W124 estate buying advice

[fettle]

Hi

Following a friends advice, I'm looking into buying a cheapish W124 estate.
Looking for most economical and reliable model, not too fussed about speed etc.
Could any of you nice people give me some pointers as to what to look for.
My budget is around £1-1.5k.

Thanks

Howard

 

[cubicincubi]

most reliable and economical would have to be the diesel. though I get more economy on gas than any diesel. this isnt suggesting the petrol engines are unreliable, far from it - look at my current mileage on a 4 pot that has never been opened up. Six cylinder diesel will run for a long time, solid engines. other than that you want service history, high miles isnt an issue if it has been regularly maintained and anything that is known to expire in that distance has been replaced.

in your price range you have the 200, 230 or 300 TE. The 200 struggles under load as an estate in relation to the more powerful cars and uses fuel to get the power down pulling that weight.

2.3 will do the job. 300 is the daddy. fuel consumption isnt low on any model depending on how you drive.

I don't know if you'll find a 300TD in your price range, or at least a good one, perhaps £1500 would just about do. they are rarely for sale and hold their price, I dont know if they did the 250D in estate version..

just find the best one you can.

 

[Chazchuzzlewitt]

your budget limits you pretty much to the models discussed before, plenty out there though in varying condition. You *might* find a high miler E200 or 220 16v at the upper end of your price range.
I can't imagine driving a 4cyl 8v 200TE, I think that would be more hard work than it's worth. These cars are very heavy and fairly thirsty. The M103 300TE is a good engine, though a bit lazy and not very economical. Stay away from the 4Matic.
Thinks to look out for with the petrol models are blown head gaskets, (crud in coolant) though I don't think this affected the 4 cyl models so much.
As well as the usual things, S/H is preferred as service costs can quickly mount up though parts aren't particularly expensive. Check the auto fluid, that the electrics work and that the rear self-levelling supsension is working/riding properly.