Hi everyone
I have been reading this site with interest for a while, and now it is time for my first post.
I am transfering jobs, and will not get a company car where I am going, so was thinking of getting a 1995 or so Merc 320ce (the W124 based coupe). I have checked CBCB, but any other comments from those that may have owned one?
They seem to fetch £3-5k on eBay, and although they are 11 years old, appear to be pretty bullet-proof to me.
Any thoughts would be gratefully recieved.
Thanks
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This generation was the last of the proper Mercs, before Chrysler ruined everything.
Should have bulletproof reliability and tank like build.
Check for thorough service record and you should get one fine motor.
When we ran Merc hearses and limos of that vintage, they were absolutely stunning cars, unlike the current generation, which never fail to disappoint me :(
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let me be the last to let you down....
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The following site gives you all you ever wanted to know about running an old Mercedes including buying, rust, fuel consumption, repairs etc..
tinyurl.com/fldq9
madf
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I'm on my second and I feel like keeping the present one for ever. By 1995 they were badged E320 Coupé Ask me some questions.
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Thanks Roger
What should I be looking out for in the way of problems? Does £4k sound like the right price for a good one with about 140k miles on the clock? I have seen on on eBay that look tempting.
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Welcome to the site. I swapped an Audi A6 diesel for a 1995 W124 300 diesel nearly a year ago and have been delighted with the vehicle. Mechanically of course these are very similar. I would suggest you need to do all the usual things such as history and condition check, after all they may be sky high quality but they are still 10+ year old cars. You should check all the electrics out carefully as things like windows, sun roof, central locking can become dodgy. Also check for rust around the front wings where the bumper bolts on in front of the wheels as there is a bit of a rust trap there, and also round the wheel arches. Be cautious if it has chrome wheel arch trims. At 140k I would be starting to feel a little concerned about the autobox, but not sure what you can do ther than change the fluid. Plenty of information on the internet if you look around, and use autotrader to check prices. They are worth whatever anybody is prepared to pay at this age. A colleague at work has a metallic red coupe, K reg, and he loves the car.
I never regretted my decision to get a W124, good luck! MGs
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Just bought an E320. 1997 54k miles for four grand! I love it and boy does it shift.
VBR................MD.
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I composed a long response yesterday and could have sworn I posted it successfully, but I guess not, unless a moderator has intervened for some reason. In a nutshell (I will expand it later if I can find time):
* Check out HJ's Car-by-Car breakdown, particularly re. head gasket.
* Corrosion spots mentioned above.
* Rear window in coupés usually delaminates at some stage, producing a milky fringe. Better to live with it than replace it, as the inherent structural weakness is likely to manifest itself again and it's a £600-£800 job. There is a company that can cover it up if you can't live with it.
* Get the wiring harness checked carefully. All MBs built between 1991 and 1996 have eco-friendly wiring insulation that is not up to the job. The outer covering needs peeling back to expose the true condition. There are some horrific photos on the MB Club forum. Any odd electrical problems may be attributable to this degradation; if it is evident, deal with it, because at worst it can cause megabucks havoc. It's £450 for the part, but reckoned to be less than two hours to replace. I make sure that my mechanic checks this at every annual service.
* At 140k it may well be worth getting the autobox serviced for probably less than £200. That's what I'm going to do with my W126 when it reaches 150k. Go to an autobox specialist:
www.fedauto.co.uk/
* There are plenty of independent specialists around who will do an excellent job for half dealer rates.
My 1996 E320 Coupé is showing the window disfigurement but is otherwise fine. If any other problems show up, I'll fix them, because it is a great car capable of several hundred thousand miles, and I intend to enjoy them all.
P.S. If you are seriously keen, join the MB Club, which is packed with information, experience and friendly helpers, plus the best mag in the car-club community:
www.mercedes-benzownersclub.co.uk/
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