My first Mercedes Benz

[charlfourie]

Greetings everyone,

I am from Cape Town, in South Africa.
And yesterday I took delivery of my first Mercedes Benz. I have had my eye on her some 3 weeks, and have been trying to track one down for at least 4 months, and now she is in my driveway.

A w124 1992 230E Sportline. Totally original, one owner, 228,000km (about 142,000miles) on the clock, full service history, polar white, black leather.
And I must say I don't think I'll be buying anything else very soon. Just another pointed star in a year or so.

So I am looking forward to joining the community here on the forum, and to share ideas, and have some fun.

I will upload some pics as soon as I can. The ones here are from the dealer's homepage. But soon I'll take some nice stylish shots.

Feel free to give me any comments.

C.

 

[television]

Hello and welcome with you very nice 124, few cars can look that good after 16 years. Please join in where ever you wish to

 

[PanzerMcGrory]

Hello,
does yours have the anti hyjacking flamethrowers coming from under the car??
I loved them when they came out in South Africa years ago but as per usual in this country it would be illegal to have an anti theft water pistol incase you upset the carjacker who would then get legal aid to sue the pants off you once you once have come out of prison for assualting him.
Dont worry i rant.

 

[Alex M Grieve]

Welcome to the forum. What a beautiful car. As Malcolm said, few cars scrub up that well at age 16. If it looks that good, I can not imagine that the soul owner would have neglected it mechanically.

I got the impression that MBs in South Africa seemed to be quite rust free. Is that true generally in South Africa, or did I only spot the good ones?

We look forward to more pics.

 

[charlfourie]

Hello,
does yours have the anti hyjacking flamethrowers coming from under the car??
I loved them when they came out in South Africa years ago but as per usual in this country it would be illegal to have an anti theft water pistol incase you upset the carjacker who would then get legal aid to sue the pants off you once you once have come out of prison for assualting him.
Dont worry i rant.

Haha, not me no.
That is another Charl Fourie.
And from I know the device has been challenged in court, and it has been banned now. Seems the hijackers have more rights than the public. Sad world we all live in when politically correct means more than public safety... anyway... let's talk about things that make us happy rather. Merc's
Why we are here.

I got the impression that MBs in South Africa seemed to be quite rust free. Is that true generally in South Africa, or did I only spot the good ones?

Most cars that come from inland are very rust-free. My car my have had one owner, but he did move to the coast after having the car for 7 years. So I think once a car has done a certain amount of time at the coast, it'll be fine. As long as you don't ding it, and wait too long to fix it. So there a re a number of rust buckets driving around here. And even many 123 and 124's I have seen have really seen much better days. But yet they keep on running, despite the abuse.

My driver side air vent was broken, so I replaced that today, had some carpets made for the footwells, the original rubber mats are great, but really work your feet when driving wearing flops, and I do that often. It's summer here. Tomorrow morning the front speakers are being replaced, currently they're not working. And on Monday she's going to an auto trimmer to have the one door panel tidied up.

So those are all the obvious flaws of the car... not bad hey?

Down the line I would like to replace the standard Becker radio with a Becker front loader, possibly a Le Mans 30 or similar. Right now I have the Becker Europa installed.

My other consideration is the flat boot spoiler... but I'm not sure, don't want to spoil the look. Any thoughts on this?

The weekend I'll go and stretch her legs a bit on the open road, and I'll find a nice spot and do a little photo shoot with her.

 

[PanzerMcGrory]

I think its nice the way god intended it so i would lay off the spoiler.

 

[charlfourie]

I think its nice the way god intended it so i would lay off the spoiler.

While I was ogling the car on the showroom floor I figured the boot spoiler would look great, now that she's mine... not anymore hey. Guess I appreciate her more now.

Went to the dealer again today to have my new air vent fitted, and since I took delivery of the car, 4 people have called him asking where it is. You snooze, you lose. The one was on the floor looking at the other models while I was there. I did get a very smug look from him. Sucker. hehe

http://www.absolutecars.co.za Feel free to check out the site, it's updated daily, and they really have some amazing models.

 

[television]

Yes some nice cars in that showroom,,I should go over and buy that SEC

 

[Alex M Grieve]

Yes some nice cars in that showroom,,I should go over and buy that SEC

At today's prices Malcolm, £6,195.79p. Now that would make for a happy birthday!

 

[PanzerMcGrory]

Cant believe the price for that beautiful 74 350se and thats with our pound in skid row, imagine what they would have cost a couple of years ago.
Just the small question of getting it from one half of the world to the other.

 

[television]

Now Alex has given me the price I could drive it back

 

[charlfourie]

Yes some nice cars in that showroom,,I should go over and buy that SEC

It is a gorgeous car, I would just opt for the original wheels, those modern wheels makes the car look a little... tacky.

When I get my next Merc I would to get hold of a W124 coupe. Chatted to a MB collector, and he broke it down nice and simple. All you ever need in your collection, a sedan, a coupe and a convertible. Then you're sorted, and you can play with that combination. Seems pretty reasonable limiting yourself to just 3 cars.

 

[Alex M Grieve]

It is a gorgeous car, I would just opt for the original wheels, those modern wheels makes the car look a little... tacky.

When I get my next Merc I would to get hold of a W124 coupe. Chatted to a MB collector, and he broke it down nice and simple. All you ever need in your collection, a sedan, a coupe and a convertible. Then you're sorted, and you can play with that combination. Seems pretty reasonable limiting yourself to just 3 cars.

I've been a car fan all my life and can eventually (nearly) afford them

I settled on a saloon, an estate and an SL. What would I like in my garage? (a different thread) - well, the cars I have thank you.

 

[mikestrivens]

The SL is my next purchase then I shall have the hat trick of the top Mercs from the mid 1990s

 

[charlfourie]

Finally some pics

Well I quickly went out tonight and shot a few shots of my w124.
Hope everyone enjoys it.
At some point I'll put a bit more effort in the shoot.

So let me know what you think of my purchase.

 

[Alex M Grieve]

The SL is my next purchase then I shall have the hat trick of the top Mercs from the mid 1990s

Well done Mike. I like your attitude.

Well, you really have "lucked in". There is a fine selection of R129s available at present and the prices will probably never be more competitive (i.e. low).

Others, including some authoritative motor correspondents, have been saying for years that the 129 is a future classic - the price will dip to a low point and for good cars will only climb after that.

Others say that the R107 was a classic, even before its production run ended, so the 129 will never compare with that.

The fact is that the 129 is comfortably ahead as an engineering masterpiece, was built in the era of over-engineering and before the rust issues kicked in, and is quicker, more comfortable and more economical. The powered hood makes it that much easier to use too, and as it is a fabric hood, it does not consume boot space.

I look forward to reading about your choice, and of course to seeing the pictures!

 

[television]

Well I quickly went out tonight and shot a few shots of my w124.
Hope everyone enjoys it.
At some point I'll put a bit more effort in the shoot.

So let me know what you think of my purchase.

That car is so nice, I do love the first picture where you are holding up the roof and the sign says "thank you for your support"

 

[Iain the gadget]

I think the clear front indicators would make a subtle mod!

 

[charlfourie]

Thanks Malcolm, she's really clean, and in amazing shape. And 17 years old! Quite scary thinking of it.

And Iain I have thought about it...
And I am still thinking about it... hehe

We'll see.

 

[three pointed star]

Welcome to the club and what a great looking car. Leave the spoiler off, they don't call them spolilers for nothing! Mercedes have a rich heritage in Africa, going back to there rallying days. We lived over there then (Kenya), but could only dream of owning one. We had to 'make do' with a Peugeot 404!!