W124 E Class - a bit more help needed

[julesg007]

Good evening all,

Hope you all don't mind but I would like a bit more help with buying a W124 following on from my previous thread.

I have read the advice on the W124 on Honest John and have found that to be very useful, however, I have a few questions;

With my luck I'm sure that if I get a post '91 6 cylinder petrol engine the HT loom problem will raise its ugly head. If the loom has not been changed am I being paranoid or should it just be changed anyway?

I have looked after my own car and the head gasket has given up, is the head gasket issue pot luck, or is maintenance key?

If I do steer clear of the petrol engine and go for the diesel engine option, is there anything I should worry about if it has covered a high mileage (as it seems all estates have)?

Not having a car with self leveling suspension, how would you check that it is fully operational?

Are there any publications that would be useful to read before I dip my toe into the MB waters?

Thanks again for all the help and guidance

Jules

 

[SilverSaloon]

i went for the diesel option. mainly as i wanted to run it on veg oil as an experiment (going well!) Also the disels WILL last forever if properly maintained!

check the self levelling by getting someone to sit in the boot - the car should stay level.

Mileage is no problem.

ensure you take notice of RECENT history/reciepts rather than a full service history book - although thats good obviously.

 

[lakeside]

If the loom hasn't been replaced on a 280 or 320, it will need doing asap, regardless of the car's mileage.

 

[julesg007]

Hi,

Thank you very much foor the advice.

It will go a long way in helping me find the right car.

Regards

Jules

 

[Axcontrols]

I had a 1990 124 300 Estate (Petrol - 4 speed Auto) I bought it in 96' or there abouts and drove it for about 10 years.

Thinking back now I can't think of any time when I had to do any work on it. Just put petrol in it and drove it.