Seeking advice: TE W124

[MotardMan]

I am now seeking a good used example, and have found there to be a good number of cars out there for the taking. A few more questions to those in the know, if you can spare me the time?

Is the 230TE to be avoided? I know the 280 returns poorer fuel economy that the 300, is this carried back to the 230? I am not an enthusiastic driver in my Mercs (I have the company car for that!), so 0-60 and top speed performance are not crucial deciding factors........

I have decided to wait for EXACTLY the right car to appear, as the 106 we are selling, can be sold 1st and the cash banked until the right TE turns up. I would love to know about cars as below:

W124 TE's,
Leather,
pref not A/C,
FMBSH,
<140K miles
No rust on wheel arches, wings, floors or doors.....
Must not be Green (Don't ask!)

Regards,

Jim

 

[Holyman]

The 230TE appears to be by far the most frugal. I wanted a 230 but couldn't find a good enough example, so plumped for a 300 which regularly returns 22mpg. For a 100mph A1 armchair cruiser I find this acceptable.

 

[Richard.Wilson]

As far as "frugal" is concerned, my '92 230TE gets about 26 mpg.
I drive it 15 miles to work, and back again each day mostly 85mph on an A road, but with a bit of town work, that's the average. I think that's not bad after 150K.
Not nearly as quick as my old 300TE, but loads less money to run overall.

 

[Mike Buley]

I have had both. And agree that they are both excellent. I prefer the 300te which I currently own. It spends most of its time on the motorway, and never misses a beat.
With regard to fuel economy, I never really work out, or record MPG, but suffice to say the 300 is marginally more expensive to run, but not that much more. However, it is much more responsive, and goes like a steam train.
Mine has just breezed another MOT, which isnt bad for 180k.
Regards,
Mike.

 

[heckflosse]

As a comparison my W123 230CE (102 engine) 148,000 miles returned 23mpg urban were my W124 E220 (111 engine) 80,000 miles returns 26mpg and seems a bit more responsive.

 

[MotardMan]

After Fridays terrible disappointment, I pulled it all back on Sunday.

I am going to pick up a lovely 89 (F plate), 128K mile, 300 TE. Champagne gold with dark red cloth interior (unmarked). It has full MBSH, 2 new Michelins on the 8 hole MB alloys, 11 months MOT, and is fabulously clean. No dents, one small rust spot on the sill where the doors close at the bottom of the B pillar.

The car has been owned by the same family for 10 years, Father and sons owned it after a company director sold it to the present owners wife. Good history! It has the OEM emerg. triangle, tool kit, jack, 1st aid kit and owners manuals. Fully stamped service book and 7 yrs worth of MOT's.

Everything works except for 3 things:

Washer hose for the rear washwipe (bidet!) is ruptured and washer fluisd escapes down the trim in the load area. I had to repair this on my last 300TE, so must be a common fault, and the wiper does not amke it past the vertical or park. I fixed that fault on the last car too (thanks to Andy Gayle).

Windscreen washer jets are blocked or pipework has perished, easy fix, as the pump operates as it should.

Headlamp wipers do not park after use, any ideas here?

The motor starts and idles perfectly, hot and cold, and goes like stink! No sliping from ther box, kickdown is immediate and brisk, changes are crisp and smoothly executed, and the chassis feels taught and stable.

I am well pleased, and at £3k, reckon I paid the right money for a near A1 car.

It is good to be back in the fold! Thanks fro all the advice from forum members......

Best,

Jim

 

[Mike Buley]

Nice one Jim, sounds like a good un

 

[mjtray]

Hi,

I've got a 1993 280 with 77,000 miles on the clock and I'm surprised by the fuel consumption I get.......26-28mpg on average. I do a lot of Motorway work usually at 80-90mph and 3500 revs.

Also I'm impressed with the get up and go the old girl has....so far I have no regrets.

Cheers

Martin

 

[Spike]

Aha - finally another board member with a mittelrot car interior.

Nice one on your purchase - enjoy.

 

[MotardMan]

Aha - finally another board member with a mittelrot car interior.

Nice one on your purchase - enjoy.

Mittlerot? Is that the official MB description or a veiled insult?! ;-))

I'm not convinced by it, though it is different! The car has the MB over mats in it and the carpet is mint under these, though my wife wants to protect the interior by cutting some of the carpet we recently removed from the house, to make over, over mats! This carpet is a pale "mushroom" or cream. Not sure how it will look....

Best,

Jim

 

[MotardMan]

Mittle rot

Central Red according to Babel fish!

 

[Spike]

... or mid red if you prefer.

rather than cutting up some carpet, why dont you just buy the genuine rubber mats from the stealership to protect your carpets - less than £20 the set.

Creme and mittelrot....nah I tried it it looks a bit odd IMO.