W124 Bodywork

W

WriterChappy

Guest
Hello again,

Many thanks for the replies to my initial query about buying advice for a W124 coupe.

One thing I'm a bit concerned about is I am getting conflicting information now (from 3 different sources - the person who is selling the 124 I'm going to look at tomorrow, another garage I previously E Mailed about these cars and now a local independent MB specialist) about whether or not the bodywork on these cars is galvanised. Seller says all post-1986 MBs were, other garage says only bits like the bonnet & doors and a local specialist says these cars are not galvanised at all..! The reason for my concern, apart from the obvious, is that if I buy one it will live outside (or until I move house and get a garage which might be years..).

Can someone confirm, categorically, what the situation is?

The car I'm having a look at is a 93 K reg 320ce with low miles and a 4 speed auto.

Many thanks,

Paul C
 

television

Always remembered RIP
Joined
Mar 14, 2005
Messages
164,073
Reaction score
367
Age
89
Location
Daventry
Your Mercedes
2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
Hello paul,, no MB is galvanized before 04-03 no 124 is galvanized, 1993 is not a bad year for any rusting,, do check the front wings both fore and aft of the wheel.

They are great car much loved by all here
 

d w124

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2009
Messages
587
Reaction score
1
Location
SE London
Your Mercedes
E320 S124 E320 W124
As mentioned ^ W124s do rust but not as bad as W210s and the rustfree examples cost.Also check the jacking points as they rust there
 

television

Always remembered RIP
Joined
Mar 14, 2005
Messages
164,073
Reaction score
367
Age
89
Location
Daventry
Your Mercedes
2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
As mentioned ^ W124s do rust but not as bad as W210s and the rustfree examples cost.Also check the jacking points as they rust there

Good point,, sadly one cannot see under the plastic covers on the post 1990 cars.
 

st4

Banned
Joined
Apr 6, 2008
Messages
8,624
Reaction score
13
Location
Sunny Scotland
Website
1-stephen-taylor.artistwebsites.com
Your Mercedes
Disqualified driver
Hello paul,, no MB is galvanized before 04-03 no 124 is galvanized, 1993 is not a bad year for any rusting,, do check the front wings both fore and aft of the wheel.

They are great car much loved by all here


Did they not galvanise then stop galvanising? I don't know. Anyway does a 1993 124 not use "oil" based paints which are more corrosive resistant anyway?
 

television

Always remembered RIP
Joined
Mar 14, 2005
Messages
164,073
Reaction score
367
Age
89
Location
Daventry
Your Mercedes
2002 SL500, 216 CL500, all fully loaded
Did they not galvanise then stop galvanising? I don't know. Anyway does a 1993 124 not use "oil" based paints which are more corrosive resistant anyway?

Nope MB went water based under coats and 2 k top coat at the start in 1986, they got that all wrong,,it was far too hard and the paint could fall off in lumps. things got better in 1990 and the paint did stick a bit better,, no galvanizing at all on these cars
 
OP
W

WriterChappy

Guest
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #7
Thanks again for the advice. The car is up for £50 under £10k. My local MB specialist let out a long sigh and, after much sucking of teeth, warned me about all the bits and pieces and finished off by saying for that price it has to be absolutely perfect and if the harness had never been replaced he'd want it replaced before any sale took place. I was originally bargaining for around 5 - 6k. Still, more than happy to go and have a look and a drive.
 

teddycatkin

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2008
Messages
2,093
Reaction score
5
Location
cheshire cheese country
Your Mercedes
W107-SL W124-220te W123-230e W201 2.0
For the price they are asking --you are talking under 10k miles FSH and mint condition ?
If I were you I would nip down to Worthing and buy the 2.3 -190 --saving 8k?
 
Last edited:
OP
W

WriterChappy

Guest
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #9
As far as I know, it's done 75000, with full (MB) SH. I'd prefer a 220 for everyday use to be honest. Where/why/who/what in Worthing? :)
As I mentioned earlier, I've never owned a Mercedes and am open to suggestions as to other models to look at. Bottom line is I just fancy tootling around in something with a bit of style, character, reliability, won't fall apart with the rust and is not to expensive to insure & maintain and comes in at around 5 - 6k tops.

Paul
 

st4

Banned
Joined
Apr 6, 2008
Messages
8,624
Reaction score
13
Location
Sunny Scotland
Website
1-stephen-taylor.artistwebsites.com
Your Mercedes
Disqualified driver
A 75k miles 220 124 should not be for sale for £9950. Nowhere near that, thats dreamer prices unless the car is concours or something.

£9950 would buy you a 211 E class.
 

teddycatkin

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2008
Messages
2,093
Reaction score
5
Location
cheshire cheese country
Your Mercedes
W107-SL W124-220te W123-230e W201 2.0
As far as I know, it's done 75000, with full (MB) SH. I'd prefer a 220 for everyday use to be honest. Where/why/who/what in Worthing? :)
As I mentioned earlier, I've never owned a Mercedes and am open to suggestions as to other models to look at. Bottom line is I just fancy tootling around in something with a bit of style, character, reliability, won't fall apart with the rust and is not to expensive to insure & maintain and comes in at around 5 - 6k tops.

Paul

see todays post 190 2.3 by Ian Gadget---buy that and you wont be disappointed --will certainly out perform the golf --and probably outlast it ?
 
OP
W

WriterChappy

Guest
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #12
Its a 320ce, not a 220. A 220 is my personal preference. When all is said and done, am I right in thinking £9950 is tad too much regardless of how good the condition is? I was thinking of offering my Golf in part-ex. My car, sold privately, is worth between £9500 - £9800. Not entirely sure what the part-ex price is worth but it's got to be around £9000 - £9500. A 211 E Class is a thought..
 

teddycatkin

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2008
Messages
2,093
Reaction score
5
Location
cheshire cheese country
Your Mercedes
W107-SL W124-220te W123-230e W201 2.0
Seems you are set on a 220 cab ---the 220 is M111 engine 16v and the choice for reasonable mpg and performance--its in the c lass slk and other models-its in my w124 estate but only fitted in the estate one year 93/94?---the best W124 and top of the range W124 is the E500 built in Stuggart?--but a rare beast to find.
 

kth286

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 4, 2002
Messages
3,067
Reaction score
3
Your Mercedes
E320 Coupe 95
Hello again,

Many thanks for the replies to my initial query about buying advice for a W124 coupe.

One thing I'm a bit concerned about is I am getting conflicting information now (from 3 different sources - the person who is selling the 124 I'm going to look at tomorrow, another garage I previously E Mailed about these cars and now a local independent MB specialist) about whether or not the bodywork on these cars is galvanised. Seller says all post-1986 MBs were, other garage says only bits like the bonnet & doors and a local specialist says these cars are not galvanised at all..! The reason for my concern, apart from the obvious, is that if I buy one it will live outside (or until I move house and get a garage which might be years..).

Can someone confirm, categorically, what the situation is?

The car I'm having a look at is a 93 K reg 320ce with low miles and a 4 speed auto.

Many thanks,

Paul C


The answer is : "other garage person" is correct - part galvanised.


"124 - for corrosion protection Mercedes Benz uses zinc plating (galvanisation) to protect many of the body panels.

The engine hood, doors, sunroof, trunk lid, and fuel filler flap are all galvanised.

If the paint is chipped down through the primer and into the galvanised layer, the zinc will electrically migrate across the bare metal and cover it.

All of the welded seams on the car are treated with a special sealing compound that can be reabsorbed into weld material in case of repair work".

Shame the front and rear wings were not galvanised.

I would get an independent report for that price car, and the car needs to be up on a ramp to inspect the suspension attachments particularily the front of the rear subframe fixing to body.

It needs to be inspected by someone with practical knowledge of 124 body rust problems.

You need to realise you are entering into a specialised area of car ownership - and you need to know it all takes time out of your life - but for many of us it IS worthwhile.
 
Last edited:

teddycatkin

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2008
Messages
2,093
Reaction score
5
Location
cheshire cheese country
Your Mercedes
W107-SL W124-220te W123-230e W201 2.0
David is correct -I agree on all points--but 10k is way over price (check used car prices in Classic car Magazine) there are plenty of W124 cabs to look at for less than that.
 

Juddian

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 4, 2006
Messages
897
Reaction score
0
Location
Kettering
Your Mercedes
W124CE/1996/3199cc/LPG'd
Hang on i'm confused...easily i know, is the car a CE or a convertible, if it's a 75K perfect drop top it just might be worth the price mentioned but it does need to be showroom and underneath too, not just another neglected motor with the worlds most polished and 'detailed' paintwork.

If it's a 220CE then it should be around half the mentioned price even if it's a diamond.

But then a car is worth what someone will pay.
 

Xtractorfan

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 16, 2007
Messages
6,085
Reaction score
159
Your Mercedes
S class
I think you are gonna be dissapointed big time if you swop your golf for such a car.... the upkeep will be horrendous, and there is a good possibility that most of the main strength areas..inner sills etc will be eaten away with rust.... be very careful...
 

coolhans

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2009
Messages
482
Reaction score
0
Location
Keynsham, Bristol
Your Mercedes
Present 2004 W211 E500, 1995 W124 E320 CE Coupe.
Its a 320ce, not a 220. A 220 is my personal preference. When all is said and done, am I right in thinking £9950 is tad too much regardless of how good the condition is? I was thinking of offering my Golf in part-ex. My car, sold privately, is worth between £9500 - £9800. Not entirely sure what the part-ex price is worth but it's got to be around £9000 - £9500. A 211 E Class is a thought..

The price you have been quoted is very high. It would have to be a minter with FSH and low mileage to warrant that price. I've got a very nice 1995 320 coupe which I have put up for sale due to retirement. You can check the advert out at http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-page.php/carno/87340 if you are interested. It's a nice car with a high spec and drives like a dream.
 

teddycatkin

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2008
Messages
2,093
Reaction score
5
Location
cheshire cheese country
Your Mercedes
W107-SL W124-220te W123-230e W201 2.0
Looks a very nice car Robert--I would keep it in retirement it should be cheap running costs ins on a limited mile policy and just an annual service it will go on another 10 years?
 
OP
W

WriterChappy

Guest
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #20
Many thanks again chaps for the advice. I really don't know how the confusion crept in as to what I'm having a look at..Its not a cabriolet. As I say, a 320ce, 4 spd auto, 93 K reg with 75000. The bloke selling it has a good reputation so I'm told. If I had a house with a driveway & garage I would feel a whole lot happier taking such a car on. Wouldn't really have any second thoughts if it was the right one at the right price. But I live in a terraced victorian house where parking after 6pm is a 'mare. I don't mind the more modern CLKs (the latest shape) and from what I can see, 10k would get me a half decent 270 diesel. Maybe the old classic merc might have to wait a few years :-(
 
Top Bottom