W124 continental trip advice

[Sacco]

First off a big thankyou to the forum for helping me to sort my tired, vaigue and wandery 300K mile '89 230TE. After searching threads, and doing a bit of diagnosing, over the year I changed the steering damper, idler arm, camber controll arms and rear subframe mounts(actually an indie did the last bit) The car feels totally transformed.

We are due to visit the in laws in Germany, and rather than take the usual hack(a nearly new honda civic) I though we could take the merc. The Mrs is a bit reluctant given the mercs age and milage- any preventive advice or precautions/parts/ tools I should think of packing? The car has been 100% reliable, but with the Mrs in my ear I wonder if its too risky and should stick with the honda? I fancy visiting the merc museum while we're over- anyone been?

Matthew

 

[Seamaster15]

Well, I suppose if its going to have problems - germany is the place to go....

Good luck.

Simon

 

[Uncle Benz]

The only advice I can give is to speak to your breakdown cover supplier (RAC, AA, Greenflag or similar). They tend to word in exclusions for older cars that are usually in the small print. I am sure you would rather get your car home than a punitive payment instead...

Not a great deal of help, but join www.northloop.co.uk as there are members who regularly travel to and from Germany and may be able to offer assistance with friendly car repair workshops or trailers home in the event of the worst happening. They are a friendly bunch who will always do their best to help out a car enthusiast in need... (they can be a little cliquey at times, but it keeps the trolls at bay...)

 

[st4]

Well, I suppose if its going to have problems - germany is the place to go....

Good luck.

Simon

I didn't know you were on here too

My pals old man had a 124 300TE a few years back and regularly did Autobahn driving in it (even when it was over a decade old). Only 1 problem was it overheated, being Germany he said it couldn't have chosen a better place to break down and he had so struggle getting a new radiator for it and he was under way (@140mph again).

 

[simon_wall69]

Merc museum's very good - best of the manufacturers' museum type I've been to. Quite big so leave plenty of time.

I'd just get breakdown cover and you should be fine. It is illegal to breakdown in Germany if you were already aware of a fault, by the way. Although I have no idea how this is proved.

 

[st4]

I'd just get breakdown cover and you should be fine. It is illegal to breakdown in Germany if you were already aware of a fault, by the way. Although I have no idea how this is proved.

So a bit like running out of fuel over here, its an offence to drive knowing your car will run out of fuel on the motorway. How they can prove that beats me, but hey we live in a heavy handed regime which seems to aim to surpress the motorist.

Name one other activity that is as heavily regulated as driving.

 

[lakeside]

I would definitely take the Merc. A W124 on a trip like that is what it's all about. Just give it a good thorough check over before you go. I drove to Sweden, Spain, and everywhere in between many times in my 13-year-old 200TE with no problems at all.
The MB museum in Stuttgart is well worth a visit, also at Sinsheim, fairly near Stuttgart, there's an industrial museum with some interesting stuff in it - submarines, locos etc.
You may have difficulty in getting breakdown cover due to the age of the car.

 

[hawk20]

I don't know when MObiloLife started but if it applies to your car, you could have a service at an MB dealer before going and that will reinstate MobiloLife. Gives excellent cover in Europe.

Loads of Mercs older than yours are travelling the Continent and doing fine. I met a couple in France which were over the half a million kilometres mark still on the original engines.

The museum is well worth a visit. I did a factory visit too while collecting a car and that is very interesting too. Don't know if MB would allow you to visit a factory but might be worth asking Customer Service.

 

[roadhog]

Join the ADAC for breakdown cover and go for it.

Go and print off this form, it's in english.....

Fill it in. At the bank details section, cross it out and write down your credit card details. Fax the form, with a covering note (they speak/read English) to the number top right of the form.


I regularly take my 300D to Belgium in fact it's what I bought it for.

If your car is as reliable as you say there's no reason why it should suddenly start playing up simply because you're driving on the other side of the road.

Do bear in mind though that in the unlikely event of even the slightest mishap you will end up with ear ache. "I told you etc......"

 

[Bolide]

ADAC, beam diverters, credit card and mobile phone

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[Alex M Grieve]

Hi Sacco,

Lots of good advice above, which I endorse.

I take my R 129 to Europe without hesitation - I think you are no more likely to break down or crash than you are in the UK. As others have said, be sure to follow the local rules (there is a page on these on the AA website, whether you buy anything from them or not - headlamp converters, warning triangles, high visibility jackets, spare bulbs, cash for on the spot fines (!), etc - where they are mandatory and where they are illegal!).

Repatriation insurance as part of breakdown or accident cover is vital in any case but probably more important with a car which the insurers might otherwise find convenient (and cheaper) for them to write off.

Breakdown insurors will want evidence, in the event of a failure, that the car was correctly maintained, so Hawk's advice re MB service leading to Mobilo cover would satisfy that - I have mine serviced by an Indy and time the event to be soon before an overseas trip, then I use AA 5 Star cover. They charge an extra few pounds for older cars, but it is not excessive. (my experience of Mobilo life in the UK was disasterous, so I just do it my way now).

Sounds a bit of a shopping list, but it is probably all stuff you would do anyway.

I find the hardest part of the whole thing is remembering to drive on the left when I get off the boat back in the UK - after a while driving on the right hand side in Europe, being on the right side of the rad just seems more logical.

Bon voyage!

 

[JEZ.S320L]

I don't know when MObiloLife started but if it applies to your car, you could have a service at an MB dealer before going and that will reinstate MobiloLife....

Oh no it does NOT. Sorry to disappoint..

 

[Sacco]

Thanks for the advice, just doing a few last minute checks (we leave on friday and I Have work before them) Apparently since June 08 the Gendarmes insist you carry a reflective jacket and from next month will fine you 130 euros on the spot if not(!) Just given the car a fairly comprehensive service (I even changed the diff oil) Will be interesting to see if a seen better days mercedes estate gets any more attention from the customs authorities than an invisible honda hatchback.

 

[JEZ.S320L]

Thanks for the advice, just doing a few last minute checks (we leave on friday and I Have work before them) Apparently since June 08 the Gendarmes insist you carry a reflective jacket and from next month will fine you 130 euros on the spot if not(!) Just given the car a fairly comprehensive service (I even changed the diff oil) Will be interesting to see if a seen better days mercedes estate gets any more attention from the customs authorities than an invisible honda hatchback.

Don't forget a spare pair of glasses (if you wear a pair to drive, of course) as thats the law too.

Oh - and not just 1 warning triangel - but TWO are now required.

 

[roadhog]

Will be interesting to see if a seen better days mercedes estate gets any more attention from the customs authorities than an invisible honda hatchback.

That's almost guaranteed! I get stopped every time in the Merc, must be my honest face.

Oh - and not just 1 warning triangel - but TWO are now required.

Only in Spain though?

 

[Alex M Grieve]

Thanks for the advice, just doing a few last minute checks (we leave on friday and I Have work before them) Apparently since June 08 the Gendarmes insist you carry a reflective jacket and from next month will fine you 130 euros on the spot if not(!) Just given the car a fairly comprehensive service (I even changed the diff oil) Will be interesting to see if a seen better days mercedes estate gets any more attention from the customs authorities than an invisible honda hatchback.

Isn't this exciting! Almost feels as though we are all coming with you!

 

[jp williams]

Don't forget a spare pair of glasses (if you wear a pair to drive, of course) as thats the law too.

Oh - and not just 1 warning triangel - but TWO are now required.

.........................and a reflective jacket for EVERY/EACH occupant of the car.

Have a great trip!

Regards
John

 

[hawk20]

Oh no it does NOT. Sorry to disappoint..

Go to the thread I posted on Mobilo fairly recently and you will see from MB in writing that it does reinstate MobiloLife.

 

[JEZ.S320L]

Go to the thread I posted on Mobilo fairly recently and you will see from MB in writing that it does reinstate MobiloLife.

Sorry to disagree - unless there has been a change in policy since January, in which case I apologise.

The ML had ONE service undertaken by the previous owner at an independent. All other services by MB. Had car serviced by MB prior to driving down to Spain. Poly-v belt broke in France - rang MobiloLife - NOT COVERED DUE TO MISSED MB SERVICE..!

AA European Breakdown kicked in and recovered me to MB in Rouanne.

 

[JEZ.S320L]

...Only in Spain though?

I assumed it was a pan-European requirement. Ah well, always good to have a spare - just in case one breaks.!

Oh, ah - don't forget spare bulbs (car-type ones - not tulips and daffodils - unless going through Holland)