New guy advice please....

[Clive45]

Hello everyone, my name is Clive from Inverness, Scotland and I have joined your forum today for some advice please. Basically I've always wanted a Merc, not a new one, but perhaps one of the mid 90's coupe models or Elegance saloon car. I've heard though the Mercedes build quality slumped for a while and now I'm worried about buying anything with the Merc badge!

So can anyone recommend a nice second user model which will last for 4 or 5 years? I have a budget of £2,500 (we already have 2 cars and the drive will look a bit full with another vehicle). Is the SH very important for Mercs and are the 'auto boxes reliable please?

Thank you.

 

[Blobcat]

Hi & Welcome

£2,500 is not a lot of folding for a car however you will probably be able to find some form of MB for that money. SH is important and the gearboxes are very good

 

[television]

Hello and welcome

Any Idea if you want petrol or diesel and how big.

MB boxes are among the best in the world

 

[Clive45]

Very interesting... I'm really looking for a petrol, automatic, 2L or thereabouts please. I notice quite a few mid to late 90 models going for cheap money. Is a ten year old Merc worthy of approx 2,500 I wonder, even if it is for a low end model?

Thank you.

 

[lakeside]

£2500 would get you a very good 1993-1995 W124 E220 (2.2 litre 16-valve 4 cyl). Excellent build quality, and a proper Mercedes-Benz feel to it. A good late one of these would be a better bet than an early W210 in my opinion.

 

[television]

£2500 would get you a very good 1993-1995 W124 E220 (2.2 litre 16-valve 4 cyl). Excellent build quality, and a proper Mercedes-Benz feel to it. A good late one of these would be a better bet than an early W210 in my opinion.

I do not think that I would argue with that

 

[television]

Just coming back to this there are some nice 202's around

 

[jberks]

My money would be on a nice '97 202 - a C200 elegance. You should get a very nice low mileage example for that money. I say '97 as that pre-dates the cost cutting. You should get away with a 98 but its starting to skirt the accountancy years.
We (very) reluctantly sold our '95 C220 (90k) for £1600 last spring. My Mum still misses it. The last I heard, the new owner had emigrated but loved the car so much, they've taken it with them. Can't say I blame them.

 

[Clive45]

This is great - thank you everyone. I did read somewhere that the late W124 E220's were the last of the "true" Mercs and obviously I want a vehicle that has the real sense of a quality car like Mercedes. Also, could I ask - do these mid 90's Mercs have any major cambelt issues please? I don't know if the range of engine sizes are cam or chain drive. Are these expensive to change if I were to go to my local independent garage?

Thanks for all your help everyone.

 

[marbellapinky]

They have a Duplex Chain Drive (double chain)

Think of it like 2 motorcycle chains, instead of 1 rubber belt (normal cars)

I understand theyre extremely durable, im at 207,000 (230te W124 shape) and its still sweet.

 

[marbellapinky]

They have a Duplex Chain Drive (double chain)

Think of it like 2 motorcycle chains, instead of 1 rubber belt (normal cars)

I understand theyre extremely durable, im at 207,000 (230te W124 shape) and its still sweet.