Is a W124 300 a realistic daily driver?

[bin]

Hi
First of all, my thanks to all the unsung heroes who have patiently dealt with other folks queries in the past - I've been lurking around a while and gained enormous insight into all sorts of Merc related stuff.

Now, I'm looking seriously at a '94 M E300 Multivalve Diesel 110k. Hideously overpriced £3500. Haven't yet had the chance to look at it in the flesh, but photo wise looks good. Reported to have FSH, but do not know if that's MB yet.

Question - I commute 110 miles round trip every day = 30k per year. This is 95% open road, dual carriageway and motorway at a pretty steady 65. I'm a gentle driver more concerned with a comfy ride than testosterone fueled tailgating which seems to be the norm these days.
I reckon I should be able to get 37-39 mpg from the car which is OK from a cost point of view............

However, clearly this is an oldish car - and I'm just wondering if it's really up to this kind of life any more. From what I read the normal service interval is 6000 - which is every 10 weeks for me. Whilst I am well qualified to do most of my own servicing from a skills and experience angle, alas back injuries and other probs mean I'm no longer up to spending long cold Saturday afternoons hanging over an oily heap of parts - translate this to me keeping Indy in business on my own

I know that the old E series have a reputation for being tough and reliable, is this true or just an urban myth? Any car will wear out/need repairs - service etc and I suspect the Merc is no different, maybe better designed-assembled to start with.

Does anyone here do these kind of daily miles - have any comments/observations? I know I'm looking a a potential moneypit, but so is any car, it's just a question of how much fun you can have in the process.

in light

bin

 

[Bolide]

Service interval is 9k. It'll do 32-34 mpg and I doubt you'll ever see 37-39 unless you cruise at 50 mph

Make sure the driver's seat isn't saggy & baggy. If it is you won't want to do 110 miles a day in it

These cars like to be driven and 110 miles / day will be easy if the car has been well maintained. It is very easy to buy a car that needs £1200 of maintenance in the first year so look carefully. If you're doing 30k / year reckon on £1000 / year for maintenance, tyres, contingency & etc

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[bin]

Service interval is 9k. It'll do 32-34 mpg and I doubt you'll ever see 37-39 unless you cruise at 50 mph

Make sure the driver's seat isn't saggy & baggy. If it is you won't want to do 110 miles a day in it

These cars like to be driven and 110 miles / day will be easy if the car has been well maintained. It is very easy to buy a car that needs £1200 of maintenance in the first year so look carefully. If you're doing 30k / year reckon on £1000 / year for maintenance, tyres, contingency & etc

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

Thanks for the thoughts Nick, I have seen from your website and posts that you know these beasties inside out - but bloomin 'eck 32-34 for the saloon seems a bit horrible though!

in light

bin

 

[kth286]

Mine is a daily driver at 162,000 miles.

 

[Bolide]

but bloomin 'eck 32-34 for the saloon seems a bit horrible though!

That's the average - in other words, if you sit all day in traffic it won't get worse than that, unlike a petrol car

I would think the turbo versions were more efficient, ditto cars with manual gearboxes

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[Bolide]

Mine is a daily driver at 162,000 miles.

Mine too, at 185k. My previous E300 Diesel was a daily driver at 215k (before being stolen) and the 250TD before that had 235k

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[bin]

That's the average - in other words, if you sit all day in traffic it won't get worse than that, unlike a petrol car

I would think the turbo versions were more efficient, ditto cars with manual gearboxes

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

Hmm..... that seems to me to be a very sound way of looking at the numbers - thanks.

I have considered cutting it with about 30% veggie on a regular basis to offset the increased cost, though I understand that is not quite as economical as diesel

in light

bin

 

[Juddian]

If your going to stick veggie oil in it do not go anywhere near my indy, he will have a blue fit and likely blow a fuse!!!

I wouldn't dream of putting that muck in a car worth more than a tank of chip oil.

Seriously if that car has genuine mileage, and is straight, and has had the engine and gearbox oils changed as required, for my money you will not find a more durable vehicle to do this commute.

Luckily as i've found out the expensive ways the diesels dont seem to have any of the wiring probs of the petrols (i can hear keyboards clattering at that generalisation), and things like brake and ball joints etc are very easily obtained cheaply from the usual suspects, good stuff too.

It is too expensive though, i sold my 60odd k N plate for similar, and that truly was a cherished and pampered vehicle, except for being 'poverty spec' according to some individuals on the 2 forums.

 

[southy39]

i used to have a w124.. and i only replaced it because of a problem with brake pipes and some other problems

its a great car for short or long distances
spacious... comfortable, easy to work on yourself if needed.
not to mention that if you get one of the later model w124s so long as you keep them clean and treat any rust they can look almost as good as the more modern E Class saloons.

The only proplem i had with mine while i ran it was that the colour of mine was very dark and the fan motor didnt work very well so it was swealtering during the summer... but the windows worked so it wasnt that big a deal.

the chrome strips really add a touch of class.

as for economy mine was a 3.0 ltr diesel with an Auto Box (an essential in my opinion) and with mostly motorway i could get between 390-470 miles from a full tank driving from london to glasgow....

in town i cant remember but rarely had to fill it up.