Simpler W124's like this, and pre facelift are better built cars than the facelifts, and are probably the best to own, but there is still plenty to go wrong, we've owned an H reg 230e, a N reg 300 Diesel, a M reg 320 estate and the P reg 320 coupe we still have.
CHG all go at around 100k or just over, CHG or oil cooler (the one behind the oil filter) failed on every one between 90 and 120k and you're looking at £800 for CHG alone.
Estates have fancy self levelling rear suspension, which will be expensive if it needs new rear shocks (Volvo estate self levellers are eye watering too).
W124's have no sills as such, the sill strength is built into the floor further in and very strong they are too, but those plastic outer sill covers hide the jacking points which can rot badly, remove the jacking point covers from that plastic sill (pop out) and check the jacking points, the front wings are the weak point, they rot just in front of the wheelarch where it extends to and meets the bumper.
Those early ones should not have the wiring loom problems of the later cars.
The later 320's cost us a fortune, the estate's FSH read like a doomsday book, you name it, it failed and several times in some cases, the coupe has cost a fortune to keep in condition, i daren't add it all up to be truthful because it would be too depressing.
The car you describe is way overpriced, the 4 cyl cars are not loved, they can go alright but noisy making progress and not economical even if driven gently.
If you wanted a usable modern classic, i'd be inclined to go have a look at one of these instead www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1078351
Edited by gordonbennet on 07/02/2019 at 18:58
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