d215yq
Senior Member
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2008
- Messages
- 2,664
- Reaction score
- 702
- Age
- 40
- Location
- Valencia, Spain
- Your Mercedes
- 1987 W124 300D 280k miles
OK, so I have finally succumbed to the company car scheme...I'm not too much of a fan of new cars as you may know but as I've got a 100+ year old house to rebuild from a shell and a full time job my time is limited and I can't have a car out of action for a few days while I fix it/service it as before. So with the MOT expired 3 months ago (and doubting it would pass) and the last oil change 15 months (and 20k miles) ago having the W124 as the daily driver is now in the "too difficult box" against a top of the range Mondeo estate for 200eur/month everything included (insurnace, tax, BIK etc.)
Genuinely not sure what to do with it though...
Good points:
Drives over my unmade rocky drive smoother and faster than the new car and has better ground clearance (doesn't catch).
50mpg+ at 60mph which I can't get on the new one
Total "get you there" reliability - it's been all over Europe and done 120k miles in 6 years ownership and failed to proceed once with a flat battery (due to alternator) and earlier this year with failed centre bearing.
4x good tyres and new brake pads all round
Almost no structural rust
No tax and 100 quid a year insurance
Bad points/things that don't work:
Hmm where to start, cold start idle, 2 of 6 glow plugs, front passenger window, whole a/c system, parking brake sticks and isn't effective on steep hills, gearbox stiff for first few kms, anti judder system, wanders in wind, rattles from underisde of car at various rpm, prop shaft not balanced so slight noise at 55-60. probably needs engine mounts, long overdue a service, vents/dashboard cracked, seats ripped, every panel is damaged and has lacquer peel, front headlight cracked. 330k miles (though a bit of a guess as odometer was broken on 210k miles when I bought it). Probably needs 2x drive shafts. Non existentent battery tray and rust under battery. Slight rust patch under 2x jack points.
Total maintenance/repair costs (including servicing, tyres, MOT, bulbs, wiper, absolutely everything) over last 3 years and 60k miles has been bare minimum (580€!)...and it's beginning to show...
Options:
Well head says sell it for scrap, heart says keep it and give it a service/mechanical overhaul to get it through the MOT when I can be bothered and then keep using it for cement bags, rubbish, agricultural stuff etc (I'm not allowed to even scuff the interior of the boot of the company car and this is already causing me a lot of bother at the DIY store with the million sheets I have to lay out and means I won't be able to transport fire wood, etc).
The thing is I am happy to work on it here and there when I get a bit more chilled about the house but if I'm going to be spending a lot of time/money on parts there must be better older mercs to start with? Or is it better to start with this to "practice" and then get a restoration project (ultimate aim would be a 500SEC, jag xj or Bentley Turbo R) when I'm a little wiser as I'm well aware they would not be as easy to work on as this one? Is any of the (mechanical) things needed on the list that needs fixing going to be a lot of money to sort if I can do it myself/learn how to?
In Spain these are worth a bit of money with good mechanics and interior and the high mileage/outside condition is less important than in the UK as there is no such thing here as a low mileage 300D in nice condition as that is not really what their strong point it (though mine's maybe pushing the "patina" a bit too far)...
![IMG_20200627_155003.jpg IMG_20200627_155003.jpg](https://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/data/attachments/58/58824-50d684a6776a4ae4dac9661d8fdb7798.jpg)
Genuinely not sure what to do with it though...
Good points:
Drives over my unmade rocky drive smoother and faster than the new car and has better ground clearance (doesn't catch).
50mpg+ at 60mph which I can't get on the new one
Total "get you there" reliability - it's been all over Europe and done 120k miles in 6 years ownership and failed to proceed once with a flat battery (due to alternator) and earlier this year with failed centre bearing.
4x good tyres and new brake pads all round
Almost no structural rust
No tax and 100 quid a year insurance
Bad points/things that don't work:
Hmm where to start, cold start idle, 2 of 6 glow plugs, front passenger window, whole a/c system, parking brake sticks and isn't effective on steep hills, gearbox stiff for first few kms, anti judder system, wanders in wind, rattles from underisde of car at various rpm, prop shaft not balanced so slight noise at 55-60. probably needs engine mounts, long overdue a service, vents/dashboard cracked, seats ripped, every panel is damaged and has lacquer peel, front headlight cracked. 330k miles (though a bit of a guess as odometer was broken on 210k miles when I bought it). Probably needs 2x drive shafts. Non existentent battery tray and rust under battery. Slight rust patch under 2x jack points.
Total maintenance/repair costs (including servicing, tyres, MOT, bulbs, wiper, absolutely everything) over last 3 years and 60k miles has been bare minimum (580€!)...and it's beginning to show...
Options:
Well head says sell it for scrap, heart says keep it and give it a service/mechanical overhaul to get it through the MOT when I can be bothered and then keep using it for cement bags, rubbish, agricultural stuff etc (I'm not allowed to even scuff the interior of the boot of the company car and this is already causing me a lot of bother at the DIY store with the million sheets I have to lay out and means I won't be able to transport fire wood, etc).
The thing is I am happy to work on it here and there when I get a bit more chilled about the house but if I'm going to be spending a lot of time/money on parts there must be better older mercs to start with? Or is it better to start with this to "practice" and then get a restoration project (ultimate aim would be a 500SEC, jag xj or Bentley Turbo R) when I'm a little wiser as I'm well aware they would not be as easy to work on as this one? Is any of the (mechanical) things needed on the list that needs fixing going to be a lot of money to sort if I can do it myself/learn how to?
In Spain these are worth a bit of money with good mechanics and interior and the high mileage/outside condition is less important than in the UK as there is no such thing here as a low mileage 300D in nice condition as that is not really what their strong point it (though mine's maybe pushing the "patina" a bit too far)...
![IMG-20190210-WA0000.jpg IMG-20190210-WA0000.jpg](https://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/data/attachments/58/58822-13e67d028f2477c3f990e0da2706dfe5.jpg)
![IMG_20200627_155003.jpg IMG_20200627_155003.jpg](https://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/data/attachments/58/58824-50d684a6776a4ae4dac9661d8fdb7798.jpg)