W124 The Best Mercedes Ever ?????????
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 437
Likes: 168
All Cars Lost To Hurricane Isaac (W124 E420 revived - added 88 Allante 14 S550, 17 S63
went 288.4 miles refilled with 11.4 gallons.... thats 25.3mpg
went 304.8 miles refilled with 12 gallons.. thats 25.4mpg
pretty flat terrain.....
BUT I DRIVE LIKE I AM TRYING TO GET SOMEWHERE...
I hit 100mph several times and always average about 80-85 when traffic permits
certainly someone with "nicer" driving habits can do better mileage
Last edited by kafklatsch; Aug 4, 2009 at 08:47 AM.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 32
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles
1992 500E
W124.036 is the best W124 ever made, imho. Fast, powerful, durable, race track ready, hand build, rare and timeless. Might not be the most practical car for gas with a huge V8, but the fun far outweighs the price of admission. 
The W210s and W211s chassis are not worth a conversation, maybe if they were matched up against a Camry or an Accord. I would go as far as saying that newer then 1997 Mercedes models are not the Mercedes cars I would be proud to drive or own - maybe an SL63 AMG Black Series would suffice.
The W210s and W211s chassis are not worth a conversation, maybe if they were matched up against a Camry or an Accord. I would go as far as saying that newer then 1997 Mercedes models are not the Mercedes cars I would be proud to drive or own - maybe an SL63 AMG Black Series would suffice.
Last edited by szvook; Aug 3, 2009 at 09:41 PM.
Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 122
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From: USA
E430 (W210) ; E420 (W124) ; S 500 (W140) ; C230 (W202)
Originally Posted by appatula
I love my W124, but I call COMPLETE BS on 27mpg from a V8 4.2L.........maybe 25mpg. Has anyone else achieved this? My M103 barely exceeds 20mpg, but that could be attested to my driving habits..
But this is the true. I got 25MPG on my W140/ S500 on a long run. I don't know how you driving guys but... this is my MPG and I stand by it. The car is running lower RPM and the final ratio is much lower that E320 for example, this mean lower RPM with high speed, more torque etc. If M103 engine needs 3500RPM for 80 MPH the M119 is running the same 80MPH at 3000RPM. You should check your car and perhaps stop driving way too fast....just my 2 cents
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 15
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1986 300e
w124's are great...i have an 86' , its fast, reliable and handles great! i only have one problem, at low speeds, like going down a driveway, the antilock goes off and the car does not brake smoothly, i have gotten it fixed once and it was not done correctly because the problem is still present, does anyone know what the problem is or how i can fix it, this only happens at low speeds.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 67
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1989 300 SE
Agreed, those new cars with all those electronics are prone to failure. I have had nightmares in my sleep of my car just simply falling apart.
The W124 is simply the most reliable car ever built.
It may not be the "best" since some of the newer cars are a bit more fun and interesting to drive. But the W124 is perhaps the most reliable Mercedes-Benz vehicle ever built.
Has anyone seen the Fifth Gear video demonstrating the W124 build quality.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bIV_hHPAFQ
The W124, simple, no frills, safe, and comfortable. Just the way a car should be.
The W124 is simply the most reliable car ever built.
It may not be the "best" since some of the newer cars are a bit more fun and interesting to drive. But the W124 is perhaps the most reliable Mercedes-Benz vehicle ever built.
Has anyone seen the Fifth Gear video demonstrating the W124 build quality.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bIV_hHPAFQ
The W124, simple, no frills, safe, and comfortable. Just the way a car should be.
These videos from Fifth Gear are amazingly disturbing, and I hate to admit I would probably throw my Venti mocha on this woman if I ever saw her, and I love my coffee! I love Mercedes, and I don't think I will ever feel the same about the English "sense of humor" again after watching this video.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 939
Likes: 5
From: Del Mar, CA
2003 CL600 2005 745Li
W124.036 is the best W124 ever made, imho. Fast, powerful, durable, race track ready, hand build, rare and timeless. Might not be the most practical car for gas with a huge V8, but the fun far outweighs the price of admission.
The W210s and W211s chassis are not worth a conversation, maybe if they were matched up against a Camry or an Accord. I would go as far as saying that newer then 1997 Mercedes models are not the Mercedes cars I would be proud to drive or own - maybe an SL63 AMG Black Series would suffice.
The W210s and W211s chassis are not worth a conversation, maybe if they were matched up against a Camry or an Accord. I would go as far as saying that newer then 1997 Mercedes models are not the Mercedes cars I would be proud to drive or own - maybe an SL63 AMG Black Series would suffice.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2003
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Amazing cars the W124s, but I think I am done with them. Mine was impounded (late registration due to failed Smog, NOx. AZ doesn't allow you to pay for your registration if you have failed the smog, so riding dirty and got nicked.) And I am out of the country at the moment, family emergency and World Cup in South Africa. Happened the day before I was leaving, the next day being a holiday. Very convenient. 
Might just ride my bicycle for a few weeks/ months, drive the BMW 2002 and probably get a Honda S2000.
Might just ride my bicycle for a few weeks/ months, drive the BMW 2002 and probably get a Honda S2000.
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3
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300D X2 300TD X2 220 (W115)
Amazing cars the W124s, but I think I am done with them. Mine was impounded (late registration due to failed Smog, NOx. AZ doesn't allow you to pay for your registration if you have failed the smog, so riding dirty and got nicked.) And I am out of the country at the moment, family emergency and World Cup in South Africa. Happened the day before I was leaving, the next day being a holiday. Very convenient.
Might just ride my bicycle for a few weeks/ months, drive the BMW 2002 and probably get a Honda S2000.
Might just ride my bicycle for a few weeks/ months, drive the BMW 2002 and probably get a Honda S2000.
I also get about 24.5 to 26 MPG depending on how I drive (always AFAP). Love the W124 turbos!!!
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Joined: Dec 2003
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Awww sorry to hear that, you just need to check out the reason it failed, like was the radiator not up to temp or perhaps the fuel needed some tune up in a can (they say it helps pass smog tests). I have the 300D, two of them in fact, both 87's and NO SMOG required for diesels in Crapifornia!
I also get about 24.5 to 26 MPG depending on how I drive (always AFAP). Love the W124 turbos!!!
I also get about 24.5 to 26 MPG depending on how I drive (always AFAP). Love the W124 turbos!!!
For the record, it was only failing on high NOx, whose root cause is usually high combustion temps (caused by lean mix. Computer controlled, not the problem.) weak catalyst (tested before and after temperature; fine.) clogged/ blocked EGR (cleared EGR tube, it was blocked. Checked function of EGR valve, OK.) But it still failed.
I was NOT willing to spend $1600 on a remanufactured cat from the dealer. And that was all they had.
I had a brain wave the week before they snagged my car; look upstream at what controls the EGR valve, perhaps that is not working. Car was jacked before I had the opportunity.
And paradoxically, i'm still driving my 300E 2.6 and loving it. I marvel that a car that old (its a 1990) could still be so serene, so quiet, so refined, and still function like the day it was new. It needs some work (engine mounts, one differential mount, trans is starting to flare on the 2- 3 shift) but its got probably 300000 on the clock.
Edit. If I don't get an S2000 I will likely want a 1995 diesel.
Edit II. Or a 500E.
Last edited by neanderthal; Oct 16, 2010 at 12:03 PM.
