars.

 

[johnmc]

Take the W124

The W124 is a well built traditional Merc. Forget the W202, it has many of the issues that the W210 has. Enjoy it!

John

 

[turnipsock]

W124 without a doubt.

I wouldn't even consider the W201 even though it is 78 better...alegidly.

 

[heckflosse]

From somebody who's owned both a W124 and W202 go for the W124, far better car. However a nice W123 coupe may be worth a look.

 

[rob hamill]

get yourself a 124 3 litre coupe... enough said really.

 

[Myros]

I like our W202

It's been pretty well-behaved since we got it and goes like stink, but then it is the 280. I don't seem to have a monday or friday one judging by everyone else's opinion.

 

[andy_k]

buy a W124, the bigger the engine the better - I've become a great fan of the 320 lump over the past few months it's quick, refined and doesn't drink fuel too fast

200k miles is nothing to any of the W124s unless they have been abused.

Would I buy a W202 - nope, quite simply they just ain't as good as W124s but then again, not much is

Andy

 

[mazza190]

124 has to be the choice

Gonna have to agree with Rob Hamill, Get the 3litre unit its got enough HP and develops good torque (192lb/ft@4000rpm) and these engines are hard B******s.
This is why an aftermarket turbo company choose this model for their turbo conversions, and you wont have problems with the handling..

check out mosselman turbos

 

[flagstaff]

Check out this car on Ebay - well within your budget.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4568809869&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

AMAZING!! the car you picture is the very one i bought off ebay and now own!

which brings us to the one great caveat when thinking of a 6-cylinder W124 with 24 valves: CHECK THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAS BEEN REPLACED!!!

if you see my other posts recently, you will see why i issue the warning...

head gaskets aside, the e280 is a really excellent drive. this one in particular had been well looked after - it's just a pity that the most recent owner decided to be a total pikey and sell without warning the prospective purchaser of the head gasket leak. in my case i was lucky, as the symtoms were not well-established (minor oil in coolant) and the head, consequently, had not warped through overheating ... but you may not be so lucky. take someone qualified with you to check out cars you like, paying particular attention to the signs of head gasket failure.

the other potentially expensive thing to go wrong with the '90s cars is that the engine wiring loom fails. this has been covered on the forum.

ideally, you would come across a cheapish car in excellent nick ... with receipts to show that the head and loom had been done. i hope you have that good fortune; happy hunting!

 

[jberks]

Never had a 124, but we have had nearly 7 years of near faultless service from a '95 W202 C220. Aside from the ignition barrel failing, and a water pump replacement at 4 years old I can't think of a thing we've ever had to do outside normal maintenance.