Petrol or Diesel?

[paulhipwood]

Hi All

I am looking for an 124 E class - I would like an estate but my budget £4 to £5 k will only get an older vehicle. So I am looking for a late auto model and my first choice is a 300D. I have looked at a couple and have walked away from them as I did not think that they were genuine. The full "service history" on one of them comprissed of 6 MOT's. I then spent 10 minutes trying to explain that this was not a record of vehicle history.

There seema ro be more petrol versions available and I am wondering if I should consider one of these. The reason for a diesel was economy, reliability and simpler servicing.

I intend keeping the vehicle for some time and will do the servicing myself. I realise that the Service History will be lost but I do not relish any garage bills. The car will do about 15k per year.

Has anyone got any comments or advise?

best regards

paul
On the later models with al the gizzmo's is it practical to service yourself?

 

[Geoff_Slade]

Paul

I've recently bought a 93 W124 300D auto saloon. I'm very happy with it . OK its not a ball of fire but its economical - 38 on a brisk run and 32 if I spend all of the time round town - which is pretty good for a 3 litre auto with A/C on all the time (I've heard that turning it off dosen't make much difference).

Once its built up to speed its fine it will stay happily at 70 (and above!) all day and at that speed its smooth and quiet (in fact its refined at all speeds). Definitely go for the auto its so relaxing.

As for servicing it looks fairly straightforward although I no longer do my own. The engineering is simple on the older models (my father is an old school mechanic and thought it was quite outdated but said that that's no bad thing) and they are built like tanks.

I've had one service so far at Andy Gayle's in Smethwick and the prices are very reasonable (and he uses genuine MB parts).

I'm sure you'll get some positive comments from owners of petrol cars which are defintely more powerful but if posts to the forum are anything to go by less goes wrong with the diesels (touch wood)

Finally this is the only car I've ever driven where I really look forward to driving it, so hopefully that's recommendation enough.

Feel free to contact me direct if you need to any more info

 

[Keith]

go diesel if you can find one

I have a diesel E300D and I love it to bits. I also have an SL320 which is the same engine as the E320 so I can compare to some extent.

If its a workhorse you want and longevity I dont think there is any contest. I bought my E300D (M606 engine) with 50k on it and have put another 100k on so far. I dont service it myself but understand from the specialist i use I gather that its straighforward. I do fix any electrical / interior problems which I have had a few but these would be common to petrol or diesel.

Only items needing attention on the engine/mechanical side (other than sheduled service items) have been
replace the battery
1 fuel leak
steering dampers replaced
1 set of glow plugs replaced

The SL320 (M104 engine) has only done 50k miles has full history but the mid 90s 6 cyls have well known problems on cyl head gaskets and wiring harness degrading. Mine has a small oil leak from the timing cover gasket but I expect the usual issues to crop up eventually. I cant believe it can emulate the 300D. My technician says that the 320 will be marginally more to maintain (some filters are more expensive) but virtually identical in cost and effort.

The diesels are renowned for long life and also have better fuel cons of course but you can look all that data up (34mpg vs 24mpg i would expect). I would say go diesel for a work horse , go petrol for fun.

Only problem with a diesel is finding one at a sensible price, they are highly sought after. I paid the full asking price and there was literally a queue outside waiting to buy. you need to react quick when you see an ad, but as with buying any MB you do need a proper service history unlike the ones you saw unless you are getting it at rock bottom price and are prepared to take a risk but many MBs do have their history so I would wait until you find one.

good luck
Keith

 

[paulhipwood]

Hi all

Thanks for the help.

I looked at a 300D 124 today and now need to make an offer.

paul

 

[Keith]

did you get it

Let us know if you bought it and what how you get on.

I had a ride in a taxi in Brussels yesterday. It was a 1989 W124 250D. It had 1,230,000 km on the clock. The driver owned it from new and says it has same engine , has never been rebuilt and has only replaced teh expected parts eg. alternator , water pump etc.

But he has always had it serviced and any issues dealt with immediately so if you get a genuine service history you are unlikely to go too far wrong.

Keith

 

[paulhipwood]

Hi All

The car is mine!!!!

I live in the West Midlands and the car is in Devon.

It has 12 months MOT but no tax. I am off to Bahrain for a week :evil: and I will pick it up on the 1st May.

It has 120K on the clock and is a N reg 1995 300D.
I gave it a good look over and had a test drive, I am sure that it is OK and look forward to some trouble free motoring. I found some posts that pointed me in the right direction with regard to checks to carry out.

I want to do the servicing myself but may change my mind once I have it.
Anybody know what the % of owners who diy?

thanks again for your help.

paul

 

[Keith]

well done - great model/engine

Good choice a 1995 saloon with 300 Diesel means it was one of the very last 124s. ie you get the benefit of the W124 build and over engineering together with the M606 diesel which is the model used in the subsequent range. An ideal combination, am sure you will not regret it.

Keith